Tag Archives: Upfronts

Entertainment

Takeaways from Netflix, Amazon and More

It was once all in regards to the trailers and the published fall schedules. Now these are largely a factor of the previous because the media sector’s upfront shows to Madison Avenue advert patrons proceed to evolve.

Following every week of spin and onerous gross sales, listed here are eight central takeaways after Netflix, Amazon, NBCUniversal, Disney, Warner Bros. Discovery, YouTube and Fox made their pitches.

1. The Streaming Giants Got here to Play 

Reese Witherspoon attends as Amazon debuts Inaugural Upfront Presentation at Pier 36 on Could 14, 2024 in New York Metropolis.

Slaven Vlasic/Getty Photos

This 12 months was the primary time that Netflix and Amazon had bodily occasions in New York throughout upfronts week (YouTube is now in 12 months three), they usually clearly tried to make an impression, gunning for a chunk of the $20 billion or so in upfront commitments that used to go completely to conventional leisure firms. Amazon’s occasion Tuesday featured “the best focus of A-list actors presently west of Cannes paraded throughout the stage,” together with Reese Witherspoon (in character as Elle Woods!), Will Ferrell, Jake Gyllenhaal and tennis celebrity Roger Federer. After the presentation, patrons sipped on Nuka-Cola in a show impressed by Fallout, performed video video games in a Twitch activation, and took selfies subsequent to a pile of money impressed by MrBeast’s upcoming recreation present, whereas sunglass-wearing safety handed out Feastables chocolate bars. … Netflix on Wednesday delivered a cultured, clear message, loads of earned bragging rights, and a “barrage of expertise” of its personal, together with Jamie Foxx and Cameron Diaz, Shonda Rhimes and 49ers star George Kittle. Visitors had been then invited to discover a Netflix “expertise,” together with a non-lethal model of Squid Sport’s Purple Gentle, Inexperienced Gentle, a WWE wrestling ring, and a mini-Regency ball linked to the world of Bridgerton. … And YouTube closed out upfront week Wednesday night, because it has for the previous few years, with a confidence of its personal. “There’s just one YouTube,” CEO Neal Mohan mentioned, after noting that the Google video platform has now been the most well-liked streaming service on TV units for over a 12 months (sure, even beating Netflix). As traditional, it leaned on its class of creators to host (together with the favored Zach King and Haley Kalil), and introduced out shock musical acts, all of which had YouTube channels of their very own: Billie Eilish and Finneas, Ok-pop stars Stray Children, and Benson Boone. It additionally had NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, the icing on the cake given how omnipresent the league was in each different presentation. On the after-party, held within the plaza at Lincoln Middle, YouTube constructed a play button subsequent to the long-lasting fountain, as friends munched on Spam musubi and quesadillas, as creators mingled with the group.

Extra element: Netflix’s presentation I YouTube presentation  

2. Amazon loves making headlines 

Mike Hopkins, Head of Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios, speaks onstage as Amazon debuts Inaugural Upfront Presentation at Pier 36 on Could 14, 2024 in New York Metropolis.

Slaven Vlasic/Getty Photos

Lower than 24 hours after Fox’s 90-minute presentation featured a parade of expertise together with Derek Jeter, Tom Brady and Joel McHale, Amazon — in its upfronts debut — flexed its spending muscle. A seemingly limitless stream of A-listers had been trotted out on the canine and pony present, which additionally included Hannah Waddingham, Octavia Spencer and Aldis Hodge along with the aforementioned Federer, Gyllenhaal, Ferrell and Witherspoon. Jen Salke’s retail big/streamer made an equally loud splash with a dizzying quantity of reports, too: A Legally Blonde prequel, a Tomb Raider sequence, a Highway Home sequel, Nicolas Cage in a Sony-produced Marvel Spider-Man Noir present, a popular culture model of Jeopardy plus renewals for The Boys and breakout Mr. and Mrs. Smith, amongst others. That mentioned, our favourite a part of this presentation was when HBO launched the brand new season trailer for Home of the Dragon not lengthy after Amazon dropped one for Lord of the Rings as the 2 fantasy dramas proceed to play a recreation of cat and mouse.

Intimately: Amazon presentation

3. NBCUniversal is caught in 2005 (with a streamer)

Cynthia Erivo (left) and Ariana Grande in ‘Depraved.’

Courtesy of Common

The conglomerate time warped again to the early aughts with an upfront presentation that featured Heroes grad Zachary Quinto returning to NBC’s primetime (in drama Good Minds), Kelly Clarkson performing “Since U Been Gone” and a double dose of Reba McEntire (on The Voice and her personal sitcom, Completely happy’s Place) with Snoop Dogg thrown in for good measure (he’s working the Olympics, sure, actually). Whereas what’s previous is new once more for NBC, one factor that was starkly lacking from the presentation — which gave a function movie (Depraved) the highest billing — was a concentrate on its linear networks. Keep in mind when cable mattered and USA Community was the most-watched community somewhat than an afterthought? No less than Seth Meyers didn’t miss a beat.

