The TV syndication upfront market closed June 20 with CPM increases for many programs and speculation that the syndicators may have taken in more the $2.4 billion previously projected, MediaWeek reports. CBS Television Distribution’s “Dr. Phil” spinoff “The Doctors” eventually drew 20% higher pricing than initial offers by buyers, the newspaper says. The consolidation of media agencies has made it difficult for individual buyers to walk away from syndicators’ higher-than-expected pricing, the newspaper notes.
—Vlada Gelman