Emboldened by the success of Barbie, the biggest theatrical film of 2023 and also a potent draw in streaming, Warner Bros. Discovery mobilized its film slate in its upfront presentation to advertisers.
Execs pointed to upcoming tentpoles like Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (which was nearing its world premiere in Cannes as Wbd execs were pitching advertisers) and DC’s retooled Superman.
The company was the latest during upfront week to foreground its movie slate. NBCUniversal debuted a 4-minute trailer for Wicked on Monday and the following day Disney and Amazon used film as an opening salvo. A few years ago, the film and TV worlds would never intersect in an advertising setting, but the rise of streaming as well as the increasing presence of ads in streaming has brought them together.
Because the upfronts focus on TV and streaming, the presentation touted Wbd’s “Screen to Stream” initiative, which paired brands with Barbie,...
Execs pointed to upcoming tentpoles like Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (which was nearing its world premiere in Cannes as Wbd execs were pitching advertisers) and DC’s retooled Superman.
The company was the latest during upfront week to foreground its movie slate. NBCUniversal debuted a 4-minute trailer for Wicked on Monday and the following day Disney and Amazon used film as an opening salvo. A few years ago, the film and TV worlds would never intersect in an advertising setting, but the rise of streaming as well as the increasing presence of ads in streaming has brought them together.
Because the upfronts focus on TV and streaming, the presentation touted Wbd’s “Screen to Stream” initiative, which paired brands with Barbie,...
- 5/15/2024
- by Dade Hayes
- Deadline Film + TV
Warner Bros. Discovery kept up with TV upfronts week’s biggest trend at their presentation out of The Theater at Madison Square Garden Tuesday: Promoting not just its TV slate as a prime ad-buying opportunity — but also its film franchises.
First up from CEO David Zaslav’s team, WB Discovery revenue and strategy chief Bruce Campbell addressed the Madison Avenue crowd following a sizzle featuring top Wbd IP and brands across film and TV series. Then Mindy Kaling took the stage to promote her Max comedy “The Sex Lives of College Girls” before introducing HBO and Max chairman and CEO Casey Bloys.
“I know when you look at me, you see a young, beautiful mother,” Kaling said. “The truth is I am an old Max veteran. I was here way back when Max was HBO Max, it was this whole other thing. It was just me, ‘Tom & Jerry’ reruns...
First up from CEO David Zaslav’s team, WB Discovery revenue and strategy chief Bruce Campbell addressed the Madison Avenue crowd following a sizzle featuring top Wbd IP and brands across film and TV series. Then Mindy Kaling took the stage to promote her Max comedy “The Sex Lives of College Girls” before introducing HBO and Max chairman and CEO Casey Bloys.
“I know when you look at me, you see a young, beautiful mother,” Kaling said. “The truth is I am an old Max veteran. I was here way back when Max was HBO Max, it was this whole other thing. It was just me, ‘Tom & Jerry’ reruns...
- 5/15/2024
- by Jennifer Maas
- Variety Film + TV
Mindy Kaling got right to the point at the top of the Warner Bros Discovery presentation Wednesday by joking how her show The Sex Lives of College Girls is “filled with smoking hot guys who run around campus topless.”
“It’s a Max show, not a BBC show,” she said.
Sexy! Here’s what else happened at the Wbd shindig at Madison Square Garden.
-Paul W. Downs and Hannah Einbinder of Hacks to trade barbs before teasing the third season of their sick-with-Emmys comedy starring Jean Smart. Einbinder also promotes her upcoming June 13 comedy special.
-HBO chief Casey Bloys tees up the season 2 trailer of House of the Dragon that dropped yesterday. The next Game of Thrones spinoff, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, has started production and will premiere in 2025. Other upcoming premieres: Hard Knocks: Off Season with the New York Giants in July; Sam Mendes’ The Franchise in the fall,...
“It’s a Max show, not a BBC show,” she said.
Sexy! Here’s what else happened at the Wbd shindig at Madison Square Garden.
-Paul W. Downs and Hannah Einbinder of Hacks to trade barbs before teasing the third season of their sick-with-Emmys comedy starring Jean Smart. Einbinder also promotes her upcoming June 13 comedy special.
-HBO chief Casey Bloys tees up the season 2 trailer of House of the Dragon that dropped yesterday. The next Game of Thrones spinoff, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, has started production and will premiere in 2025. Other upcoming premieres: Hard Knocks: Off Season with the New York Giants in July; Sam Mendes’ The Franchise in the fall,...
- 5/15/2024
- by Lynette Rice
- Deadline Film + TV
The television industry’s annual “upfront” is usually a place where advertisers get to preview new series and specials, not blockbuster movies, so NBC raised eyebrows Monday when one of the first previews it showed to an audience at Radio City Music Hall was of the coming Universal film “Wicked.”
NBCUniversal, chief content officer Donna Langley told the crowd, was “excited to build up our story legacy across film, TV and streaming.”
Movies and premium cable series from HBO and Showtime used to be something traditional TV advertisers got their hands on only after they had made their way through theaters and pay-tv windows. Now, as a batch of this year’s upfront showcases reveal, they are increasingly being dangled before Madison Avenue as a major reason to support TV companies.
Warner Bros. Discovery is expected to make a similar point at its upfront Wednesday morning, when executives talk to...
NBCUniversal, chief content officer Donna Langley told the crowd, was “excited to build up our story legacy across film, TV and streaming.”
Movies and premium cable series from HBO and Showtime used to be something traditional TV advertisers got their hands on only after they had made their way through theaters and pay-tv windows. Now, as a batch of this year’s upfront showcases reveal, they are increasingly being dangled before Madison Avenue as a major reason to support TV companies.
Warner Bros. Discovery is expected to make a similar point at its upfront Wednesday morning, when executives talk to...
- 5/15/2024
- by Brian Steinberg
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: After corporate maneuvers, a global pandemic and labor unrest, the wheels of streaming commerce are finally starting to turn for Max.
The Warner Bros. Discovery streaming service introduced an ad tier in 2021, when it was known as HBO Max and owned by AT&T’s WarnerMedia, only to re-approach the ad business in earnest in early 2023. About a year into the effort and the rebrand to Max, there are clear signs of traction, with the service due to be center stage Wednesday at the company’s upfront presentation to ad buyers in New York.
“We’re total babies with this part of the business,” Jb Perrette, CEO and President of Global Streaming and Games, enthused to Deadline in an interview. “But we’re finding that we’re very well-positioned in the marketplace when you look at streaming prices going up and consumer sensitivity to price.” Internationally, he noted, Max’s...
The Warner Bros. Discovery streaming service introduced an ad tier in 2021, when it was known as HBO Max and owned by AT&T’s WarnerMedia, only to re-approach the ad business in earnest in early 2023. About a year into the effort and the rebrand to Max, there are clear signs of traction, with the service due to be center stage Wednesday at the company’s upfront presentation to ad buyers in New York.
“We’re total babies with this part of the business,” Jb Perrette, CEO and President of Global Streaming and Games, enthused to Deadline in an interview. “But we’re finding that we’re very well-positioned in the marketplace when you look at streaming prices going up and consumer sensitivity to price.” Internationally, he noted, Max’s...
- 5/15/2024
- by Dade Hayes
- Deadline Film + TV
In an unusual move, NBCUniversal used its upfront presentation to ad buyers in New York on Monday to debut a four-minute extended first look at its forthcoming film version of Wicked.
The preview of Universal’s Thanksgiving release, which will go online later this week, elicited a warm response from the audience at Radio City Music Hall. It showed off the extensive visual effects of director Jon Chu’s adaptation of the Wizard of Oz story, including the newly conceived version of Oz, as well as the emotional interplay between the witches portrayed by Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo. Production began on the film at the end of 2022 but was paused last year due to the actors strike. It is set for release on November 27.
Last month, Universal heavily promoted the adaptation of the Broadway musical during CinemaCon, including the release of footage and appearances by cast members. That audience...
The preview of Universal’s Thanksgiving release, which will go online later this week, elicited a warm response from the audience at Radio City Music Hall. It showed off the extensive visual effects of director Jon Chu’s adaptation of the Wizard of Oz story, including the newly conceived version of Oz, as well as the emotional interplay between the witches portrayed by Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo. Production began on the film at the end of 2022 but was paused last year due to the actors strike. It is set for release on November 27.
Last month, Universal heavily promoted the adaptation of the Broadway musical during CinemaCon, including the release of footage and appearances by cast members. That audience...
- 5/13/2024
- by Dade Hayes and Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Reboots, as the past few years have shown, are beloved by the TV business. This week’s makeover centers on the upfronts, a decades-old industry ritual revitalized by a new push into streaming ads.