Intimately: NBC schedule I NBCUniversal presentation

4. Fox prioritizes possession

‘Household Man’

Everett

It’s no shock that in an period of walled gardens, when media firms are promoting fewer applications to outdoors firms, that Fox is specializing in build up its owned content material. What was a shock, nonetheless, is that Animation Domination stalwart Household Man — owned by Disney’s twentieth Tv — was left on the bench when the community revealed its fall schedule. Fox as a substitute will use Disney-produced The Simpsons and Bob’s Burgers to launch Common Fundamental Guys and season two of Krapopolis, each of which the community both absolutely owns or is a co-producer on. (Don’t fear, Household Man continues to be “essential” to the community although all three of Disney’s beloved animated comedies are up for renewal this season and chatter persists that the dear however low-rated exhibits may transfer to one of many Mouse Home’s platforms as originals.)

Intimately: Fox schedule I Fox presentation

5. Disney has all of it (however doesn’t actually know what to do with it)

Bob Iger, and a youthful model of Iger, on the Disney upfront.

Jennifer Pottheiser/Disney

Disney CEO Bob Iger made headlines for returning to the upfront stage for his first time in a long time and put that notorious proxy battle within the firm’s rear-view mirror. (His victory lap was short-lived: 20 hours later he was at a MoffettNathanson occasion speaking to buyers about how over listed Disney is on streaming and the necessity to pull again on the unique content material he was so completely happy to hype a day earlier.) Moderately than focusing ABC and FX (the community that spent years creating current hit Shogun), Disney’s overstuffed upfront presentation was far and wide. With two hours targeted on “connections,” it was a problem to go from Ryan Seacrest and Monday Evening Soccer to ABC Information and Stephen A. Smith. Sure, Marvel and Star Wars had their respective moments and Jimmy Kimmel spared no expense however aside from a shot at his high lieutenants within the viewers, not a single one of many firm’s key creatives (FX’s John Landgraf, Nat Geo’s Courteney Monroe, Onyx’s Tara Duncan) received any stage time. However hey, the room did get an unique take a look at the brand new season of FX’s The Bear.

Intimately: ABC schedule I Disney presentation

6. Warner Bros. Discovery goes it old-fashioned

L-R) Sarah Jessica Parker and Casey Bloys, Chairman and CEO HBO and Max Content material communicate onstage throughout Warner Bros. Discovery Upfront 2024 on Could 15, 2024 in New York Metropolis.

Mike Coppola/Getty Photos

Warner Bros. Discovery delivered a presentation that felt like a blast from the previous. Casey Bloys previewed originals coming to Max and HBO (although there was no delineation) within the subsequent 18 months, however the bulk of the presentation was targeted on advert patrons and — gasp! — its many linear networks. WBD “stays believers within the energy of linear,” U.S. Networks chair and CEO Kathleen Finch mentioned as she and the advert gross sales people dominated the 90-minute presentation.

Intimately: Warner Bros. Discovery presentation

7. Deal with … movie?

‘Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga’

Courtesy of Warner Bros. Footage

NBCUniversal set the tone for the week when its Monday morning presentation kicked off with the trailer for function movie Depraved that was screened completely for attendees earlier than it was launched large the next day. Amazon hyped Highway Home and introduced a sequel. Netflix confirmed Completely happy Gilmore 2 and its buzzy new Kathryn Bigelow movie. Even WBD, in its linear-focused occasion, kicked it off with a sizzle that prioritized options Furiosa, Dune: Half Two and Wonka. Within the streaming world, it’s all one ecosystem and movie parts have now develop into a part of the upfronts norm.

8. The place’s the brand new stuff?

‘The Bear’ season 3.

Courtesy of FX

Whether or not it’s the post-strikes growth pipeline not absolutely operating but, media firms pinching pennies or a mix of the 2, this 12 months’s upfronts felt greater than a little bit sparse in relation to new programming. The large 4 broadcast networks and The CW promised 20 new scripted sequence for the approaching season, which is up from simply 12 final 12 months — when the upfronts occurred two weeks into the writers strike. However for the 4 years earlier than that, these networks introduced, on common, 25 new exhibits annually. Except for a trailer for The Bear, FX — one of many few cable manufacturers nonetheless making a decent-sized slate of originals — was a non-presence at Disney’s upfront. Even HBO and Netflix, often standard-setters within the enterprise, talked little or no about new programming. A lot of previous favorites shall be again within the subsequent 12 months, however nobody appears to be betting that closely on making new faves.

Oh, and for those who’re in search of trailers for the few new broadcast exhibits, you may verify them out, under. (NBC is just not but releasing clips for St. Denis Medical and Good Minds.)

Doc (Fox)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_I-kPjxs4k

Physician Odyssey (ABC)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GerCdGN_1Lk

Completely happy’s Place (NBC)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_noDLtSz10

Excessive Potential (ABC)

High Potential - Coming This Fall to ABC

Rescue: HI-Surf (Fox)

Rescue: HI-Surf Season 1 Preview 2024 | FOXTV

Common Fundamental Guys (Fox)

Universal Basic Guys Season 1 Preview 2024 | AniDom

Entertainment

Cameron Diaz, Jamie Foxx and Shonda Rhimes Hit Netflix Upfront

A 12 months and a half after Netflix launched an ad-supported tier, the dominant streamer made an upfront pitch — a minimum of in individual, in Manhattan — for the primary time. There was bragging concerning the overwhelming statistics of annual hours seen, a second look this week from Jamie Foxx and an open invite for deeper relationships with manufacturers seeking to money in on Netflix’s wildly well-liked slate. Simply ask Mindy Kaling.

