The upfront? Why, it's ambling along. Broadcast deals are being done on the quiet as buyers and sellers reach terms on price rollbacks. Cable's moving. Kids is stalled.   Ad outlook: Longer, slower recovery Mid-year Magna forecast sees steeper declines in 2009 extending into 2010 and nearly flat compounded annual growth through 2014   Bloom is off for cable upfront as well Tide turns, with buyers gaining leverage in negotiations, and networks now expect pricing to come in slightly below last year   Touching bottom in the ad downturn Worldwide, third quarter looks to be the turning point for spending. Talking with ZenithOptimedia's Jonathan Barnard.   Whoa. The upfront hits another snag. Buyers and broadcast networks at impasse over pricing, with buyers pushing for deeper cuts from ABC and Fox since NBC folded   Readers: This year's upfront is a puzzler Opinions range widely over how much networks will fetch in total ad sales for the coming season and where pricing will be   At last, the upfront market breaks loose Broadcast negotiators and media buyers are now doing deals after weeks of delay. Expect pricing to be down from last year.   Ray of light in the global ad outlook ZenithOptimedia knocks down 2009 ad spending outlook but notes the slide is easing and predicts a mild recovery in 2010   The upfront is about to break. Or not. This may be the week buyers and the networks cut ad deals for the coming broadcast season. But the stalemate could go yet longer.   Why this upfront market is at a standstill The broadcast networks are sticking by price increases, even in this weak economy, and truth be told, it's a sellers' market << prev next >>