A Wyoming political campaign is broadcasting advertisements on Colorado's 9NEWS television station ahead of the state's primary election this Tuesday [1, 2].
The strategy highlights how regional media markets often overlap state lines, allowing campaigns to target specific voter blocs through out-of-state broadcasters.
While the advertisements are airing on a Colorado-based station, the broadcast signal reaches viewers in six Wyoming counties [1, 2]. This coverage allows the campaign to target an estimated 32,000 people within those Wyoming jurisdictions [1].
Campaign officials said they are using the station to maximize their visibility before voters head to the polls. The reach of 9NEWS in these specific areas is almost equivalent to one in five Wyoming voters [2].
Because the primary election occurs this Tuesday, the timing of the ad buy is intended to influence late-deciding voters in the border regions [1, 2]. The campaign has not specified the candidate associated with the advertisements [1].
Television markets in the U.S. are frequently designed by signal strength rather than political boundaries. In this instance, the Colorado station serves as a primary news source for residents in the eastern portion of Wyoming, making it a viable tool for local political outreach [1, 2].
“The broadcast signal reaches viewers in six Wyoming counties.”
This incident illustrates the technical reality of 'border markets' in American broadcasting. When a television station's signal spans multiple states, political campaigns can bypass traditional in-state media buys to reach targeted geographic pockets. In a state with a small voting population like Wyoming, accessing a single out-of-state station can provide a disproportionately large percentage of total voter reach.