“It’s [a series] a couple of sturdy lady making it within the male-dominated world {of professional} basketball,” the writer-producer stated of her newest creation for the streamer, Operating Level, “and I can’t wait to fill it with commercials about laundry detergent, anti-depression medicine, cigarettes, no matter you guys wanna promote … Image Kate Hudson smoking an e-cigarette.”

“Smoking is so cool,” added Hudson, the sequence’ star.

Clearly, the duo had been hamming it up. (There are nonetheless legal guidelines about cigarette promoting, proper?) Plus, previous to their bit, chief advertising and marketing officer Marian Lee introduced that there can be no free-for-all on branding. “Our groups are able to work with you to construct one thing actually wonderful, however there’s only one rule: our members [read: subscribers] come first,” she stated. “All the things must be actually artistic, strategic and enrich the expertise for the viewers.”

Sandwiched between chief content material officer Bela Bajaria and promoting president Amy Reinhard — in addition to the barrage of expertise we’ll get to in a second — Lee made one of the vital cogent and easy pitches of the week. Addressing members of the advert group who made the lower for the intimate Pier59 Studios presentation, a prelude to second occasion on Thursday, she made the oddly uncommon ovation of regarding them. “I’m additionally an advertiser,” she stated. “I need our reveals and movies to be on the middle of what persons are speaking about. I need real and genuine connections. I don’t wish to simply put an advert out on the planet and hope that somebody sees it. I wish to put it nearer to the place our tradition is going on.”

Watching the presentation, Netflix tried to make it clear that it is the tradition. Subscribers’ 2023 tally of 183 billion hours watched, it was famous, equals a reasonably obscene 21 million years of Netflix programming watched. And Stranger Issues, Squid Sport, Bridgerton and Wednesday weren’t simply touted as Netflix’s greatest reveals or streaming’s greatest reveals, they had been billed as “the largest reveals of all time.”

It being the eve of Bridgerton’s season three return, the drama opened the presentation with the screening of a softly steamy scene and an look by govt producer Shonda Rhimes. “I’d been making a really specific model of tv for a very long time and was very pleased with it, however I actually wished to unfold my wings and attempt to do extra,” Rhimes stated of her 2017 transfer from Disney to Netflix, earlier than turning up the complete model evangelist. “We replicate the society that we reside in, and that’s just about what it’s all about. It’s why it’s been such a snug atmosphere for me.”

If being ok for a kingmaker like Rhimes or Kate Hudson wasn’t sufficient, Netflix additionally trotted out San Francisco 49ers tight finish George Kittle, Jamie Foxx and Cameron Diaz. The latter two had been readily available to plug their upcoming movie, Again in Motion. It was Foxx’s second look this week, following Fox on Monday, notable solely as a result of he has stored such a low profile of late. Diaz has additionally been out of the general public eye, “retired” from appearing for a decade, and bringing her again to the display screen was one thing the presentation emphasised as a degree of delight.

A lot floor was coated within the tight hour that probably the most seismic information of the day, probably the week — that Netflix would certainly be internet hosting reside telecasts of each NFL Christmas video games — was almost glossed over. “Its arduous to know who has probably the most rabid fan base,” stated Bejaria, borderline informal concerning the coup, “Netflix or the NFL.”

Upon releasing their visitors from the canine and pony present, Netflix then opened its “expertise” — apparently the focus of Thursday’s upfront for a wider viewers. Half guerilla advertising and marketing, half Museum of Ice Cream, it included a handful of immersive vignettes like a WWE wrestling ring, a mini Regency Ball for Bridgerton and a non-lethal model of Squid Sport’s “Purple Mild, Inexperienced Mild.”

However when beckoned by a staffer to take the place of 1 clumsy media purchaser who’d simply been figuratively killed by a duplicate of the sequence’ robotic doll, Younger-hee, this reporter demurred. I’ve already been by fairly sufficient for one week, thanks.

Entertainment

Bob Iger, Emma Stone and Humping Dogs Take the Disney Upfront

If there have been any lingering doubts that the Walt Disney Co. is now snug leaning into the edgier elements of its more and more aligned portfolio, they evaporated about 10 minutes into Tuesday’s upfront presentation when Ryan Reynolds promised that eventual Disney+ library member Deadpool & Wolverine could be a boon to advertisers concentrating on “testicular trauma” and “cocaine content material.”

There was noticeably much less cursing on the week’s earlier upfront occasions, at the least till Jimmy Kimmel took the stage, however the embrace of Arduous-R content material was obvious from the pitch’s opening moments. Emma Stone, the Oscar-winning star of the Disney-produced Poor Issues, was available to introduce Bob Iger — and, a month after he received his proxy battle with Nelson Peltz, voice her assist for the just lately embattled CEO. 

“I feel we’re extremely lucky to have a captain like Bob Iger on the helm of the Walt Disney Co., guaranteeing that the magical essence of creativeness and storytelling are on the coronary heart of the whole lot,” Stone stated to screams of approval from the nook of the room apparently occupied by the Disney contingent. 

