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Broadcast & Cable

Political Television Advertising

Reach voters where they're watching.

Buy TV the Right Way. Direct, Negotiated, No Middlemen.

Television still delivers reach that no other channel can match. But TV buying in politics is its own discipline. Rates fluctuate, inventory gets tight, and campaigns that don't know the mechanics overpay. We buy directly with stations across all 50 states. No middlemen, no resellers, no inflated rates passed through three layers of commission.

  • Direct station relationships nationwide. We negotiate rates based on real-time inventory and market conditions, not rate cards.
  • We know when to buy broadcast, when cable makes more sense, and when to shift dollars to streaming instead.
  • Integrated with your full media plan. TV doesn't exist in a vacuum, and we don't buy it that way.

The 2026 cycle is heating up and political TV inventory is already competitive in key markets. The earlier you start the conversation, the better the rates. Tell us about your race for a free TV assessment.

[email protected]
(202) 321-3735

Request Your Free Assessment

How Political TV Advertising Actually Works

Television is a different animal in the political advertising world. It commands its own budget, its own strategy, and its own expertise. Broadcast TV works on its own economics: it's expensive, it's complex, and when done right, it delivers serious reach.

At Tuesday Digital, we've been buying television directly with stations for years. We understand the mechanics of rate negotiation, available inventory, and what actually works in a given market. That expertise matters. A lot.

Direct Buying

Direct Station Buying: No Middlemen, No Waste

We buy directly from television stations. When you work with middlemen, you're paying layers of commission while someone else negotiates rates on your behalf. Tuesday Digital has established relationships with stations across all 50 states. We call them directly, negotiate rates, and understand current availabilities and what's realistic for your budget.

This means you save money — we're not padding layers of mark-up between you and the station. And we understand what's actually available in your market right now. Market conditions change, rates fluctuate, and inventory comes and goes. Direct relationships mean we know the landscape in real time.

No Middlemen

Direct station relationships across all 50 states — no resellers, no inflated rates.

Real-Time Rates

Negotiated based on current market conditions and inventory, not rate cards.

Full Visibility

You know exactly what was bought, where it airs, and why.

Broadcast TV Plus Streaming: The Complete Picture

Broadcast television is still the most effective reach and impression multiplier available. But broadcasting alone isn't the full story anymore. Older voters — who represent a disproportionate share of the electorate — are now accessing content through multiple channels: cable, broadcast, streaming services, and FAST channels embedded on streaming devices.

That's why we approach television holistically. Broadcast reaches your core audience at scale. Connected TV and streaming extends that reach to viewers who've shifted viewing habits. The allocation between traditional broadcast and streaming depends on your target audience, geography, timeline, and overall media budget. We treat them as complementary channels, not competitors.

Broadcast delivers constant, broad reach. Streaming allows precision targeting within your audience segments. Together, they justify television spend in your overall media mix and ensure your investment reaches the voters who actually turn out.

CTV/OTT Advertising

See how we buy streaming inventory across Hulu, YouTube, Peacock, and more.

Learn more
Guide: Introduction to Political CTV/OTT

Our full guide to streaming advertising for political campaigns.

Read the guide

Measurement That Reflects Reality

Television measurement has historically been a black box. We use tools and measurement technology from premier media vendors that connect traditional television buying with connected TV and streaming data. This gives us visibility into true reach at television scale — not just impressions reported in a vacuum, but actual reach metrics that account for how your broadcast and streaming campaigns work together.

When you're spending six figures or more on television, you need to understand what's happening with that spend. Not guessing. Not trusting legacy reporting systems that nobody really understands. Actually seeing the data.

Our Approach

Concentrate. Diversify. Justify.

Television is expensive. Every dollar has to work harder. We buy TV where and how it's most efficient for reaching your actual voters, across broadcast and streaming alike.

Concentrate

Focus broadcast spend in the right markets at the right times to hit your target audience where it matters most.

Diversify

Extend into streaming to catch cord-cutters and younger voters that traditional broadcast alone can't reach.

Justify

Measure both broadcast and streaming. Make data-driven decisions that reflect what voters are actually watching.

$25K Minimum per market for meaningful TV impact

When to Buy TV (and When Not To)

Not every campaign needs television. It's an expensive channel. In low-budget races or races with very narrow geography, you might find better ROI in digital, radio, or direct mail.

Television makes sense when you have:

  • A race where reach across a broad geographic area is critical
  • A budget large enough to make television competitive (generally $25,000 minimum per market for any meaningful impact)
  • A need to reach older voters or voters in the cable viewing demographic
  • A timeline that allows for broadcast planning and placement (stations often require advance notice)
  • Voters who still consume traditional media

If any of these don't apply to your race, television might not be the right channel. We'll tell you that directly. Our job is to spend your media budget efficiently. Sometimes that means television. Sometimes it doesn't.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the minimum TV budget to make sense?
In most markets, you need at least $25,000 to $30,000 to make television worthwhile. Anything less and you're buying too few spots to move the needle. The cost per impression is high enough that scale matters. We can tell you what minimum spend would look like in your specific market and whether television is realistic for your budget.
How much lead time do we need for broadcast placement?
Station inventory varies by market and season. During high-demand periods (like the final weeks before an election), spots fill up fast. We typically recommend 3 to 4 weeks of lead time for good placement, but we can work with shorter timelines if needed. Direct relationships with stations help us negotiate faster placement when timing is tight.
Do you buy cable, network, and broadcast all the same way?
Cable, network, and broadcast each have different mechanics and pricing. Network spots are often more expensive but reach national audiences (or large regional blocks). Cable offers more targeting by viewership type and daypart. Broadcast is market-specific. We buy all three, and the right mix depends on your campaign's geography and target audience. We'll recommend where your spend should go based on your strategy.
How do you measure success for TV campaigns?
We track reach, frequency, and cost per impression delivered. We also integrate TV reporting with connected TV and streaming data so you see the full picture of how your television strategy is performing. Raw reach numbers matter, but so does whether those impressions are hitting your actual target audience. We measure both.
Why not just buy programmatically through a platform?
Programmatic buying works well for digital, but television is different. Direct relationships with stations give us pricing power and access to premium inventory that isn't available through automated platforms. Stations also provide value-added opportunities (sponsorships, bonus inventory, favorable time slots) that only happen through direct negotiation. For television specifically, our approach delivers better rates and better placements than programmatic.

"...Tuesday Digital political consulting firm which has seen considerable success with seemingly underdog candidates."

Rochester Democrat and Chronicle June 28, 2021
Multi-Channel

Related Media Services

Maximize your campaign's reach with a multi-channel advertising strategy.

CTV/OTT Advertising

Reach voters on streaming platforms like YouTube TV, Disney+, Hulu, and Peacock.

Social Media Advertising

Reach voters on Facebook, Instagram, and other social platforms with precision targeting.

Get a TV Advertising Assessment

Television is a powerful tool when it's right for your race. We offer a free television advertising assessment for political campaigns.

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