A TV Trend Trio - and Our First 2013 Upfront Update - Simon Applebaum

We39re only at midFebruary and three trends are in play that as Arthur Miller would declare attention must be paid with 1 A record number of TV networks will enter the scripted series field this year leading to a wider assortment of scripted fare all over TV GMC formerly Gospel Music Channel kicked off the parade last month with For Richer or Poorer Then came Stuff You Should Know from Science Channel turning the popular podcast into a comedy History will be next March 3 with Vikings From there the debut entries of Bravo E Oprah Winfrey Network via Tyler Perry Hallmark Channel and Sundance Channel Now add Participant Media39s millennialfocused service from the merger of Documentary Channel and Halogen G439s morphing into Esquire Channel and a Jennifer Lopezcrafted Nuvo TV Maybes in this picture Discovery with a Klondike miniseries going to the cameras this spring TLC and Robert Rodriguez39s El Rey service No wonder you can39t go an hourliterallywithout hearing about a new scripted program in development or green lighted somewhere Or without rumors of top film producersdirectors plotting moves into scripted TV Impact on viewers more qualityvariety of scripted choices than ever2 Smart TVs are the new way for people to watch and use the Internet or original interactive applications Reed Hastings Netflix39s chief made it crystal clear to CNBC media correspondent Julia Boorstin the week before House Of Cards launched that more people are watching his venture over TV than PCs His lieutenants make the same point to me and other journalists Meantime the research and anecdotes of increased Web viewing on smart TVs piles upand not just for Netflix YouTube Hulu or Amazon Bottom line Every Web site smartphone or tablet application must become TVusable if not already Sooner or later and this pile suggests sooner people will use the Internet on their TVs via remote controls their voice face fingers touchscreen or gestures or by smartphonetablet downloads What39s more smart TV capacity and capabilities are only going to increase with each set model Every Internet and TV conference starting with Social Media Week this week in NY LA and elsewhere must raise and cover this situation comprehensively or a huge disservice will be done to the Internet smartphone and tablet app developer crowd If you believe in convergence believe we39ve got the era of convergence underway3 Crowdfunding of TV series is a reality now and by a year from now could be a reality for seedfunding new TV networks Individual show ventures are now going to crowdfund sites as Kickstarter Mobcaster and Indie GoGo for publiccontributed seed money DTLA with 30000 in Kickstarter money launched on Logo last October Separately in advance of a full Federal regulatory greenlight equity crowdfunding company EarlyShares has a deal with Fashion Star producer 5X5 Media for ongoing show development where the public invests equitystyle in the programming Other production firms are checking out similar arrangements with EarlyShares or related equity crowdfunding organizations And some crowdfunding conferences on the state level such as Texas are exploring TVentertainment options in public Yes crowdfunding however handled does not guarantee a show39s success What it does do is open another way to get programs off the groundprograms and audience shows interest in through their own dollars Potential side impact encouraging venture capitalists angel investors incubator and accelerator entitiessolidly apathetic for years on TV content and technology investmentto finally get off their keisters and invest Crowdfunding is another subject every TV and online conference from here on in should have on their lineups Credit Digital Hollywood for bringing up the subject at several of their conferences last year and expanding the discussion at their Media Summit in NY next monthFor sure more trends will play out as 2013 continues For now these three are the ones that play well nowand likely to play bigger the rest of this decadeNow time for our first 2013 Upfront update NickMom the primetimelatenight portion of Nick Jr which launched last fall batted first a year ago this month Update NickMom hasn39t set a date for a return event yetAs we did last year we39ll break each New Yorkoffered presentation down by five categories with a Jacks grade for each Our first channel at the plate StyleVenue Fashion Week at Lincoln Center If you check out the Damrosch Park portion of Lincoln Center most of the year the idea of building a temporary prefabricated display on top comes across as unthinkable That39s what you saw for Fashion Weekchic comfy plenty of exhibits and walking room Style39s event room contained a white runway floor in the center surrounded by plenty of plush sofas and seats with a good view for everyone Bonus a yummy plentiful sushi bar Grade 5 JacksPresentation Two parts relatively quick First partpresident Salaan Coleman Smith delivering the channel39s purpose and programming plans quotWe39re a lifestyle brand about living an aspirational lifestylequot she said Second part a runway show designed by Betsey and Lulu Johnson subjects of a new reality series launching April 29 with a pop music soundtrack Puppyfluffy dresses highlighted the fall fashion style on display with the models blowing or throwing valentine flower flakes at the audience For an exclamation point Betsey J ripped her own runway with a cartwheel into a split You don39t see fashion designers do that often Grade 4 Jacks 45 for Betsey J39s movesNews Smith39s channel will launch 10 new series this year including PopStyle a live roundup of fashion beauty and pop culture trends and a revival of Lifestyles Of The Rich and Famous the iconic 198039s syndicated hour spotlighting champagne wishes and caviar dreams Also in that mix Styled To Rock the Rihannaproduced fashiondesign competition announced earlier Separately a development deal is set with Oscarwinning actress Charlize Theron for Glam Squad focusing on makeup and hair style teams Style also will increase coverage of NY Fashion Weeks beyond the Style Awards special launched last fall Grade 45 Jacks Host Solid work by Smithstayed straight and let video clips keep the presentation on point Grade 4 JacksOverall 45 Jacks All the elements worked and a few elements you didn39t expectBetsey J39s literal kicker of a runway show finish and that sushi bar made things more memorable5 Jacks Excellent4 Jacks Very Good3 Jacks Good2 Jacks Fair1 Jack Poor0 Jacks Worse than badUntil the next time stay well and stay tunedSimon Applebaum hostsproduces Tomorrow Will Be Televised the radio program all about TV Tomorrow runs live MondaysFridays at 3 pm Eastern time noon Pacific time over wwwblogtalkradiocom Replays are available 247 at wwwblogtalkradiocomtelevised or in podcast form from ITunescomHave a question or feedback Email simonapple04yahoocom or follow him via Facebook and Twitter UBCSimonTWBTRead all Simonamp8217s MediaBizBloggers commentaries at Tomorrow Will Be TelevisedCheck us out on Facebook at MediaBizBloggerscomFollow our Twitter updates MediaBizBloggerThe opinions and points of view expressed in this commentary are exclusively the views of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of MediaBizBloggerscom management or associated bloggers MediaBizBloggers is an open thought leadership platform and readers may share their comments and opinions in response to all commentaries

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A TV Trend Trio - and Our First 2013 Upfront Update - Simon Applebaum

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