Fabled New York venues like Radio City Musical Hall and Lincoln Center will once again play host, and a conga line of talent will take the stages, in stark contrast with the strike-afflicted 2023 edition. As the ad business crawls toward a recovery, there are more in-person presentations – eight, up from six a year ago, filling the Monday-to-Wednesday schedule – including the debuts of Netflix and Amazon. (See full schedule below.)
After the Zoom doom loop of Covid, this year’s extravaganzas are sure to feel particularly festive. And the entry of major tech companies, including YouTube, whose Brandcast will cap off the week, will add considerable buzz. But is all of the exuberance a little irrational given...
Fabled New York venues like Radio City Musical Hall and Lincoln Center will once again play host, and a conga line of talent will take the stages, in stark contrast with the strike-afflicted 2023 edition. As the ad business crawls toward a recovery, there are more in-person presentations – eight, up from six a year ago, filling the Monday-to-Wednesday schedule – including the debuts of Netflix and Amazon. (See full schedule below.)
After the Zoom doom loop of Covid, this year’s extravaganzas are sure to feel particularly festive. And the entry of major tech companies, including YouTube, whose Brandcast will cap off the week, will add considerable buzz. But is all of the exuberance a little irrational given...
- 5/12/2024
- by Dade Hayes
- Deadline Film + TV
In an era when advertisers can buy digital inventory at any time they wish, does the media industry still need an “upfront” sales session? Warner Bros. Discovery believes it does.
The media conglomerate said Thursday that it plans to hold a presentation for advertisers at 10 a.m. eastern on May 15 at The Theater at Madison Square Garden, where it will call attention to media brands such as Max, Food Network, CNN, HGTV, TBS, Discovery, TLC, Bleacher Report, and Discovery+. The ranks look to be heavier with streaming properties than traditional linear ones.
“Warner Bros. Discovery has the strongest portfolio of networks, platforms, and brands in the business, delivering unparalleled scale and reach. Our groundbreaking technology provides standout, industry-leading opportunities to connect our clients with the tens of millions of valuable viewers who watch, stream and engage with our content daily, “ said Jon Steinlauf, Warner Bros. Discovery’s Chief U.S.
The media conglomerate said Thursday that it plans to hold a presentation for advertisers at 10 a.m. eastern on May 15 at The Theater at Madison Square Garden, where it will call attention to media brands such as Max, Food Network, CNN, HGTV, TBS, Discovery, TLC, Bleacher Report, and Discovery+. The ranks look to be heavier with streaming properties than traditional linear ones.
“Warner Bros. Discovery has the strongest portfolio of networks, platforms, and brands in the business, delivering unparalleled scale and reach. Our groundbreaking technology provides standout, industry-leading opportunities to connect our clients with the tens of millions of valuable viewers who watch, stream and engage with our content daily, “ said Jon Steinlauf, Warner Bros. Discovery’s Chief U.S.
- 1/18/2024
- by Brian Steinberg
- Variety Film + TV
After a 2023 upfront season marred by the WGA strike, Warner Bros. Discovery is first out of the gate to declare a return engagement this spring at New York’s Theater at Madison Square Garden.
The media giant confirmed it will host its annual event on Wednesday, May 15, at 10 a.m.
Last year’s NewFronts for digital and streaming buyers as well as the traditional TV upfronts (with arrivistes YouTube and Netflix) were significantly altered by the guild situation. Talent was scarce and companies, including Wbd, stripped down their presentations so that they were carried by a handful of execs, a pivot from the longtime custom of bringing talent onstage to woo ad buyers. The optics of the events across the city were also problematic for the companies, with picket lines set up across town, with the goal of calling wider attention to the guild’s demands.
Even without that backdrop...
The media giant confirmed it will host its annual event on Wednesday, May 15, at 10 a.m.
Last year’s NewFronts for digital and streaming buyers as well as the traditional TV upfronts (with arrivistes YouTube and Netflix) were significantly altered by the guild situation. Talent was scarce and companies, including Wbd, stripped down their presentations so that they were carried by a handful of execs, a pivot from the longtime custom of bringing talent onstage to woo ad buyers. The optics of the events across the city were also problematic for the companies, with picket lines set up across town, with the goal of calling wider attention to the guild’s demands.
Even without that backdrop...
- 1/18/2024
- by Dade Hayes
- Deadline Film + TV
Warner Bros. Discovery is the latest major media company to reorganize and restructure its advertising sales division, seeking a new way of doing business with major brands amid what has been a lackluster year for ad sales.
On Monday, the company unveiled its new structure, one that will be built around an agency holding company model.
Under the new structure, Marybeth Strobel and Greg Regis will lead the agency-specific teams, with Strobel working with Omnicom, Magna and Dentsu, and Regis responsible for Publicis, GroupM and Horizon Media.
There will also be executives tasked with specific strategic areas.
Jon Diament will oversee Wbd’s sports portfolio and also work with Wbd’s clients who are also official league partners with MLB, NBA and the NHL.
Ryan Gould will lead Wbd’s digital ad team, including Max, Discovery+, Wbd Stream and CNN digital, as well as programmatic sales.
Sheereen Russell will lead a new client partnerships team.
On Monday, the company unveiled its new structure, one that will be built around an agency holding company model.
Under the new structure, Marybeth Strobel and Greg Regis will lead the agency-specific teams, with Strobel working with Omnicom, Magna and Dentsu, and Regis responsible for Publicis, GroupM and Horizon Media.
There will also be executives tasked with specific strategic areas.
Jon Diament will oversee Wbd’s sports portfolio and also work with Wbd’s clients who are also official league partners with MLB, NBA and the NHL.
Ryan Gould will lead Wbd’s digital ad team, including Max, Discovery+, Wbd Stream and CNN digital, as well as programmatic sales.
Sheereen Russell will lead a new client partnerships team.
- 7/31/2023
- by Alex Weprin
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Warner Bros. Discovery, today announced a new strategy and structure for its advertising sales organization and leadership team under Jon Steinlauf, chief U.S. advertising sales officer.
Big media has been carefully evaluating its advertising process and structure in an increasingly complex ad market, including a challenging upfront this year.
There’s been cyclical ad softness for months, fueled by fears of a weak economy, layered on top of a structural decline in linear television. In the pivot to streaming, companies have been rapidly adding advertising tiers to their offerings.
Wbd said today its advertising agency partners will now work with dedicated Wbd sales leaders for direct access to the media giant’s entire portfolio of brands, including lifestyle, entertainment, sports, news and streaming under one umbrella. The new strategy brings Wbd’s full suite of Advanced Advertising Sales solutions across linear and digital platforms together “in a more impactful way,...
Big media has been carefully evaluating its advertising process and structure in an increasingly complex ad market, including a challenging upfront this year.
There’s been cyclical ad softness for months, fueled by fears of a weak economy, layered on top of a structural decline in linear television. In the pivot to streaming, companies have been rapidly adding advertising tiers to their offerings.
Wbd said today its advertising agency partners will now work with dedicated Wbd sales leaders for direct access to the media giant’s entire portfolio of brands, including lifestyle, entertainment, sports, news and streaming under one umbrella. The new strategy brings Wbd’s full suite of Advanced Advertising Sales solutions across linear and digital platforms together “in a more impactful way,...
- 7/31/2023
- by Jill Goldsmith
- Deadline Film + TV
Warner Bros. Discovery is moving forward with a new advertising sales strategy starting Monday. Under this new structure, the company’s entire portfolio of brands — which includes lifestyle, entertainment, sports, news and streaming — will now be under a single point of client contact for advertisers.
“Over the past year, we have been listening to our clients and partners and have seen firsthand what is delivering real value for them and great performance for us. This new structure will allow us to deliver what matters most for all — creating a single and seamless interface into the full world of Wbd,” Jon Steinlauf, chief U.S. advertising sales officer for Warner Bros. Discovery, said in a statement. “We are leveraging the power of our world-class content, platforms and partnerships to drive how the market works now — and for years to come.”
Marybeth Strobel and Greg Regis will lead these new agency-focused teams...
“Over the past year, we have been listening to our clients and partners and have seen firsthand what is delivering real value for them and great performance for us. This new structure will allow us to deliver what matters most for all — creating a single and seamless interface into the full world of Wbd,” Jon Steinlauf, chief U.S. advertising sales officer for Warner Bros. Discovery, said in a statement. “We are leveraging the power of our world-class content, platforms and partnerships to drive how the market works now — and for years to come.”
Marybeth Strobel and Greg Regis will lead these new agency-focused teams...
- 7/31/2023
- by Kayla Cobb
- The Wrap
Warner Bros. Discovery is the latest traditional media company to reorganize its advertising-sales team to meet the demands of a rapidly shifting market.
The media conglomerate said it would rework its ad sales staff, overseen by Chief U. S. Advertising Sales Officer Jon Steinlauf, so that individual media buying agencies would have a direct contact who can help them secure inventory across the company’s media portfolio.
