Content overview: “Political Ad Spending Still Stuck on TV as Voters Move Online”. Despite years of audience migration to digital platforms, political campaigns continue to pour the vast majority of their advertising budgets into traditional television. While most commercial advertisers shifted strategies long ago, political ad buyers remain stubbornly attached to TV, even as viewership declines and streaming grows. This disconnect means campaigns may be missing key voter segments, particularly younger demographics who are less reachable through broadcast and cable.
The persistence of TV spending reflects habit, risk aversion, and the influence of consultants who profit from traditional media buys. However, as cord-cutting accelerates and digital targeting tools improve, the gap between where voters are and where political ads run is becoming harder to ignore. The next election cycle could be the tipping point—if campaigns finally follow the audience online. The full version stays on the original page, which this listing opens directly.