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Political ad spend hits record $11.6B for 2026 midterms, CTV takes 23% share

AdImpact projects $11.6 billion in 2026 midterm political ad spend, the most expensive midterm cycle on record, with CTV reaching $2.7 billion — 23% of total spend. Campaigns are pairing linear reach with streaming precision rather than choosing one.

Why it matters. Streaming platforms and local news/sports inventory owners capture a growing, dedicated slice of political budgets that once went entirely to broadcast.

Signal from TVREV · Patrick Charland · read the original.

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