April 9, 2002

Statistics of the Free Air Time Campaign

Local television and radio stations take in more than $64 billion a year in advertising revenue. Free time for candidates will have a minimal impact on their huge profit margins.

In the 2000 election campaign, just four stations in Chicago aired more than 7,000 political ads and took in more than $14 million from the campaigns. About one-half of that ($7.4 million) was spent at WLS-TV. Add in the money spent downstate and with radio throughout Illinois and you get a better picture of just how profitable campaigns are for the broadcast industry.

Of the 435 congressional races in 2000, the typical winner out-spent the typical loser by a nearly 3 to 1 margin. In one-fifth of the races there was no opponent on the ballot. Of the incumbents who sought reelection, more than 98 percent won.

Copyright ©2002 by The Illinois Campaign for Political Reform. All rights reserved.