Elections rake in big bucks for media outlets

ELECTIONS RAKE IN BIG BUCKS FOR MEDIA OUTLETS
[SOURCE: USAToday, AUTHOR: David Lieberman]
There's a bonanza for media companies in this year's unusually large array of hotly contested election campaigns: Candidates and activists will end up spending a record $3.1 billion getting their messages out. The total is 14.5% higher than 2004, even though that year included more than $1 billion for the presidential race. But this year political spending is up in 90% of the USA's 210 media markets. Those seeing the biggest percentage increases are Cedar Rapids, Davenport, Ottumwa and Sioux City — Iowa communities with contentious House races -- and Lansing, Mich. About half of the total dollars go to broadcast TV, followed by direct mail, which accounts for 23%.
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/money/20061102/1b_polspend02.art.htm

* $2 Billion in Political Ad Spending for 2006 Beats Record, Projections
http://www.tvweek.com/news.cms?newsId=11001