• May 24, 2005

As the major broadcast networks begin peddling upfront advertising deals for the 2005-06 television season, new data released Monday reveals the Big 3 networks' ad sales fell more than 2 percent during the first quarter of 2005. Combined advertising revenues for ABC, CBS and NBC dropped 2.1 percent - a decline of $61 million in total net revenues from the first quarter of 2004, according to an analysis of self-reported data compiled by Ernst & Young for the Broadcast Cable Financial Management Association. Not surprisingly, the biggest drop for the Big 3 networks was in the sports daypart, which fell more than 21 percent to $148 million, due to the shift of the Super Bowl to Fox in 2005. Compared with the first quarter of 2003, the Big 3's first quarter 2005 ad sales were up eight percent or nearly $222 million. During the quarter, prime-time ad sales rose nearly 4 percent.