Digital Upfront spend nears $16.5 billion as TV stalls
Media companies including Netflix, Disney, NBCUniversal, and Warner Bros. Discovery are hosting annual Upfronts events to woo advertisers, as ad spending continues to shift significantly from traditional TV to digital and streaming platforms. While traditional TV ad buying is projected to see a slight increase of 1% to $18.79 billion, digital advertising spend for Upfronts and Newfronts is expected to jump by nearly 32% to $16.45 billion this year. Streaming advertising revenue across media companies increased by 22% and now accounts for 18% of total advertising revenue.
Key Takeaways
- Traditional TV Upfront buying is projected to rise 1% to $18.79 billion this year, after falling about 4% last year to $18.64 billion.
- Digital advertising spend for Upfronts and Newfronts is expected to jump nearly 32% to $16.45 billion, according to eMarketer.
- Streaming advertising revenue across media companies increased 22% and now accounts for 18% of total advertising revenue.
- Netflix ended last quarter with about 270 million global subscribers and had more than 23 million monthly active users on its ad-supported tier as of January.
- Amazon reported first-quarter advertising revenue of $11.8 billion, up 24%, while YouTube reported $8.1 billion in first-quarter ad revenue, up more than 20%.
Why It Matters
The near-term signal is clear: advertiser money is moving faster into streaming and digital pitches than into traditional TV. That matters because the Upfronts are still a key annual buying window, but the revenue mix is changing across Netflix, Amazon, YouTube, Disney, NBCUniversal, and Warner Bros. Discovery. The article also shows the split inside legacy media: Peacock and ESPN ad sales are helping offset weaker cable and Hulu results, while WBD says streaming ad revenue rose 70% to $175 million. Watch the final Upfront/Newfront booking numbers against eMarketer’s $16.45 billion digital forecast and $18.79 billion TV forecast.
Read full article at cnbc.com
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