“Over the past year, we have been listening to our clients and partners and have seen firsthand what is delivering real value for them and great performance for us. This new structure will allow us to deliver what matters most for all – creating a single and seamless interface into the full world of Wbd,” said Steinlauf, in a statement. “We are leveraging the power of our world-class content, platforms and partnerships to drive how the market works now — and for years to come.
The media conglomerate said it would rework its ad sales staff, overseen by Chief U. S. Advertising Sales Officer Jon Steinlauf, so that individual media buying agencies would have a direct contact who can help them secure inventory across the company’s media portfolio.
“Over the past year, we have been listening to our clients and partners and have seen firsthand what is delivering real value for them and great performance for us. This new structure will allow us to deliver what matters most for all – creating a single and seamless interface into the full world of Wbd,” said Steinlauf, in a statement. “We are leveraging the power of our world-class content, platforms and partnerships to drive how the market works now — and for years to come.
- 7/31/2023
- by Brian Steinberg
- Variety Film + TV
“This is not exactly the show we expected to do today,” said Warner Bros Discovery ad boss Jon Steinlauf in opening his company’s second Upfronts presentation as a merged company.
That is both an understatement and sums up the entire week. “It’s been a very weird week,” one network boss told Deadline.
While the focus of the upfronts has been increasingly moving to streaming, this year’s event highlighted the struggle that the linear broadcast networks have on the scripted side of the business. ABC unveiled an almost entirely unscripted schedule, Gordon Ramsay cooked up another show for Fox, becoming its lynchpin, CBS announced a fall schedule that could be decimated by the strike and The CW turned to international acquisitions and reality shows instead of superheroes.
As The CW President Dennis Miller said, “the young-adult audience is not making an appointment with broadcast television today.”
It was instead left to Disney+,...
That is both an understatement and sums up the entire week. “It’s been a very weird week,” one network boss told Deadline.
While the focus of the upfronts has been increasingly moving to streaming, this year’s event highlighted the struggle that the linear broadcast networks have on the scripted side of the business. ABC unveiled an almost entirely unscripted schedule, Gordon Ramsay cooked up another show for Fox, becoming its lynchpin, CBS announced a fall schedule that could be decimated by the strike and The CW turned to international acquisitions and reality shows instead of superheroes.
As The CW President Dennis Miller said, “the young-adult audience is not making an appointment with broadcast television today.”
It was instead left to Disney+,...
- 5/19/2023
- by Peter White and Dade Hayes
- Deadline Film + TV
If TV’s upfront week used to be defined by spectacle — a parade of stars and musical performances culminating in glamorous parties with open bars and lobster canapés — to say the 2023 installment was muted would be an understatement.
There were still musical performances, and there were stars (at least from the world of sports, news and reality TV), but the ongoing writers strike made its presence felt.
“What you’re about to see is not exactly the show we expected to do today,” Warner Bros. Discovery ad sales chief Jon Steinlauf told the crowd of media buyers at the Theater at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday morning, adding that the company asked only executives to appear “out of respect for our talent, and the WGA.”
“It’s not exactly as we originally planned it, but we live in a dynamic world, and we have definitely found that being able to...
There were still musical performances, and there were stars (at least from the world of sports, news and reality TV), but the ongoing writers strike made its presence felt.
“What you’re about to see is not exactly the show we expected to do today,” Warner Bros. Discovery ad sales chief Jon Steinlauf told the crowd of media buyers at the Theater at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday morning, adding that the company asked only executives to appear “out of respect for our talent, and the WGA.”
“It’s not exactly as we originally planned it, but we live in a dynamic world, and we have definitely found that being able to...
- 5/18/2023
- by Alex Weprin
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The Writers Guild of America picket line outside the Warner Bros. Discovery upfront Wednesday morning may have been a block away and across the street (owing to construction at Penn Station), but it was felt inside the Theater at Madison Square Garden, where Wbd executives took to the stage in a talent-free presentation.
“What you’re about to see is not exactly the show we expected to do today,” Wbd ad sales chief Jon Steinlauf said to open the show. “We made the decision to only have executives on stage out of respect for our talent, and the WGA.”
Instead, Steinlauf, EVP of Advertising Sales and Inclusive Solutions, Sheereen Russell; CNN CEO Chris Licht; Wbd Sports chief Luis Silberwasser; US networks content chief Kathleen Finch; streaming and games head Jb Perrette; HBO and Max CEO Casey Bloys; and chief revenue officer Bruce Campbell addressed a tired crowd of media buyers,...
“What you’re about to see is not exactly the show we expected to do today,” Wbd ad sales chief Jon Steinlauf said to open the show. “We made the decision to only have executives on stage out of respect for our talent, and the WGA.”
Instead, Steinlauf, EVP of Advertising Sales and Inclusive Solutions, Sheereen Russell; CNN CEO Chris Licht; Wbd Sports chief Luis Silberwasser; US networks content chief Kathleen Finch; streaming and games head Jb Perrette; HBO and Max CEO Casey Bloys; and chief revenue officer Bruce Campbell addressed a tired crowd of media buyers,...
- 5/17/2023
- by Alex Weprin
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
WGA members have picketed each of the TV upfronts thus far, and on Wednesday morning, strikers did not miss an opportunity to stick it to David Zaslav at Warner Bros. Discovery’s presentation to advertisers. Or more accurately, they did so from an NYPD-controlled pen immediately outside the presentation venue.
Inside The Theater at Madison Square Garden, adjacent to where Zaslav’s beloved New York Knicks play, the chief executive’s immediate underlings shared their respective upcoming slates to the media buyers in attendance. That’s a task normally reserved for celebrities, a thrill for the folks who financially support a program via television commercials. While actors has consistently avoided each upfront event this year in solidarity with their writers, NBCUniversal, Fox, and Disney each had in-person unscripted talent at their presentations; Wbd went fully without.
“We made the decision to only have executives on stage out of respect for our talent,...
Inside The Theater at Madison Square Garden, adjacent to where Zaslav’s beloved New York Knicks play, the chief executive’s immediate underlings shared their respective upcoming slates to the media buyers in attendance. That’s a task normally reserved for celebrities, a thrill for the folks who financially support a program via television commercials. While actors has consistently avoided each upfront event this year in solidarity with their writers, NBCUniversal, Fox, and Disney each had in-person unscripted talent at their presentations; Wbd went fully without.
“We made the decision to only have executives on stage out of respect for our talent,...
- 5/17/2023
- by Tony Maglio
- Indiewire
Warner Bros. Discovery kicked off its 2023 upfront presentation in a no-frills way, with an overall brand sizzle and ad chief Jon Steinlauf giving a few remarks on stage at the Theater at Madison Square Garden Wednesday.
While the presentation covering HBO, Max, CNN, Food Network, HGTV, Discovery and more Warner Bros. Discovery brands was shorter than last year’s show (which was the company’s first since the merger that created it last April) the tight 90-minute presentation still covered each of its key divisions. Albeit, with much less sizzle, with no stars in attendance amid the writers strike.
“Let me just start by saying I am hopeful that a fair resolution is found soon with the writers,” HBO and Max chief Casey Bloys said, adding that he hopes for a return of talent to the stage, “making this a far more entertaining show” compared to “me and my clips.
While the presentation covering HBO, Max, CNN, Food Network, HGTV, Discovery and more Warner Bros. Discovery brands was shorter than last year’s show (which was the company’s first since the merger that created it last April) the tight 90-minute presentation still covered each of its key divisions. Albeit, with much less sizzle, with no stars in attendance amid the writers strike.
“Let me just start by saying I am hopeful that a fair resolution is found soon with the writers,” HBO and Max chief Casey Bloys said, adding that he hopes for a return of talent to the stage, “making this a far more entertaining show” compared to “me and my clips.
- 5/17/2023
- by Jennifer Maas
- Variety Film + TV
HBO boss Casey Bloys had a word or two to say about the ongoing strike while speaking at this morning’s Warner Bros Discovery Upfront in New York City.
Before beginning the Max portion of the presentation, the chairman and CEO of HBO and Max content addressed the elephant in the room — how there were no celebrities to help promote the upcoming year of new programs on the platform.
“First, let me just start by saying I am hopeful that a fair resolution is found soon with writers that would of course return talent to this stage,” said Bloys. “Let’s be honest, making this a far more entertaining show. Until then you’re kind of stuck with me and my clips.”
He then kicked off a short reel of clips promoting the new season of Sex and the City and a car show featuring Robert Downey Jr.
The HBO...
Before beginning the Max portion of the presentation, the chairman and CEO of HBO and Max content addressed the elephant in the room — how there were no celebrities to help promote the upcoming year of new programs on the platform.
“First, let me just start by saying I am hopeful that a fair resolution is found soon with writers that would of course return talent to this stage,” said Bloys. “Let’s be honest, making this a far more entertaining show. Until then you’re kind of stuck with me and my clips.”
