Political ad tech just got a high-definition upgrade. DIRECTV Advertising has launched DIRECTV Elect, an AI-driven digital platform designed to help political advertisers connect with voters across connected TV (CTV). The new offering builds on DIRECTV’s legacy in addressable TV through D2 Media Sales—only this time, the focus is on the fast-expanding streaming space.
DIRECTV Elect gives campaigns access to CTV inventory spanning DIRECTV and national cable networks, collectively reaching over 130 million monthly active users. For political strategists eager to merge message discipline with modern reach, this platform promises both.
“AI is redefining how political campaigns discover and engage with voters,” said Amy Leifer, Chief Advertising Sales Officer at DIRECTV Advertising. “When that intelligence is complemented by the reach and credibility of television, voters gain clarity and campaigns achieve stronger results.”
AI Meets Voter Intelligence
At the heart of DIRECTV Elect is DIRECTV Advantage, the company’s data solutions suite. It powers voter insight by analyzing millions of signals—from social media sentiment and news cycles to donation patterns and recent voting behaviors. Campaigns can use these insights to refine messaging and target audiences down to zip code, district, or state level, turning big data into actionable media strategy.
For advertisers, the platform blends the credibility of TV with the precision of digital targeting—a balance many political marketers have struggled to strike. It’s an especially timely innovation, with the 2025–2026 election cycle forecast to be the most expensive in U.S. history, expected to top $10.8 billion in political ad spending.
CTV Takes the Spotlight
According to AdImpact’s Political Projections Report, CTV will be the fastest-growing media type, accounting for $2.5 billion in spend—proof that campaigns are following viewers to streaming platforms. DIRECTV Elect taps into this trend by offering access to premium live sports, news, and entertainment inventory, helping campaigns reach the increasingly elusive “undecided voter.”
“Campaigns need to meet voters wherever they are,” said Drew Groner, SVP and Head of Sales and Marketing at DIRECTV Advertising. “This year, live sports are proving to be an especially powerful medium for breaking through.”
Recent data backs up that strategy. Nielsen’s The Gauge report found that streaming now commands 45.2% of total TV watch time, while a DIRECTV survey revealed that 61% of U.S. adults trust political ads on TV more than on social media—a +56% credibility advantage. More than half of respondents also found TV and streaming political ads to be the most persuasive.
In a fragmented media world, DIRECTV Elect aims to unify trust, technology, and targeting. For campaigns chasing influence in a crowded digital arena, that may be the winning formula.
