With Super PACs fueling advertising spending, the 2012 election cycle could bring in a total of $9.8 billion, up from $7 billion in 2008, reports Advertising Age, citing a study from research firm Borrell Associates.
Cable television will be the main beneficiary of the spending, the story notes. While about $468 million was spent on cable in the 2008 elections, that will almost double this year, the report says.
Online spending will reach $159.2 million, a sixfold jump from 2008, although still less than 2% of overall campaign spending, the piece adds. The largest chunk of spending will be funneled to broadcast TV, which may see as much as $5.6 billion in election spending, compared with $4.3 billion in 2008, according to the story.
Virginia and Florida are among the top 12 states for every type of media spending, the story adds.
Thank you Citizens United!