Media Money

AP Presidential Debate

The day after a political debate it seems appropriate to examine just what this presidential campaign means for the TV biz. First, to the debate itself, in which both candidates spent quite a bit of time addressing the plummeting stock market and the financial meltdown, which also surely drove viewers to tune in.

It surely didn't top the 70 million viewers of the Biden-Palin vice presidential debate, but it could top the 52.4 million viewers of the last debate, helped out by the fact that it's a Tuesday night instead of a Friday night. Early Nielsen ratings numbers showed Tuesday's debate averaged a 42.1 household rating in 55 of Nielsen's 56 markets, falling short of the VP's average of a 45 rating. Final numbers will roll in.

Good news on political ad spending, it's expected to reach a new record of some $2.5 billion according to TNS Media Intelligence's Campaign Media Analysis Group. That's up from $1.7 billion in 2004, but less than the $3 billion originally estimated. Why the drop from that unprecedented $3 billion number?

Well some of the most competitive races are in smaller markets, where candidates are unlikely to spend, or need to spend, huge amounts of cash on TV ads. The markets which can really rack up huge ad dollars like New York, California, and New Jersey, don't have as competitive races this time around.

• Ad Spending: Just How Bad Is It Going To Get?
• Spielberg Finalizes Split From Paramount

Who wins? Television: network TV, local cable TV and radio. Local TV isn't performing as well as expected in terms of political ads, also suffering from decline in local TV ads in general. Cable on the other hand, has been benefiting from the fact that cable ad buys can be targeted locally, good news for that sector in this tough ad environment.

Questions?  Comments? 

Tools:

PrintEmail

Previous PostBack to Main Page

• 

POPULAR MEDIA MONEY POSTS

• 

• Best Buy To Embed Digital Download Platform on Devices 

• 

• Google Hones Music Search, Leaving Apple Out 

• 

• Activision Blizzard's Bobby Kotick on DJ Hero 

COMMENTS

More Comments

 

« First | « Previous

Next » | Last »

Thank you for joining our discussion. Your comment has been posted.

ADD COMMENTS

Please Sign In or Register to participate.

In order to add a comment you must click here and accept our terms and conditions.

Edit Screen Name

Please sign-in/optin or register to be able to submit comments.

Remaining characters

CNBC welcomes your contribution. Please respect our community and the integrity of its participants. CNBC reserves the right to moderate and approve your comment.

PREVIEW COMMENT

Your comments have not been posted yet.
Please review your submission to make sure you are comfortable with your entry.

Your Comments: