May. 21 at 8:43 PM
Local TV broadcasters are facing growing financial pressure as political advertising dollars increasingly shift toward digital platforms. While total political ad spending for the 2026 U.S. midterm elections is projected to reach a record high, spending on local television stations is expected to decline 7% versus the 2022 midterm cycle, according to advisory firm Madison and Wall.
The trend reflects a broader transformation in campaign strategy, with political advertisers allocating more budget to streaming, social media, YouTube, connected TV, and targeted online ads that offer better audience segmentation and real-time performance tracking. In contrast, online political ad spending is projected to surge roughly 35% this cycle.
For decades, election advertising served as one of the most reliable revenue drivers for local TV broadcasters, especially in swing states and competitive congressional districts.
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