Network insider tells TheWrap that numbers unlikely to be finalized anytime soon
CBS, Fox and the CW’s upfront ad sales season are essentially complete, leaving ABC and NBC still in active negotiations — but don’t expect the Disney-owned broadcast channel to close its book of business anytime soon.
For ABC, the process has been a slow slog, as the network is holding out for stronger pricing than its apparently gotten across-the-board, a network insider told TheWrap. After all, ABC’s ratings have risen year-over-year, as Shondaland Thursdays have become a game-changer towards the week’s-end.
In the advertiser-sought 18-49 demographic, ABC’s traditional fall season was up five percent year-over-year, with a 2.2 versus 2013-2014’s 2.1, according to Nielsen’s most current ratings, which include seven day delayed viewing shifts. In total viewers, the American Broadcasting Company is up six percent, rising from 7.645 million to 8.089 million.
With a strong NBA Finals right in the middle of upfront negotiations, ABC likely feels empowered. Thus far, its summer season is up 13 percent in the demo and 12 percent in total viewers versus last year’s.
Even if its not a matter of boldness, as the only Big 4 broadcast net without NFL football, perhaps ABC is simply striking while the iron is hot. It’s unclear when ABC will consider its upfront ad sales basically done, but it doesn’t sound like it will be anytime in the immediate future.
Also Read: CBS Claims Most Ad Dollars, Highest Pricing as It Closes Upfront Ad Sales
Speaking of positions of strength, CBS more-or-less finished its negotiations on Monday, claiming the most ad dollars and highest pricing, per its own research. That said, in the end, ABC may slightly top CBS in year-over-year percentage increases from upfront sales — a final tally that remains to be seen. Even if that happens, it may be more a testament to CBS’ strong baseline numbers from 2014 than anything else.
Meanwhile, fourth-place Fox Broadcasting Channel closed its upfront period on Tuesday, finishing down in both pricing and revenue year-over-year. The broader Fox Networks Group had better news when counting cable.
CW was the first English-language broadcast net to close upfront ad sales. On Friday, CW reported an increase of 12-15 percent in total volume of ad sales and overall ad dollars from 2014.This year, they also saw an approximately four percent increase in CPM, or the unit price of reaching 1,000 people. The company’s volume had hovered at approximately $400 million for the last few years.
The Scene at 2015 TV Upfront Events In New York (Updating Photos)
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Natalie Morales attends the 2015 Telemundo and NBC Universo Upfront at Frederick P. Rose Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center on May 12, 2015 in New York City.
Monica Schipper/Getty ImagesRebecca Lowe attends the 2015 Telemundo and NBC Universo Upfront at Frederick P. Rose Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center on May 12, 2015 in New York City.
Monica Schipper/Getty ImagesActress Blanca Soto attends the 2015 Telemundo and NBC Universo Upfront at Frederick P. Rose Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center on May 12, 2015 in New York City.
Monica Schipper/Getty ImagesActress Aracely Arambula attends the 2015 Telemundo and NBC Universo Upfront at Frederick P. Rose Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center on May 12, 2015 in New York City.
Monica Schipper/Getty ImagesActress Kate del Castillo attends the 2015 Telemundo and NBC Universo Upfront at Frederick P. Rose Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center on May 12, 2015 in New York City.
Monica Schipper/Getty ImagesActress Willa Holland attends The CW Network's New York 2015 Upfront Presentation at The London Hotel on May 14, 2015 in New York City.
Monica Schipper/Getty ImagesActor Paul Wesley attends The CW Network's New York 2015 Upfront Presentation at The London Hotel on May 14, 2015 in New York City.
Monica Schipper/Getty ImagesActor Brett Dier attends the CW Network's 2015 Upfront at the London Hotel on May 14, 2015 in New York City.
Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for The CWActor Wentworth Miller attends The CW Network's New York 2015 Upfront Presentation at The London Hotel on May 14, 2015 in New York City.
Monica Schipper/Getty ImagesActor Justin Baldoni attends The CW Network's New York 2015 Upfront Presentation at The London Hotel on May 14, 2015 in New York City.
Monica Schipper/Getty ImagesActor Jesse L. Martin attends The CW Network's New York 2015 Upfront Presentation at The London Hotel on May 14, 2015 in New York City.
Monica Schipper/Getty ImagesActress Danielle Panabaker attends The CW Network's New York 2015 Upfront Presentation at The London Hotel on May 14, 2015 in New York City.
Monica Schipper/Getty ImagesActress Rose McIver attends The CW Network's New York 2015 Upfront Presentation at The London Hotel on May 14, 2015 in New York City.
Monica Schipper/Getty Images"Supergirl" takes the stage at the CBS Upfront Presentation at New York's Carnegie Hall.
CBS Broadcasting, IncJames Corden of "The Late Late Show" presents at the CBS Upfront Presentation at Carnegie Hall.
CBS Broadcasting, Inc.Actor Colin Hanks attends the 2015 CBS Upfront at The Tent at Lincoln Center on May 13, 2015 in New York City.
Michael Loccisano/Getty ImagesActress Jane Lynch attends the 2015 CBS Upfront at The Tent at Lincoln Center on May 13, 2015 in New York City.
Michael Loccisano/Getty ImagesActress Melissa Benoist attends the 2015 CBS Upfront at The Tent at Lincoln Center on May 13, 2015 in New York City.
Michael Loccisano/Getty ImagesChyler Leigh, Melissa Benoist and Mehcad Brooks at the CBS Upfront Presentation.
CBS Broadcasting, Inc. Actors Jake McDorman, Hill Harper, and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio attend the 2015 CBS Upfront at The Tent at Lincoln Center on May 13, 2015 in New York City.
