• by Wayne Friedman , November 7, 2023

Fox Television Stations is starting up a new political advertising unit to address the growing dependence on political advertising revenue for local TV station groups. 

This comes as another Presidential political advertising season for 2024, which could set a high bar, is about to commence. 

AdImpact projects political advertising will hit a record $10.2 billion next year -- 13% higher than the total of $9.02 billion for the 2020 Presidential year. It expects broadcast TV to hit $5.1 billion for the 2024 period.

For Fox Television Stations, Ben Stecker and Walt Lopko will lead all the station group's political advertising-sales efforts. Both will report to Patrick Paolini, executive vice president of ad sales at Fox Television Stations.

Stecker will be vice president of political, issue, and advocacy of advertising sales for Fox Television Stations. He was formerly political sales director for Strategus, a Colorado-based, connected TV-focused media agency. 

Lopko has been promoted to vice president of political regional sales manager for Fox. He has held a number of executive positions at Fox station sales since 2003, and previously worked at CBS Radio/Infinity.