TV upfront presentations clouded by digital video ad supremacy

As television executives prepare lavish stage presentations in New York this week to dazzle advertisers during the annual TV upfront sales season, a harsh economic reality looms offstage — digital video advertising now eclipses spending on traditional television ads.

The shift in spending and competition from tech players like Amazon (AMZN.O) has taken a toll on media companies’ financial results, raising the stakes for the annual showcase of TV content to attract spending commitments from advertisers.