• by David Goetzl  @dgoetzl, September 22, 2006

Despite some sky-is-falling speculation about the local-station business, Belo Corp. reported yesterday that spot revenue increased 6 percent for August over a year ago. Much of the increase, however, can be attributed to it being a political year.

The $1.4 million in political revenues accounted for 43 percent of the increase--an amount that won't appear in 2007. Belo likely benefited from a recent hotly contested Republican primary for a congressional seat in the Tucson area, where it has a duopoly. It also operates five stations in Texas, which is in the midst of a governor's race. Spot revenue came in at $54 million for August for the company's 19 stations, which include the CBS affiliate in New Orleans, a troubled market after Hurricane Katrina.

Belo said national spot jumped 13 percent for the month over a year ago, but local spot was flat.

Belo also said ad dollars for its station Web sites rose 57 percent for the month versus a year ago.