“Right now, we’re going to share the unimaginable initiatives that we’re engaged on,” added Iger, “after which later Jimmy Kimmel will likely be out to tear all of them aside. I feel he’ll in all probability be tearing me aside, too.”

Iger’s temporary spiel centered on that storytelling — although he acknowledged the “radical adjustments which have reworked the enterprise,” together with their “entire enterprise mannequin.” However he was most memorable in noting what a uncommon sight it was to see him up there. His determination to grace the Javits Heart stage broke Iger’s decades-long stint of sticking it to the upfront viewers. His final time talking for media patrons, he famous, was in 1994 — when he was the president of a pre-Disney-owned ABC. 

Earlier than he departed, he did acknowledge the executives who would often be on the upfront stage, particularly Dana Walden. The Disney Leisure co-chair was seated within the entrance row, beside counterpart Alan Bergman. Longtime Walden collaborator Ryan Murphy, sporting sun shades inside, was seated behind her. It was additionally the power-producer’s first upfront since he formally departed Netflix, a proven fact that was alluded to later within the practically two-hour presentation when Kim Kardashian hyped 4 new Murphy collection coming to numerous Disney platforms over the approaching yr.

Let’s not gloss over that bit in regards to the runtime, although. The Disney presentation was an absolute marathon — with in all probability just a few extra trailers than obligatory. That’s apparently simply what occurs if you’re promoting Hulu, Disney+, ABC, FX, ESPN and a number of other different platforms that selectively diverge and converge relying on one’s streaming or cable subscriptions. 

What appeared to play nicely have been the spots for Disney+ entries from Marvel (Agatha All Alongside) and Lucasfilm (The Acolyte). There was additionally numerous obvious affection for the teaser of season 4 of Solely Murders within the Constructing, because the upfront viewers carries a torch for Steve Martin and Martin Quick greater than, say, Kardashian. The breakout, nevertheless, may need been upcoming FX darkish comedy Dying for Intercourse. A trailer for the Liz Meriwether miniseries starring Michelle Willians and Jenny Slate rapidly received over the gang. 

Having Williams available to introduce it didn’t damage, both. The presentation was most keyed in when it ceded the stage to actors. The place the presentation lagged was throughout protracted sports activities segments. Getting Jason Kelce on the roster of Monday Evening Soccer expertise and in-house to promote the approaching season? Greater than well worth the stage time. Bragging about ABC and ESPN internet hosting the Tremendous Bowl telecast in … 2027? Not a lot. 

However Disney finally did what everyone appears to be doing this week — trying to promote a vibe greater than anybody sub-brand or new piece of programming. And if that lengthy run-time left a nasty style in any attendee’s mouth, Kimmel did his finest to cleanse the palate whereas making good on Iger’s promise of him completely scorching the earth. “We’re again within the sturdy, masculine fingers of our as soon as and rightful Bob, simply because the prophecy foretold,” stated Kimmel. “Poor Bob Iger. This man, he needs to be retired by now. He needs to be off on a yacht someplace. As an alternative, he’s right here pretending to be excited a few new season of Will fucking Trent.”

Kimmel pulled no punches, neutering the aforementioned cracks about testicles and cocaine within the course of. When he seemed out into the viewers to ask new Golden Bachelorette star Joan Vassos, “Are the youngsters able to see grandma get raw-dogged in a jacuzzi?,” Abbott Elementary star Sheryl Lee Ralph’s jaw dropped. There was no digital camera on Ralph through the subsequent montage of canine humping in Kimmel’s proposed spinoff, The Golden Retriever, however it’s simple to imagine she was equally scandalized.

Kimmel’s set didn’t finish there, however it was excellent punctuation for a day that auspiciously began with Reese Witherspoon clutching a chihuahua. “Take that Legally Blonde prequel,” supplied Kimmel.

Entertainment

Reese Witherspoon Channels Elle Woods at Amazon Upfront

On the Amazon upfront, Reese Witherspoon showing in character as Legally Blonde’s Elle Woods wasn’t even the actress’ finest effort of the morning. That took place 45 minutes earlier than her presentation wrapper, when she scolded her You’re Cordially Invited co-star Will Ferrell for bragging about his romantic comedy prowess.

“I’m the fucking queen of trying cute whereas sleeping,” stated Witherspoon, referring to that second in each rom-com when one actor lovingly appears to be like on the different whereas their eyes are closed. This delighted the group on the tech big’s first-ever upfront presentation, as did a lot of star-packed present — as soon as they bought in, after all. Gradual traces stretched down South Avenue, prompting a half-hour delay for the Pier 36 occasion.

“Thanks for no matter you went by to get on this room,” stated Jennifer Salke, head of Amazon MGM Studios, when she lastly took the stage. “I do know it was rather a lot.”

