• Los Angeles Times, Friday, February 23, 2007 11:45 AM

Advertisers who plunked down $1.7 million for a 30-second spot in Sunday's Oscar telecast on ABC are looking forward to an expected audience of more than 40 million viewers who watch in real time, rather than digitally record the show so they can zip past the ads.

Adding to the show's appeal this year is the range of Oscar nominees, from well-known stars, such as Clint Eastwood, to Jennifer Hudson, who went from obscurity to front-runner in the race for best supporting actress in "Dreamgirls." The diversity makes the Oscars "an ideal setting" for Bank of America, says its chief marketing officer, Anne Finucane.

Another big selling point for advertisers such as J.C. Penney, beauty product maker L'Oreal and even automotive giant General Motors is the show's huge appeal among women.

"Women actually have more influence on the purchase of a vehicle than men do," says Ryndee Carney, GM's manager of advertising communications.

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