BizBash | Events * Meetings * Marketing * Style * Strategy * Ideas

Small Market Magazine Turns Profit With Events: Smaller titles are getting into event marketing, and for one Columbia, Missouri-based magazine, a recent focus on events has generated $400,000—30 percent of its annual revenue. Inside Columbia, a regional magazine with a circulation of only 12,000, has generated the impressive sum through ticket sales and local sponsorships for events such as food festivals, a speaker series, and show houses. Of the magazine's 14 staffers, one is devoted to special events. [Folio]

Industry Reflects on Comic-Con's Commercial Shift: On the eve of San Diego Comic-Con 2009, many are wondering how exactly the niche trade show became such a public spectacle, and Variety attributes responsibility to Angelina Jolie. The actress reportedly wanted to make a grand entrance to the event in 2002, when she was promoting the sequel to Tomb Raider, and though the city wouldn't approve her plans for arriving at the venue on horseback or by helicopter, she did stage a chopper stunt at the airport. The image didn't just make it onto blogs and industry Web sites, it was on the front page of the following Monday's USA Today. [Variety] MORE >>

Inside Columbia, Comic-Con International, Angelina Jolie, British Open, Hugo Boss, ABC, White House

NEWS 05.20.09 4:22 PM

ABC and NBC Share Tuesday of Upfront Week, Bring Out Comedians for Events

Brian Williams, Amy Poehler, and Seth Meyers at NBC's Night of Comedy
Photo: Courtesy of NBC

With neither network committing to a full-on upfront, ABC and NBC split Tuesday this year, with one basically concluding festivities immediately following the presentation and the other just taking advantage of a critical mass of buyers by hosting a comedy event at Town Hall.

ABC's presentation got off to a late start—by almost a half hour—but attempted to keep the pitch from getting too dry by bringing out Jimmy Kimmel to lampoon the network and the upfronts. Twitter users inside Avery Fisher Hall got particularly frenzied when Kimmel told the audience, "Every year we lie to you and every year you come back for more." Some pondered if it was "professional suicide," but most chimed in to say Kimmel is their "favorite part of the ABC upfront every year." ABC also went a step beyond its competitors by screening an entire pilot at the conclusion of its spiel. The audience got a look at the first episode of the sitcom Modern Family.

The network stuck to its promise of modest entertaining again this year, with a few private dinners around Midtown, including one for more than 100 people at Center Cut, but few of those events went too late. NBC's Night of Comedy, it's only showing at Upfront Week after making presentations earlier in the month, kicked off at 9 p.m., treating an audience of 1,500 to performances by its comedic talent. MORE >>

Upfront Week, Upfronts, ABC, NBC

EVENT REPORT 05.11.09 1:33 PM

Warhol-Style Portraits, Serpentine Modern Lounge Highlight Jam-Packed Correspondents' Dinner Pre-Parties

The Thomson Reuters cocktail party prior to the White House Correspondents' Association dinner
Photo: Tony Brown/Imijination Photography for BizBash

FROM WASHINGTON Members of the White House press corps, Washington elite, and A-list celebrities literally rubbed shoulders in a steamy mass of humanity at the cocktail parties preceding the White House Correspondents' Association dinner Saturday night at the Hilton Washington. Hosted by media organizations and taking place from 6:00 to 7:45 p.m., the pre-parties went from mellow and civilized at the start to decidedly uncomfortable as guests surged into the concourse leading them to security checkpoints and the black-tie dinner. More than one guest muttered “Where’s the fire marshal?” as the likes of Kerry Washington, Al Sharpton, and Donatella Versace fought their way through the crowd.

Secret Service agents, on hand for the arrival of President Barack Obama, and Hilton staff members maintained order the best they could, given the 2,600 dinner guests and hundreds of extras who came solely for the cocktail receptions. Otherwise, there were few decor surprises at the individual parties and the usual smoked salmon and roast beef bites were on offer. MORE >>

White House Correspondents' Association Dinner, Barack Obama, Newsweek, The Washington Post, Thomson Reuters, Atlantic Media, National Journal Group, The Atlantic, ABC, Time Magazine, People Magazine, CNN, Fortune

NEWS 05.05.09 1:47 PM

Hosts Gear Up for White House Correspondents Weekend Parties

FROM WASHINGTON With the approval rating high for the new administration, it appears that a tsunami of V.I.P.s will be in town for this weekend’s line up of brunches, cocktail receptions, dinners, and after-parties surrounding Saturday night’s White House Correspondents Association dinner at the Hilton Washington. (The only big name not mentioned, thus far, appears to be British reality TV sensation Susan Boyle.)