But when problem was in abundance, so was star energy. Amazon breezed by the 70-minute spiel with little or no ad-speak and a whole lot of expertise. Alicia Keys kicked issues off together with her buoyant, Jay-Z-free rendition of “Empire State of Thoughts,” earlier than the very best focus of A-list actors presently west of Cannes paraded throughout the stage. Jake Gyllenhaal was available for a victory lap of his Street Home remake, saying plans for a sequel for the rapt crowd, earlier than fellow motion (albeit on TV) stars Alan Ritchson (Reacher) and Aldis Hodge (Cross) hyped their respective sequence. Witherspoon and Ferrell shared a teaser for his or her beforehand talked about movie, now premiering in January. Hannah Waddingham and Octavia Spencer described their very own yet-to-be-named motion comedy sequence to media patrons. And, after the standard movie and TV parts had wrapped, Roger Federer obtained possibly the most important applause of the morning. His retirement documentary, Twelve Remaining Days, bows on the streamer in June.

Amazon’s entry to the upfront market is exclusive. Juxtaposed to NBCUniversal and Fox shows yesterday, every together with jokes on the different’s expense, the Amazon pitch so clearly didn’t place itself in competitors with the opposite media firms vying for promoting commitments this week. The one mentions of rivals had been flattering, as worldwide head of Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios Mike Hopkins acknowledged that Max and Paramount+ had been among the many myriad choices on his personal streaming hub.

As an alternative of constructing any distinction between movie and TV efforts, the 2 had been fused after which damaged up by style: motion, comedy, younger grownup, unscripted, sci-fi and fantasy and sports activities. Younger Grownup was a notable level of emphasis with The Summer season I Turned Fairly showrunner Jenny Han incomes the excellence of being the primary author to get stage time this week when she joined the solid of her present. The sequence, for what it’s price, additionally had probably the most packed activation in the course of the reception with girls lining as much as take photographs at a branded sales space. It was, maybe, a bit too early within the day for a “Bloody Dalton” on the Street Home cabana bar.

Authentic content material, be it A-list fronted movies or Thursday Evening Soccer, took the majority of the eye as a result of it’s attractive and, in some circumstances, expertise had been beholden to share within the promotion. (The one notable cameos the corporate didn’t safe for its presentation had been Tremendous Bowl champ and Are You Smarter Than a Movie star? host Travis Kelce and powerhouse YouTuber MrBeast, who just lately set a contest sequence on the platform.) However the pitch from the all the things retailer, appropriately, included all the things — Amazon music, Wondery, Twitch, film leases, all of it.

The promoting segments had been, thusly, forgivably temporary. The largest level — not less than outdoors of the sprawling subscriber-base that’s now watching ad-supported streaming, care of a January pivot for the platform — was that advertisers needn’t have their merchandise offered on Amazon to learn from shopping for advertisements on Amazon. “It’s full funnel promoting at scale for everybody,” stated advert boss Alan Moss. “It not issues for those who promote on Amazon or not.”

As soon as Moss repeated this level for a second time, Salke returned to the stage with pink-collared chihuahua in tote. She was quickly adopted by Witherspoon, in full Elle Woods regalia, who helpfully picked up a pen Moss had dropped with a dramatic “bend and snap.” She was available to disclose the final of what turned out to be an amazing many programming bulletins of the morning, a Legally Blonde prequel sequence.

“Earlier than she turned probably the most well-known Gemini vegetarian to graduate from Harvard Regulation Faculty, she was only a common ’90s highschool woman,” Witherspoon stated to squeals of approval.

This week could also be about promoting and open bars, however stars are in the end what encourage individuals to attend in line for an hour within the shadow of the FDR.

Entertainment

Road House Sequel Starring Jake Gyllenhaal in the Works at Amazon

Jake Gyllenhaal is ready to star in a Highway Home sequel introduced by Amazon MGM Studios on Tuesday.

Through the studio’s inaugural upfronts presentation, the sequel plans have been unveiled following the primary movie incomes practically 80 million worldwide viewers after debuting March 21 on Prime Video. Gyllenhaal will reprise his position as ex-UFC fighter Dalton.

“I’m so prepared, like I really like this character, I really like this world, I really like the factor that we’ve created, and I can’t wait to carry extra,” the Gyllenhaal instructed the upfonts presentation. Different plot particulars for the Highway Home sequel are being saved beneath wraps.

Amazon stated the remake of the 1989 motion basic, which starred Patrick Swayze, was its largest international film launch ever. And for the primary time for a function movie, Amazon reported 50 million viewers had watched the movie in its opening two weekends.

That made the venture Amazon MGM Studios’ most-watched produced movie debut ever on a worldwide foundation. Highway Home made headlines forward of its debut when director Doug Liman stated he would skip its South by Southwest premiere in protest of the movie not going to theaters.

He in the end acquiesced and was on-hand for the bow of the movie, which additionally made headlines when producer Joel Silver’s relationship with Amazon abruptly led to November forward of the debut, although he had already accomplished work on the movie.

It’s unclear if Liman can be concerned within the sequel, as no filmmaking offers are in place, in response to sources.

Gyllenhaal starred within the authentic movie as Dalton, who’s employed to be the bouncer of a bar within the Florida Keys.

Entertainment

‘The Floor’ Game Show Renewed Through Season 3 on Fox

Fox will hit The Ground once more — twice — within the 2024-25 season.

The community has renewed its Rob Lowe-hosted sport present for 2 extra cycles, each of that are slated to air subsequent season. Addtionally, Fox and Lowe — who’s additionally a producer of The Ground — have signed a first-look deal to develop unscripted initiatives.

