Op NH Update

[skiingff]

Ok, a not so quick update on Operation New Hampshire.

Edit: For those of you that have been redirected here from the Op NH website (http://www.operationnh.com), this is the current information page until I get more links up and running; the site is under construction. Thanks.

Funding
If everyone lives up to their pledges, we have nearly 25% of this project funded. That's $3,500 of $15,000. Once we collect on at least $15,000, I will donate my $5,000 (the maximum legally allowed) and we will put at least $20,000 worth of Ron Paul ads on the air.

Ads
A couple different ads are currently in the works. Tomorrow we will get in the winning script to our producers out in L.A. to start working on it for the professional ad. We're also seeing what we can do for other possible ads.

Ad Buy and Scope
Each $20 people donate will buy 1 more Ron Paul ad for cable TV, on networks such as CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, Comedy Central, MTV, TNT, Spike TV, History Channel, etc etc. That means in effect your $100 donation secures us at LEAST 5 Ron Paul TV ads that will be aired in a coverage area in New Hampshire that covers over 600,000 NH residents (HALF of New Hampshire) and over 30,000 Maine residents (some of the NH cable markets extend into Maine, but since Maine is also an early primary, it's good exposure for Paul).

Below, you will see a list of New Hampshire cable markets followed by the average cost for a TV spot in that market and the market's efficiency rating (the lower the better; the efficiency rating is actually average cost per ad divided by number of residents that reside in that market's coverage area. So it's basically the average cost in a fraction of a cent to show the ad to everyone in that coverage area, assuming everyone in that coverage area has cable and watches the ad) . The markets in ORANGE are the ones we're targeting due to high cost efficiency and number of people.

Manchester Cable Market
Auburn, NH – 5,000
Candia, NH – 4,000
Goffstown, NH – 17,000
Manchester, NH – 110,000
Hooksett, NH – 12,000
Bedford, NH – 2,000
Total = 150,000
$21.29/ad
0.000142

Nashua Cable Market
Nashua, NH – 90,000
Total = 90,000
$17.76/ad
0.000197

Concord Cable Market
Canterbury, NH – 2,000
Contoocook, NH – 1,500
Epsom, NH – 4,000
Henniker, NH – 4,500
Hillsboro, NH – 5,000
Chichester, NH – 2,500
Suncook, NH – 5,500
Weare, NH – 8,500
Concord, NH – 42,000
Bow, NH – 7,000
Loudon, NH – 5,000
Antrim, NH – 2,500
Total = 90,000
$13.78/ad
0.000153

Chesterfield Cable Market
Chesterfield, NH – 3,500
Spofford, NH – 3,500???
Westmoreland, NH – 2,000
Total = 9,000
$5.20/ad
0.000578

Keene Cable Market
Keene, NH – 23,000
Swanzey, NH – 7,000
Marlborough, NH – 2,000
West Swanzey, NH – 1,000
Winchester, NH – 4,000
Total = 37,000
$9.35/ad
0.000253

Laconia Cable Market
Deerfield, NH – 4,000
Barnstead, NH – 4,000
Belmont, NH – 7,000
Bristol, NH – 3,000
Center Harbor, NH – 1,000
Epsom, NH – 4,000
Franklin, NH – 8,500
Gilmanton, NH – 3,000
Hebron, NH – 500
Laconia, NH – 16,500
Meredith, NH – 6,000
New Hampton, NH – 2,000
Northwood, NH – 4,000
Pittsfield, NH – 4,000
Tilton, NH – 3,500
Alton, NH – 4,500
New Durham, NH – 2,500
Strafford, NH – 4,000
Wolfeboro, NH – 6,000
Total = 88,000
$19.87/ad
0.000226

Merrimack/Londonderry Cable Market
Amherst, NH – 11,000
Chester, NH – 4,000
Francestown, NH – 1,500
Greenville, NH – 2,500
Hudson, NH – 23,000
Litchfield, NH – 8,000
Londonderry, NH – 24,000
Merrimack, NH – 25,000
Milford, NH – 13,500
Mont Vernon, NH – 2,000
New Boston, NH – 4,000
New Ipswich, NH – 4,500
Pelham, NH – 12,500
Temple, NH – 1,500
Wilton, NH – 4,000
Windham, NH – 11,000
Bennington, NH – 1,500
Hancock, NH – 2,000
Jaffrey, NH – 5,500
Peterborough, NH – 6,000
Atkinson, NH – 6,000
Danville, NH – 4,000
Kingston, NH – 6,000
Newton, NH – 4,500
Total = 188,000
$24.30/ad
0.000129

