Public File: Political TV Ad Contracts Now Available Online
Meanwhile, Duke Aiona returns to the airwaves and Sen. Brian Schatz continues to outspend Rep. Colleen Hanabusa in the Democratic senatorial primary.
Editor’s Note:ÌýCivil BeatÌýis tracking how much money is being spent on political candidates and issues.ÌýThe Public FileÌýis a weeklyÌýseries that looks at records kept by network and cable stations in Honolulu showing ad buys made by campaigns and political committees. The records, which are required to be made publicÌý, are now posted on the stations’ websites.
Check out our Ad Watch series, too, in which Civil Beat political writers review the latest political spots airing on TV and the Internet.
It used to be that in order to access the public file on TV political ads, someone (i.e., a Civil Beat reporter) had to go to each station and sift through mountains of manila folders holding hard copies of contracts.
As of July 1, KHON, KITV, KGMB, KHNL and KITV are required to make theirÌýcontracts with political candidatesÌýaccessible .
From the website, you canÌýinput a television station into the search box and, by selecting the icon with a star on it, access the political file for that station, broken down by year and electoralÌýrace.
Beginning July 1, the public file for all major Hawaii television stations can be accessed online via the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) website.
flickr: Hillary
Online access not only saves time, it also savesÌýmoney.
While the information is public, copies of the stations’Ìýdocuments don’t come free.
KHON, KITV, KGMB, KHNL, and KITVÌýcharge approximately 25 cents a page. At the rate candidates have been buying, those contracts can be lengthy.
With online access, anyone can see how much candidates are spending and it’s free. But Civil Beat will continue to analyze the numbers for you and supply easy links to the details.
July saw the return of ad buys by former Lt. Gov. Duke Aiona, who isÌýrunning for governor. The Republican purchased eight spots, all of which will air during KHON newscasts at a total cost of $5,850.
Gov. Neil Abercrombie continued his steady purchase of ad space, buying 213 spots for a total of $31,980. He spent $900 on a spot duringÌýKHON’s broadcast of “Wheel of Fortune” and $1,000 on aÌýspot during KHON’s 6 p.m. evening news. His main Democratic primary opponent, state Sen. David Ige, is still a no-show on TV ads.
TheÌýtight race for theÌýDemocratic U.S. Senate nominationÌýis inspiring continued ad buys from both U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa and Sen. Brian Schatz.
SchatzÌýcontinues to outspend Hanabusa. He spent $92,935 on 396 spots to be broadcastÌýon KITV, KHNL, KGMB, KFVE and KHON from July 7 through July 13.
Schatz’s most expensive spots, $2,000 apiece,Ìýair during KHON’s 6 p.m. evening news next week and during the popular television drama “24.” He continues to dish out $800 for spots on “Bachelorette,” “Mistresses” and “Rookie Blue” on KITV andÌýhas also bought $400 spots on KITV’s “Celebrity Wife Swap.”
The senator has spent more than $615,000 since the beginning of June.
Hanabusa has spent $339,710 since May 19.
For the period from July 7Ìýthrough July 13, Hanabusa has spent $28,425 on a total ofÌý 67 spots.ÌýLike the other candidates who bought ad time this week, Hanabusa’s most expensive buys are during news broadcasts, with her most expensive spot, $1,200, airing during KHON’s 10 p.m. evening news.
Links to the individual contracts:
ABERCROMBIE:
AIONA:
HANABUSA:
SCHATZ:
