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Golden Globe and Emmy winner Ricky Gervais will host the 67th annual Golden Globe awards, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, Dick Clark Productions, and NBC announced on Monday. The show will be broadcast live on NBC from the Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 17, 2010.

The choice marks the first time the telecast has had a host since 1995. “Not only is this the biggest Hollywood celebration of the industry which includes both film and TV, but also an environment where I feel I can get free rein as a host. I have resisted many other offers like this, but there are just some things you don't turn down,” Gervais said in the announcement. MORE >>

Golden Globes, Award Season, Ricky Gervais, Hollywood Foreign Press Association, NBC

NEWS 05.18.09 1:56 PM

In-Person Deals Keep Upfronts Afloat in Uncertain TV Industry

NBC executives at New York's "infront" earlier this month
Photo: © NBC Universal Inc.

FROM NEW YORK Today marks the start of the television networks’ annual Upfront Week, and though the industry has seen significant changes over the last few years, the practice of courting advertisers in person doesn’t look to be going anywhere.

“As long as media agencies and their clients are interested in gathering in one place for one week, the upfronts will continue to happen and be very important to this industry,” said Rick Haskins, executive vice president of marketing and brand strategy at the CW, who returned the network to its traditional Thursday presentation after an experiment with a cocktail party last year. “Going back to the old format just felt like the right thing to do this year.” MORE >>

Upfront Week, Upfronts, NBC, The CW

NEWS 04.30.09 3:14 PM

Upfront Update: Who's Doing What During the TV Networks' Big Sales Week

The 2008 Fox upfront party
Photo: Jessica Torossian for BizBash

FROM NEW YORK Cable upfront presentations have been under way since mid-March, but May heralds the arrival of the network presentations, with their heavy delegations of out-of-town media buyers and—when it suits them—some fairly elaborate parties. Upfront Week itself is little more than two weeks off, starting with Fox on Monday, May 18, and concluding Thursday, May 21, with the CW. Although events look to be subdued once again, they’re looking up from 2008.

Last year NBC sent the already W.G.A. strike-addled upfront schedule into a tizzy by abandoning its long-established Monday presentation and opting for a series of meetings in early April. Sort of sticking to its guns, the network is still meeting with buyers early, but not as early as last year. After a small pitch at this year’s Super Bowl, NBC’s big sell takes place next week in its 30 Rockefeller headquarters, with a series of meetings and conference calls on May 4. MORE >>

Upfronts, Upfront Week, ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, The CW, ESPN, Turner Entertianment, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim

NEWS 04.08.09 11:19 AM

In the News: Geographers Map Hotbeds of Cultural Events, Upfronts Happening Earlier

Geography Lessons for Cultural Events: A recent study of which neighborhoods receive the most buzz breaks down where film, television, music, art, and fashion events are happening in Los Angeles and New York. Professors at Columbia University and the University of Southern California conducted the research by mining pictures from events caught by Getty Images. The results show that even so-called hip neighborhoods like Los Angeles’ Silver Lake or New York’s Lower East Side can’t get out of the shadow of iconic locations such as the Sunset Strip or Times Square. [NYT]

Upfronts Well Under Way: Cable networks are holding upfront presentations further in advance. Telemundo, Discovery Networks, Nickelodeon, and ABC Family have already met with media buyers about the upcoming television year, and many think the channels are following the lead of NBC. The peacock network got a lot of attention last year for downsizing its presentation into a series of meetings and holding them more than a month ahead of the long established Upfront Week for the big four. This year’s upfront will be similarly structured but won’t take place as far in advance, bowing in New York May 4. [Adweek] MORE >>

General Motors, Segway, Upfronts, Upfront Week, NBC, 20th Century Fox, Wolverine

EVENT REPORT 02.03.09 4:05 PM

More Super Bowl Shots: Events From NBC, NFL, Pepsi, and DirecTV

Blake Lively at DirecTV's Celebrity Beach Bowl in St. Petersburg on Saturday
Photo: Getty Images

Following yesterday's coverage of some of the biggest parties surrounding the Super Bowl, here's a look at some more events, from big game broadcast network NBC, DirecTV, Pepsi, and the NFL. MORE >>

Super Bowl, NBC, N.F.L., DirecTV

NEWS 01.30.09 12:09 PM

This Year's Upfront Week Falls Into Place, Starts at Super Bowl

The 2008 Fox upfront party
Photo: Jessica Torossian for BizBash

FROM NEW YORK The economy and the television industry may not be in the most stable position at the start of 2009, but The Hollywood Reporter noted that this year's upfront sales pitches—slated for May 18 through 21 in New York—won't look much different from the pared down, more businesslike presentations seen during the 2008 Upfront Week.

NBC still plans to forgo its old presentation at Radio City Music Hall for intimate "in-front" meetings with advertisers in April, and there definitely won’t be a return of last year’s carnival-like “NBC Experience” at Rockefeller Plaza.

The network actually plans to get an early jump on advertiser wooing at this Sunday’s Super Bowl. "They would never show you programming," a media buyer told The Hollywood Reporter, referring to past sporting events where networks entertained buyers. "I think the NBC plan is smart because they have a larger percentage of clients at the Super Bowl than they would at the upfront." MORE >>

Upfront Week, Upfronts, CBS, NBC, The CW, ABC, Super Bowl

NEWS 01.29.09 3:52 PM

Dreamworks Partners With Intel, NBC, and PepsiCo for 3D Super Bowl Marketing Stunt

FROM NEW YORK Teamwork doesn’t always pave the easiest road to success, but partnering a troupe of different brands for a high-profile marketing stunt can be efficient—and cost effective. That’s what Dreamworks did to distribute the 125 million pairs of glasses necessary for a 3D Super Bowl event to promote its new film, Monsters Vs. Aliens, this Sunday—while scratching the backs of partners like PepsiCo, Intel, and NBC.

The project hinges on the first-ever 3D commercial, a participatory film trailer during the game’s broadcast. “We wanted to do a stunt 90 days before the opening of the movie,” said Dreamworks head of marketing and consumer products Anne Globe, “and then we had the chance to use the biggest media event in the world.”

Dreamworks had already partnered with Intel to develop the technology for the 3D film, so enlisting the company to produce the glasses was a no-brainer, but finding the partner to distribute the glasses took a bit more thought. MORE >>

Dreamworks, NBC, NBC Universal, Intel, PepsiCo, SoBe Lifewater, Super Bowl

NEWS 11.04.08 1:33 PM

Networks Bank on Big Election Night With Outdoor Broadcasts

FROM NEW YORK Over the past two decades, election coverage on the major television networks has gradually moved from the newsroom to street-side studios and open-air stages. This year proves to be a culmination of sorts, with ABC, Fox News, and NBC all making a big push to incorporate the streets and people of New York into their national broadcasts.

ABC News takes over Good Morning America’s Times Square headquarters this evening, with reporters stationed outside, interacting with the public. In addition to using its own marquee screen above the studio, the network rented electronic signs from Reuters, Nasdaq, and the Hard Rock Cafe to broadcast live feeds of its coverage. MORE >>

Election '08, Barack Obama, John McCain, ABC, ABC News, NBC, CBS, CBS News, Fox, Fox News

ASK BIZBASH 09.08.08 9:00 AM

Who Can Produce a Cool Tribute Video?

Stills from a variety of tribute videos.
Photo: Courtesy of Lifefilm (top), Courtesy of Madprops (middle), Courtesy of Raw Films (bottom)

Honoring a retiring exec or an award winner with a video about their life’s work is a great idea, but only if the piece doesn’t move guests to check their BlackBerries or sneak off to the restroom. Here are three companies that specialize in these types of films and, if asked, will travel to make it happen.

With more than 20 years of combined film and television industry experience, Lifefilm Productions co-founders Peilin Chou and John Brancaccio use the same production professionals they worked with at companies such as Walt Disney Studios, MTV Networks, ESPN, and Bravo to craft their celebratory docs. The firm prides itself on delivering broadcast-quality, story-driven films that are truly entertaining. Past clients include C-level execs from Hasbro and real estate developer S.R. Weiner. Rates start at $5,000, with longer and more intensive projects ranging from $10,000 to $20,000. MORE >>

Walt Disney Company, MTV, ESPN, Bravo, Academy Awards, Saturday Night Live, VH1, A&E, E! Entertainment, NBC, Clinton Global Initiative, Miramax, Hasbro

NEWS 07.22.08 5:39 PM

NBC Keeping Ahead of Schedule with 2009 "Infront"

During yesterday’s Television Critics Association press tour in Los Angeles, NBC confirmed its plans to bring back this year’s “infront” presentation for advertisers in 2009. NBC canceled its usual upfront after the writers strike, instead opting to meet with advertisers in a series of meetings in April.

Departure from tradition seemed to work for the network, according to co-chair of NBC Entertainment Marc Graboff, who spoke about the decision with reporters. NBC's “infront” shifted the conversation with advertisers from traditional commercial space to the growing trend of product placement and brand integration. The events landed NBC exclusive advertising partners like General Motors for new fall shows more than a month before the other networks even met with advertisers.

The network did not announce whether it would stage another “NBC Experience” or anything comparable during the traditional upfront week in 2009. —Michael O'Connell

Upfront Week, Upfronts, NBC Universal, NBC

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