Rochester/Sanford Cable Market
Center Strafford, NH – ???
Barrington, NH – 7,500
Farmington, NH – 6,000
Rochester, NH – 30,000
Milton, NH – 4,000
Strafford, NH – 4,000
Acton, ME – 2,000
Lebanon, ME – 5,000
Sanford, ME – 21,000
Shapleigh, ME – 2,500
Total= 51,500 (NH); 30,500 (ME)
$11.84/ad
0.000144

Salem Cable Market
Derry, NH – 35,000
Salem, NH – 28,000
East Hampstead, NH – ???
Hampstead, NH – ???
Plaistow, NH – 8,000
Sandown, NH – 5,000
Total = 76,000
$16.19/ad
0.000213

Seacoast Cable Market
Epping, NH – 5,500
Fremont, NH – 3,500
Raymond, NH – 10,000
Nottingham, NH – 4,000
Portsmouth, NH – 21,000
Dover, NH – 27,000
Durham, NH – 13,000
East Kingston, NH – 2,000
Exeter, NH – 14,000
Greenland, NH – 3,500
Hampton, NH – 15,000
Hampton Falls, NH – 2,000
New Castle, NH – 1,000
Newfields, NH – 1,500
Newmarket, NH – 8,000
North Hampton, NH – 4,500
Rollinsford, NH – 2,500
Rye, NH – 5,000
Seabrook, NH – 8,000
Somersworth, NH – 11,500
Stratham, NH – 6,500
Berwick, ME – 6,500
Eliot, ME – 6,000
Kittery, ME – 9,500
South Berwick, ME – 7,000
Total = 170,000 (NH); 30,000 (ME)
$26.88/ad
0.000135 (0.000158 w/o ME population)

Littleton Cable Market
Littleton, NH – 6,000
Bethlehem, NH – 2,000
Franconia, NH – 1,000
Lisbon, NH – 1,500
Twin Mountain, NH – 250
Bath, NH – 1,000
Monroe, NH – 750
Total = 12,500
$7.61/ad
0.000609

Berlin Cable Market
Berlin, NH – 10,000
Gorham, NH – 3,000
Groveton, NH – 1,000
Lancaster, NH – 3,250
Whitefield, NH – 2,000
Total = 19,250
$4.21/ad
0.000219

Conway Cable Market
Moultonborough, NH – 4,500
Bartlett, NH – 3,000
Center Tuftonboro, NH – 2,000
Conway, NH – 8,500
Eaton Center, NH – 375
Jackson, NH – 1,000
Madison, NH – 2,000
North Conway, NH – 2,000
Ossipee, NH – 4,000
Tamworth, NH – 2,500
Fryeburg, ME – 3,000
Total = 30,000 (NH); 3,000 (ME)
$5.45/ad
0.000165

We're only targeting these 4 specific markets so we can get as many ads as possible running as frequently as possible and seen by as many people as possible. We will saturate them in these specific markets rather than spread them out over the whole state (people need to see these over and over again in order for them to be effective, so spreading them out thin would do us no good). Even though 4 markets is pushing it, (2 or 3 would theoretically be better), our $20,000 will buy us approximately 1,200 spots over a specified time period (most likely 3 weeks). In 3 weeks, that equates to 400 spots per week, spread across 4 different markets, which equates to 100 spots per market per week, spread across the different channels we want to air them on in each market. I know, it's complex, but hey, I tried.

-- End update --

Comments?

-

[happyphilter]

are these ads gonna be run by RP HQ first? I thought it might be a good idea...you know the whore "im ron paul and I approve this message" sorta thing

[skiingff]

are these ads gonna be run by RP HQ first? I thought it might be a good idea...you know the whore "im ron paul and I approve this message" sorta thing

Nope. That would be illegal.

[john_anderson_ii]

are these ads gonna be run by RP HQ first? I thought it might be a good idea...you know the whore "im ron paul and I approve this message" sorta thing

I think a s/whore/whole/g is appropriate for the above post ;) Otherwise the message changes dramatically.

