Ad spending on cable is now on par with that allocated to broadcast TV, according to data from Nielsen. Ad spending on English-language cable-TV networks came to about $21 billion in 2011, roughly even with ad spending on English-language broadcast networks’ $21.1 billion.
After a frenzied selling season that saw top-tier cable network groups writing price increases of as much as 15%, the final tally for the 2011-12 upfront is in. At the risk of trafficking in a vast form of understatement, business was a-boomin’. According to calculations made by the Cabletelevision Advertising Bureau, ad-supported cable nets took in $9.29 billion in upfront commitments, making this the most lucrative sell-off in history.
The group that oversees 10 TV stations will begin selling national advertising for New England Cable News beginning at the end of this month.
Cable in Ad Sales Driver’s Seat
Everything’s coming up roses for the cable TV networks, as a once thorny ad sales market promises to be particularly sweet smelling in 2011.According to IPG’s MagnaGlobal, the national cable networks will boost their advertising dollars by 10.8% percent this year. Based on estimates from the Cabletelevision Advertising Bureau, that jump would bring cable’s overall ad sales haul to a whopping $22.7 billion.
