Swing-State Stations Are Election Winners

The stretch run for the November elections has begun, and local television stations in swing states are already assured they will come out winners.

Ad rates in most contested areas are sharply higher, compared with last year, while states firmly in the red or blue camp generally aren't seeing as much change. Political parties and outside groups will pay an extra-heavy tab in October and early November because of heated competition for limited commercial slots. Wells Fargo media analyst Marci Ryvicker raised her estimate on all political ad spending to $5.2 billion, up $300 million from a previous forecast, after spending in August on political ads on local TV stations jumped 77% from July. That compares to $4.2 billion in 2008, the last presidential election year.