Cable Networks are Out in Force at TCA. So Where is Scripps?

Different cable groups at different times in recent years have for whatever reasons chosen to not appear at winter or summer tours amp8211 Turner Networks for example stayed away in 2015 while new TNTTBS chief Kevin Reilly and his team implemented their plans to rebrand As previously reported Turner was back in a big way this time aroundamp160But something special has been happeningamp160at this tour Every major cable network group except for one has been or will be here each of them in a big wayCan it be that the programming on the many networks of Scripps is already so successful and wellestablished that it doesnamp8217t require the mammoth publicity that can be generated via the tens of thousands of present and future stories blog posts tweets and other social media missives that can be generated from a single session or event of some kind at a TCA tourThat may certainly be the case Anecdotally it is my belief that Scripps networks such as HGTV Food Network and Cooking Channel are amp8220always onamp8221 all year long in millions of homes around the country I also believe that various personalities from a number of Scripps shows have larger and more loyal followings than most of the actors who perform in scripted series and the often talentless but very pretty people who populate so many reality television programsamp160During a recent conversation with Scrippsamp8217 Chief Programming Content and Brand Officer Kathleen Finch I learned that HGTV can successfully launch new series simply by scheduling them at 11 pm after the nightly pairing of the formidable amp8220House Huntersamp8221 and amp8220House Hunters Internationalamp8221 at 10 and 1030 pm respectively No other promotion is necessarily requiredStill these are spectacularly overwhelming times for television programmers of every kind with the volume of choices that compete for viewersamp8217 hearts and minds multiplying exponentially seemingly by the day amp8211 and that doesnamp8217t even take into consideration mounting distractions from other mediaSpeaking of new media competition streaming services are becoming dominant participants at TCA A twohour session with Hulu at 8 am Saturday morning drew as large a crowd as anything else during the first week of this tour Stars and producers promoting their Hulu programs included JJ Abrams James Franco Josh Duhamel TR Knight Chris Cooper Aaron Paul Hugh Dancy Rob Thomas Darren Star Jason Katims and Anthony ZuikerIt would seem then that when all of television comes together for major promotional events amp8211 especially TCA tours amp8211 all of television should participate especially large network groups if only to be included in a show of solidarityThe Viacom Networks group was here Wednesday with sessions for new and returning series on BET TV Land Comedy Central and MTV They were followed by AE Networks armed with presentations of what may have been its most impressive array of specials and new and returning series in years spanning AE Network Lifetime History FYI and upcoming new news and information network Viceland National Geographic Channel and Nat Geo WILD offered their usual array of engrossing sessions about a broad range of stimulating reallife topics plus an evening event celebrating National Geographic Channelamp8217s 15th anniversaryTurner Networks filled Thursday morning with a Cartoon Network breakfast marking the upcoming return of its signature series amp8220The PowerPuff Girlsamp8221 see donuts above followed by panels for new programs on truTV TBS and TNT Discovery Communications stepped up with sessions for new series and specials on TLC Investigation Discovery American Heroes Channel Discovery Channel Science Channel and Animal Planet The latter included a reception populated by puppies from a nearby shelter that provides the pups for the networkamp8217s annual Puppy BowlAMC Networks was well represented first on Thursday night with a screening at the local Arclight Theater of AMCamp8217s upcoming thriller amp8220Preacheramp8221 and a reception following with AMC and Sundance TV chief Charlie Collier at a nearby bistro and then on Friday afternoon with presentations for new series on BBC America Sundance TV and AMC Two upcoming programs on Sundance TV the dark comedy amp8220Hap and Leonardamp8221 and the limited series thriller amp8220The Last Panthersamp8221 were particularly well received as were BBC Americaamp8217s upcoming drama amp8220London Spyamp8221 and again amp8220Preacheramp8221 Itamp8217s a wild exploration of redemption and faith among other things based on the cult Vertigo comic book series from the amp821690s and a series quite unlike anything else on television That39s quotPreacherquot star Dominic Cooper pictured at topFriday night Crown Media Networks hosted its usual allstar party on behalf of Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movies and Mysteries giving reporters and critics the opportunities to talk with dozens of stars from the series and movies on those networks Staying with the theme of incorporating adorable animals into TCA events Hallmark had a replica of its Kitten Bowl set up at the cocktail party that preceded its dinner which attracted more critics and reporters than did any of the human talent What can I say Digital technology keeps us in constant touch with our loved ones while we attend these TCA marathons but we all miss our pets Even without kittens the Crown Media event is a highlight of every TCA tour and one filled with more actual television stars than any otherThis is not to imply that there was a shortage of presentations by standalone cable networks during this tour Ovation Outdoor Channel ESPN Up AXS TV Starz HBO and WGN America participated the latter two in a particularly big way In addition to panels HBO had an evening event with its executives and an Oculus Rift quotGame of Thronesquot experience that took participants up and over the Wall through a snowstorm and a fiery attack by savages WGN hosted a midday event with talent and executives from its very impressiveamp160new dramas quotOutsidersquot and quotUndergroundquotOn Saturday the network formerly known as ABC Family seized the TCA opportunity to formally kick off its new identity Freeform and to have Freeform President Tom Ascheim introduce new programming Ascheim hinted that this change was coming when we spoke last yearAs of this writing cable groups scheduled to appear later in the tour include FX Networks and NBCU Cable Networks Showtime will also be here

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Cable Networks are Out in Force at TCA. So Where is Scripps?

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Ed Martin

Empowering Women in Media: Insights from Industry Leaders (Video) - By E.B. Moss

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Cable Networks are Out in Force at TCA. So Where is Scripps?

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