Advertising, The Day After

Maybe it's because I live in a battleground state, adjacent to the nation's capitol–and thus at ground zero for political ads–but I'm starting to wonder what's going to happen to local TV advertising when the McCain and Obama campaigns end.

It's hard to describe the torrent of campaign ads we've seen in the past few weeks on local TV (and local cable systems). There are several an hour, especially during high-rated (and lucrative) shows like the local news. 

So what happens Wednesday? This campaign advertising blitz has arguably filled in for the usual advertising that's dropped off in the past few weeks because of the rattled economy. Post-election, who fills those 30-second slots? Many of the TV stations' usual advertisers are reeling. Banks? They've been socked. Car dealers? Forget it. Retailers? Ouch. Realtors? Nope.

If you talk to anybody connected with advertising and media over the past few weeks, they'll tell you that advertising spending has fallen off a cliff. Campaign ads have filled the holes. But with the election campaign over, we may be about to see just how bad the local advertising market has gotten.

Comments

[Angela Connor]

So, what are your predictions Mark? I know you're right about this and it will be interesting to watch. I am definitely concerned as an employee of a TV station. Is it now time to see in local TV what we've seen in print? There are no huge staffs to cut because TV stations don't employ all of the layers that print was known for. Anchor salaries could be a target. Let's keep discussing this!