• by Karlene Lukovitz  @KLmarketdaily, November 9, 2020

Total national ad revenue declined by 7% in this year’s first nine months, according to SMI.

While national news advertising revenue is up 14%, sports as a whole saw a drop of 18%, per SMI stats first reported by Broadcasting + Cable.

National Football League ad revenue is actually up 8% versus last year’s first nine months.

But NCAA football, which had conferences delay their starts until October or cancel their seasons, is down 41%.

Major League Baseball is down 40%.

The National Hockey League and tennis are each down 31%, golf is down 24%, the National Basketball Association is down 22%, and soccer (which last year had the benefit of the women’s World Cup tournament) is down 66%.

NCAA basketball, which had its season cancelled outright, is down 83%.