A Weekly Inventory Intelligence Report
Welcome to the Midterm Countdown, your weekly look at political ad spending and premium Connected TV (CTV) availability across key states shaping the 2026 election.
Each week, we’ll highlight where spending is picking up, where inventory pressure is building, and what agencies should be watching as campaigns compete with football, fall programming, and national advertisers for premium inventory. Here’s what we’re seeing this week:
This Week’s Inventory Snapshot
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Michigan: Political pressure is already significant
From June 15 through August 9, approximately $76.5 million had already been spent in Michigan’s Senate race, making it the most expensive Senate advertising contest in the country at that point. New general-election campaigns are also entering the market, including a recently announced $1.5 million CTV and YouTube campaign from August 27 through September 14. For Michigan advertisers, waiting means more competition for premium CTV inventory.
Pennsylvania: Fall demand is already building
Pennsylvania is one of the markets where waiting may carry the most risk. Two outside groups have reportedly reserved about $33.5 million in Pennsylvania media, including roughly $6.4 million in Harrisburg. Demand is already building before the usual late-cycle surge. Launching earlier can help campaigns access stronger inventory before September and October, when demand intensifies.
What This Means for Premium CTV
Competition for premium inventory is building as political campaigns, football, fall programming, and national advertisers compete for the same high-value CTV supply. For agencies planning September and October campaigns, moving earlier can mean greater flexibility and better access.
TargetSmart helps advertisers reach priority audiences with premium CTV inventory for all 50 states, so now is the time to get campaigns live before competition increases.
Planning September or October campaigns? Talk to TargetSmart about launching earlier and making the most of the inventory available now.
Stay tuned for more.
A Weekly Inventory Intelligence Report
Welcome to the Midterm Countdown, your weekly look at political ad spending and premium Connected TV (CTV) availability across key states shaping the 2026 election.
Each week, we’ll highlight where spending is picking up, where inventory pressure is building, and what agencies should be watching as campaigns compete with football, fall programming, and national advertisers for premium inventory. Here’s what we’re seeing this week:
This Week’s Inventory Snapshot
|
|
Michigan: Political pressure is already significant
From June 15 through August 9, approximately $76.5 million had already been spent in Michigan’s Senate race, making it the most expensive Senate advertising contest in the country at that point. New general-election campaigns are also entering the market, including a recently announced $1.5 million CTV and YouTube campaign from August 27 through September 14. For Michigan advertisers, waiting means more competition for premium CTV inventory.
Pennsylvania: Fall demand is already building
Pennsylvania is one of the markets where waiting may carry the most risk. Two outside groups have reportedly reserved about $33.5 million in Pennsylvania media, including roughly $6.4 million in Harrisburg. Demand is already building before the usual late-cycle surge. Launching earlier can help campaigns access stronger inventory before September and October, when demand intensifies.
What This Means for Premium CTV
Competition for premium inventory is building as political campaigns, football, fall programming, and national advertisers compete for the same high-value CTV supply. For agencies planning September and October campaigns, moving earlier can mean greater flexibility and better access.
TargetSmart helps advertisers reach priority audiences with premium CTV inventory for all 50 states, so now is the time to get campaigns live before competition increases.
Planning September or October campaigns? Talk to TargetSmart about launching earlier and making the most of the inventory available now.
Stay tuned for more.
