February 8, 2018 AbbVie, Pfizer in another close TV ad spending race to kick off 2018. by Beth Snyder Bulik |. Feb 7, 2018 9:31am. TV watching. Pharma TV advertising kicked off the new year with $138 million in January spending. (StockSnap/CCO). Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Print. It s a new year in the TV ad spending game inÃÂ .