Why are political campaigns so expensive?
Also in Tattle: Victorias Secret, Bruce Springsteen tickets, Matthew Morrison and President Obama
LOCAL BROADCAST TELEVISION stations gobbled up almost $3 billion in political advertising revenue during the 2012 elections.
Four years later, the Television Bureau of Advertising yesterday began a public-relations campaign called "We get voters." It features commercials, a website and sponsorship of political events, including one at next week's Republican presidential debate in Las Vegas.
"Our goal is to send a reminder that television will be the key medium to reaching any voter," said Steve Lanzano, CEO of TVB. He said their campaign is aimed at political operatives - and the donors who pay their salaries.
Psssst . . . You know what format really reaches voters?
Newspapers.
Do you think anyone watching "Supergirl" in Northeast Philly wants to see four commercials in a row for some South Jersey congressional race? That remote, you know, has a fast forward button.
The other TBA, Tattle Bureau of Advertising is starting our own campaign to reach presidential candidates: "You have no new ideas, why advertise in new media?"
If you want your candidate to win, advertise with a strip ad below.
TATTBITS
* In important global non-news, the Huffington Post reported that there has never been an Asian Victoria's Secret Angel.
And the Tiger Mom rejoiced.
* Weeks after New York attorney general Eric Schneiderman went after daily sports fantasy sites such as FanDuel and Draft Kings, he is looking into whether "speculative" ticket listings for Bruce Springsteen's 2016 tour on ticket resale sites constitute deceptive advertising.
Schneiderman has sent letters to StubHub, TicketNetwork and Vivid Seats asking about the practice of offering seats on secondary markets when the seller may not possess the tickets.
Tickets for Springsteen's tour don't go on sale until Friday. But hundreds of seats have already been listed for up to $5,000 or more on resale sites.
A TicketNetwork spokesman says the company has voluntarily taken down any ticket listings for the concerts until Friday. Vivid Seats says it has a goal of ensuring a positive ticket-buying experience.
StubHub says it's reviewing the letter but has no reason to believe there are "speculative tickets" on its site.
* Matthew Morrison is giving himself the hook on Broadway.
The former "Glee" star will take his final bow Jan. 24 in "Finding Neverland," a new musical about the origin of the Peter Pan story. There was no word on who will replace him.
Morrison plays J.M. Barrie, the "Peter Pan" author, in the adaptation from the 2004 whimsical film of the same name about a widow whose four young sons inspired Barrie to write the children's classic.
* It's the start of awards season and President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama have named their bests of 2015 for People magazine.
The president's favorite song is "How Much a Dollar Cost" by Kendrick Lamar. Michelle's is "Uptown Funk" from Bruno Mars and Mark Ronson.
The president's favorite movie was "The Martian." The first lady's was "Inside Out."
Her favorite book is The Light of the World, a novel about marriage by by family friend Elizabeth Alexander. His is another marriage tome, Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff.
Except in Internet chat rooms, where his favorite book is the Quran.
- Daily News wire services
contributed to this report.
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