Definition of network buy

purchase of commercial broadcast time made directly from the network, so that time on all the stations affiliated with the network is bought at once. A network buy is similar to "one-stop shopping" in that many geographic areas can be bought at the same time in the one order. Advertisers who wish to advertise throughout the country will purchase commercial time in this manner. The air dates for commercials in a network buy can be scheduled to run concurrently throughout the country or staggered according to the needs of the advertiser. For example, major motion picture companies will often use this method of purchase but will schedule their commercials to be aired at different dates, to correspond with the appearance of the movie at local theaters.