Disney's Upfront Presentation: A Dazzling Display of Cultural Dominance and Diversity

The Big Message Nobody offers the quantity quality and diversity of ways to reach viewers like Disney and this fall39s launch of Disney39s advertisersupported tier timed with the company39s 100th birthday will only bolster that ability to everyone39s benefit quotWe brought iconic shows and characters to life in new and entertaining waysquot noted Chief Executive Officer Bob Chapek who opened the show quotWe39ve defined and redefined the entertainment landscape We39re unrivaled and we want to give more choices than ever beforequotHosts A selection of Disney executives led by Chapek Disney Advertising Sales and Partnerships President Rita Ferro pictured at top and Disney Media ampamp Entertainment Distribution Chairman Kareem Daniel pictured above Solid delivery from each executive speakerWhat Worked Effective use of celebrity after celebrity throughout the presentation starting with Only Murders in the Building costars Selena Gomez Martin Short and Steve Martin Take your pick of memorable moments here whether they involved appearances by Kris and Khloe Kardashian who introduced quotKamyquot a previously unknown member of the family pictured below left the cast of freshman hit Abbott Elementary or new NFL Monday Night Football duo Joe Buck and Troy Aikman My faves Kerry Washington disclosing that her association with Disney started as a child actor in an ABC Afterschool Special and Grey39s Anatomy star Ellen Pompeo thanking the crowd for supporting TV39s longestrunning medical drama that has inspired many women to enter the medical professionWhat Also Worked First peeks at several Disney exclusive attractions coming soon including the Enchanted sequel Disenchanted and new Marvel series SheHulk Attorney at Law And of course the annual Upfront bashing by Jimmy Kimmel pictured belowWhat Didn39t Work A video of rapidfire scenes from upcoming scripted series miniseries and movies on various Disney services If you didn39t watch the screens at either side of the stage you missed the name of each attraction at the bottom of the picture Even worse no matter what screen you watched there was no identification of where the content will run FX Hulu Freeform Disney Channel ABC Disney or elsewhereBonus Points Three to highlight here First ESPN reporter Holly Rowe hosting an extended sequence about recent sports champions featuring unbilled appearances from members of South Carolina39s NCAA women39s basketball team Summer Olympics gymnastics medalwinner Suni Lee and Super Bowlwinning quarterback Matthew Stafford Rowe pictured below with Lee was on her Agame Second a postpresentation reception where individual food stations spotlighted ABC affiliates And third Jimmy Kimmel coming through with his annual skewering of everything Upfronts live via Zoom Testing positive for coronavirus a few hours earlier couldn39t keep Kimmel downData Points Disney39s TV content portfolio reaches 93 percent of US adults 18 and over and 92 percent of multicultural audiences Investment in original content will go up 93 percent through 2025 College football coverage on ABC and ESPN39s set of channels attracted 100 million viewers last Labor Day weekend Abbott Elementary was ABC39s highestrated comedy series since the 201819 seasonNews Hawkeye character Maya Lopez played by Alaqua Cox will get her own Disney series next year titled Echo Marvel Studios will film the series in and around Atlanta The XFL winterspring football league whose opening season three years ago was suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic will be back in 2023 with all games running on ESPN FX and ABC Twelve Disney madeforTV movies will appear this year and more than 35 additional titles are in development or production for debut in 2023 and beyond At ABC three new primetime series will launch this fall The Rookie spinoff Feds starring Niecy NashBetts newspaper drama Alaska with Oscarwinning actress Hilary Swank and Celebrity Jeopardy paired with Celebrity Wheel Of Fortune Sunday nightsParting Words quotThere39s no question we39re the best in the world at what we doquot Kareem Daniel Disney Media ampamp Entertainment Distribution ChairmanquotDisney puts advertisersupportedondemand opportunities on a scale all our ownquot Rita Ferro Disney Advertising Sales and Partnerships PresidentquotWorking with Steve Martin and Martin Short is the best community service I39ve ever donequot Only Murders in the Building costar Selena GomezquotAdvertisers this is what winning looks likequot ESPN reporter Holly Rowe concluding her sports champions segmentquotBob Chapek has never spoken at an Upfront amp8230 and now we know why Can39t wait to see you in GI Jane 2 amp8230 Every year I said 39f you Netflix39 and today it39s true They may not get Emily back from Paris amp8230 This Is Us is a Lifetime movie that ran six years amp8230 This could be the last Upfront before ABC turns into a Spirit Halloween popup storequot Jimmy Kimmel in his closing monologueClick the social buttons to share this content with your friends and colleaguesThe opinions and points of view expressed in this content are exclusively the views of the author andor subjects and do not necessarily represent the views of MediaVillagecomMyersBizNet Inc management or associated writers

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Disney's Upfront Presentation: A Dazzling Display of Cultural Dominance and Diversity

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Simon Applebaum

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Disney's Upfront Presentation: A Dazzling Display of Cultural Dominance and Diversity

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