Political Ad Spending Seen Surging 63% to Record $6.89 Billion
- Partisan political environment driving growth, EMarketer says
- Tegna CEO says broadcaster benefiting from Bloomberg, Texas
An advertisement for Tom Steyer's presidential campaign plays inside a store in Waverly, Iowa.
Photographer: Jessica Rinaldi/The Boston Globe via Getty ImagesThis article is for subscribers only.
Spending on political advertising is expected to hit a record this election cycle, creating a windfall for local TV broadcasters and marking a comeback from four years ago.
Total spending will reach $6.89 billion, according to a new estimate by EMarketer. That’s 63% higher than in the 2015-2016 season. The firm attributed the rise to a “highly partisan political environment” that’s driving more donations to candidates who pour that money into marketing themselves.