He then kicked off a short reel of clips promoting the new season of Sex and the City and a car show featuring Robert Downey Jr.
The HBO...
- 5/17/2023
- by Lynette Rice and Dominic Patten
- Deadline Film + TV
A lot of TV companies are judged by how quickly they can introduce new shows. Warner Bros. Discovery thinks it may find some gains by developing new ways to introduce audiences to series and content that already exists.
The strategy has been playing out in open view on some of the company’s biggest cable networks. Audiences watching NBA basketball games have been pushed to sample series such as Food Network’s “Tournament of Champions,” HGTV’s “Rock The Block” and Discovery Channel’s “Deadliest Catch.” And some portion decided to follow the programs back to their original homes for more. According to company research, 12% of TNT sports viewers who sampled “Tournament” went on to watch it on Food Network. Likewise, 10% of basketball fans that tried “Rock The Block” followed it to HGTV while 7% of viewers who tested “Deadliest Catch” watched more of it on Discovery.
“We have an opportunity...
The strategy has been playing out in open view on some of the company’s biggest cable networks. Audiences watching NBA basketball games have been pushed to sample series such as Food Network’s “Tournament of Champions,” HGTV’s “Rock The Block” and Discovery Channel’s “Deadliest Catch.” And some portion decided to follow the programs back to their original homes for more. According to company research, 12% of TNT sports viewers who sampled “Tournament” went on to watch it on Food Network. Likewise, 10% of basketball fans that tried “Rock The Block” followed it to HGTV while 7% of viewers who tested “Deadliest Catch” watched more of it on Discovery.
“We have an opportunity...
- 5/17/2023
- by Brian Steinberg
- Variety Film + TV
Even without a once-in-a-generation strike or a Twitter bombshell, next week would already pose a challenge to media companies making their annual upfront pitches to ad buyers next week in New York.
An adverse economic climate and a number of existential questions are confronting those in the ad trenches. With live, linear tune-in continuing to decline, what is the meaning of a prime-time schedule anymore? In a cord-cutting world, how will the profit models of streaming play out? How will advertisers feel the same rush they used to get from putting their chips on the hottest new sitcom or procedural drama and seeing those bets pay off?
“Going into this upfront, there’s a lot of anxiety and excitement — a mix of both,” said Rita Ferro, president of ad sales and partnerships at Disney. “Buyers still love this time of year. They get to see the best of what’s coming from companies,...
An adverse economic climate and a number of existential questions are confronting those in the ad trenches. With live, linear tune-in continuing to decline, what is the meaning of a prime-time schedule anymore? In a cord-cutting world, how will the profit models of streaming play out? How will advertisers feel the same rush they used to get from putting their chips on the hottest new sitcom or procedural drama and seeing those bets pay off?
“Going into this upfront, there’s a lot of anxiety and excitement — a mix of both,” said Rita Ferro, president of ad sales and partnerships at Disney. “Buyers still love this time of year. They get to see the best of what’s coming from companies,...
- 5/12/2023
- by Dade Hayes
- Deadline Film + TV
For many in the media and entertainment industries, the past 12 months could be described as a year of everything everywhere all at once, a period of tumult and correction. And that’s before you factor in the writers strike.
Last May, Jeff Shell and Bob Chapek bounced onto the stages of New York’s Radio City Music Hall and Pier 36, respectively, as CEOs of their respective kingdoms, NBCUniversal and Disney. Nearly a year later, both men are out of the job. In fact, most of the top executives who led last year’s upfronts for NBCUniversal, Disney, Paramount, Fox, YouTube, Warner Bros. Discovery and The CW will not be onstage this time around (YouTube and The CW have also replaced their CEOs since then, and Paramount is skipping the week altogether).
Those who are holding events from May 15 to 18 will find themselves grappling with what is likely to be hundreds...
Last May, Jeff Shell and Bob Chapek bounced onto the stages of New York’s Radio City Music Hall and Pier 36, respectively, as CEOs of their respective kingdoms, NBCUniversal and Disney. Nearly a year later, both men are out of the job. In fact, most of the top executives who led last year’s upfronts for NBCUniversal, Disney, Paramount, Fox, YouTube, Warner Bros. Discovery and The CW will not be onstage this time around (YouTube and The CW have also replaced their CEOs since then, and Paramount is skipping the week altogether).
Those who are holding events from May 15 to 18 will find themselves grappling with what is likely to be hundreds...
- 5/12/2023
- by Alex Weprin
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
With the writers strike sowing doubt about long-term scripted entertainment, and the overall advertising market still in a downturn, Warner Bros. Discovery and other major media companies are now leaning into a form of entertainment that has proven to be resilient: Live sports.
And it is a particularly strong moment for sports at Wbd, which is fresh off the March Madness basketball tournament, at the beginning of the MLB season, and smack in the middle of the NBA and NHL playoffs.
“Our strategy in many ways is very different from other players, right? We’re not into tonnage, we’re really about picking and having the most premium sports out there,” says Luis Silberwasser, the chairman and CEO of Wbd Sports. “Whether it’s on TNT or TBS, or TruTV, it just it creates a cultural moment, right? So when these games are happening on primetime, people come to us.
And it is a particularly strong moment for sports at Wbd, which is fresh off the March Madness basketball tournament, at the beginning of the MLB season, and smack in the middle of the NBA and NHL playoffs.
“Our strategy in many ways is very different from other players, right? We’re not into tonnage, we’re really about picking and having the most premium sports out there,” says Luis Silberwasser, the chairman and CEO of Wbd Sports. “Whether it’s on TNT or TBS, or TruTV, it just it creates a cultural moment, right? So when these games are happening on primetime, people come to us.
- 5/8/2023
- by Alex Weprin
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
NBCUniversal is the latest media and entertainment company to rework its organizational structure to account for a declining linear TV environment and a booming streaming ad market.
On Tuesday, NBCUniversal ad sales and partnerships chief Linda Yaccarino outlined a new structure that will combine brand and agency teams, and build infrastructure to try and bring in small and medium-sized businesses that have traditionally been priced out of TV, but have spent heavily on platforms like Facebook and Google.
The changes include new or reworked roles for a variety of top executives, including Maggy Chan, who joined from the BBC last month and will oversee global ad sales and partnerships; Mark Marshall, who will lead a centralized national sales team; Frank Comerford, who will lead local ad strategy; and Dan Lovinger, who leads a sales team dedicated to the Olympics.
Meanwhile, Tom Winiarski’s team will be tasked with bridging linear and digital inventory,...
On Tuesday, NBCUniversal ad sales and partnerships chief Linda Yaccarino outlined a new structure that will combine brand and agency teams, and build infrastructure to try and bring in small and medium-sized businesses that have traditionally been priced out of TV, but have spent heavily on platforms like Facebook and Google.
The changes include new or reworked roles for a variety of top executives, including Maggy Chan, who joined from the BBC last month and will oversee global ad sales and partnerships; Mark Marshall, who will lead a centralized national sales team; Frank Comerford, who will lead local ad strategy; and Dan Lovinger, who leads a sales team dedicated to the Olympics.
Meanwhile, Tom Winiarski’s team will be tasked with bridging linear and digital inventory,...
- 1/31/2023
- by Alex Weprin
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Karen Grinthal, a veteran ad-sales executive who has long represented cable’s Food Network and other properties to Madison Avenue, is set to retire from her post.
Grinthal, who has worked at Scripps and then Discovery Communications for years, was recently named part of the new senior ad-sales executive team at Warner Bros. Discovery. Grinthal was named in July to be one of three top executives overseeing linear and digital sales for cable networks reporting in to Jon Steinlauf, head of U.S. ad sales for the company. Grinthal was assigned to supervise linear and digital sales and revenue for Food Network, TLC, TBS Entertainment, OWN, Cooking Channel, Cartoon Network and WB Syndication.
“Karen Grinthal has made the decision to retire at the end of the year after an impressive career that has come full circle,” Warner Bros. Discovery said in a statement. “She began her career in network radio...
Grinthal, who has worked at Scripps and then Discovery Communications for years, was recently named part of the new senior ad-sales executive team at Warner Bros. Discovery. Grinthal was named in July to be one of three top executives overseeing linear and digital sales for cable networks reporting in to Jon Steinlauf, head of U.S. ad sales for the company. Grinthal was assigned to supervise linear and digital sales and revenue for Food Network, TLC, TBS Entertainment, OWN, Cooking Channel, Cartoon Network and WB Syndication.
“Karen Grinthal has made the decision to retire at the end of the year after an impressive career that has come full circle,” Warner Bros. Discovery said in a statement. “She began her career in network radio...