The once-sleepy insider’s dinner and joke fest, traditionally attended by the President of the United States, has never been the same since that day in 1987 when Baltimore Sun reporter Michael Kelly escorted the Iran-Contra scandal’s Fawn Hall. One hot guest still in the paddock is Sir Elton John, reportedly in town this weekend attending the Land Rover America’s Polo Cup, according to the Washington Times.

Few details have emerged ahead of Friday night’s Time Inc. joint party for Time and People at the Astor Terrace of the St. Regis or the joint fete Bloomberg News and Vanity Fair are teaming up to host Saturday night for 300 guests at the residence of French Ambassador Pierre Vimont. Other media organizations, however, are sharing details.

MORE >>

White House Correspondents' Association Dinner, America's Polo Cup, Barack Obama, The McLaughlin Group, Time Magazine, People Magazine, The Atlantic, ABC, Creative Coalition, Haddad Media, Capitol File, DC Magazine, National Journal Group

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

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 04.17.09 1:53 PM

People and Time Team Up for White House Correspondents Weekend Party

FROM WASHINGTON Cohosting, it appears, is the order of the day for media companies throwing parties before and after this year’s White House Correspondents' Association dinner Saturday, May 9, at the Hilton Washington.

Time Inc. publications Time and People will jointly host a cocktail reception Friday evening at Astor Terrace at the St. Regis. Expected to attend are some of the entertainers who will be at the People table the following night: Sting and his wife, Trudie Styler, along with Miranda Cosgrove, Kevin Bacon, Forest Whitaker, Jon Hamm, Eva Longoria Parker, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, and Brooke Shields and her husband, Chris Henchy. Time has not released its dinner guest list. MORE >>

White House Correspondents' Association Dinner, Time Inc., Time Magazine, Bloomberg, Vanity Fair, Haddad Media, National Journal Group, People Magazine, The Atlantic, ABC, Capitol File

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

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 01.09.09 11:53 AM

The CW Scraps Upfront Week Party, Moves Presentation to New Day

Fledgling network The CW confirmed plans yesterday to push back its upfront presentation to Thursday morning during the 2009 Upfront Week, scratching last year’s tented party, which fell on a Tuesday night.

Advertising Age reported that a more traditional presentation to draw attention to the network’s progress and future will be held at the WaMu Theater at Madison Square Garden the morning of May 21. Last year, the CW held an informal presentation and party at the Tent at Lincoln Center to lure media buyers leaving ABC’s more subdued showcase at Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall.

Though there is not yet confirmation of whether the new presentation will be followed by a reception or party, any lavish celebration would mark a departure from the way networks recently started handling the once over-the-top week of scheduling announcements and client schmoozing. The recent writers strike, the recession, and the transitory state of the TV industry as it finds its place among new media have all prompted network executives to rethink the ways they spend money. —Michael O'Connell

Upfront Week, Upfronts, The CW, ABC

NEWS 11.05.08 12:23 PM

Politicos and Media Outlets Celebrate Election Night With Outdoor Events and Candidate-Inspired Food

A victorious donkey in Rockefeller Plaza
Photo: Alison Whittington for BizBash

The election may finally be over, but most New Yorkers are just starting to sober up to the reality of a new administration—and from all of the election viewing parties held throughout the city last night. Outdoor broadcasts from major networks NBC, ABC, and Fox News all turned into massive public events, while political organizations like the New York Young Republicans, the New York Democratic Committee, and Congressman Charles Rangel all held partisan rallies to watch the returns. Media outlets like The Washington Post, Slate, The New York Times, Glamour, and GQ even joined the celebrations with private and ticketed events set up in bars, restaurants, and other venues.

Based on crowd size alone, NBC News and MSNBC probably win for biggest party. The networks saturated their Rockefeller Plaza headquarters with red, white, blue, and NBC’s signature peacocks. Sponsor Liberty Mutual placed booths throughout the space where the throngs of onlookers to relax, while people dressed as elephants and donkeys posed for photos. The expectant crowd watched the blue and red banners race up the General Electric building towards the key 270 votes, and a full map of the United States displayed on the skating rink colored states red or blue when NBC News officially called them for either Obama or McCain. MORE >>

Election '08, The Washington Post, Slate Magazine, ABC, NBC, Fox News

NEWS 11.04.08 1:33 PM

Networks Bank on Big Election Night With Outdoor Broadcasts

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

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