Basic Cable Stand Outs at TCA: FX, USA, Syfy, Nat Geo and More - Ed Martin Live

Looking back over the many presentations by basic cable networks at the Winter 2013 Television Critics Association tour it39s clear that FX once again towered over the rest offering a session that rivaled in size scope and news value not only paycable competitors HBO and Showtime but broadcasters CBS and The CW as wellFX didn39t exactly do anything new at this tour It simply continued to do what it has done so well for so many years Give TCA members what they want and foster an enduring bond between the network and the press Rather than simply promote a new series or two and then split as other cable networks tend to do FX puts on a broadcast networkworthy presentation that gives as much weight to returning series as to new ones Last week that meant appearances by the stars and producers of veteran series quotJustifiedquot new drama quotThe Americansquot and returning latenight comedy series quotTotally Biased with W Kamau Bellquot plus a luncheon to promote quotThe Ultimate FighterquotAs always FX opened its halfday with a session with FX Networks President and General Manager John Landgraf whose appearances at TCA tours are now as eagerly anticipated by critics and reporters as those of top broadcast executives Landgraf always gives journalists something to write about whether revealing details about his network39s shows or commenting on issues of huge importance to the television industry as he did last week with a series of very compelling statements about violence in entertainment and the responsibility of media companies in dealing with same This relationship between Landgraf and the TCA didn39t happen overnight rather it has been fostered during the last decade by FX publicity chief John Solberg who has a similarly unique bond with reportersPart of FX39s very smart strategy has been to keep veteran series at the forefront of the network39s publicity and promotional efforts hence repeated appearances at TCA tours by the casts of quotJustifiedquot quotSons of Anarchyquot quotLouiequot and others As the shows grow and as support for them in the press continues to expand so does the formidable FXpress connection Seriously ongoing participation by the full casts of successful and acclaimed series on broadcast basic cable and pay cable is not as common as one might think at TCA toursThis is not to suggest that FX is the only basic cable network or network group to consistently make a positive impact at TCA tours The starpacked dinner that Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movie Channel host at every Winter tour has in three years become the gold standard of TCA events ABC during its TCA days very successfully includes multiple panels and for and visits to the sets of series on ABC Family It can be argued that the inclusion last week during ABC39s first day at TCA of a session with the cast of quotPretty Little Liarsquot generated as much excitement as anything else ABC offered that day BBC America is also a force to reckon with at TCA tours consistently offering compelling panels for series that can only be described as criticmagnets and hosting very successful evening events during Summer TCA gatherings And the National Geographic Channels group has in recent years become a major TCA player offering evening events apart from its regularly scheduled sessions and also effectively finding new ways to make those sessions stand out from the dozens of panels included during TCA39s cable daysBut it was NBC Universal39s basic cable group that really stepped up at the Winter 2013 tour No showrunner could ask for sexier support than that provided by USA Network last week for its upcoming actiondrama quotGracelandquot The network devoted its entire presence at TCA to this show with a sponsored breakfast a press conference and an overall environment that positioned it perfectly Frankly I would have welcomed additional USA panels for the recently reignited quotBurn Noticequot which is better than ever but seems to have slipped below the media39s radar and quotCovert Affairsquot which last year was as riveting as any other drama on television Similarly the TCA can39t get enough of quotWhite Collarquot star Matt Bomer I think USA could bring him to every tour and generate all kinds of positive buzzNBCU39s cable day also included a session for Oxygen39s very promising new competition series quotThe Facequot hosted by supermodel Naomi Campbell a surprisingly engaging session for the Golf Channel with the hosts of two of its series David Feherty and Jimmy Roberts a panel for CNBC39s first two reality series quotTreasure Detectivesquot and quotThe Car Chasersquot and another very popular tour tradition a lavish lunch featuring talent from E which this time introduced to TCA members the girlband The Saturdays They will be featured in the upcoming series quotChasing the SaturdaysquotThe day ended with a panel and party for Syfy39s upcoming adventure series quotDefiancequot the much buzzed about television series and massive multiplayer online game hybrid that debuts in April Had the only exposure for this wildly ambitious project been a traditional press conference it might not have received the attention it deserves Fortunately Syfy pumped up additional interest in quotDefiancequot with a lavish cocktail party following the panel in a ballroom here at the Langham Huntington Hotel that had been transformed into the bar at the Need Want the brothel that is a significant locale in the series TCA members were able to talk at great length with the cast and producers of the show but they were also able to play a version of the quotDefiancequot game and speak with executives from Trion Syfy39s partner in this project Wisely Syfy also brought stars from some of its other series to the party including the cast of quotBeing Humanquot who were in town for a panel at the Paley Center the following evening

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Basic Cable Stand Outs at TCA: FX, USA, Syfy, Nat Geo and More - Ed Martin Live

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