- 9/6/2022
- by Brian Steinberg
- Variety Film + TV
Warner Bros. Discovery is heading into a very important week. The company, whose regime just crossed the 100-days-in-office mark, reports its Q2 earnings Thursday, when CEO David Zaslav and his team are expected to lay out more concrete plans for the combined entity than they did on the Q1 earnings call, held just a couple of weeks after the 43 billion Discovery-WarnerMedia merger had been completed. That could include more details about how the two companies’ streaming services, HBO Max and Discovery+, would be combined and under what name; about the company’s theatrical-streaming film strategy; and how a promised 3 billion in savings (a number many expect to go higher) would be achieved.
August had long been rumored to be the month of mass layoffs, with the first wave now expected as early as next week as the honeymoon period for the new regime is coming to an end. This...
August had long been rumored to be the month of mass layoffs, with the first wave now expected as early as next week as the honeymoon period for the new regime is coming to an end. This...
- 8/1/2022
- by Nellie Andreeva, Peter White and Dade Hayes
- Deadline Film + TV
As it continues to refine its org chart three months after the close of WarnerMedia and Discovery’s 43 billion merger, Warner Bros Discovery has finalized the team of senior ad sales executives who will report to Jon Steinlauf, the company’s chief revenue officer.
With a couple of exceptions, most of the senior team held comparable posts at Discovery, where Steinlauf became head of sales after the company closed its acquisition of Scripps Networks Interactive in 2018.
The two WarnerMedia vets appointed to senior roles are Jon Diament and Andrea Zapata. Diament had been EVP and chief revenue officer for Turner Sports Advertising Sales. He will now oversee linear and digital sales and revenue for TBS Sports, TNT Sports, Discovery Channel, Adult Swim, Animal Planet, truTV, Science Channel, NBA TV and MotorTrend. Zapata will lead research, data and Insights, the same role she held at WarnerMedia.
The roster of Discovery alums...
With a couple of exceptions, most of the senior team held comparable posts at Discovery, where Steinlauf became head of sales after the company closed its acquisition of Scripps Networks Interactive in 2018.
The two WarnerMedia vets appointed to senior roles are Jon Diament and Andrea Zapata. Diament had been EVP and chief revenue officer for Turner Sports Advertising Sales. He will now oversee linear and digital sales and revenue for TBS Sports, TNT Sports, Discovery Channel, Adult Swim, Animal Planet, truTV, Science Channel, NBA TV and MotorTrend. Zapata will lead research, data and Insights, the same role she held at WarnerMedia.
The roster of Discovery alums...
- 7/27/2022
- by Dade Hayes
- Deadline Film + TV
Click here to read the full article.
With economic anxiety at a boiling point, media and entertainment giants are beginning to feel the heat. In any downturn, advertising is often one of the first expenditures that big companies look at to trim costs, and with worries about a recession grow- ing, Hollywood firms that rely on ad revenue are starting to take a careful look at the marketplace.
CEOs, CFOs and ad sales executives insist that they aren’t feeling any pain yet, though as one top executive tells The Hollywood Reporter, “you can’t ignore” the macroeconomic environment.
And while executives insist that their 2022-23 upfront negotiations are looking good, with high-single-digit increases year-over-year — at a Credit Suisse conference this week, NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shell was “thrilled” with the results and Fox CFO Steve Tomsic said the net- work “achieved what we set out to achieve,” while Paramount CEO...
With economic anxiety at a boiling point, media and entertainment giants are beginning to feel the heat. In any downturn, advertising is often one of the first expenditures that big companies look at to trim costs, and with worries about a recession grow- ing, Hollywood firms that rely on ad revenue are starting to take a careful look at the marketplace.
CEOs, CFOs and ad sales executives insist that they aren’t feeling any pain yet, though as one top executive tells The Hollywood Reporter, “you can’t ignore” the macroeconomic environment.
And while executives insist that their 2022-23 upfront negotiations are looking good, with high-single-digit increases year-over-year — at a Credit Suisse conference this week, NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shell was “thrilled” with the results and Fox CFO Steve Tomsic said the net- work “achieved what we set out to achieve,” while Paramount CEO...
- 6/21/2022
- by Alex Weprin
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Jon Steinlauf, Warner Bros Discovery’s Chief U.S. Advertising Sales Officer declined to offer an update on the company’s upfront ad sales progress during Credit Suisse’s 24th Annual Communications Conference.
“There’ll be a time for that,” he replied to the Wall Street firm’s Doug Mitchelson when the analyst asked about media reports about “aggressive” pricing asks by the company. “We never talk about the market while we’re in the market.” A day earlier, top execs from NBCUniversal, Fox and Paramount all affirmed at the same conference that they were seeing high-single-digit increases in upfront ad prices and are on the verge of wrapping up the process.
Steinlauf did offer some color and commentary about the newly merged company, noting that the Discovery teams he led were only able to start analyzing ad data from WarnerMedia on April 11, the Monday after the close of the 43 billion merger,...
“There’ll be a time for that,” he replied to the Wall Street firm’s Doug Mitchelson when the analyst asked about media reports about “aggressive” pricing asks by the company. “We never talk about the market while we’re in the market.” A day earlier, top execs from NBCUniversal, Fox and Paramount all affirmed at the same conference that they were seeing high-single-digit increases in upfront ad prices and are on the verge of wrapping up the process.
Steinlauf did offer some color and commentary about the newly merged company, noting that the Discovery teams he led were only able to start analyzing ad data from WarnerMedia on April 11, the Monday after the close of the 43 billion merger,...
- 6/15/2022
- by Dade Hayes
- Deadline Film + TV
Warner Bros Discovery, two months after closing its 43 billion merger, has taken the first step toward reducing its global workforce, initiating voluntary buyouts in its U.S. advertising sales division.
Over time, the cuts will see up to 30 fewer employees in sales, an expected move reflecting overlap related to the business combination, a person familiar with the employee reductions told Deadline. The Information had the first report of the job cuts.
The timeline for the cuts is not completely clear, according to the source, but plans call for voluntary buyouts to be followed by non-voluntary measures including layoffs.
Sales is one area considered to have duplicative positions in its org chart given the expanded portfolio. Others include marketing and distribution as well as administrative departments like business affairs and accounting.
The newly combined company has promised Wall Street at least 3 billion in cost savings from the merger, which saw Discovery...
Over time, the cuts will see up to 30 fewer employees in sales, an expected move reflecting overlap related to the business combination, a person familiar with the employee reductions told Deadline. The Information had the first report of the job cuts.
The timeline for the cuts is not completely clear, according to the source, but plans call for voluntary buyouts to be followed by non-voluntary measures including layoffs.
Sales is one area considered to have duplicative positions in its org chart given the expanded portfolio. Others include marketing and distribution as well as administrative departments like business affairs and accounting.
The newly combined company has promised Wall Street at least 3 billion in cost savings from the merger, which saw Discovery...
- 6/14/2022
- by Dade Hayes
- Deadline Film + TV
Before finalizing Discovery’s purchase of WarnerMedia from AT&T, David Zaslav spent months holding friendly conversations with Hollywood moguls and influential agents. Now he’s locked in contentious discussions with Madison Avenue.
Warner Bros. Discovery is making what media buyers and other executives say are severe demands on advertisers in the course of discussions around the industry’s annual “upfront” market, when TV networks try to sell the bulk of their advertising inventory. Two media-buying executives say Warner Bros. Discovery is insisting that advertisers commit to high levels of volume and outsize rate hikes in order to gain access to top-rated programming. They also say the company is even threatening to withhold ad inventory on HGTV and Warner’s sports portfolio if they will not.
“They are packaging different products for the upfront, and I think there has been an initial shot of shock to the market,” says one buyer.
Warner Bros. Discovery is making what media buyers and other executives say are severe demands on advertisers in the course of discussions around the industry’s annual “upfront” market, when TV networks try to sell the bulk of their advertising inventory. Two media-buying executives say Warner Bros. Discovery is insisting that advertisers commit to high levels of volume and outsize rate hikes in order to gain access to top-rated programming. They also say the company is even threatening to withhold ad inventory on HGTV and Warner’s sports portfolio if they will not.
“They are packaging different products for the upfront, and I think there has been an initial shot of shock to the market,” says one buyer.
- 6/8/2022
- by Brian Steinberg
- Variety Film + TV
Jennifer Hudson, host of the forthcoming eponymous Warner Bros. Unscripted TV daytime talk show, kicked things off at Warner Bros. Discovery’s upfront with some help from Discovery and CNN stars.
Hudson followed David Zaslav – who positioned the merged company as essentially the fifth broadcast network in a speech where he admitted he was nervous.
The pop star, who got her break on American Idol, won an Oscar for Dreamgirls and later became a coach on The Voice, told the audience of ad buyers, “I am the future.”
Warner Bros. Discovery Upfront: Deadline’s Complete Coverage
She was joined by a number of fellow company stars – though it clearly was balanced more on the Discovery side.
