ABC Sellout : $1.7 mil per Oscar Spot

NEW YORK (Hollywood Reporter) – ABC has sold all the inventory for its March 5 Academy Awards telecast. Despite slightly lower ratings in 2005 compared to the year before, the three-hour Oscar telecast remains the second-biggest night on television after the Super Bowl with strong, upscale demos among people who don't watch much TV. ABC will continue to get a strong showing from advertisers for its 48 spots within the telecast, which begins at 8 p.m. ET. Sources said the network will receive an average of $1.7 million per 30-second spot, up from about $1.6 million a spot in 2005's telecast. In a list of advertisers released Thursday, a couple are new to the Oscars: Coca-Cola Co. and the Miller Brewing Co. The majority are returning to the telecast.