NFL Holds Power In Primetime

iSpot’s upcoming TV season ad recap dives into some of the industry’s biggest narratives from September through early May, including in-depth looks at specific dayparts and networks. One of the findings, shared with TVREV in advance: The NFL still owns primetime on the Big 4 nets – with 18.58% of household TV ad impressions. The Voice, however, was a big mover, growing from 2.75% to 4.26% year-over-year due in part to schedule tweaks.

• Live sporting events staying relatively static or growing underlines just how important that programming has become to all networks, including broadcast giants ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC.
• Broadcast may be able to stay tied to sports, but how long can cable do so? ESPN's plans to take the flagship network direct-to-consumers via streaming could spell doom for cable (and newfound freedom for Disney).