Upfront Week 2016: #DownWithDigital, "Hamilton" Rules

Nobody had anything good to say about the latter but I think CBS Corporation President and CEO Leslie Moonves pictured above summed it up best Talking with a group of press people at a breakfast several hours before his network39s event at Carnegie Hall Moonves said quotWe see money coming back to networkquot adding that quotsome of the glow of digitalquot had dimmed during the last year quotThe bloom is off the rosequot he declaredThe week will also be remembered for its crazy kickoff amp8211 a dizzying presentation from NBCUniversal on behalf of its broadcast network its many cable networks its digital and streaming franchises and a celebration of the 2016 Summer Olympic Games It didnamp8217t quite work Read on to find out whyWhat follows are our annual MediaVillagecom Upfront presentation reviews and ratings But first hereamp8217s a reminder of how our Jacks rating system works5 Jacks Excellent4 Jacks Very Good3 Jacks Good2 Jacks Fair1 Jack Poor0 Jacks Donamp8217t go thereNote For more commentary about the major presentations of Upfront Week check out these reports by Simon Applebaum Turner Calls for More ClutterBusting 45 Jacks Univisionamp8217s Formidable Front 4 Jacks and ESPNamp8217s Bright Broadway Lights 35 Jacks Go here to read many more reviews by Simon of 2016 Upfront and NewFront eventsCBS amp8211 5 JacksOnce again amp8211 or perhaps I should say as always amp8211 CBS did everything right in its perennial Upfront home at Carnegie Hall beginning with a amp8220Hamiltonamp8221inspired live production number below featuring amp8220Late Late Showamp8221 host James Corden and lyrics customized to convey CBSamp8217 primary messages about its business and clever jabs at its competitors A grand assortment of stars from upcoming and returning series appeared on stage to promote their programs and thank the audience in advance for any support they might give them I noticed more expressions of thanks and gratitude to the advertising community throughout CBS39 presentation than any of the others but I wasnamp8217t keeping a formal count so that might not be the caseFurther new CBS Entertainment President Glenn Geller in his first time on the Carnegie Hall stage was strong and selfassured It was as though he has been doing this for yearsThis may not have been CBSamp8217 very best Upfront presentation ever Who could tell given its masterful productions year after year But any such concerns were eradicated by the afterparty which occupied two floors of the Plaza Hotel including the cavernous highend subterranean food court many of us didnamp8217t know existedamp160 There was ample time and plenty of room for networking among executives and fawning over stars In other words it was perfect Why donamp8217t NBC ABC and The CW do this tooFox amp8211 45 JacksFoxamp8217s annual presentation of the Beacon Theater and afterparty at Wollman Rink in Central Park didnamp8217t make quite the same impact as CBSamp8217 Carnegie HallPlaza combo but it was thisclose The network proved once again that it knows how to warm up the crowd and get everyone in the mood even before the show begins with a gang of amp8220Prison Breakamp8221 inmates below positioned on the sidewalk in front of the Beacon to steer guests toward the free pretzels and soft drinks amp8220There wonamp8217t be any food insideamp8221 one warned with a hint of menaceOpening remarks from Fox executives which included references to the FX Networks and the National Geographic Channels were brief and to the point Clips from Foxamp8217s new shows were for the most part very effective amp8211 the crowd laughed at all of the comedies amp8211 and did much to reinforce the amp8220family feelamp8221 or should I say amp8220environmentamp8221 that the elements of Foxamp8217s schedule often collectively exude That is broadcast branding at its bestIn a week filled with memorable musical performances Fox uniquely gave us two that entertained the audience while directly serving two series The first was yet another sensational effort by amp8220Empireamp8221 stars Jussie Smollet and Bryshere Y Gray below the second was by the three stars of the upcoming amp8220Empireamp8221 spinoff amp8220Staramp8221ABC amp8211 4 JacksFor the first time in four years I attended ABCamp8217s presentation at Lincoln Center rather than stream it from the comfort of my home I was glad I did if only to fully enjoy the elaborate production number featuring Priyanka Chopra below of the networkamp8217s returning drama amp8220Quanticoamp8221 While it seemed a little strange that ABC chose to make that show a primary element of its overall presentation is it that popular a program the spectacle of it all was nevertheless well spectacular And it set a very upbeat and receptive tone for the highly effective presentation that followedIt was also nice actually being in the room