• by Wayne Friedman , February 10, 2015

Media executives say average pricing for a 30-second commercial has risen around 10% to average of $2 million -- up from an $1.8 million average for the 2014 telecast. ABC says all inventory was sold in the fall of 2014.

Oscar advertisers include: AARP, American Express, Anheuser-Busch. AT&T, Coca-Cola, Coldwell Banker, Comcast, Discover, GM, J&J, King's Hawaiian, Mars, McDonald’s, Netflix, Sprint, Samsung, Sonos and The Walt Disney Co.

As with this year’s Super Bowl, “Academy Awards” continue to garner high commercial prices, all this against an overall weak TV advertising market. TV marketers continue to place high value on live TV -- especially big live TV events -- where commercial messages cannot be avoided.

TV marketers -- especially those women-focused advertisers -- continue to court the Oscar telecast. ABC also claims Oscar viewers are typically upscale and higher-educated, with higher income.

Streaming of the “Oscars” will be available on the Watch ABC app, in Chicago, Fresno, Houston, Los Angeles, New York City, Philadelphia, Raleigh-Durham and San Francisco. Viewers need to sign in with a participating TV provider.

This year’s award show will air Sunday, February 22, hosted by Neil Patrick Harris.