COBA: For most widely distributed consumer products, the primary medium will be television. This is because television is generally the overall best medium for generating exposure and facilitating the processing of the message (except, of course, for high-involvement informational messages). A wide variety of secondary media are used to boost reach and provide support for specific communication objectives. For example, in a classic study Grass and Wallace (1974) showed that print, when used as a secondary media, can increase image transfer for a brand by using key visual elements from television.
Retail advertising : Most retail advertising has two jobs. It must advertise the store itself (image advertising) as well as the products it sells (brand advertising). The primary medium is likely to differ, depending upon the job. Retail store image advertising requires brand recall as well, and short-term brand purchase intention (visiting the store). This means that any local high-frequency media could be considered for the primary medium (e.g. broadcast or newspaper), which may then be supplemented by an appropriate secondary media.
Retail product advertising takes two forms: advertising for the store’s own products, or re-advertising other brands the store carries. The primary medium used will vary, depending upon the specific characteristics of the retailer and its market. Because of the wide range of brands a retailer is likely to carry, newspapers are a good primary medium for re-advertising. In advertising or promotin papers are effective.