ABC Hauls In Estimated $224M In Ad Revenue During NBA Finals, With Big Spend From Films

ABC over the course of the six-game NBA Finals "generated nearly a quarter-billion dollars in ad sales revenue," according to estimates from iSpot.tv cited by Anthony Crupi of AD AGE. A seventh game "likely would have tossed" another $45M to the six-game $223.9M total. Movie studios promoting upcoming summer releases were "among the biggest spenders." Columbia Pictures invested around $11.5M to "showcase the Adam Sandler sci-fi comedy 'Pixels' and the new James Bond film, 'Spectre,' while Universal shelled out" $9.3M on spots for "Jurassic World" and "Minions." Warner Bros. also "took its marketing message" to ABC to the tune of $7.6M for "Max," "Magic Mike XXL" and "Vacation." All told, 190 brands "bought time in ABC's broadcasts." Among the new fall series ABC "promoted during the Finals were 'Quantico,' 'Blood and Oil,' 'The Muppets' and 'Dr. Ken'" (ADAGE.com, 6/17).