for the preview of what is likely to be the most heavily buzzed about new network series during the months to come amp8211 the Kiefer Sutherland thriller amp8220Designated Survivoramp8221 Appearing on stage to thank advertisers in advance for any interest they may have in the show amp8211 which will likely be a lot amp8211 Sutherland was once again one of the class acts of Upfront Week just as he was whenever he took to various Fox Upfront stages on behalf of amp822024amp8221Like Glenn Geller the following day at CBSamp8217 presentation new ABC Entertainment President Channing Dungey seemed right at home on stage But the afternoon belonged to ABC Sales and Marketing President Geri Wang Now that CBSamp8217 Nina Tassler has moved on to other pursuits Wang is the most engaging executive on any Upfront stageIamp8217m unclear as to whether or not ABC had a party of some kind after its presentation If it did the press was not included Given the effectiveness of the postpresentation gatherings thrown by CBS and Fox ABCamp8217s continued refusal to do the same was regrettable amp8230 and it cost the network a significant half JackTHE CW amp8211 4 JacksIn accordance with its relative lack of primetime real estate a whopping ten hours in all The CW once again kept its presentation short sweet and on point opening as always with a hot musical act of the moment with which not everyone in the house is necessarily familiar going in but will likely in some way purchase an album by shortly after going out This time it was neosoul artists Fitz and the TantrumsWith the help of multiple stars from the networkamp8217s shows The CW President Mark Pedowitz above outlined the companyamp8217s strategy for the season to come He also announced a new digital initiative CW Good that will feature programming geared toward causes that the networkamp8217s stars and viewers care deeply about The first CW Good project will be a continuation of amp8220My Last Daysamp8221 the powerful online documentary series about people facing the end of their lives created by amp8220Jane the Virginamp8221 star Justin Baldoni In August the premiere episode will run simultaneously on CW Good and The CWIn a nice touch as they left the New York City Center attendees were greeted on the street with small apple pies and french fries from Pop39s Chock39lit Shoppe a food truck created for the occasion and named after the hangout frequented by Archie and his pals throughout decades of Archie comic books and syndicated newspaper strips amp8220Riverdaleamp8221 a dark adaptation of that franchise filled with twisted new twists on its iconic characters will debut on The CW at midseason amp8211 with Simon ApplebaumNBCU 3 JacksThis is a tough one I suppose we have to give NBCUniversal credit for trying something new with its Radio City Music Hall extravaganza which was designed to promote Comcastamp8217s entire NBCU media hive including the broadcast mothership at least ten of its cable networks and multiple digital platforms And it was obvious that an enormous amount of work went into this epic effort amp8211 including Jimmy Fallonamp8217s opening performance below the first of multiple amp8220Hamiltonamp8221inspired references throughout the week Hence a score here of 3 Jacks rather than a lower number But gosh what a hodgepodge of a presentation It was clear what the company was up to but it just didnamp8217t work For the first time in the 25 years that I have been attending broadcast Upfronts I left without a clear idea of what a networkamp8217s fall schedule would look like and how its freshman series will fit into it allThe only time it really tied together was during a strong midshow production number on the stage and in the aisles celebrating the live programming that will truly have all of NBCUamp8217s media assets functioning as one Coverage of the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in RioThe mighty NBC broadcast network was at times all but lost in the controlled madness of it all Even with help from incoming amp8220Voiceamp8221 judges Miley Cyrus and Alicia Keys amp8220Shades of Blueamp8221 star Jennifer Lopez and new amp8220Celebrity Apprenticeamp8221 boss Arnold Schwarzenegger the network never quite dominated the proceedings Blink and you missed NBC Entertainment Chairman Robert Greenblatt not seen until the presentationamp8217s midpoint in what had to be the briefest appearance by the top programming executive at any broadcast network Upfront in forever Also lost in the jolly jumble A clear explanation of exactly how the full NBCU hive would benefit buyers and how it would fit in with their larger plansThe 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 management or associated bloggersamp160

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Upfront Week 2016: #DownWithDigital, "Hamilton" Rules

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