Today’s consumers are more connected to their electronic devices and gadgets than ever before. To provide insight on the demographic traits and behavioral tendencies of the consumers that purchase electronics in America, Experian Simmons analyzed relevant information from its 2009 National Consumer Study and New Media Study. Key findings include:

• Seventy-one percent of new TV buyers in 2009 reported purchasing either an LCD or plasma TV, more than double the rate in 2006
• Nearly half of all TV buyers reported that the screen size of their most recent purchase was 40 inches or larger
• Between 2006 and 2009, ownership of VCRs among US households dropped 13% to 79%. Meanwhile, DVR ownership doubled
• The most popular mobile function today is taking pictures, which 70% of mobile phone owners do each month
• Video gaming among adults grew a relative 9% between 2007 and 2009, with half of almost all adults now saying they own or play games

Worn out by the amount of debate, downsizing, and anguish going on regarding the global economic woes, I’ve decided that now is a good time to take a break from the downturn and look at one of the bright spots in marketing today: Direct-to-consumer TV advertising.

The prevailing thinking among email marketers for many years was that email could become more like mainstream media by incorporating elements such as streaming video and other rich media into their messages. As it turns out, the exchange seems to be working the other way around; TV advertising is becoming more like email, and it might be a trend here to stay.

Skipping right past Bob Garfield’s latest marketing doomsday prophecy (because we’re staying positive, people!), Ad Age has a great profile on the success of Direct-to-Consumer TV spots, with newcomers such as the “PedEgg,” “Rosetta Stone,” and “ShamWow” raking in dollars and almost single-handedly keeping the TV advertising model afloat. Jeck Neff’s article explains:

While many traditional TV advertisers pull back significantly amid the sharp downturn, short-form direct-response advertisers have been quick to take their place. And some, in fact, would say the PedEgg, Snuggie and Loud ‘N Clear could yet save an economy where consumers have largely lost their will to buy.

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Looking back on the Super Bowl advertising, I picked up on one trend that bears mentioning to all you emailers out there.

Yes, I too noted the bizarre juxtaposition of depression-fueled Cash4Gold going head-to-head against perennial powerhouses like Pepsi and Anheuser-Busch. But more interestingly to me, I also saw some interesting multi-channel promotion with Audi’s email campaigns promoting their in-game advertisement. An advertisement promoting an advertisement? Existential questions aside, it’s a fairly interesting tactic.

Audi sent two mailings in the run-up to the big game, with the first going out on Jan. 22nd and the second on Jan. 27th (10 and 5 days before the game, respectively). While neither mailing gave away the commercial’s big surprise – that Jason Statham, the actor from The Transporter films, reprises a similar role for Audi’s big ad – they did provide some background information for their email subscriber base. In that sense, it’s a pretty cool idea; you give your most hardcore followers some “insider info” that they’ll use to evangelize your brand on their own. Audi even gave their email subscribers web access to the ad a full day before it aired live, and harnessed viral power by allowing users to forward the hidden link to their friends.

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