Cable TV upfront buys CPM in the U.S. 2008-2020
Upfront advertising
Upfront in advertising refers to a unique TV advertising sales event, which occurs every year around March. Broadcast and cable TV executives gather in New York to present their upcoming TV schedules and offer up ad space to participating media buyers willing to invest in TV commercial time at lower, fixed prices ahead of the broadcast season. With the growing popularity of streaming services, which lure viewers away from traditional TV, some might say that upfront is in process of extinction. However, market data indicates that upfront TV spending in the U.S. is still growing, albeit slower than in previous decades. It helps that the event itself is packed with performances, music and comedy acts, and takes place in impressive locations such as Carnegie Hall or Lincoln Center, and neither buyers nor TV execs are likely to pass on a good party.