• by Wayne Friedman , December 13, 2016

Alternative TV networks -- including new digital OTT TV services, traditional cable and others -- continue to spend more in national TV advertising so far this season versus the same period a year ago.

NFL Network leads this group-- $38.9 million, up from $30.9 million a year, while Sony’s PlayStation Vue is at $36.8 million, rocketing up from $1.5 million a year ago.

Hulu is at $31.5 million versus $24.3 million, according to iSpot.TV, for the period from September 19 through December 12.

Amazon Prime Video is also a big spender, more than doubling its spending to $16.9 million versus $7.9 million a year ago. Netflix is at $7.4 million so far this year, versus $4.0 million a year ago.

Since the start of the TV season, traditional TV networks and other new TV video services have spent $304.3 million in media marketing (covering 162 TV brands), according to iSpot.tv -- up 7% versus the $283.8 million for 158 TV brands a year ago

Among the traditional broadcast networks this year so far, Fox is at $13.8 million, followed by ABC at $10.7 million, CBS with $9.7 million and NBC at $7.0 million. (This does not include on-air promos running on a network’s own airwaves).

The first two weeks of December 2016 have pulled in $45.8 million from the TV brands.

CNN leads during this period at $11.8 million, followed by NFL Network at $6.7 million, Hulu, $5.3 million; Fox, $2.7 million; PlayStation Vue, $2.7 million; Netflix, $1.6 million; NBC, $1.4 million; Amazon Prime Instant Video, $1.3 million; and ESPN, $920,000.