Boston: Political ad spending kicks up

The media marketplace was slow in Boston during first quarter, with ad spending off slightly from a year ago. But things have turned around quickly, and now TV and radio inventory are tight with spending and pricing both on the rise. The main reason is political spending.

Boston is one of the nation's most active political markets this election year, with spending from a key U.S. Senate race, the presidential election and ballot issues. Most political spending in Boston will come in the race for U.S. Senate, as Republican incumbent Scott Brown seeks reelection. The Democratic candidate won't officially be selected until the state's Sept. 6 primary, but Brown's challenger is expected to be Harvard professor and former chair of the Congressional Oversight Panel Elizabeth Warren, who is already advertising heavily. "It's a hotly contested senatorial race, and a lot there's of money out there for it," says Tracie Manna Chinetti, associate director of broadcast at Blitz Media in Boston.