Another Record
This will come as no surprise…but the numbers are in, and ad spending on the 2024 election set another record, even surpassing forecasts.
AdImpact, which tracks such things, says $11.07 billion was spent on political ads during the cycle that began in January 2023 and ended with last month’s election. That is up from the $10.86 billion the group estimated in its initial post-election count.
The publication Inside Radio notes that apparently, like votes, the counting of ad dollars continues long after the polls are closed.
Three cities in battleground states got the most ad dollars of any markets across the USA. Philadelphia came out on top with $476 million in total ad spending. Detroit was next with $378 million, while Phoenix was third, with $336 million. Note that not only were those cities in presidential battleground states, but each of those states had big U.S. Senate contests, as well.
No candidate spent more than Kamala Harris, despite getting into the race late. Her campaign spent $545 million in ads. Future Forward USA, a Democrat super PAC, was next with $475 million. The main Trump super PAC MAGA, Inc., was third, with $386 million in total ad spending.
Broadcast television had about half of the total, 49.6 percent—but that marked the first time in decades that it was not above 50 percent…the increase in digital spending is cutting into traditional outlets.
So now the bar is $11 billion…care to guess how much higher it will be next time?
