TV Basics Political Ads on Broadcast Television

TV Basics: Political Ads on Broadcast Television

All politics is local, and the bulk of political dollars are spent on local broadcast stations. In 2008, that’s where 82% of candidate dollars were spent.

2005-2009

Includes Candidate, Ballot, and Off-Ballot Issue Advertising

Year	Network	Spot/Local	Total
2005	$ 100,832,127	$ 479,365,367	$ 580,197,494
2006	$ 155,047,883	$ 1,980,056,595	$ 2,135,104,478
2007	$ 60,434,889	$ 318,062,606	$ 378,497,495
2008	$ 160,703,686	$1,548,571,694	$ 1,709,275,380
2009	$ 265,551,281	$ 493,218,337	$ 758,769,618
Source: TVB analysis of TNS Media Intelligence/CMAG data.

Political Billing in 2008: Top 20 States

Rank	State	2008 Dollars
1	CA	$261,086,695
2	PA	$109,694,539
3	OH	$104,915,908
4	FL	$98,664,613
5	NC	$72,936,571
6	CO	$63,468,820
7	TX	$56,707,715
8	MI	$55,377,865
9	MO	$52,704,050
10	NY	$48,747,032
11	MN	$44,685,151
12	DC	$44,296,367
13	IN	$42,855,457
14	IL	$33,652,382
15	WI	$33,463,077
16	GA	$33,250,591
17	WA	$29,295,980
18	KY	$27,526,774
19	NV	$27,524,302
20	OR	$27,094,872
Source: TVB analysis of TNS Media Intelligence/CMAG data.New Hampshire and Iowa 2007 presidential spending not included.

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