TV pundit shut out pumps traffic and a little money to blogs

CNN reports

It happens every four years. Presidential contenders verbally joust on primetime television and the networks airing 90 minutes of uninterrupted coverage lose tens of millions of dollars in advertising.

This time around, independent research analyst Jack Myers estimated that the four top networks — CBS, NBC, ABC and Fox — are collectively losing anywhere from $40 million to $50 million on each debate.

Funnily enough, the debates are a huge boon for blogs. TV pundits have to shut up for 90 minutes and bloggers are the only game in town, virtual monopolists. We haven’t necessarily picked up that $50 million in revenue, but are working on it.