[mtmedlin]

Ok, a not so quick update on Operation New Hampshire.

Funding
If everyone lives up to their pledges, we have nearly 25% of this project funded. That's $3,500 of $15,000. Once we collect on at least $15,000, I will donate my $5,000 (the maximum legally allowed) and we will put at least $20,000 worth of Ron Paul ads on the air.

Ads
A couple different ads are currently in the works. Tomorrow we will get in the winning script to our producers out in L.A. to start working on it for the professional ad. We're also seeing what we can do for other possible ads.

Ad Buy and Scope
Each $20 people donate will buy 1 more Ron Paul ad for cable TV, on networks such as CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, Comedy Central, MTV, TNT, Spike TV, History Channel, etc etc. That means in effect your $100 donation secures us at LEAST 5 Ron Paul TV ads that will be aired in a coverage area in New Hampshire that covers over 600,000 NH residents (HALF of New Hampshire) and over 30,000 Maine residents (some of the NH cable markets extend into Maine, but since Maine is also an early primary, it's good exposure for Paul).

Below, you will see a list of New Hampshire cable markets followed by the average cost for a TV spot in that market and the market's efficiency rating (the lower the better; the efficiency rating is actually average cost per ad divided by number of residents that reside in that market's coverage area. So it's basically the average cost in a fraction of a cent to show the ad to everyone in that coverage area, assuming everyone in that coverage area has cable and watches the ad) . The markets in ORANGE are the ones we're targeting due to high cost efficiency and number of people.

Manchester Cable Market
Auburn, NH – 5,000
Candia, NH – 4,000
Goffstown, NH – 17,000
Manchester, NH – 110,000
Hooksett, NH – 12,000
Bedford, NH – 2,000
Total = 150,000
$21.29/ad
0.000142

Nashua Cable Market
Nashua, NH – 90,000
Total = 90,000
$17.76/ad
0.000197

Concord Cable Market
Canterbury, NH – 2,000
Contoocook, NH – 1,500
Epsom, NH – 4,000
Henniker, NH – 4,500
Hillsboro, NH – 5,000
Chichester, NH – 2,500
Suncook, NH – 5,500
Weare, NH – 8,500
Concord, NH – 42,000
Bow, NH – 7,000
Loudon, NH – 5,000
Antrim, NH – 2,500
Total = 90,000
$13.78/ad
0.000153

Chesterfield Cable Market
Chesterfield, NH – 3,500
Spofford, NH – 3,500???
Westmoreland, NH – 2,000
Total = 9,000
$5.20/ad
0.000578

Keene Cable Market
Keene, NH – 23,000
Swanzey, NH – 7,000
Marlborough, NH – 2,000
West Swanzey, NH – 1,000
Winchester, NH – 4,000
Total = 37,000
$9.35/ad
0.000253

Laconia Cable Market
Deerfield, NH – 4,000
Barnstead, NH – 4,000
Belmont, NH – 7,000
Bristol, NH – 3,000
Center Harbor, NH – 1,000
Epsom, NH – 4,000
Franklin, NH – 8,500
Gilmanton, NH – 3,000
Hebron, NH – 500
Laconia, NH – 16,500
Meredith, NH – 6,000
New Hampton, NH – 2,000
Northwood, NH – 4,000
Pittsfield, NH – 4,000
Tilton, NH – 3,500
Alton, NH – 4,500
New Durham, NH – 2,500
Strafford, NH – 4,000
Wolfeboro, NH – 6,000
Total = 88,000
$19.87/ad
0.000226

Merrimack/Londonderry Cable Market
Amherst, NH – 11,000
Chester, NH – 4,000
Francestown, NH – 1,500
Greenville, NH – 2,500
Hudson, NH – 23,000
Litchfield, NH – 8,000
Londonderry, NH – 24,000
Merrimack, NH – 25,000
Milford, NH – 13,500
Mont Vernon, NH – 2,000
New Boston, NH – 4,000
New Ipswich, NH – 4,500
Pelham, NH – 12,500
Temple, NH – 1,500
Wilton, NH – 4,000
Windham, NH – 11,000
Bennington, NH – 1,500
Hancock, NH – 2,000
Jaffrey, NH – 5,500
Peterborough, NH – 6,000
Atkinson, NH – 6,000
Danville, NH – 4,000
Kingston, NH – 6,000
Newton, NH – 4,500
Total = 188,000
$24.30/ad
0.000129

