TV ad prices up by single digits as upfronts end

TV ad prices up by single digits as upfronts end
red bottom shoesThe big four broadcast television networks are wrapping up their advanced selling season for fall programming with single-digit price increases from advertisers, people familiar with the negotiations said on Tuesday.CBS, the most-watched U.S. network, and No. 2 Fox led with 8 to 9 percent higher prices than a year ago, said the sources who asked not to be named because the talks are still ongoing.ABC, which slipped to last place this year based on same-day viewing among the 18- to 49-year-old age group prized by advertisers, secured price hikes in the 6 to 8 percent range. NBC, the last-place network overall, won 5.5 to 6.5 percent increases.Industry analysts had expected price increases to run below the 12 percent gain a year earlier, in part due to a less optimistic economic outlook. Barclays Capital had projected CBS would see a 10 percent increase, with Fox close behind at 9 percent. ABC and NBC were expected to be up 8 percent and 7 percent, respectively.Of the four networks, ABC has completed its deals for the annual “upfront” period, when they sell up to 75 to 85 percent of advertising time for the fall season, sources familiar with the negotiations said. NBC, Fox and CBS are close to completing their sales.The volume of sales for Walt Disney Co-owned ABC was about same as last year, a person familiar with the negotiations said.All four networks unveiled their 2012-13 prime-time schedules in May, previewing new TV shows for advertisers, affiliates and critics.CBS, a unit of CBS Corp, has sold most of its upfront inventory, one source said. The network has only a few deals with smaller agencies left to close.
cheap red bottom shoesCBS sold 2 to 3 percentage points less primetime inventory at the upfronts than it did last year, in line with analyst predictions for all broadcasters, the source said.Typically, networks hold back more inventory when they think they may get higher prices later during the “scatter” market.With the price increases, the total dollar amount collected by CBS during the upfronts will be about the same or slightly higher than a year ago when final deals are closed.The standout sectors were retail, financial services, technology, telecom and quick-service restaurants, the source said.CBS has ranked as the No. 1 network for years with hits including “NCIS” and “The Big Bang Theory,” and has less work to do than other networks to freshen its lineup.Spokespeople at the networks had no comment.Broadcasters are betting heavily on comedies for the fall season to boost ratings. At their upfront previews, 16 of the 36 new scripted shows at the big four networks were comedies.ABC and NBC made the most significant changes to their schedules.Two of the ABC’s new dramas, “666 Park Avenue” and “The Last Resort,” received positive buzz from media buyers who attended ABC’s upfront presentation. The network will debut 10 new shows.NBC, owned by Comcast Corp added 16 new shows to its lineup, the largest number of any network. Among the highlights was “Animal Practice,” a sitcom set in a veterinary clinic. The network has lurked in the ratings basement for years, but rose to third this past season among 18- to 49-year olds with a lift from the Super Bowl.News Corp’s Fox added three sitcoms and two dramas, but its biggest news was new “X-Factor” judges Britney Spears and Demi Lovato. Fox also drew applause for luring veteran Hollywood star Kevin Bacon to TV for the first time for new serial-killer drama “The Following.”
red bottom shoes for saleCBS, with the strongest current schedule, added just four new shows. The best-received were “Vegas,” a new period drama starring Dennis Quaid in 1960s-era Las Vegas, and “Partners,” its lone new sitcom from the original creators of hit comedy “Will & Grace” which also has a similar straight/gay buddy relationship as its theme.On Friday, the 33-year-old Samberg stars opposite Adam Sandler in big screen comedy “That’s My Boy,” and in August he appears alongside Rashida Jones in relationship film “Celeste and Jesse Forever.Samberg said working with Sandler, 45, another “Saturday Night Live” alumnus whose hits of the 1990s include films such as “Waterboy” and “Big Daddy,” had been a lifelong dream.”He was my hero since I was, like 13-years-old,” Samberg told Reuters. “If you told the 13-yeard-old me that there would be a huge billboard in Times Square of me and Adam Sandler, I’d have smashed my face into the wall with excitement.”The actor said when he first started doing stand-up comedy, he was often compared to Sandler. When he began on SNL” in 2005, Sandler called him and told him how much he liked Samberg’s work, and over the years, he has continued to receive encouraging words from the man who he admired so much.So, when Samberg heard Sandler would be playing a role in a film that required him to have an on-screen son 15-years younger, Samberg got on the phone.”I called him straight up and was like, ‘I would give my life to do this,'” Samberg recalled. “And he said, ‘Well, hopefully you won’t have too.'”In “That’s My Boy,” the younger comedian plays Todd, whom Donny (Sandler) fathered when just a teenager. After not seeing his deadbeat dad for years, Todd’s world turns upside down when Donny shows up on the weekend Todd is getting married.While movie reviews are not yet in, the pairing worked well for the actors. Samberg recently wrapped a cameo in Sandler’s upcoming “Grown-Ups 2” and is among the voices in his animated feature, “Hotel Transylvania,” due out this fall.
red bottoms online shopAs he breaks out of “SNL,” Samberg also is pursuing more serious roles, although comedy remains his first love. After “That’s My Boy” comes independent drama “Celeste and Jesse Forever,” hitting New York and Los Angeles theaters on August 3.Co-written by Rashida Jones, who portrays Celeste opposite Samberg’s Jesse, the film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January and tells of a divorced couple that has not quite let go of their marriage. As they begin to pursue other people, the pair find it harder and harder to stay friends.Though the film has comedic elements, “Celeste and Jesse” is grounded in real life as it explores the complicated and messy matters of a relationship that’s trying to stay intact even as it is falling apart. It’s the type of role Samberg fans have not yet seen for the actor, but one he relished in doing.”While we were shooting the film, I kept saying how nice it was not to be rapping about my dick,” Samberg joked, referring to his famous, Emmy-award winning “Dick in a Box” short film he performed on SNL. “I mean, there’s nothing I like more than rapping about my dick, but it’s nice to not have to for once.”He credits his friendship with Jones for landing the part. When she first finished her work on the screenplay, she asked Samberg for his opinion, and he instantly responded to Jesse.”Something about the character felt like a part of me,” he said. He also enjoyed “playing normal” – a nice change from the many pratfalls and stunts “SNL” audiences came to expect of him.”I figured this film was a good environment to try (something more serious),” he said. “If it goes well, then maybe it will open the door to do more stuff like that. But it’s not as important to me to do serious roles as it is to do comedy.”There are a lot of actors that are better at acting than I am, but I can say I’m better at comedy than they are. I don’t want to swim upstream against the current,” he added.Regardless of the roles he chooses for his future, Samberg is looking forward to seeing what life will be like without having a job like SNL to go to six days a week.”It was a grueling schedule; you kind of disappear from the world when you work there,” he said. “I’ll be curious to see how my life changes now.”