NBC Wraps Upfronts With $2.5 Billion in Ad Sales, Up 11 Percent

NBC reaps rewards of being top-rated network

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NBC has wrapped its upfronts sales by securing $2.5 billion in ad buys, an 11 percent increase over last year, a person familiar with the situation told TheWrap.

NBCUniversal’s total ad sales, which include cable and digital, came to $6 billion, up from $5.4 in 2013.

Also read: CBS Nearly Finished With Upfront Ad Sales

The network’s $2.5 billion figure includes sports, primetime and late night. With sports excluded, NBC is up 15 percent. The network had price increases of 7.5 to 8 percent.

The sales are for ads in the upcoming 2014-15 season.

Also read: Upfronts: How the Networks Spun Their Ratings

NBC clearly enjoyed the benefit of being the top-rated network last season in the 18-49 demographic most important to advertisers. For years it took a hit in ad sales because of low ratings.

CBS said last week that it was close to completing ad sales, but did not release any numbers.

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