So, just how many political ads?
Cory Bergman November 3rd, 2006
Nielsen Monitor-Plus counted 942,900 political ads that have aired on TV between August 1st and October 15th, up 31 percent compared to the same time four years ago. And that doesn’t count the last couple weeks, which have been, well, ridiculous. (Except if you’re a local TV station in many markets, then it’s Christmas.) If you’re curious, the candidates that have placed the most ads are Florida’s Charlie Crist, the Republican candidate for governor (21,214 ads) and Dick DeVos, the Republican candidate for Michigan governor (20,093). Now that’s frequency.
5 Comments Add your own
1. Andrew Tyndall | November 3rd, 2006 at 2:13 pm
Spare a thought for us political junkies in the New York City market, where rates are so expensive and the races so uncompetitive that we have been deprived of such civic entertainment.
Apart from the New Jersey Senate race and a desultory late scandal for the (obscure) New York State Comptroller, you’d hardly even know there was any vote scheduled on Tuesday.
With ads being so more efficient and affordable in small markets, this midterm bonanza benefits affiliates more than major market o-&-o’s.
2. Safran | November 4th, 2006 at 8:59 am
And what an incredible waste of money this all is. (I’m not making a political statement here. It’s a marketing statement.) Can you imagine what that kind of money could buy in the way of an online blitz? Tons. Yes - I realize not everyone’s online (and Florida’s target market’s a little… different demographically) but there are so many candidates spending a fortune on untargeted, TiVod ads. Meantime, in Massachusetts, the candidate with the best site, his own broadband channel, and an online grassroots operation is ahead in the polls by 20%.
3. Safran | November 4th, 2006 at 9:01 am
Oh - and also in Mass.: The most damage done to the current-second-place candidate was done by her own negative ads against the current leader. People were so put off by her attacks that many are voting for the other guy out of sheer resentment toward her slimy ads.
4. thedetroitchannel | November 5th, 2006 at 10:57 am
mr. de vos will lose in his “gubernatorial”bid.
however, that hairdo should make him a shoo-in if anyone is casting for west side story.
5. Brad | November 6th, 2006 at 4:27 pm
Great call on DeVos as a suitable casting option for West Side Story.
10,093 ads is all that $35 million will buy these days? What is the world coming to? DeVos will lose tomorrow, despite the ads and last minute attacks on Governor Granholm and partisan polls he has commissioned to show him closer than in reality. He should have just written every Michigander a check.
Everyone getting out the vote tomorrow?
Leave a Comment
(Please keep URLs out of the comment body or the spam filter will block you.)Subscribe to the comments via RSS Feed