Shaun Robinson, host of 90 Day Fiancé, which has 12 spinoffs across TLC and Discovery+, called her show, “reality at its most real.”
Upfront Week 2022 Presentation & Party Schedule
There was some sports and some CNN...
Hudson followed David Zaslav – who positioned the merged company as essentially the fifth broadcast network in a speech where he admitted he was nervous.
The pop star, who got her break on American Idol, won an Oscar for Dreamgirls and later became a coach on The Voice, told the audience of ad buyers, “I am the future.”
Warner Bros. Discovery Upfront: Deadline’s Complete Coverage
She was joined by a number of fellow company stars – though it clearly was balanced more on the Discovery side.
Shaun Robinson, host of 90 Day Fiancé, which has 12 spinoffs across TLC and Discovery+, called her show, “reality at its most real.”
Upfront Week 2022 Presentation & Party Schedule
There was some sports and some CNN...
- 5/18/2022
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav raised the curtain on the combined Warner Bros. Discovery, kicking off the newly merged media giant’s upfront presentation Wednesday morning by declaring the company to be “the largest maker of motion picture and television content in the world.”
Kicking off the presentation at the Theater at Madison Square Garden, Zaslav admitted to the packed house that he was “a little nervous” to show off the company that closed its 43 billion transaction with AT&T just six weeks ago.
Zaslav detailed the combined company’s breadth of assets and its goal of being “a place for bold, impactful storytelling with the power to entertain, inform and when we’re at our best, inspire.”
He described himself as “humbled” by the leadership challenge ahead of him. He took time to call out three legendary media figures that he called “personal heroes”: famed cable pioneer and investor John Malone,...
Kicking off the presentation at the Theater at Madison Square Garden, Zaslav admitted to the packed house that he was “a little nervous” to show off the company that closed its 43 billion transaction with AT&T just six weeks ago.
Zaslav detailed the combined company’s breadth of assets and its goal of being “a place for bold, impactful storytelling with the power to entertain, inform and when we’re at our best, inspire.”
He described himself as “humbled” by the leadership challenge ahead of him. He took time to call out three legendary media figures that he called “personal heroes”: famed cable pioneer and investor John Malone,...
- 5/18/2022
- by Cynthia Littleton and Michael Schneider
- Variety Film + TV
Jo Ann Ross has long recognized when to go for the hard- sell and when to soften things up.
The Paramount Global U.S. ad sales chief is, like other executives in her position, is seizing this week to pitch big advertisers as part of the media industry’s annual “upfront,” when U.S. TV companies seek to sell the bulk of their commercial inventory. But the event’s glitzy presentations and parties are taking place amid concerns about the effects of Russia’s invasion into Ukraine and amid ongoing concerns about how supply-chain issues might affect specific ad categories. The week takes place just after a significant drop in the stock market has sparked chatter about the state of the nation’s economy.
“I think that everybody in the industry understands what the whole country is going through in terms of the visibility toward next year, in terms of...
The Paramount Global U.S. ad sales chief is, like other executives in her position, is seizing this week to pitch big advertisers as part of the media industry’s annual “upfront,” when U.S. TV companies seek to sell the bulk of their commercial inventory. But the event’s glitzy presentations and parties are taking place amid concerns about the effects of Russia’s invasion into Ukraine and amid ongoing concerns about how supply-chain issues might affect specific ad categories. The week takes place just after a significant drop in the stock market has sparked chatter about the state of the nation’s economy.
“I think that everybody in the industry understands what the whole country is going through in terms of the visibility toward next year, in terms of...
- 5/18/2022
- by Brian Steinberg
- Variety Film + TV
The industry hasn’t gathered for in-person TV upfront presentations since 2019, and so much has changed — including the ways that Madison Avenue heavyweights are spending their money.
Billions of dollars are at stake during the upfront sales process, a period when big marketers such as Apple, McDonald’s and Procter & Gamble reserve TV spots in hopes of locking down lower prices. And this year’s scramble for ad dollars is likely to be more intense, complex and confusing than anything in recent memory — even the 2007 session when networks changed how they measured audiences who were using DVRs. Madison Avenue’s attention is pivoting to ad-supported streaming, thanks in part to new commercial-supported tiers of HBO Max; the expected debut of an ad-supported version of Disney+; and the hope that Netflix will in coming months follow through on recent executive comments and start to sell an ad-supported tier.
Never have the...
Billions of dollars are at stake during the upfront sales process, a period when big marketers such as Apple, McDonald’s and Procter & Gamble reserve TV spots in hopes of locking down lower prices. And this year’s scramble for ad dollars is likely to be more intense, complex and confusing than anything in recent memory — even the 2007 session when networks changed how they measured audiences who were using DVRs. Madison Avenue’s attention is pivoting to ad-supported streaming, thanks in part to new commercial-supported tiers of HBO Max; the expected debut of an ad-supported version of Disney+; and the hope that Netflix will in coming months follow through on recent executive comments and start to sell an ad-supported tier.
Never have the...
- 5/14/2022
- by Brian Steinberg
- Variety Film + TV
After buying WarnerMedia from AT&T, the company now known as Warner Bros. Discovery has a new acquisition target: primetime ad dollars that have been going to ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox.
The new entertainment giant has been talking to big media-buying agencies about an enhanced package of commercial inventory in top programs that encompass not only lifestyle shows from Discovery outlets like Food Network and TLC, but also sports properties from Turner Sports; movies that might turn up on TNT and TBS; and tentpole events at CNN.
Traditional hits in broadcast primetime “are hard to find” in the streaming era, says Jon Steinlauf, chief U.S. advertising officer for Warner Bros. Discovery, in an interview. Meanwhile, his company can “curate” programs from across its cable networks that will give advertisers audiences similar to what they might get from broadcast rivals. “When you put together all of the discrete fan bases together,...
The new entertainment giant has been talking to big media-buying agencies about an enhanced package of commercial inventory in top programs that encompass not only lifestyle shows from Discovery outlets like Food Network and TLC, but also sports properties from Turner Sports; movies that might turn up on TNT and TBS; and tentpole events at CNN.
Traditional hits in broadcast primetime “are hard to find” in the streaming era, says Jon Steinlauf, chief U.S. advertising officer for Warner Bros. Discovery, in an interview. Meanwhile, his company can “curate” programs from across its cable networks that will give advertisers audiences similar to what they might get from broadcast rivals. “When you put together all of the discrete fan bases together,...
- 5/10/2022
- by Brian Steinberg
- Variety Film + TV
The newly merged Warner Bros. Discovery will host its first Upfront event on Wednesday, May 18 at The Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden, showcasing its combined portfolio of content, brands, franchises and talent, ad sales chief Jon Steinlauf said Monday.
The event is likely to be packed with clients, agency partners, investors, sell-side analysts and press following last week’s close of the mega-deal that combined Discovery’s extensive non-fiction and international entertainment and sports businesses with formerly AT&T-owned WarnerMedia’s entertainment, sports and news. Upfront presentations are swinging back into full gear this year after Covid-contained and mostly virtual events for the past two.
ViacomCBS Confirms Return To Carnegie Hall With In-Person Upfront In May
According to today’s announcement, Warner Bros. Discovery’s top ad solutions “include the strength of what both former organizations offered clients including advanced advertising scale, data driven linear and programmatic, sponsored synergies,...
The event is likely to be packed with clients, agency partners, investors, sell-side analysts and press following last week’s close of the mega-deal that combined Discovery’s extensive non-fiction and international entertainment and sports businesses with formerly AT&T-owned WarnerMedia’s entertainment, sports and news. Upfront presentations are swinging back into full gear this year after Covid-contained and mostly virtual events for the past two.
ViacomCBS Confirms Return To Carnegie Hall With In-Person Upfront In May
According to today’s announcement, Warner Bros. Discovery’s top ad solutions “include the strength of what both former organizations offered clients including advanced advertising scale, data driven linear and programmatic, sponsored synergies,...
- 4/11/2022
- by Jill Goldsmith
- Deadline Film + TV
The final bow has been placed atop the 40 billion merger of WarnerMedia and Discovery, forming one of the largest pure content players in the media business.
The AT&T spinoff maneuver formally closed late Friday, and Monday will see Warner Bros Discovery stock begin trading, under the ticker symbol “Wbd.”
Discovery CEO David Zaslav had been set as the new leader of Warner Bros Discovery since the time the deal was first proposed last May. Questions swirled for months, though, about the leadership team he would put in place. Earlier this week, he wound up favoring Discovery brass across the board (something Deadline’s reporting had predicted a month ago).
Jb Perrette, who had been head of streaming and international for Discovery, was installed as CEO and president of global streaming and interactive entertainment. Gunnar Wiedenfels, former CFO at Discovery and one of the architects of the merger, will hold the...
