Reports are saying the cable upfront could close this week with total upfront commitments in the $7.8-$7.95 billion range. At the end of last week, Viacom and NBCU had completed their cable upfronts with 8%-9.5% average CPM increases. Also, some are closing deals on inventory in the 80%-90% range—reportedly including Turner Broadcasting and Discovery Communications. TBS and TNT are said to have written deals at 9% above last year. NBCU’s cable properties were up some 9% in CPM gains, with volume up 20%. NBCU’s USA net may have scored 10% gains, with the slate of Burn Notice, Royal Pains and new Covert Affairs.
Viacom saw some reported 14%-16% CPM gains with its MTV and BET Networks. A&E, Comcast and Fox Cable Networks were done with more than half of their business on 6/11.
Retail and Automotive were particularly hot this time around, with the pace (like broadcast) also much faster than last year.
