or


[05/31/05 - 12:00 AM]
The ABC Television Network Upfront Sales Generates Increases Across All Dayparts

[via press release from ABC]

THE ABC TELEVISION NETWORK UPFRONT SALES GENERATES INCREASES ACROSS ALL DAYPARTS

TOTAL PRIMETIME COMMITMENTS ESTIMATED AT $2.7 BILLION FOR 2005-2006 SEASON

Committed Revenue Expected to Increase by More Than 30% Year to Year

The ABC Television Network has nearly completed upfront primetime sales for the 2005-2006 season, attracting estimated advertising commitments totaling approximately $2.7 billion, with CPM increases in the 4-6% range. This total reflects an increase in year-to-year potential revenue of more than 30%, with approximately $600 million estimated for primetime sports sales, which includes "Monday Night Football," the National Basketball Association and the Bowl Championship Series. Although not included in the upfront tally, ABC will also broadcast the highest-rated and largest revenue generating television event in 2006, Super Bowl XL. The total hours of these sports and special event programming equates to six weeks of primetime programming.

The announcement of ABC's robust position in the national advertising marketplace during this annual selling period was made today by Mike Shaw, president of Sales and Marketing for the ABC Television Network.

"Clients responded very positively to our new primetime schedule, and the incredibly strong performance of our hit freshman series," said Mr. Shaw. "And the good news doesn't end at prime. We're also seeing strength in our other dayparts such as news, daytime and early morning."

Based on the high-quality mix of ABC's programming and the strong reaction of media buyers to its midseason shows, ABC believes there will be an upside to scatter sales this season. In commenting upon this, Mr. Shaw said: "Historically, in the last 12 out of 13 years, the scatter marketplace for all networks has seen increases over upfront pricing, so having the right inventory to sell in scatter can give you a strategic advantage." Mr. Shaw noted that ABC's sales and marketing strategy is predicated upon 52-week revenues.

"This year's robust marketplace reflects the significant strides underway at the ABC Television Network to heighten our competitive momentum in primetime, while simultaneously extending our audience gains throughout the day," added Anne Sweeney, co-chairman, Media Networks, The Walt Disney Company and president, Disney-ABC Television Group. "We're gratified by the tremendous interest our new schedule is generating among national advertisers and their agencies, and we're proud of the amazing efforts put forth by Mike and his entire team to accommodate this enthusiasm."

ABC finished the 2004-2005 season up 12% in Total Viewers, up 16% in the key Adult 18-49 sales demographic and up 15% among Adults 18-34, the largest increases of any network over the prior season in viewers and across the adult demos. In fact, the 16% Adult 18-49 increase from one season to the next was the largest for any major network in at least 25 years - since ABC began tracking the key young adult demographic. ABC delivered its highest-rated May Sweep in four years among the key Adult 18-49 sales demographic, with the biggest increases of any network among Total Viewers (+23%) and Adults 18-49 (+28%) from last year. The season finale of ABC's "Desperate Housewives" was the no. 1 program telecast during the May Sweep in Adults 18-49, topping the "American Idol" finale.





  [may 2005]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S


· AMERICAN IDOL (FOX)
· DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES (ABC)
· MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL (ESPN)





[05/25/12 - 03:22 PM]
Production for Season Two of "Grimm" Commences on May 30
Repeats of the series will air Mondays at 10:00/9:00c this summer as a build up to the show's return in August.

[05/25/12 - 02:26 PM]
Interview: "Mrs. Eastwood & Company" Star Dina Eastwood
E!'s latest reality entry airs Sundays at 10:00/9:00c after "Keeping Up with the Kardashians."

[05/25/12 - 01:51 PM]
Thursday's Cable Ratings: Heat Clincher Puts ESPN in Front
Plus: numbers for Animal Planet's "Swamp Wars," TLC's "On the Fly" and "Tattoo School."

[05/25/12 - 12:58 PM]
TBS's New Original Sitcom "Men at Work" Scores More than 2.6 Million Viewers And 1.6 Million Adults 18-49 in Thursday Night Debut
TBS spins the numbers for Thursday, May 24.

[05/25/12 - 11:43 AM]
Celebrate Father's Day as SOAPnet Presents "A Veronica Mars Marathon: Who's Your Daddy?" on Sunday, June 17 3PM - 7PM
The four-hour marathon revolves around whether or not Keith Mars is Veronica's biological father.

[05/25/12 - 10:29 AM]
Video: Trailers from CBS's Upfront Presentation
The full previews are now available for the Eye's new fall series.

[05/25/12 - 09:39 AM]
ABC Family Celebrates Father's Day With an All Day Marathon of Movies Dads Love Sunday, June 17 Starting at 7AM
Highlights include the basic cable premiere of "Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time."

[05/25/12 - 09:33 AM]
Return to a Galaxy Far, Far Away as Spike TV Launches Into Hyperspace With the World Premiere of the Next Big "Star Wars(TM)" Game Franchise
A first look at this top secret project will be revealed on Thursday, May 31, as a part of the pre-E3 episode of Spike's hit video game show "GTTV."

[05/25/12 - 09:33 AM]
Dierks Bentley Delivers His New Hits and Adds His Own Bluegrass Touch to an Adele Smash When CMT.com Premieres "Unplugged" on Tuesday, May 29
The episode will also air as a half-hour special on Palladia (Saturday, June 2) and CMT (Monday, June 25).

[05/25/12 - 08:41 AM]
ABC's "Duets" Tops Fox's "Dance"/"Rookie Blue" Marks Most-Watched Telecast Since Aug '10
ABC spins the numbers for Thursday, May 24.

[05/25/12 - 08:37 AM]
Thursday's Broadcast Ratings: "So You Think You Can Dance" Opens Summer on Top
FOX's mainstay however is down 25% from last year's launch among adults 18-49.

[05/25/12 - 08:11 AM]
Wedding Season Replaces Football Season When "Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Brides" Premieres Friday, June 2 on CMT
The one-hour special features Cassie Trammell, Sunni Cranfill and Trisha Trevino "as they juggle work, school and practice all while planning their dream wedding."

[05/25/12 - 07:05 AM]
ABC to Exclusively Broadcast Celtics-Sixers Game Seven
Mike Breen and analyst Jeff Van Gundy will call the game, which starts at 8:00/7:00c, with reporter Doris Burke.

[05/25/12 - 06:34 AM]
Lifetime's Major Program Event, "The Week the Women Went," to Premiere in August
The four-part series was previously slated to launch on Wednesday, June 6.

[05/25/12 - 06:00 AM]
2012 MTV Movie Awards to Feature Exclusive Footage From "The Dark Knight Rises" on Sunday, June 3 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT on MTV
Plus: Channing Tatum and Matthew McConaughey, stars of the upcoming film "Magic Mike," will join its impressive line-up of presenters.