National Broadcast TV down 33.4% In April, cable networks 24.8% lower

Confirming information from many other sources, national TV had a tough April, according to Standard Media Index.

Broadcast network TV was down 33.4% to $907 million versus the same month a year ago. National TV cable networks were 24.8% lower to $1.66 billion.

These declines were for both inventory placed in the upfront and markets — with scatter dropping by 36% and upfront deals 24% lower.

But one smaller national TV platform — TV syndication — grew 12.1% to $140.2 million.

Sports programming was the hardest hit in the month due to the cancellation of major sports — the Final Four games of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament ($200 million), as well as the absence of NBA basketball ($240 million), Major League Baseball ($25 million), and NHL hockey ($40 million), and golf ($30 million).

Entertainment programs were down 21.6% for broadcast TV and 17.4% lower on cable TV. Media Post