Trump Buys Iowa TV Ad Time

Donald Trump, who has ridden to first place in the GOP presidential race primarily on earned media (news coverage of his boisterous candidacy), is starting to put some TV money where his mouth is.

Trump, who has bragged about spending nothing on ads compared to the millions ponied up by his opponents, signaled last week he would be launching ad buys in Iowa--targeting the caucus there.

According to the FCC online political file of Fox affiliate KLJB Davenport, Iowa, dated 3:17 on Jan. 4, the Trump campaign bought 31 spots totaling $6,300 to run Jan. 6-12 in news and syndicated runs of Big Bang Theory, Mike & Molly and Two Broke Girls in various dayparts.

Perhaps looking to amplify the TV ad with earned media exposure, the Trump campaign posted the ad, titled "Great Again," atop its Web site.

The ad doubles down on his pledges to get ISIS and take its oil, build a wall at the Southern border that Mexico WILL pay for and keep Muslim immigrants out of the country temporarily.

John Eggerton

Contributing editor John Eggerton has been an editor and/or writer on media regulation, legislation and policy for over four decades, including covering the FCC, FTC, Congress, the major media trade associations, and the federal courts. In addition to Multichannel News and Broadcasting + Cable, his work has appeared in Radio World, TV Technology, TV Fax, This Week in Consumer Electronics, Variety and the Encyclopedia Britannica.