How it works
You send a finished video, the area you want to reach, and your ad budget. We pick the platform that fits your race and state, set up the political ad account, and send your video in for the platform's review. Your campaign's card pays the platform directly for the ads, and we never hold your ad money.
We target the ads by ZIP code. Some platforms also take a whole state or a TV market, which is the area local TV stations cover. ZIP codes do not follow city or district lines, so some ads will reach people who live just outside your race. We pick the ZIP codes that best cover your district.
- Ads play inside TV apps on smart TVs and streaming devices
- Your card pays the ad platform directly
- Targeted by ZIP code
- You see the plan and the fees before anything runs
Which platform we use
Not every platform takes every race. Each one has its own rules for political ads, so we pick the one that fits your race and state, and we tell you which one before you pay.
Roku takes local, state, and federal political ads. It asks for at least $500 per campaign, and its review of each video takes 2 to 3 business days.
Universal Ads by Comcast has no minimum of its own and usually takes about 2 to 3 business days to go live. It lets an agency like VoterFile run political ads for a committee. We still ask for at least $500 in ads on any platform, so your ad is seen enough to matter.
YouTube runs through Google Ads in your campaign's own account, and it plays on TV screens too. The same account can also run banner ads on websites. For a California race, Google has to verify your committee first, which can take up to 10 business days, so if time is short we use Roku instead. Google does not allow ads about local races in New Jersey.
Sources: Roku: Political ads · Universal Ads: Political advocacy ads · Google: Political content
What your video needs
Send a finished video that is 15 or 30 seconds long and in wide TV shape, which is 16:9. A vertical phone video made for Facebook will not work. We do not make the video. We check it against the platform's rules before it goes in for review and tell you if anything needs to change.
The video must show the "Paid for by" line the law requires, on screen for at least 4 seconds. Some states, including California and Oregon, have their own wording rules for video ads, so your campaign's treasurer signs off on the wording.
The platform reviews each video before it runs and can turn one down. If that happens, we tell you what to fix and send it again, but no one can promise a platform will approve every video.
- 15 or 30 seconds long
- Wide TV shape (16:9), not a vertical phone video
- "Paid for by" line on screen for at least 4 seconds
- Disclaimer wording signed off by your treasurer
Deadlines before Election Day
Each platform reviews the account and the video before ads run, so allow a few business days. For the November 3 election, start by Friday, October 16 to be safe. If Universal Ads takes your race, it can still work if you start by about Monday, October 19.
Most voters in California and Oregon vote by mail, so earlier is better. Ads that start sooner reach more people before they fill out their ballots.
Pricing
Our fee is $299 to set up the political ad account, the audience, and your first ads, plus 12 percent of your ad spend for managing them, at least $75. Your ad spend is separate and goes straight to the platform on your campaign's card. The minimum ad budget is $500.
For example, if you spend $1,000 on ads, the platform charges your card $1,000 and our fees come to $419.
The platforms do not publish what political ads cost per view, so no one can promise a number of views before your ads run. Once they run, your weekly report shows how many times they were shown.
What you see while ads run
Each week while your ads run, we send a short report with how many times the ads were shown and what you spent. You get a final report when the ads end.
Your voter list stays off these platforms
Some campaigns want their ads shown only to the voters on their file. We never upload voter files to streaming TV platforms. We target by ZIP code instead.
What we need from you
Tell us the area you want to reach, your ad budget, and your election date. Then send the video and your committee's details. Your campaign pays the platform with its own card.
- A finished 15 or 30 second video in wide TV shape (16:9)
- The committee's name, address, and committee ID or EIN (federal tax ID)
- A card for the ad platform, with at least $500 for ads
- Your treasurer's sign-off on the "Paid for by" wording
Prefer to start by email?
Send the state, race, the ZIP codes you want to reach, your ad budget, and your election date. We reply with the platform that fits your race and the exact fees for your budget.
Example costs
Examples using the published pricing. Ad spend goes to the platform on your card. Our fees are separate.
| Ad spend | Our fees | Total |
|---|---|---|
| $500 of ads | $374 | $874 |
| $1,000 of ads | $419 | $1,419 |
| $3,000 of ads | $659 | $3,659 |
From a campaign we added phone numbers for
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Find out which platform fits your race and what it would cost.
Tell us the area you want to reach, your ad budget, and your election date. We send a plan with the platform that fits your race and state and the exact fees for your budget.
Questions
How much do streaming TV ads cost for a campaign?
Our fee is $299 for setup plus 12 percent of your ad spend for managing the ads, at least $75. The minimum ad budget is $500, and it goes to the platform on your campaign's card. If you spend $1,000 on ads, the platform charges you $1,000 and our fees come to $419.
How many people will see my ads?
No one can promise a number before the ads run. The platforms do not publish what political ads cost per view. Once your ads run, the weekly report shows how many times they were shown.
Which platform will my ads run on?
The one that fits your race and state. Roku takes local, state, and federal political ads with a $500 minimum. Universal Ads by Comcast has no minimum of its own and lets an agency like us run political ads for a committee. We still ask for at least $500 in ads on any platform, so your ad is seen enough to matter. YouTube runs in your campaign's own Google Ads account. We tell you which one we picked before you pay.
Do you make the video?
No. You send a finished 15 or 30 second video in wide TV shape (16:9), with the "Paid for by" line on screen for at least 4 seconds. A vertical phone video made for Facebook will not work. We check it against the platform's rules before it goes in for review.
How fast can my ads start?
Roku reviews each video in 2 to 3 business days. Universal Ads usually takes about 2 to 3 business days to go live. For a California race on YouTube, Google's verification can take up to 10 business days. For the November 3 election, start by Friday, October 16 to be safe.
Who pays for the ads?
Your campaign does, directly, with its own card. Our fees are separate, and we never hold your ad money.
Can we target the voters on our voter file?
No. We never upload voter files to streaming TV platforms. We target by ZIP code, which reaches homes in your area. ZIP codes do not follow district lines, so some ads reach people just outside your race.
Does this work outside California?
Yes, in most states. Each platform sets its own rules by state. Google does not allow ads about local races in New Jersey, so there we use Roku. We check the rules for your state and race before you pay. The price is the same everywhere.