CBS Largely Concludes Upfront Negotiations

CBS has largely completed its upfront sales, securing ad commitments in line with the $2.5 billion to $2.75 billion it has secured in the last two upfronts, according to a person familiar with the situation. The Eye network, which for the first time since the 1991-1992 season was the most watched among the coveted 18-to-49 demographic, was able to secure increases in the cost of reaching 1,000 viewers, the industry metric known as a CPM, between 7% and 8%. That's slightly below the 8%-to-9% hikes it got last year. CBS made about 80% of its inventory available to advertisers, in line with the year prior. Broadcast negotiations were quiet this week, and CBS is only the second network to wrap business. Media buyers said the week was unexpectedly slow, describing an impasse with networks over price hikes as recently as today. The CW wrapped up its negotiations earlier in the week, striking deals totaling volume similar to the $400 to $420 million it secured in the last two upfronts, with CPM increases between 5% and 6%, according to a person familiar with the situation. That's lower than the 6.5% to 7.5% CPM increases that the network, which is jointly owned by CBS and Time Warner, received in 2012. The CW made about 75% of its inventory available in the upfront, in line with last year. Fox is nearing the end of negotiations, according to a person familiar with the matter, securing price increases between 5% and 7%. ABC is seeking CPM increases between 7% to 8%, while NBC is looking to notch 8% price hikes.

CBS Largely Concludes Upfront Negotiations

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