Rochester/Sanford Cable Market
Center Strafford, NH – ???
Barrington, NH – 7,500
Farmington, NH – 6,000
Rochester, NH – 30,000
Milton, NH – 4,000
Strafford, NH – 4,000
Acton, ME – 2,000
Lebanon, ME – 5,000
Sanford, ME – 21,000
Shapleigh, ME – 2,500
Total= 51,500 (NH); 30,500 (ME)
$11.84/ad
0.000144

Salem Cable Market
Derry, NH – 35,000
Salem, NH – 28,000
East Hampstead, NH – ???
Hampstead, NH – ???
Plaistow, NH – 8,000
Sandown, NH – 5,000
Total = 76,000
$16.19/ad
0.000213

Seacoast Cable Market
Epping, NH – 5,500
Fremont, NH – 3,500
Raymond, NH – 10,000
Nottingham, NH – 4,000
Portsmouth, NH – 21,000
Dover, NH – 27,000
Durham, NH – 13,000
East Kingston, NH – 2,000
Exeter, NH – 14,000
Greenland, NH – 3,500
Hampton, NH – 15,000
Hampton Falls, NH – 2,000
New Castle, NH – 1,000
Newfields, NH – 1,500
Newmarket, NH – 8,000
North Hampton, NH – 4,500
Rollinsford, NH – 2,500
Rye, NH – 5,000
Seabrook, NH – 8,000
Somersworth, NH – 11,500
Stratham, NH – 6,500
Berwick, ME – 6,500
Eliot, ME – 6,000
Kittery, ME – 9,500
South Berwick, ME – 7,000
Total = 170,000 (NH); 30,000 (ME)
$26.88/ad
0.000135 (0.000158 w/o ME population)

Littleton Cable Market
Littleton, NH – 6,000
Bethlehem, NH – 2,000
Franconia, NH – 1,000
Lisbon, NH – 1,500
Twin Mountain, NH – 250
Bath, NH – 1,000
Monroe, NH – 750
Total = 12,500
$7.61/ad
0.000609

Berlin Cable Market
Berlin, NH – 10,000
Gorham, NH – 3,000
Groveton, NH – 1,000
Lancaster, NH – 3,250
Whitefield, NH – 2,000
Total = 19,250
$4.21/ad
0.000219

Conway Cable Market
Moultonborough, NH – 4,500
Bartlett, NH – 3,000
Center Tuftonboro, NH – 2,000
Conway, NH – 8,500
Eaton Center, NH – 375
Jackson, NH – 1,000
Madison, NH – 2,000
North Conway, NH – 2,000
Ossipee, NH – 4,000
Tamworth, NH – 2,500
Fryeburg, ME – 3,000
Total = 30,000 (NH); 3,000 (ME)
$5.45/ad
0.000165

We're only targeting these 4 specific markets so we can get as many ads as possible running as frequently as possible and seen by as many people as possible. We will saturate them in these specific markets rather than spread them out over the whole state (people need to see these over and over again in order for them to be effective, so spreading them out thin would do us no good). Even though 4 markets is pushing it, (2 or 3 would theoretically be better), our $20,000 will buy us approximately 1,200 spots over a specified time period (most likely 3 weeks). In 3 weeks, that equates to 400 spots per week, spread across 4 different markets, which equates to 100 spots per market per week, spread across the different channels we want to air them on in each market. I know, it's complex, but hey, I tried.

-- End update --

Comments?

-

Absolutely awesome. Are we going to be able to run these about the time of the New Hampshire debate or are we going for asap, to get the name recognition?
Either way, I want to say I really appreciate you guys taking the lead on this and I will try to spread the word to the local RP meetup groups and see if we can take up a donation to help meet our goals.

[billm317]

Ok, a not so quick update on Operation New Hampshire.
Ads
A couple different ads are currently in the works. Tomorrow we will get in the winning script to our producers out in L.A. to start working on it for the professional ad. We're also seeing what we can do for other possible ads.
-

Is there a link to the ads?

[Santana28]

Sounds good. So roughly.... how many times a day will the ad air PER CHANNEL?