The renewal comes simply forward of Fox’s upfront presentation to advertisers on Monday, nevertheless it’s not an enormous shock: The Ground was quietly one of many best-performing reveals on the community this season. It averaged 3.47 million viewers over seven days of linear viewing, based on Nielsen rankings, and grew to five.5 million viewers with streaming and different digital platforms included.

“Followers beloved the primary season of The Ground a lot that we’ve ordered two extra seasons of this breakthrough sport present, with plans already underway to make our epic battle of the brains even larger and bolder,” mentioned Fox community president Michael Thorn. “It’s additionally been a large win to have an enormous star like Rob Lowe as our host, and each our viewers and opponents can’t wait to see him again in motion.”

Fox viewers will see a whole lot of Lowe on its air in 2024-25, as his scripted drama 911: Lone Star can also be slated to return within the fall after taking the 2023-24 season off.

As for the first-look deal, Lowe and Fox will collectively develop unscripted initiatives for the community. Any sequence that consequence from the deal might be produced by Fox Different Leisure, the community’s in-house unscripted studio.

“I couldn’t be happier with The Ground phenomenon and the chance to create extra unscripted initiatives with my companions at Fox,” mentioned Lowe.

Talpa owns The Ground format and produces the Fox present with Eureka Productions and BiggerStage. John de Mol, Mark van Achterberg, Chris Culvenor, Paul Franklin, Wes Dening, Sean O’Riordan, Shane Byrneserve and showrunner Anthony Carbone are the chief producers, and Lowe produces.

Entertainment

Cheers, ESPN Hobey Baker Podcasts Teased at IAB Podcast Upfront 2024

The Interactive Promoting Bureau (IAB) held their 2024 Podcast Upfront in New York on Thursday, Could 9. IAB gathered manufacturers, companies and media patrons to offer an unique glimpse into upcoming podcast programing.

The occasion, of which The Hollywood Reporter was a media sponsor, included shows from Wondery, iHeartPodcasts, Acast, NPR, SiriusXM Media, Libsyn Advertisements, Paramount Audio, Seekr, WNYC Studios, POD Digital Media, Cumulus Media, Higher Collective, The Every day Wire, Claritas, Sonoro, YAP Media Community and ESPN Podcasts.

The day was hosted by YAP Media Community podcast hosts Jenna Kutcher of The Objective Digger podcast and Rachel Rodgers of Hiya Seven. In the course of the panels, it was shared that, in keeping with Edison Analysis, 135 million individuals hearken to a podcast month-to-month and that 60 % of adults hearken to podcasts month-to-month. In the meantime, in keeping with Acast, 36 % of adults have by no means listened to a podcast and there may be nonetheless untapped potential to develop audiences.

In creating the day’s agenda, IAB aimed to be reflective of the “urgent and present themes” within the podcasting house, from anticipated progress in income to evolving promoting methods to video podcasts.

“You’re speaking about an {industry} that’s been on a very spectacular sizzling streak, each from an advertiser curiosity perspective, from a listener curiosity perspective, from a income perspective,” Matt Shapo, IAB’s director of digital audio and video, tells The Hollywood Reporter.

“What we did this 12 months, as we have been getting ready thematically, was fascinated with ways in which we might proceed to, from an editorial perspective, spotlight the strengths of the medium for listeners and advertisers alike,” he provides.

Unsurprisingly, many networks unveiled a number of new exhibits, together with Jon Stewart‘s The Weekly Present, teased by way of a show-stealing video message aired in the course of the Paramount Audio presentation.

The previous and present weekly Every day Present host joked by means of the video about what sort of promoting he’d be open to (snacks and outerwear) and why he couldn’t make the occasion (“After they instructed me about it, I didn’t imagine there was an upfront for podcasts”).

SiriusXM showcased an upcoming Cheers podcast, The place Everyone Is aware of Your Title with Ted Danson and Woody Harrelson (Typically), co-hosted by present alums Danson and Harrelson. The present is ready to premiere in simply over a month on June 12.

Different notable bulletins included The Offensive Line hosted by social media star Annie Agar for Wondery and ESPN’s upcoming podcast Looking for Hobey Baker, the latter a narrative concerning the faculty hockey participant and World Battle I fighter pilot. The podcast shall be launched in June, tied particularly to Pleasure Month, because the present plans to “re-contextualize the hockey legend by means of the lens of his lesser identified struggles as a queer man within the early twentieth century,” in keeping with a launch.

Total, for IAB, podcasting is a particular medium for advertisers and shoppers because of the distinctive nature of the connection between hosts and audiences. “You’re particularly deciding on one-on-one time with that content material in contrast to you’re doing with every other sort of content material,” says Chris Bruderle, IAB’s vice chairman of {industry} insights and content material technique.

Trying again at this 12 months’s upfront, IAB discovered a couple of key takeaways. “Podcast is now a multi-platform medium,” Bruderle notes. “It isn’t simply an audio medium. It’s a video medium, and additionally it is an occasions medium.”

Bruderle famous that advert income progress for the 12 months was 5 %. For a mixture of causes, video and occasions being one among them, that quantity is projected to extend, Bruderle says, with IAB projecting a 12 % improve.

