XXXXX DRUDGE REPORT XXXXX FRI SEPT 27 2002 10:34:09 ET XXXXX

BAN ON 'ATTACK ADS' A BLOW TO BROADCASTER$

Political attack ads were under attack themselves in the nation's capital on Thursday, with TV broadcasters facing the loss of hundreds of millions in ad revenues, DAILY VARIETY reports this weekend.

The National Assn. of Broadcasters is among a coalition of organizations challenging the new law in court, saying the issue ad provision violates the First Amendment.

In the 2000 federal election, broadcasters reaped an estimated $623 million in revenues from political ads, with a large chunk paid for by special interest groups, the trade reports. During the 2004 presidential race, the ban would effectively mean that special interest groups can't run attack ads nationally from late December 2003 to June 2004, during primaries. The blackout would be in effect for 60 days before the general election.

Developing...