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/ 10.25.2010 12:00AM
Political Pressures WICS-TV Inventory
SPRINGFIELD, ILL.: Political revenues befalling TV stations
across the country are coming at a price for at least one. ABC
affiliate WICS-TV, the Sinclair-owned station serving Springfield and Decatur,
is being overwhelmed with demand for campaign ads, The
State Journal-Register reports.
In an effort to accommodate demand, WICS is rerunning its mid-day newscast, and
is considering expanding the weekend newscasts to a full hour, the news outlet
said. Some regular advertisers have been pushed of the air, WICS general
manager, Tim Mathis, told the
Journal-Register.
“It caught us by surprise,” Mathis said. “As far as what’s
happened in the last three weeks, I’ve never seen it come so much so fast
without warning.” He said it would be a seven-figure market. Two candidates
alone have run or reserved 822 spots between Labor Day and Election day.
Campaign ad spending typically boosts TV revenues during election years. This
year is particularly notable, however, because it comes on the heels of a year
of depressed revenues, and because a Supreme Court ruling freed up corporate
political spending. The total political spend on broadcast TV had reached $1.23
billion by Oct. 10, according to Wells Fargo. The final total is expected to
exceed $2 billion. The demand is such that ABC and NBC have freed up national
air time for local stations.
-- Deborah D. McAdams
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Thursday 12:00AM
Broadcasters File Suit Against FCC’s Political File Rules
“The FCC decision to put the political files online will bring broadcasters into the 21st century, and will make already public information more easily accessible to everyone.” Free Press Senior Policy Counsel Corie Wright.