Trying ahead from Thursday’s upfront, IAB sees industry-wide tendencies which are more likely to evolve over the 12 months. One factor that was on the prime of thoughts, in keeping with IAB executives, is an actual shift in angle of which podcasts advertisers will wish to purchase into. Shapo famous that advertisers are starting to see that a number of the best promoting might be completed on smaller exhibits with extremely engaged audiences.

“We’re lastly starting to have a mindset shift, the place patrons don’t essentially assume they must solely purchase the highest 10, 50, 100 exhibits that they’ve heard of,” Shapo observes, including, “You may get extra gross sales out of a 7,000 downloads-a-month present, you then get out of a 100,000 downloads-a-month present, as a result of it’s simply the proper setting by which to share that message.”

Entertainment

2024 Upfronts Preview: Netflix, Amazon Muscle In

If the 2023 upfronts had been about disruption, the 2024 upfronts are about Disruption with a capital “D.”

Final yr’s occasions had been fairly actually disrupted, with putting WGA writers on picket traces exterior the New York Metropolis venues and the annual shows to advertisers blunted by a famous lack of star energy, as actors proved unwilling to cross these picket traces. Whereas firms like Disney and NBCUniversal tried to make up for it by leaning on their information and sports activities expertise, it was nonetheless a muted week.

This yr, the disruption is extra figurative, however in some ways a lot worse: Linear TV, the linchpin of the advert enterprise for Hollywood, is quickly eroding. On the identical time, that is the yr that the streaming behemoths have determined to go for the advert jugular, with Netflix planning an “immersive” expertise for media patrons and Amazon storming into upfronts solely months after turning on commercials for its tens of millions of Prime Video customers, each of them becoming a member of YouTube throughout this important week in New York.

In different phrases, linear TV is on the ropes at a time when legacy media wants it most to recover from that streaming chasm. “We’re not kidding ourselves considering that is going to be some gangbusters upfront. It’s going to be difficult once more,” one advert gross sales chief with publicity to linear TV tells The Hollywood Reporter. One other TV advert gross sales chief provides that they had been targeted on “flexibility” and “transparency” with advert companions, principally asking them what they needed and determining a solution to ship.

However some analysts have been much more bearish. “A long time from now, media executives and buyers will possible look again at 2023 because the yr the place linear TV promoting formally broke,” MoffettNathanson analyst Michael Nathanson wrote March 19. “It’s now clear that exterior of sports activities promoting there ought to not be expectations of a restoration for linear TV promoting.”

Certainly, a number of prime advert gross sales executives say that sports activities shall be one of many prime promoting factors throughout an in any other case difficult yr, with athletes and studio hosts anticipated on stage at a number of shows.

However about these sports activities advertisements: A senior govt on the client facet of the upfronts says that they suppose stay sports activities might find yourself being north of 40 % of this yr’s upfront spend, because of sturdy demand. However there’s additionally an asterisk. “What we’re evaluating actually carefully is whether or not or not the standard media firms that even have sports activities try to boost costs a lot in sports activities as a way to offset the decline in leisure,” this exec says. 

Certainly, the decline in leisure programming is the opening in linear TV’s sinking ship. “I don’t suppose the networks are making as a lot of an effort and placing high quality content material on these linear channels, as they’d say 5-10 years in the past,” says media marketing consultant Brad Adgate. “In the event that they didn’t have this legacy of many years behind them as an promoting platform — if this was one thing model new — I feel they might get little or no advertiser assist. It’s referred to as legacy media for a cause.”

“We’ve seen it within the Nielsen rankings, but it surely’s not sudden,” the buy-side supply provides. “It’s been happening for years now, and there aren’t any media firms which might be attempting to alter that development. They’re not investing in conventional primetime leisure.”

Streaming, nonetheless, is. However whereas the standard leisure firms lose collective billions on their direct-to-consumer platforms, the tech giants and the one really worthwhile streaming platform — Netflix — are coming for his or her lunch.

“It’s not stunning to me that they’re doing this, I imply, look, they’re sitting there and so they’re seeing $20 billion being transacted and so they have higher content material and a greater story to inform in typically circumstances to the promoting group,” Adgate says. “Why shouldn’t you be there?”

One yr after internet hosting a (strike-induced) digital upfront, Netflix is planning a large “immersive” expertise within the Chelsea Piers complicated, with co-CEO Ted Sarandos promising on the corporate’s final earnings name “plenty of leisure in retailer” for the upfront occasion.

And for the primary time, Amazon is pushing into upfront week, hoping to leverage the Prime Video viewers (now ad-supported) to steal market share from linear.

After which there’s YouTube. The video platform is already a behemoth (it had greater than $31 billion in promoting income final yr), but it surely desires an even bigger piece of the upfront pie. It has secured the closing evening spot throughout upfront week, the place executives will gladly tout its attain on front room TV units by noting it has extra viewing time than Netflix. A number of media patrons quizzed by THR after final yr’s strike-impacted upfronts cited YouTube as having probably the most profitable presentation, through which it leaned on its prime creators and a shock look from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.