I completely understand the saturation thing, but playing the ad once an hour on every channel for 3 weeks in a row might actually annoy people more than make them sympathetic, no matter how wonderful the final product :)

Do you have the numbers on that?

Awesome job BTW. I've got a good pledge coming :)

[skiingff]

Absolutely awesome. Are we going to be able to run these about the time of the New Hampshire debate or are we going for asap, to get the name recognition?
Either way, I want to say I really appreciate you guys taking the lead on this and I will try to spread the word to the local RP meetup groups and see if we can take up a donation to help meet our goals.

ASAP, so the people of New Hampshire know who to look for in the debates ;)

No, but name recognition is crucial at this point in the campaign. If people in New Hampshire (and throughout the nation for that matter) STILL don't know who Ron Paul is come October, it's all but over. I'm definitely no naysayer, but the time for action is NOW. We need to start postcard campaigns, TV and radio campaigns, and get the message spread in the masses. Starting this a month or two before the first votes are cast isn't going to work. It takes time for things to soak into people's heads . The media has been lamblasting us about Romney and Guiliani for months, it's time we start a grassroots effort to lamblast them about Paul. Given the alternative candidate (Ron Paul), I think many people will be open to his message. They are tired of politics as usual. It's our job to remind them of that, and then present our alternative so they can take action.

We need a centralized, well-coordinated national effort to target the early primary states:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republican_Party_%28United_States%29_presidential_ primaries%2C_2008

Phase One: Early Primaries and Caucuses

* Monday, January 14, 2008 - Iowa (41)
* Tuesday, January 15, 2008 - Michigan (61)
* Saturday, January 19, 2008 - Nevada (34), South Carolina (47)
* Tuesday January 22, 2008 - New Hampshire (24), Wyoming (12 of 28)
* Tuesday, January 29, 2008 - Florida (114)
* Saturday, February 2, 2008 - Maine (21)

Don't forget, New Hampshire will move theirs up, as state law says theirs must be the first primary in the nation, right after the Iowa caucus. Wyoming has vowed to make theirs the same day as New Hampshires, whatever that date end up being. I wouldn't be surprised if everyone else keeps pushing theirs up as well and we end up casting votes in December 2007.

But anyway, this is the most up-to-date information we have to work with. Eight states. We need a national effort to focus on these eight states, ESPECIALLY Iowa, New Hampshire, Michigan, and South Carolina. Unfortunately, I can only focus on New Hampshire for now, and get some ads in Maine as well (extended from NH cable markets). Iowa will be next, because we need SOMEWHAT of a good showing in Iowa to have the momentum to take NH, then go on and take the rest of the states. But my philosophy is if we pour a TON of effort into Iowa and even MORE into New Hampshire, and even if we don't take Iowa but we take NH (we need an all-out effort in NH), then the momentum from NH will be enough to start carrying us.

As to the question of how many commercials per TV channel, we won't over-saturate. We will make our point known, continue to make our point known, but not over-indulge. That's why we plan to air them on different TV channels, which will also help us reach out to different people and demographics.

[mtmedlin]

The earlier you can get a sample of the commercial the easier we can raise money from our groups. $200 from 100 different meetup groups would cover our costs and I know we can get at least five of the meetup groups next to me to do that much money and probably more.

[Thom1776]

are these ads gonna be run by RP HQ first? I thought it might be a good idea...you know the whore "im ron paul and I approve this message" sorta thing

Actually, when a candidate says they approve a message, they are being a whore. They are saying:"you like? good, I love you long time, me so horny to get elected"

[skyorbit]

Who are you? I'd be happy to help decimate this pledge information, But I
need to know you're a reputable source to send money too.

Tracy

[bdmarti]

I like this idea.

I like people working outside the campaign to spread the message of Ron Paul...

...but I can't help but wonder why the official campaign isn't doing this? If it would only cost 20K to plaster NH with Ron Paul commercials, why isn't that $3 Million being spent?

I'm a little surprised to learn that TV advertising could be had so cheap. It would cost me $1500 to run a 1/4 page 4 color add in the paper on Sunday; and I personally think of TV as a better add mechanism

[Dlynne]

I apologize if this has already been answered, but what time slots are these ads for, given the price? I hope they are not being run at 2 or 3 in the morning.

[Educate Inspire Engage]

Awesome work everyone.

