Discovery Communications Unplugged: Upfront News and Views

Venue amp16010 At the Park located on the 10th floor of the Time Warner Center atamp160Columbus Circle As breakfast was served up outside the main room demonstrations across from the buffet table showcased how various Discovery networks reach viewers of smart TVconnected devices Roku Amazon Fire TV skinny bundles DirecTVNow and videogame player bundle PlayStation Vue One demo space featured Discovery39s virtual reality content accessed via headgear while another was reserved for Alexa Amazon39s voiceresponse device Inside the main room a white stage at one side was reserved for the presentation and everyone at their seats had a clear view of Central Park Grade 35 JacksPresentation amp160There39s a new wrinkle in Discovery39s message as given by President and CEO David Zaslav pictured at top and his colleagues It39s not enough to be a dominant nonfiction content player in output and viewership worldwide Discovery is out for dominance in availability on any video platform Public acceptance of smart TVs devices like Roku and Amazon Fire TV smartphones and tablets has quotchanged the culture of our companyquot Zaslav said quotWe have to do IP on all platformsquot Whereas in previous presentations Zaslav39s remarks would have been followed by a download of data announcements and show clips arranged by each network Discovery instead announced a set of new media initiatives amp160the expansion of Goamp160applications for each network on smart TV sets and devices another app customized for Amazon Fire TV offering more than 500 hours of TLC39s Say Yes to the Dress and related programs and development of Snapchat services including one supplementing Eurosport39s coverage of the 2018 Winter Olympics Early reaction to the Goamp160apps since their launch last August has been above expectations with 22 percent growth monthovermonth added Discovery Chief Commercial Officer Paul Guyardo He expects those apps a number of which will develop original content will be in 116 million connected devices by the end of the year amp160As a result advertising pitches to clients will become as much multiplatform as multichannel Grade 35 JacksNews amp160Manhunt Unibomber Discovery39s first attempt at a scripted anthology series focusing on an infamous US criminal each year will debut August 1 following the conclusion of Shark Week with Olympic swimming gold medalist Michael Phelps featured on opening night of that annual event New primetime series there include Darkness contestants journey through a remote location with no light to guide them TLC will offer This is Life Live a fournight miniseries later this month in which milestone moments around the country will be presented live and uncensoredamp160 Look for Say Yes and 90Day Fiance spinoff series later this year followed in 2018 by the return of Trading Spaces the most popular series in the channel39s history Animal Planet39s new series roster includes Rescue Dog to Super Dog dogs trained to service people with disabilities My Fat Pet dealing with animal obesity and Monster Rivers featuring River Monsters host Jeremy Wade amp160At Investigation Discovery Univision nightly news anchorperson Maria Elena Salinas will start a crimeoriented newsmagazine series there next monthamp160 Four madeforTV movies will be presented this Decemberamp160with James Pattersoncreated series Murder is Forever and miniseries The Von Bulow Affair coming next yearamp160 Unscripted projects ahead multipart miniseries on the infamous Son of Sam and Casey Anthony cases and Evil Talks crime confessions Former Discovery favorite Mythbusters will move over to Science Channel with new hosts while OWNamp160comes through with at least three new series this year all unscripted The Book of John Grey April 15 Checking Inn and Releasedamp160Grade 4amp160JacksHostsamp160 amp160David Zaslav and Paul Guyardo were joined during the presentation by Ben Price President of Advertising Sales Rich Ross Group Presidentamp160Discovery Channel Animal Planet Science Channel andamp160Velocity Nancy Daniels President TLC andamp160Discovery Life Henry Schleiff Group President Destination America and American Heroes Channelamp160and making his first appearance at this annual event Erik Logan President OWN All delivered their remarks in fine fashion Pictured above left to rightamp160Priceamp160Ross Guyardo Zaslav Daniels andamp160Schleiff amp160Grade 35 JacksStar Time No celebrity appearances or performances here Therefore no Jack scoreCuisine Standard breakfast menu from bagels to melon and fruit smoothies Best eats chicken slices on small waffles Worst eats the home fries which had ketchup been served with them would have ended up a good eat Home fries without the ketchupamp160 You have to be joking Note Cuisine grades are not factored into final Jacks scoresamp160 Grade 2 JacksData Insight Virtual reality distribution of Discovery content via smartphones Oculus and Gear VR headgear has produced 127 million views to date amp160That39s prompting advertisers to inquire about creating messages or product insertion campaigns for VRonly display Price notedamp160 Grade 35 JacksInnovative Opportunity Campaigns with elements of merchandising and public serviceamp160 A recent Macy39s promotion connected to Say Yes to the Dress included sponsorship of a 90minute special on promgoers and their formalwear for the big night social media usage licensed apparel created just for Macy39s stores nationwide retail displays and store eventsamp160 Also 2000 prom dresses were given to needy students featured in the 90minute special amp160quotYou39ll see a lot more things like thisquot Price promisedamp160 Grade 4 JacksOverall Grade 35 Jacksamp160 Good balance between inviting advertisers to adopt multiplatform campaigns while checking out what39s coming on Discovery39s assortment of channelsamp160And it was nice to see OWN included it was not a part of this presentation last year or the year beforeNote amp160Discovery Family American Heroes Network and Destination America did not get any face or clip time amp160What39s happening with these Discovery servicesamp160Next up Crown Media Hallmark ChannelHallmark Movies ampamp MysteriesA quick review of our Jacks scaleamp160 5 Jacks amp8211 Excellent 4 Jacks Very Good 3 Jacks amp8211 Good 2 Jacks amp8211 Fair 1 Jack amp8211 Poor 0 Jacks Don39t go thereUntil the next time stay well and stay tunedClick the social buttons above or below to share this content with your friends and colleaguesThe opinions and points of view expressed in this article are exclusively the views of the author andor subjects and do not necessarily represent the views of MediaVillagecomMyersBizNet Inc management or associated bloggers

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Discovery Communications Unplugged: Upfront News and Views

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Simon Applebaum

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Discovery Communications Unplugged: Upfront News and Views

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