A Star/Series/Sports-Spangled Walt Disney 2025 Upfront

The Big Message: Want buzzworthy imaginative content available on a variety of individual channels and megacontent destinations anytime you want for any audience you want reached? Disney’s the one organization that delivers mass audiences at an unrivaled clip. “We offer people tremendous choice, convenience and quality,” affirmed Bob Iger, Disney’s Chief Executive Officer. “It’s an incredible package of entertainment.”

Hosts: Once again, specific stars or star groupings introduced each segment, with Iger and Global Advertising President Rita Ferro delivering their remarks during the first half-hour.

What Worked: A well-balanced, well-paced collection of segments, supplemented by a great selection of videoclips and montages. Among the most notable: Only Murders in the Building co-stars Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez bantering among themselves, the musical swagger of Brooklyn United Drumline bringing Mickey Mouse and Goofy on-stage, and a sneak peek of FX’s long-awaited Alien: Earth, complete with a procession of soldiers carrying Xenomorphs down an aisle.

What Also Worked: Peyton and Eli taking a stab at singing and hoofing, movie musical style, in one sequence. Their efforts were rudely interrupted (some might argue thankfully) by the likes ofHigh Potential star Kaitlin Olsen, Get Up host Mike Greenberg and Abbott Elementary Emmy-winning co-star Sheryl Lee Ralph. Surprised that Ralph, given her Broadway musical background (Dreamgirls), didn’t take time to belt out a few notes.

What Can Work Here: Give a new scripted Disney+ series not tied to Star Wars or the Marvel universe recognition, demonstrating that when it comes to scripted, Disney+ is not a two-trick pony. And how about some love for any new series on ABC, Disney Channel or Freeform?

Data Points: The ESPN family of channels and ESPN+ will offer more than 47,000 live events this year, with the new ESPN bundle (launching late summer/early fall) costing customers $11.99 or $29.99 a month (depending on what plan is chosen). Moana is the #1 Disney+ movie in total minutes watched. ABC News programming reaches 80 million viewers per day.

News: FX will bring on season four of The Bear June 25, followed by Alien: Earth’s debut August 12 and The Lowdown, the new drama from Reservation Dogs creator Starlin Harjo, premiering September 23. Upcoming Hulu attractions include Ryan Murphy legal saga All’s Fairthis fall, with Glenn Close, Naomi Watts, Kim Kardashian, and Niecy Nash-Betts in key roles. ABC will pair 9-1-1 with 9-1-1 Nashville on Thursday nights this fall, while Shark Tank moves from Friday nights to Wednesdays. On the unscripted side, Disney+ will add Vibe Check, an ESPN-produced series focusing on women’s sports, late next month.

Bonus Points: Remember Seth Meyers announcing at NBCUniversal’s Monday morning Upfront that he’s willing to offer sponsors naming rights to his kids? In a pre-taped segment from Cedar Sinai Hospital, Jimmy Kimmel put out another naming rights offer -- for his first grandchild. Figure that out.

Parting Words: “Disney is the ultimate MVP. There’s no competition.” -Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes

“There are no tariffs on standing ovations. “-Only Murders in the Building co-star Martin Short

“I have to contain my excitement, because ESPN is going next level.” -First Take co-host Stephen A. Smith on the new ESPN bundle

“This week is all about you and the partnerships we can unlock together.” -Rita Ferro, Walt Disney’s President of Global Advertising

“All I can say about this show is…it’s juicy.” -Glenn Close, co-star of All’s Fair

Of course, a Disney Upfront would not be a Disney Upfront without Jimmy Kimmel’s latest observations on the state of TV. Here’s a few of them:

“I do this once a year like a prostate exam, but it’s hard to say no when Bob Iger shows up…Somehow network television, like Jesus before us, has risen again…Speaking of imminent death, I want to wish a happy birthday to those plucky centenarians at NBC…Dick Wolf -- the Michael Jordan of character actors getting murdered in the park…We know what young people want to watch, and it’s not us. It’s YouTube.”

Photo Credit: Disney 

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