Michael Loccisano/Getty ImagesActor Kevin Pollak attends the 2015 CBS Upfront at The Tent at Lincoln Center on May 13, 2015 in New York City.
Michael Loccisano/Getty ImagesGeneral view at the Turner Upfront 2015 at Madison Square Garden on May 13, 2015 in New York City.
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Turner Conan O'Brien, Robin Meade, and Sean Bean attend the Turner Upfront 2015 at Madison Square Garden on May 13, 2015 in New York City.
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for TurnerJack McBrayer, Ashley Tisdale, and Seth Green attend the Turner Upfront 2015 at Madison Square Garden on May 13, 2015 in New York City.
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for TurnerEd Burns and Kenny Smith attend the Turner Upfront 2015 at Madison Square Garden on May 13, 2015 in New York City.
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for TurnerJack McBrayer, Matt Senreich, Christina Miller, President at GM, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim & Boomerang, TBS, Inc., Seth Green, and Eric Andre attend the Turner Upfront 2015 at Madison Square Garden on May 13, 2015 in New York City.
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for TurnerJeff Perry, Tony Goldwyn, Scott Foley, Joshua Malina and Guillermo Diaz attends the 2015 ABC Upfront at Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center on May 12, 2015 in New York City.
Jamie McCarthy/Getty ImagesActor Scott Foley attends the 2015 ABC Upfront at Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center on May 12, 2015 in New York City.
amie McCarthy/Getty ImagesActress Kerry Washington attends the 2015 ABC Upfront at Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center on May 12, 2015 in New York City.
Jamie McCarthy/Getty ImagesActress Kerry Washington attends the 2015 ABC Upfront at Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center on May 12, 2015 in New York City.
Jamie McCarthy/Getty ImagesActress Tracee Ellis Ross attends the 2015 ABC Upfront at Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center on May 12, 2015 in New York City.
Jamie McCarthy/Getty ImagesActor Guillermo Diaz attends the 2015 ABC Upfront at Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center on May 12, 2015 in New York City.
Jamie McCarthy/Getty ImagesActor Matt McGorry attends the 2015 ABC Upfront at Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center on May 12, 2015 in New York City.
Jamie McCarthy/Getty ImagesActress Wendi McLendon-Covey attends the 2015 ABC Upfront at Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center on May 12, 2015 in New York City.
Jamie McCarthy/Getty ImagesActor Tony Goldwyn attends the 2015 ABC Upfront at Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center on May 12, 2015 in New York City.
Jamie McCarthy/Getty ImagesActress Sara Ramirez attends the 2015 ABC Upfront at Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center on May 12, 2015 in New York City.
Jamie McCarthy/Getty ImagesActors Julie Bowen (L) and Ty Burrell attend the 2015 ABC Upfront at Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center on May 12, 2015 in New York City.
Jamie McCarthy/Getty ImagesActress Katie Lowes attends the 2015 ABC Upfront at Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center on May 12, 2015 in New York City.
Jamie McCarthy/Getty Imagesctress Ellen Pompeo attends the 2015 ABC Upfront at Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center on May 12, 2015 in New York City.
Jamie McCarthy/Getty ImagesTerry Crews at the Fox Upfront May 11. the event boasted a “Scream Queens” stunt and a lively three-song performance by the “Empire” cast. And it wasn’t all flash either — there was news on “Empire” Season 2 guest stars, the “American Idol” judging table and even new “Gotham” villains.
Getty ImagesActor Andy Samberg attends the 2015 FOX programming presentation at Wollman Rink in Central Park on May 11, 2015 in New York City.
Jemal Countess/Getty ImagesLee Daniels attends the 2015 FOX programming presentation at Wollman Rink in Central Park on May 11, 2015 in New York City.
Jemal Countess/Getty ImagesJohn Travolta, Sarah Paulson and Courtney B. Vance attends the 2015 FOX programming presentation at Wollman Rink in Central Park on May 11, 2015 in New York City.
Jemal Countess/Getty ImagesActors Jake Johnson and Max Greenfield attend the 2015 FOX programming presentation at Wollman Rink in Central Park on May 11, 2015 in New York City.
Jemal Countess/Getty ImagesBob Greenblatt, and Dolly Parton at the NBC Upfront Event on May 11. Neil Patrick Harris, Jimmy Fallon and Nick Cannon made an appearance at the event as well.
NBC Sophia Bush attends The 2015 NBC Upfront Presentation at Radio City Music Hall on May 11, 2015 in New York City.
Photo by Slaven Vlasic/Getty ImagesNeil Patrick Harris at the NBC Upfront Event on May 11.
NBCNick Cannon attends The 2015 NBC Upfront Presentation at Radio City Music Hall on May 11, 2015 in New York City.
Slaven Vlasic/Getty ImagesCraig Robinson attends The 2015 NBC Upfront Presentation at Radio City Music Hall on May 11, 2015 in New York City.
Slaven Vlasic/Getty ImagesDavid Duchovny attends The 2015 NBC Upfront Presentation at Radio City Music Hall on May 11, 2015 in New York City.
Slaven Vlasic/Getty ImagesSimon Rich and Jay Baruchel attend the FX Networks Upfront Bowling Party at Lucky Strike on April 22, 2015 in New York City.
DC/PictureGroup/FX NetworksRobert Kelly and Liz Gillies attend the FX Networks Upfront Bowling Party at Lucky Strike on April 22, 2015 in New York City.
Alfred Williams/PictureGroup/FX Networks
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The broadcast networks unveil new season schedules to advertisers during presentations in NY