Upfront sales for cable networks may wind up at least 15% higher than last year, bringing total sales commitments to $9.4 billion and eclipsing broadcast TV for the first time, reports Jon Lafayette in B&C.
With the cable upfront already under way, price increases and volume increases are varying from network to network, but some large cable groups have had volume increases between 20% and 25%, the story says.
Price increases have ranged from high single-digit gains to the high teens, on par with the best price hikes seen by broadcasters, the story notes.
Comedy Central, for one, was reaching double-digit rate gains, while some other MTV Networks channels, including VH1 and Spike, were seeing rates on the low end of the range, the piece notes.
Excellent- this shows a few things economically.
Cable’s prices have always been lesser than any dish counterpart with all of the important channels, which during a recession is an easy decision to make.
Cable has always had a more reliable connection as well, again making it a winning decision during a recession.
Don’t expect this growth in users to last, however.