The AT&T spinoff maneuver formally closed late Friday, and Monday will see Warner Bros Discovery stock begin trading, under the ticker symbol “Wbd.”
Discovery CEO David Zaslav had been set as the new leader of Warner Bros Discovery since the time the deal was first proposed last May. Questions swirled for months, though, about the leadership team he would put in place. Earlier this week, he wound up favoring Discovery brass across the board (something Deadline’s reporting had predicted a month ago).
Jb Perrette, who had been head of streaming and international for Discovery, was installed as CEO and president of global streaming and interactive entertainment. Gunnar Wiedenfels, former CFO at Discovery and one of the architects of the merger, will hold the...
- 4/9/2022
- by Dade Hayes
- Deadline Film + TV
Discovery completed its 43 billion acquisition of WarnerMedia from AT&T on Friday to form new company Warner Bros. Discovery.
WarnerMedia owns HBO, HBO Max, CNN, Warner Bros., DC Films, New Line Cinema, TBS, TNT, TruTV, Cartoon Network/Adult Swim, Turner Sports and Rooster Teeth, among other brands, and is part owner of the CW Network along with Paramount.
Discovery is the parent of Discovery Plus, Discovery Channel, HGTV, Food Network, TLC, Investigation Discovery, Travel Channel, Turbo/Velocity, Animal Planet, Science Channel and OWN (Oprah Winfrey Network).
Here is the new leadership structure for Warner Bros. Discovery, as announced by CEO David Zaslav on Thursday.
Adria Alpert Romm will serve as Chief People and Culture Officer, having held the same role at Discovery, Inc. Casey Bloys continues as Chief Content Officer of HBO & HBO Max. Bruce Campbell will assume the new role of Chief Revenue and Strategy Officer, with responsibility for US advertising sales,...
WarnerMedia owns HBO, HBO Max, CNN, Warner Bros., DC Films, New Line Cinema, TBS, TNT, TruTV, Cartoon Network/Adult Swim, Turner Sports and Rooster Teeth, among other brands, and is part owner of the CW Network along with Paramount.
Discovery is the parent of Discovery Plus, Discovery Channel, HGTV, Food Network, TLC, Investigation Discovery, Travel Channel, Turbo/Velocity, Animal Planet, Science Channel and OWN (Oprah Winfrey Network).
Here is the new leadership structure for Warner Bros. Discovery, as announced by CEO David Zaslav on Thursday.
Adria Alpert Romm will serve as Chief People and Culture Officer, having held the same role at Discovery, Inc. Casey Bloys continues as Chief Content Officer of HBO & HBO Max. Bruce Campbell will assume the new role of Chief Revenue and Strategy Officer, with responsibility for US advertising sales,...
- 4/8/2022
- by Jennifer Maas
- Variety Film + TV
Discovery Inc. on Friday named Jon Steinlauf to serve as chief U.S. advertising sales officer for the soon-to-merge Warner Bros. Discovery.
Steinlauf, who currently serves in that role at Discovery, will report directly to Bruce Campbell, future Chief Revenue and Strategy Officer for Warner Bros. Discovery.
Prior to joining Discovery in 2018, Steinlauf served as president of advertising sales at Scripps Networks. He also served as VP of ad sales for Turner Broadcasting’s TBS and TNT networks (1992-2000) and director of ad sales at ESPN (1985-89). He began his career as a media buyer at Young & Rubicam.
“Jon is an industry pioneer, a brilliant thinker and an excellent leader. I couldn’t be more thrilled to have him join the Warner Bros. Discovery leadership team,” Campbell said in a statement. “I look forward to partnering with him and the entire organization as we bring together two world-class sales organizations...
Steinlauf, who currently serves in that role at Discovery, will report directly to Bruce Campbell, future Chief Revenue and Strategy Officer for Warner Bros. Discovery.
Prior to joining Discovery in 2018, Steinlauf served as president of advertising sales at Scripps Networks. He also served as VP of ad sales for Turner Broadcasting’s TBS and TNT networks (1992-2000) and director of ad sales at ESPN (1985-89). He began his career as a media buyer at Young & Rubicam.
“Jon is an industry pioneer, a brilliant thinker and an excellent leader. I couldn’t be more thrilled to have him join the Warner Bros. Discovery leadership team,” Campbell said in a statement. “I look forward to partnering with him and the entire organization as we bring together two world-class sales organizations...
- 4/8/2022
- by Thom Geier
- The Wrap
Jon Steinlauf, one of a small number of Scripps Networks Interactive execs to rise through the Discovery ranks after the company bought Scripps, is rising again in the new Warner Bros Discovery.
Steinlauf will serve as the future Chief U.S. Advertising Sales Officer for Warner Bros. Discovery, the company said. The 43 billion merger is expected to close later today, and Steinlauf’s appointment follows a raft of others, mostly Discovery brass keeping or expanding their turf in the new structure.
Steinlauf, who has more than 35 years of sales experience, will report directly to Bruce Campbell, future Chief Revenue and Strategy Officer for Warner Bros Discovery. The move will reconnect the Turner portfolio to Steinlauf, who was a sales exec at Turner prior to his tenure at Scripps.
Advertising will play a central role at Warner Bros Discovery, both in terms of linear TV and streaming. HBO Max, which WarnerMedia launched two years ago,...
Steinlauf will serve as the future Chief U.S. Advertising Sales Officer for Warner Bros. Discovery, the company said. The 43 billion merger is expected to close later today, and Steinlauf’s appointment follows a raft of others, mostly Discovery brass keeping or expanding their turf in the new structure.
Steinlauf, who has more than 35 years of sales experience, will report directly to Bruce Campbell, future Chief Revenue and Strategy Officer for Warner Bros Discovery. The move will reconnect the Turner portfolio to Steinlauf, who was a sales exec at Turner prior to his tenure at Scripps.
Advertising will play a central role at Warner Bros Discovery, both in terms of linear TV and streaming. HBO Max, which WarnerMedia launched two years ago,...
- 4/8/2022
- by Dade Hayes
- Deadline Film + TV
Jon Steinlauf will oversee U.S. ad sales for the new Warner Bros. Discovery, a key position at the company that is, like many other senior operating roles, going to an executive who has familiarity working with company chief David Zaslav.
In Steinlauf, Discovery has picked an executive with an academic demeanor and a reputation for coming up with innovative ways to sell and package inventory that might not occur to some of the industry’s flashier players. Under Steinlauf, for example, Discovery has offered advertisers a “”premiere” package of 30 of the company’s best-known series, guaranteeing first position in ad breaks in debut episodes of the shows and better reach among women between 25 and 54 than some programs that air on broadcast rivals. The Discovery series have included everything from “Deadliest Catch” to “Shark Week” and “90 Day Fiancé.”
He will require those talents in months to come. Traditional media...
In Steinlauf, Discovery has picked an executive with an academic demeanor and a reputation for coming up with innovative ways to sell and package inventory that might not occur to some of the industry’s flashier players. Under Steinlauf, for example, Discovery has offered advertisers a “”premiere” package of 30 of the company’s best-known series, guaranteeing first position in ad breaks in debut episodes of the shows and better reach among women between 25 and 54 than some programs that air on broadcast rivals. The Discovery series have included everything from “Deadliest Catch” to “Shark Week” and “90 Day Fiancé.”
He will require those talents in months to come. Traditional media...
- 4/8/2022
- by Brian Steinberg
- Variety Film + TV
Before the TV industry can claim to have a new yardstick in place for measuring audiences, it will need to test many different ones.
WarnerMedia, slated to be acquired by Discovery within days, has struck an alliance with Interpublic Group’s Mediabrands that will allow advertisers to test how three different measurement services gauge the performance of ad campaigns. The results from the test could influence the sorts of measurement deals Warner offers in the industry’s next “upfront” ad-sales market and will aid Mediabrands’ review of measurement providers. Interpublic will test results of campaign analysis from Comscore, iSpot.TV and Videoamp, all three of which examine the impact of advertising across various media venues.
“The goal here is to understand the strengths of each of these measurement partners so that we can better utilize this suite of innovators who are doing things differently,” says Andrea Zapata, head of research.
WarnerMedia, slated to be acquired by Discovery within days, has struck an alliance with Interpublic Group’s Mediabrands that will allow advertisers to test how three different measurement services gauge the performance of ad campaigns. The results from the test could influence the sorts of measurement deals Warner offers in the industry’s next “upfront” ad-sales market and will aid Mediabrands’ review of measurement providers. Interpublic will test results of campaign analysis from Comscore, iSpot.TV and Videoamp, all three of which examine the impact of advertising across various media venues.
“The goal here is to understand the strengths of each of these measurement partners so that we can better utilize this suite of innovators who are doing things differently,” says Andrea Zapata, head of research.