However the conventional gamers will roar again, with a ton of star energy anticipated, a number of executives say, which implies that media patrons in search of selfies on the afterparties might get their likelihood this yr. Whether or not that shall be sufficient to pry away the digital encroachers stays to be seen. “The launch and development of latest ad-supported tiers at Amazon Prime Video, Netflix and Disney+ ought to pull an excellent higher share of {dollars} away from linear TV,” Nathanson argues, including that companies like Fox’s Tubi or Paramount’s Pluto are additionally in danger. “These new entrants can also, nonetheless, pull {dollars} away from what have been, thus far, among the many largest beneficiaries of the outflow of {dollars} from linear: legacy AVOD companies and FAST channels.”

Or, as a prime tv govt worries: “There’s an excessive amount of provide and never sufficient demand.” 

And on the horizon, deeper considerations persist.

As scary because the advert market is now, it might all the time worsen. Additional struggle within the Center East or Europe? Disruptions in the course of the 2024 election? Extra shock rate of interest hikes? Any of these issues might trigger additional advertiser pullback, given their propensity for warning.

“I by no means thought I’d be in a job the place I used to be so related to Jerome Powell,” quips the buy-side govt.

Upfronts Schedule: A Cheat Sheet

Fox Corp.
Might 13, Manhattan Middle

Key IP The NFL, MLB, Fox Information, Tubi, Gordon Ramsay
What to anticipate Touting of Tom Brady, who is about to hitch the Fox NFL sales space; the expansion of Tubi; extra unscripted and scripted fare.

NBCUniversal
Might 13, Radio Metropolis Music Corridor

Key IP Paris Olympics, the NFL, The Tonight Present, Dick Wolf
What to anticipate Loads of sports activities, touting the NBCU Information Group, and a few Peacock promotion.

Telemundo
Might 13, The Shed

Key IP Soccer, NFL, its slate of telenovelas
What to anticipate A celebration with performances by SNL’s Marcello Hernández and music star Manuel Turizo.

Amazon/Prime Video
Might 14, Pier 36

Key IP The NFL, Fallout, Reacher
What to anticipate Boasting about Prime Video’s promoting scale and attain, stay sports activities rights, and offers with the likes of MrBeast and Travis Kelce.

Disney
Might 14, Javits Middle North

Key IP Marvel, ESPN, Abbott Elementary, Gray’s Anatomy
What to anticipate A cavalcade of high-profile expertise (together with, fingers crossed, the return of Jimmy Kimmel); sneak peeks at upcoming movie, TV and streaming tasks; an afterparty overlooking the Hudson River.

TelevisaUnivision
Might 14, HK Corridor

Key IP Its slate of telenovelas, Liga MX, its Vix streaming service
What to anticipate A “Casa Cultura,” with meals from throughout Latin America and stay music.

Warner Bros. Discovery
Might 15, The Theater at Madison Sq. Backyard

Key IP HBO hits just like the Sport of Thrones universe and The Final of Us, CNN, TNT Sports activities, Cartoon Community
What to anticipate Previews of HBO and Max sequence, appearances by CNN and TNT Sports activities expertise.

YouTube
Might 15, David Geffen Corridor at Lincoln Middle

Key IP NFL Sunday Ticket, the platform’s huge lineup of creators
What to anticipate Creators touting their success and attain on YouTube, a shock musical efficiency or two (final yr, Doja Cat carried out).

Netflix
Might 16, Pier59 Studios

Key IP Bridgerton, Squid Sport, WWE, Child Reindeer
What to anticipate Clips from new seasons of Bridgerton and Squid Sport, an “experiential” atmosphere, maybe teasing the upcoming Netflix Homes which might be deliberate worldwide.

A model of this story first appeared within the Might 8 challenge of The Hollywood Reporter journal. Click on right here to subscribe.

Entertainment

‘Night Court’ Renewed for Season 3 on NBC

NBC has delivered a positive verdict to Evening Court docket.

The community has picked up a 3rd season of its comedy sequence, a revival of/sequel to the 1984-92 present of the identical identify. Evening Court docket is the primary of NBC’s three present comedies to earn a spot on the 2024-25 schedule; selections have but to be made on Lopez vs. Lopez and Prolonged Household. NBC additionally has one new comedy, St. Denis Medical, on faucet for subsequent season, and a pilot known as Glad’s Place starring Reba McEntire.

Evening Court docket averaged 3.73 million viewers in Nielsen’s seven-day linear scores for its second season — down an excellent quantity from its return in 2023 however nonetheless rating as NBC’s most watched comedy. As with most scripted reveals, it picks up a considerable viewers increase by way of streaming; NBC didn’t present detailed figures (as is often the case with streaming) however stated 24 million individuals have watched at the least a pair minutes of Evening Court docket throughout all platforms this season.

Melissa Rauch stars within the sequence as Abby Stone, the daughter of Decide Harry Stone (Harry Anderson within the unique sequence) who has adopted her dad in presiding over an evening court docket in Manhattan. John Larroquette reprises his Emmy-winning function from the sooner present as legal professional Dan Fielding; India de Beaufort, Lacretta and Nyambi Nyambi additionally star.

Warner Bros. Tv produces Evening Court docket with Rauch’s After January Productions and Common Tv. Dan Rubin, Rauch, Winston Rauch and Larroquette are the manager producers.

Hold monitor of all of the community renewals, cancellations and new sequence orders with THR’s broadcast scorecard.