• by Wayne Friedman , December 26, 2017

NFL continues to show signs of recovery, at least according to national TV advertising revenue.

Through 15 weeks of the regular season to date, NFL programming has pulled in $3.7 billion for its TV networks: CBS, NBC, Fox, ESPN and the NFL Network, per iSpot.tv.

This is up 16% over a year ago, when it was $3.1 billion. The NFL has added more ad inventory from Thursday night games this year — as well as more digital/mobile advertising inventory.

The biggest traditional TV advertising categories are: automotive, at $748.2 million; insurance, $285.9 million; wireless communications services, $268.2 million; mobile device makers, 228.2; and quick serve restaurants, $202.4 million.

The year before, automotive was at $706.2 million; wireless communications, $239.4 million; insurance, $184.4 million; fast food restaurants, $180.1 million; and mobile devices, $173.9 million.

Biggest individual NFL advertising brands this year: Verizon, $144 million; GEICO, $115.2 million; Toyota Motors, $88.4 million; Apple iPhone, $81 million; and Southwest Airlines, $75.6 million.

Many of the same brands made the list the year before: Verizon, $140.7 million; Toyota, $83.4 million; GEICO, $73.0 million; Chevrolet, $70.2 million; and Apple iPhone, $67.6 million

This year. iSpot.tv says there were 177.7 billion impressions; 115.1 billion, live. The biggest audience segment -- 34% -- are those 55+. The total NFL gender breakdown is: 60.2% male, 39.8% female.