Why does Sonic the restaurant advertise in my area, when there are none around?

Question

I am wondering why Sonic, the fast food restaurant, advertises in my area with commercials and stuff, but there are none around. I went onto their website and entered in my zip code and the nearest one is 98.2 miles away in Pennsylvania.

I would love to go there cause I think the food they advertise looks good, but there aren't any around here. I thought TV advertisements could be localised to a particular area. Like we get advertisement on TV all the time for the local car dealers, but I don't imagine they have the same advertisements in California which is thousands of miles away.

Anyone?

Answer 1

In national marketing campaigns the networks can make the company advertising buy up spots on local networks to help the smaller TV stations bring in money. Even if they don't have stores or products in that particular location. Since you have no Sonic, I'm guessing you are in a fairly small market? So the money helps provide advertising income for the little local stations.

If you are in D.C. then that obviously isn't the issue.. humm, maybe they are planning on opening stores in D.C. and want to build up some hype.

Answer 2

They do that here in Detroit too.  I think the stations that advertise Sonic are part of the Turner Broadcasting Network, which is in Atlanta (and they have Sonics all over the place down there).  I usually see Sonic ads on A&E, USA, TNT, and sometimes on The Discovery Channel.  I did just find out that there's a Sonic downriver, but it's the only one I know of in this state.  Maybe Sonic is migrating north...

Answer 3

They have ads there because people never travel more than 5 miles from their homes, EVER!

Now that you have become familiar with Sonic, perhaps when you DO see one, you'll pull in and order something.

Their Footlong Cheese Coney and Tator Tots are really good.

As are their Cherry-Limeades.

Their burgers are pretty good, the Bacon Double Cheeseburger is NOT a diet food, but it sure is GOOD!

Answer 4

I was wondering that too.  It happens in my area as well.  My best answer would be that it's in preparation for when they do decide to put one in your area.  That way when they open you aren’t like "what the heck is sonic" and you will feel like you have some sort of relationship/connection with it because you have seen it so many times on TV even though you may have never actually seen one of their establishments first hand.