How TV Stations Plan to Fight a Political Ad Hangover

To see the impact on local television stations of nearly $3 billion spent in political advertising this year, consider E.W. Scripps, the 14th largest U.S. station group. With five of its 19 outlets in presidential battleground states (Ohio, Florida and Colorado), candidates Barack Obama and Mitt Romney (and their supporting super PACs) helped bankroll an ad bonanza. Scripps' political ad sales soared to $33.9 million in the third quarter of 2012, compared with $10.3 million during the same period of the 2008 presidential election.