- 4/7/2022
- by Brian Steinberg
- Variety Film + TV
Nielsen hopes to regain industry backing of its TV ratings later this year, the company’s top executive told investors Monday.
Speaking on a call with analysts, Nielsen CEO David Kenny said the company expects to complete all necessary work to regain accreditation by mid year. He believes the Media Rating Council, the industry organization that certifies measurement processes, will vote on accreditation of Nielsen’s national and local TV ratings work sometime after that. Nielsen’s best-known work has been without industry backing since September, when the MRC suspended its backing of the measurement services, which continue to be used, but have given media companies a window to start working with Nielsen rivals. Nielsen data, however, remains the bedrock element of most TV advertising deals.
“We recognize there’s been a lot of noise recently,” Kenny told analysts, nodding to a months-long joust between Nielsen and the TV networks...
Speaking on a call with analysts, Nielsen CEO David Kenny said the company expects to complete all necessary work to regain accreditation by mid year. He believes the Media Rating Council, the industry organization that certifies measurement processes, will vote on accreditation of Nielsen’s national and local TV ratings work sometime after that. Nielsen’s best-known work has been without industry backing since September, when the MRC suspended its backing of the measurement services, which continue to be used, but have given media companies a window to start working with Nielsen rivals. Nielsen data, however, remains the bedrock element of most TV advertising deals.
“We recognize there’s been a lot of noise recently,” Kenny told analysts, nodding to a months-long joust between Nielsen and the TV networks...
- 2/28/2022
- by Brian Steinberg
- Variety Film + TV
AT&T and State Farm are the latest big advertisers to experiment with new ways of figuring out just who is watching TV – and the commercials that support it.
The two marketers are among those who are taking part in an alliance between Discovery and Omnicom Media Group. Under the pact, a handful of Omnicom clients, including the telecom and insurance giants, will test new ways of tabulating linear TV audiences using Comscore and VideoAmp, and examine recent viewership data. Discovery is also working with Omg clients from the automotive, retail and consumer-packaged goods sectors.
“This is the precursor to what we hope will be, for some advertisers, for at least some of their money, to put it through an alternate currency for the 2022-2023 season,” says Jon Steinlauf, Discovery’s chief U.S. ad sales officer, in an interview.
Discovery is the latest media company to offer alternatives for measuring...
The two marketers are among those who are taking part in an alliance between Discovery and Omnicom Media Group. Under the pact, a handful of Omnicom clients, including the telecom and insurance giants, will test new ways of tabulating linear TV audiences using Comscore and VideoAmp, and examine recent viewership data. Discovery is also working with Omg clients from the automotive, retail and consumer-packaged goods sectors.
“This is the precursor to what we hope will be, for some advertisers, for at least some of their money, to put it through an alternate currency for the 2022-2023 season,” says Jon Steinlauf, Discovery’s chief U.S. ad sales officer, in an interview.
Discovery is the latest media company to offer alternatives for measuring...
- 2/23/2022
- by Brian Steinberg
- Variety Film + TV
Like other big media companies, Discovery is getting ready to put out a big “upfront” presentation in mid May, part of an annual bid by TV giants to win ad dollars from Madison Avenue. Unlike many of its rivals, however, Discovery isn’t entirely certain what it will have to discuss.
Executives at the company, which is slated to take over WarnerMedia sometime in the first half of this year, are considering which of two different types of scenarios they may have to face, according to two people familiar with the matter. There’s the obvious one: WarnerMedia and Discovery would each hold their own separate presentations. But executives want to be ready in case Discovery and WarnerMedia can merge sooner than might be expected and are considering whether they may have to hold a different gathering in which they are able to discuss not only Food Network and TLC,...
Executives at the company, which is slated to take over WarnerMedia sometime in the first half of this year, are considering which of two different types of scenarios they may have to face, according to two people familiar with the matter. There’s the obvious one: WarnerMedia and Discovery would each hold their own separate presentations. But executives want to be ready in case Discovery and WarnerMedia can merge sooner than might be expected and are considering whether they may have to hold a different gathering in which they are able to discuss not only Food Network and TLC,...
- 1/21/2022
- by Brian Steinberg and Jennifer Maas
- Variety Film + TV
Discovery has bought a minority stake in five-year-old advertising joint venture OpenAP, joining Fox, NBCUniversal and ViacomCBS as a part-owner of the entity.
Financial terms were not disclosed.
OpenAP, which launched with great fanfare in 2017, has sought to establish a new framework for tallying up viewership across linear and addressable TV as well as mobile. The initiative grew out of media companies’ decades-old disenchantment with the methods of Nielsen and other third-party measurement firms.
Discovery’s investment follows earlier activities between it and the joint venture. The company began integrating OpenID, an identification system developed by OpenAP, in April 2021. More recently, it teamed with OpenAP on the launch of a cross-platform system called XPm.
The investment will give Discovery two seats on the OpenAP board of directors, designated for ad sales chief Jon Steinlauf and EVP of digital ad sales Jim Keller.
“Discovery is excited to take an active role...
Financial terms were not disclosed.
OpenAP, which launched with great fanfare in 2017, has sought to establish a new framework for tallying up viewership across linear and addressable TV as well as mobile. The initiative grew out of media companies’ decades-old disenchantment with the methods of Nielsen and other third-party measurement firms.
Discovery’s investment follows earlier activities between it and the joint venture. The company began integrating OpenID, an identification system developed by OpenAP, in April 2021. More recently, it teamed with OpenAP on the launch of a cross-platform system called XPm.
The investment will give Discovery two seats on the OpenAP board of directors, designated for ad sales chief Jon Steinlauf and EVP of digital ad sales Jim Keller.
“Discovery is excited to take an active role...
- 1/10/2022
- by Dade Hayes
- Deadline Film + TV
Discovery, a day after announcing a landmark, $43 billion merger with AT&T’s WarnerMedia, delivered its first upfront presentation in two years to tout 2021-22 programming.
The virtual presentation promises a record investment in content for the company’s linear and digital outlets, including recently launched streaming service Discovery+. In taking the wraps off the WarnerMedia deal Monday, Discovery CEO David Zaslav said the combined company will be spending $20 billion a year on programming. Today’s upfront news didn’t come with a specific budget attached.
Cable TV brands under the Discovery tent include Discovery Channel, HGTV, Food Network, TLC, Investigation Discovery, OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network, Magnolia Network, Animal Planet, MotorTrend, Travel Channel and Science Channel.
Zaslav hosted the event along with Jon Steinlauf, Discovery’s Chief U.S. Advertising Sales Officer. Jim Keller, EVP of Digital Ad Sales and Advanced Advertising, presented Discovery’s Advanced Audience Solutions, a combination...
The virtual presentation promises a record investment in content for the company’s linear and digital outlets, including recently launched streaming service Discovery+. In taking the wraps off the WarnerMedia deal Monday, Discovery CEO David Zaslav said the combined company will be spending $20 billion a year on programming. Today’s upfront news didn’t come with a specific budget attached.
Cable TV brands under the Discovery tent include Discovery Channel, HGTV, Food Network, TLC, Investigation Discovery, OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network, Magnolia Network, Animal Planet, MotorTrend, Travel Channel and Science Channel.
Zaslav hosted the event along with Jon Steinlauf, Discovery’s Chief U.S. Advertising Sales Officer. Jim Keller, EVP of Digital Ad Sales and Advanced Advertising, presented Discovery’s Advanced Audience Solutions, a combination...
- 5/18/2021
- by Dade Hayes
- Deadline Film + TV
TV usually belongs to the celebrities who play the nation’s favorite characters — people such as Ellen Pompeo, the star of ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy,” or Milo Ventimiglia from NBC’s “This Is Us.” During the industry’s upfront market, however, many eyes move instead to the network ad-sales chiefs.
These execs will be out in full force over the next several weeks, eager to keep the tens of billions of advertising dollars flowing into their companies’ corporate coffers. But the task won’t be easy.
The nation’s big media agencies are projecting increases in ad spending for 2021, citing a nation eager to move on from the pandemic — and hikes in activity from some of the businesses most affected by it, including movie studios and tourism. Interpublic Group’s Magna, a large media-buying unit, recently projected that overall U.S. ad sales would rise 6.4% to $240 billion in 2021, with national...
These execs will be out in full force over the next several weeks, eager to keep the tens of billions of advertising dollars flowing into their companies’ corporate coffers. But the task won’t be easy.
The nation’s big media agencies are projecting increases in ad spending for 2021, citing a nation eager to move on from the pandemic — and hikes in activity from some of the businesses most affected by it, including movie studios and tourism. Interpublic Group’s Magna, a large media-buying unit, recently projected that overall U.S. ad sales would rise 6.4% to $240 billion in 2021, with national...
- 5/12/2021
- by Brian Steinberg
- Variety Film + TV
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