To show the strength in our arms, i think we should end it announcing that it all is organized and paid for solely by RP grass roots. If this is the case.

[jgmaynard]

I know this is my first posting here, but some of you may know me (James Maynard). There may even be some who DO know me, yet are continuing to read anyway. :) For those that don't, I used to be VERY active in politics, ran for Keene, NH City Council twice, helped to sponsor a non-partisan Gubernatorial debate, etc.
Now, I have a lot of experience with business advertising and I'm not sure how much this would apply to politics, but I always found TV ads to be the least expensive, most effective form of advertising. PLUS putting ads on the air in NH will get additional free exposure for Dr. Paul in the form of newspaper articles about the ads.
For whatever my opinion is worth, I fully agree with running them ASAP - They can and should bring in money to run more ads, in addition to building name recognition. I have also heard that to be effective, commercials must be seen at least 7 times, but that they get annoying at 70 times, so I believe that is the range to try to shoot for.
Just my $0.02 ($0.012134234 after taxes).

JM

[Badger Paul]

Can you set up a paypal account to contribute to this project? That's how we did with advertising in Iowa before the straw poll. I find it a lot easier to donate this way than the pledgebank.

[gravesdav]

When the ads start running. Make sure you write up a press release, and send it to local tv, newspaper and radio. Even send it to the big name national media. Hardball ran a little segment just about Joe Biden running a tv ad in Iowa. It was in your, face and powerful though. We probally won't get anything nationally, but its worth a shot.

[abstrusezincate]

I think this is a great idea, but that it should be couched in terms of a general, larger New Hampshire strategy. We can begin putting this together, especially by getting lots of people involved.

[rinkuhero]

I have two suggestions,

1) Instead of creating your own commercial in a studio, why not primarily use the best user-created YouTube videos? That would save a good deal of money, and I'm not sure that the one you create would be that much better than the ones that exist to justify the cost.

2) I suggest looking at the Open Secrets website and determining who has already donated the full $2300 to Ron Paul, and contacting those people, letting them know that you've created a separate PAC for putting up ads for Ron Paul in NH and that they can donate up to $5000 to that now.

[Slugg]

I have two suggestions,

1) Instead of creating your own commercial in a studio, why not primarily use the best user-created YouTube videos? That would save a good deal of money, and I'm not sure that the one you create would be that much better than the ones that exist to justify the cost.

Most, if not all, the youtube videos break copyright laws for one. Also, the resolution is too small for television. It will look horrible (and to be honest, I doubt the networks would air it). I love the youtube video's! But they can't be aired legally.



2) I suggest looking at the Open Secrets website and determining who has already donated the full $2300 to Ron Paul, and contacting those people, letting them know that you've created a separate PAC for putting up ads for Ron Paul in NH and that they can donate up to $5000 to that now.
This is a good idea! I'm not sure how to track down people, but I bet plenty here know how.

[skiingff]

Ok, here is my input on all the questions/comments...

The press release is a good idea. I planned on doing this, and you reinforced that and reminded me. Thanks. I am so focused on trying to produce an ad acceptable for TV (it's VERY hard) that I forgot about the whole press release thing.

The ad itself -- will be worked on this upcoming Monday, Tues, & Wed, be available for preview by you guys by Thurs or Fri and start airing the following week. The airtimes will *NOT* be in the middle of the night, they will be morning, daytime, evening, and night -- I'm trying to avoid latenight.

As to the YouTube ad suggestion, I've actually been heavily looking into the issue and I've determined one of two things will ALMOST always put that out of the question. The first issue is that we cannot use any copyrighted content without explicit written permission from the copyright owner(s). Fair use would not apply to political ads as it would to news, scholarly research, etc. That means any background music, photos, video footage, and voices that are copyrighted or are potentially copyrighted are out of the question. Obtaining permission is often a LONG (and costly) process and cannot be done with our current resources. We do not have the money to pay high royalty fees and a response to a written request for permission can take ages. The other issue with YouTube videos is the quality, as mentioned.



To submit your ad:

* Make sure your ad meets all the requirements below.
* Pay the $249 handling fee to reserve your ad slot
* Create a Spot Runner airtime schedule for your ad.
* Link your purchased ad slot to the airtime schedule you've created on your My Campaigns page.
* Mail your ad for review.

