Seven California news stations have not aired a single story about Proposition 61 to educate voters on the measure that would cap state prescription drug prices, despite receiving nearly $1.7 million in ad money from the pharmaceutical industry’s record-breaking $126 million No campaign.
Other California TV stations have aired an average one to three news reports on Proposition 61 during the last month. However, these few stories aren’t enough to balance the $35.3 million in deceptive advertising the pharmaceutical industry had bought on broadcast TV as of October 27, Consumer Watchdog said recently.
The drug companies have spent another $12.6 million advertising on cable, and have reportedly poured millions more into ads during the final days of the election. The Yes on 61 campaign has spent $15 million for its largely grassroots campaign.
A final opportunity for news stations to explain Prop 61 to voters will come on Monday, when Senator Bernie Sanders will appear in Los Angeles and Sacramento at rallies in support of the measure.
The stations that have not run a single story on Proposition 61 received a total $1,678,485 in advertising against Proposition 61. They include:
City/Network
Anti-61 Ad Dollars
San Diego
ABC – KGTV
$258,000
NBC – KNSD
$623,800
Palm Springs
Fox – KDFX
$4,825
ABC – KESQ
$380,940
CBS – KPSP
$109,860
Santa Barbara
NBC – KSBY
$267,100
Bakersfield
FOX – KBFX
$33,960
