Upfront News/Views: ESPN's Bright Broadway Lights

Venueamp160 Minskoff Theater at 200 W 45th St three blocks from Times Square Most days it39s home to quotThe Lion Kingquot For ESPN it39s where sports superstars turn out on stageamp160and a mix of team mascots and pro cheerleaders hobnob in the lobbies Spotted a Villanova Wildcat near one hot tea bar as a Syracuse Orangeman passed by Another mascot looked down on my notetaking at one point as if to crumple any negative writing on sight The Laker Girls were all over the place including the streetlevel entrance where they were signing autographs Inside the theater a DJ was spinning tunes while now and thenamp160social media correspondent Sarina Morales and quotSportsCenterquot reporter Reese Waters recollected their favorite sports moments from stage left to anyone paying attention Grade 35 JacksPresentation No big deviation from the formula ESPN relies on year after year at this revuestyle showcase Devote the majority of time to quick star interviews by onair talent and bridge those segments with executive remarks sponsor testimonials one or two new project announcements and lots of highlight video The talent end held up with baseball superstar Bryce Harper NBA point guard Chris Paul 2016 NFL Hall Of Fame inductee Brett Farve and New York Mets pitcher Noah Syndergaard The big executive pitch In an age of more viewer choice and more platforms for viewers to watch their choices of content ESPN remains a durable and nimble advertising vehicle quotWe are a place where advertisers thrivequot enthused Global Sales and Marketing President Ed Erhardt Video testimonials from Mennen39s Speed Stick brand and Voya supported that argument If viewers don39t see ESPN in linear fashion they39re hooked into the Watch ESPN app that39s getting more viewing via smart TVs and smart TVmaking devices Senior Vice President of Multimedia Sales Wendell Scott noted that 60 percent of ESPN39s livestreamed activity is through smart TVs and devices quotThe audience making up that 60 percentamp160is culturally diversequot Scott added quotWho in this audience doesn39t want thatquotamp160 Grade 4 JacksNews Professional hockey absent from the channel39s schedule for years will return this September with coverage of the semiannual World Cup of Hockey Coverage of the Winter Games from the International Special Olympics will debut on ESPN next February Not announced on stage Watch ESPN distribution in Google39s Android TV format immediately covering various Sony and Sharp TV sets and NVidia39s Shield plugin device RCA and Phillips will introduce Android TV with Watch ESPN later this year Grade 2 JacksHosts Every ESPN executive involved made a solid contribution while the onair talents used their spotlight time well New quotMonday Night Footballquot playbyplay person Sean McDonough did a fine interview with Farve Noting that one of quotMNF39squot early games this fall will be the first played in Mexico McDonough appreciated the timing quotThere won39t be any giantamp160walls to climbquot he saidamp160 Grade 3 JacksStar Time quotHamiltonquot costars Daveed Diggs and Leslie Odom Jr performed original material to open and close the proceedings Against a starry sky backdrop Diggs and Odom Jr mixed rap and song to praise the nature of people at their best For the close they stood sidebyside behind guitarist Arlen Roth to acknowledge the glory of athletes as a highlight montage unspooled Both numbers were poetic and deeply moving Odom Jr Diggs and Roth are pictured aboveamp160amp160Grade 4 JacksCuisine More quirky than in past years The customary bagels and lox were joined by unusual muffins appetizers and juice combinations Best chowdown Cheese crust and kale biscuits plus egg whiteasparagusricotta cheese treats Worst chowdown None Best thirstquencher Green applespinachkale juice Grade 3 Jacks Note Cuisine ratings do not count in the overall Jacks scoreOverall Grade 35 Jacksamp160 The revue format stays welloiled and engaging giving attendees their sports and advertising fix in nice style Fantastic contribution this goround from the quotHamiltonquot costarsOdds and ESPNdsNo segment on ESPN Deportes contrary to a number of press reports late last week No mention or video in passing whatsoever The absence was especially glaring with Deportes cancelling its annual Upfront event held on Wednesday mornings from Hearst Tower the last few years In a postpresentation meet with journalists ESPN President John Skipper said the Deportes segment was pulled on late notice and that call does not reflect how well that channel is doing quotThe audience for Deportes is up dramatically this yearquot Skipper said quotWe39re fully committed to DeportesquotWith quotSportsCenterquot taking up more time on ESPN39s schedule don39t expect any shift in format for sister network ESPN News Skipper maintained the service will continue its headlinehighlights scenario interrupted at times for runovers of ESPNESPN2 events or news coverageABC39s Jimmy Kimmel may be the reigning comic of Upfront week year after year but I39ll argue he has competition from ESPN sportscastersatirist Kenny Mayne Big data was the target of the Maynemeister last year quotWhat the hell happened to thatquot he asked attendees This year his aim swerved to viewability of content with an inferred dig here and there to Netflix quotYou bingewatching consuming bastards You39re ruining our businessquot he cried while the audience roaredA quick recap of our Jacks scale5 Jacks amp160Excellent4 Jacks amp160Very Good3 Jacks amp160Good2 Jacks amp160Fair1 Jack amp160Poor0 Jacks Don39t go thereUntil the next time stay well and stay tunedThe opinions and points of view expressed in this commentary are exclusively the views of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of MediaVillagecomMyersBizNet Inc management or associated bloggers Images courtesy of ESPN

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Upfront News/Views: ESPN's Bright Broadway Lights

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Upfront News/Views: ESPN's Bright Broadway Lights

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