Upfront Update: “Smartertainment” from Nat Geo, IFC Helps Close Roseland

National Geographic ChannelsVenue The Refectory Room of the High Line Hotel the blocklong establishment on 10th Ave between W 1920th Sts across from the High Line overhead walkway High Line39s renovation was still in progress last June when the Consumer Electronics Association kicked off CE Week with its annual Research Summit in the same space If you haven39t guessed the room was originally part of a rectory with a few pews off to one side Fish and corn risotto were on the menu of this press gettogether Grade 45 JacksPresentation No question National Geographic can whip up stunning imagery with its videos But here the script of these videos did more than just accompany images They crystallized the focus of National Geographic and Nat Geo Wild39s programming in a fresh way An example quotWe live to tell great stories the ones that hit you in the face move you to tears We respect the power of smart With a great legacy comes great responsibility and satisfied viewersquot It was extremely poetic and powerful On their own Geo39s executives declared the directions their channels will go from now on quotsmartertainmentquot series actionadventure programming events and specials for Nat Geo and for Nat Geo Wild series which quotput the animals firstquot according to chief executive officer David Lyle Chalk up another quotHappyquotplaying effort Grade 5 JacksNews Geo will plunge headlong into amp8220smartertainmentamp8221 defined as series that mix science humor peopleonthestreet segments and culture Three new series in that arena are on tap Crowd Control experiments in mass manipulation You Can39t Lick Your Elbow body oddities and Going Deep with David Rees the science behind menial tasks from tying a shoe and swatting flies to sharpening pencils The actionadventure series newbies include Cabin Fever The Primitives and Remote Survival On the eventsspecials calendar Killing Jesus as a fourhour miniseries American Genius The Great American Sleep Project and American War Generals Although Act Of Valor will not become the network39s first scripted series others are on the way to be announced in the near future Nat Geo Wild39s new programming includes series Dr K Exotic Pet Vet Pond Stars and the miniseries Dogs Rule Grade 45 JacksHosts Nice turns by Lyle Channels president Howard Owens Geo Channel programming executive Heather Moran and Wild counterpart Jim Daniels Grade 4 JacksOverall Grade 45 Jacks Excellent mix of ambience presentation style and clarity You left straight about where these channels are going Another winning touch was having at least two oncamera subjects engaged with press at each tableIFCVenue Roseland Ballroom now in its final hours as theater concert hall ballroom dance palace and in the last two years site of several memorable upfront events including Cartoon Network39s 20th anniversary salute and Fox Sports 139s prelaunch carnival The building will be converted to condos IFC did its upfront thing here a year ago and knowing they would be the secondtolast users of this stage brought back the best elements of the 2013 showcase a rollerskating rink the food booths featuring delectables from Brooklyn establishments and the DJ duo dressed in pink shirts and red ties who played quotHappyquot Grade 5 JacksPresentation Last year39s festivities were superb in every way without a presentation or news element Nothing important was left out this time President Jennifer Caserta addressed the crowd with news and videos about series coming together late 2014 or 2015 then turned things over to Portlandia costar Fred Armisen for a trio of straight ahead rockandroll tunes accompanied by an impromptu band featuring The Birthday Boys cast Marc Maron from Maron and Comedy Bang Bang host Scott Aukerman Armisen who also leads the band on Late Night With Seth Meyers gave some good guitar and drum licks Grade 45 JacksNews At least two new series will go next year American Documentary a docusatire Armisen will put together with Meyers and former Saturday Night Live player Bill Hader and American Storage featuring mayhem at a storage factory In partnership with Web site CollegeHumor the network will inaugurate the Comedy Music Awards working as a parody of award specials and salute to musical comedy videos TV segments and live performances Series under consideration include scripted comedies Westside and The Bank Also Comedy Bang Bang will expand to 40 episodes from 20 next year Grade 4 JacksHost Caserta came to play with a bright punchy attitude Grade 4 JacksOverall Grade 45 Jacks for IFC 5 Jacks for Roseland Sorry to see this place convert It had a wonderful runNext up AMC ending the March section of upfronts this Thursday nightUntil 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 MediaBizBloggerscom management or associated bloggers MediaBizBloggers is an open thought leadership 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Upfront Update: “Smartertainment” from Nat Geo, IFC Helps Close Roseland

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Upfront Update: “Smartertainment” from Nat Geo, IFC Helps Close Roseland

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