Ad requirements:

All ads must be submitted at least ten (10) days prior to your airtime schedule start date. We require a 10-bit, uncompressed QuickTime .MOV format (720 x 486) that includes all of the following information and sequencing. Spot Runner will rename the file of your ad prior to trafficking. We will not alter the content of your ad.
Acceptable video and audio quality:

* Average digital audio levels must range between -17dBfs and -20dBfs (Analog: 0dB @ +4 dBm ref).
* Digital audio levels should peak between -10dBfs and -12dBfs (Analog: no higher than +3), with a maximum of three peaks per second.
* Setup level should equal 7.5 IRE.
* Luminance levels should not exceed 100 IRE.
* Chroma levels should not exceed 120 IRE.

Note: Your file will be very large, around 800 megabytes. This is normal, as the quality needed for your spot to run on television is very high, much higher than what looks good on your computer screen. Please be sure to meet all the requirements or your ad may be rejected by the media outlets.

Be sure to name your file with this ID: NU0L and write this ID along with your first name, last name, email address, and company name on the data DVD so we can properly associate your ad with your Spot Runner account.

The content of your ad must meet all current FCC requirements for Broadcast Quality. We will decline ads that do not meet the appropriate guidelines for nudity, profanity, proprietary material, etc. In the event that we have any concerns with regard to content or technical requirements, we will contact you by email. There is a $249 fee associated with submitting your ad.

As you can see, it's very hard to obtain an 800 Meg YouTube video that meets all those specifications. YouTube videos are usually around 1 Meg. Even with the original, high quality version of the video, 99% of the time it's still not enough to meet the tech specs.

To the idea of contacting the donors who have already maxed out (or near maxed out) on their contributions to the campaign, this info can be very easily looked up at open secrets and then the person's address can be looked up in the phone book, however the issue is that using these public records to solicit someone for *anything* is illegal. If someone wants to undergo this, that's on them, just do it as an individual and not as a representative of the PAC.

It's a good suggestion to announce that the ad was done by the grassroots to show our power. Also, to Badger Paul, the PayPal for donations is donate@operationnh.com. This is a not-for-profit business PayPal account set up exclusively for Op NH. I am also allowing people access to view the balance in the account to keep up on our financial situation, and others that have proven to me who they are have a little bit higher level of access, and can see balance, history, account info, etc. but cannot transfer money. I did this to maintain a maximum level of confidence and accountability on how ya'lls money is spent.

Right now, if everyone keeps to their pledges, we have one-third, or 33% of this project funded, which equates to about $5500. The goal is to raise 15k from you guys and 5k from me, for a total of 20k in ads. I still need help spreading the word, and specifically I need help contacting the meetup groups, getting people familiar with media involved, getting hi-res Ron Paul pictures, etc. Anyone willing to help feel free to contact me.

I think that about covers it all...

[rinkuhero]

Just a note -- not all of the YouTube videos use copyrighted content. For instance, my friend (an indie director) made this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mK-QR88yfOE -- Zero copyrighted content, it was all done with friends as actors and original footage and sound. He also made two others in a similar style, also without copyrighted content (and he's going to be making more, I'm partially funding his efforts). So I do think that if you look you can find YouTube videos that are acceptable to use.

[geomcube]

That video was awesome! Very innovative! Of course, you would need a more standard positions-oriented commercial as well, but that "don't vote for ron paul" video would probably garner a lot of media attention.

Plus, people won't get annoyed at seeing this video multiple times. They may even tell their friends about it...word of mouth.

[skyorbit]

I know this is my first posting here, but some of you may know me (James Maynard).
JM

Hey James. Good to see you! Do you know the originator of this pledge, skiingff, personally? Is he a reputable source to donate money too?

If I could be convinced of that, I'd decimate this pledge on all my groups, myspace bullitons, digg friends, etc. But I'm just a bit leary of donating money to somethingthat hasn't started yet. I donated money to the radio ads in Iowa because they'd already started and I knew the money was being used for what I wanted. But I don't know Brandon Lloyd, like I know Lord Xar was already publishing adds and stuff by the time I donated to his campaigns.

Tracy

PS It'd be really awesome if the $20,000 could generate another $20,000 in donations to the Paul campaigns and the PAC if it gets set up. Maybe, if this IS successfull, we could try to raise money to run a campaign in New York too, and South Carolina.