| NEWS 04.08.09 11:19 AM |
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In the News: Geographers Map Hotbeds of Cultural Events, Upfronts Happening Earlier
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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]
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General Motors, Segway, Upfronts, Upfront Week, NBC, 20th Century Fox, Wolverine |
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| NEWS 01.30.09 12:09 PM |
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This Year's Upfront Week Falls Into Place, Starts at Super Bowl
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 | The 2008 Fox upfront party
Photo: Jessica Torossian for BizBash |
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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."
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Upfront Week, Upfronts, CBS, NBC, The CW, ABC, Super Bowl |
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| NEWS 01.29.09 3:52 PM |
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Dreamworks Partners With Intel, NBC, and PepsiCo for 3D Super Bowl Marketing Stunt
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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.
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Dreamworks, NBC, NBC Universal, Intel, PepsiCo, SoBe Lifewater, Super Bowl |
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| NEWS 11.04.08 1:33 PM |
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Networks Bank on Big Election Night With Outdoor Broadcasts
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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.
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Election '08, Barack Obama, John McCain, ABC, ABC News, NBC, CBS, CBS News, Fox, Fox News |
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| ASK BIZBASH 09.08.08 9:00 AM |
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Who Can Produce a Cool Tribute Video?
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 | Stills from a variety of tribute videos.
Photo: Courtesy of Lifefilm (top), Courtesy of Madprops (middle), Courtesy of Raw Films (bottom) |
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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.
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Walt Disney Company, MTV, ESPN, Bravo, Academy Awards, Saturday Night Live, VH1, A&E, E! Entertainment, NBC, Clinton Global Initiative, Miramax, Hasbro |
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| NEWS 07.22.08 5:39 PM |
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NBC Keeping Ahead of Schedule with 2009 "Infront"
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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
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Upfront Week, Upfronts, NBC Universal, NBC |
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| NEWS 02.15.08 2:23 PM |
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CBS, NBC, Fox, and Others Confirm Upfront Presentations
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FROM NEW YORK
CBS led the charge of upfront-related news yesterday, announcing the network will once again host a presentation for advertisers on May 14 at Carnegie Hall—quelling months of speculation that the major networks would forgo the fancy (and costly) presentations and parties altogether. That said, CBS declined to comment on whether or not it will return to Tavern on the Green for its annual lavish after-party, though Variety reported that Tavern's sales office confirmed the space has been reserved for the afternoon and evening of May 14, adding "It's hard to believe CBS wouldn't offer advertisers some form of food and drink."
Reuters is reporting that because of the WGA strike, development plans for the 2008-2009 television season are much-delayed: "The usefulness of the presentations—where the networks parade out stars or their own executives for skits and dance numbers—[has become] the subject of the sharpest criticism."
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Upfronts, Upfront Week, ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, The CW, NBC Universal |
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| NEWS 01.22.08 6:51 PM |
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Eyeing 2009, Would-Be Globes Hosts and Vendors Settle Amicably
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 | HBO's 2007 Globes fete
Photo: Gabor Ekecs |
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FROM LOS ANGELES
Although the 2008 Golden Globes ceremony and its spate of related parties got scrapped due to the Writers Guild strike, many event hosts ended up paying their vendors for all or most of the work required for the parties. In many cases, contracts required them to do so, but organizers and vendors said they also kept an eye toward maintaining cordial business relationships in working out such resolutions. They expect these deals to allow next year’s events to go on with the same teams—and in several cases, the same designs.
Time Inc.’s Cyd Wilson, who was working with designer Thomas Ford on In Style’s annual party with Warner Brothers, estimates that more than 50 percent of her event’s costs were in fact paid out, even though the party did not go on, since the work began so early. “We were the only event that had done preproduction three months earlier, the only party that had already built the tents,” Wilson said. So vendors were paid what they were due for the work they had completed.
HBO also paid significant event costs, although it typically sets up later because its Beverly Hilton venue, Circa 55, is open for regular business until Globes weekend. “Most years it’s a real nightmare, since we’ve had to set up the night before and we were the ones that got stuck working all night. This year was the one year it paid off that we couldn’t set up early,” said producer and designer Billy Butchkavitz, who was working on the party’s annual color-filled spectacle. He has committed to paying subvendors who had already done custom work, and a projectionist who had flown in from Poland. “Everything was manufactured, everything was done, with [the official news of the cancellation coming with] six days' notice. Most of the clients I have, a lot of it is done on gentlemen’s agreements. I like to have almost all of my money before the event even happens. You can really get in trouble, [but I’ve been] working with HBO for so long, since 1995, and there’s a trust factor on both ends.” HBO vice president of special events Eileen Rivard said, "Fortunately, because of our long-standing relations with our vendors, we are all working together to minimize losses."
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WGA, Writers' Strike, Golden Globes, Award Season, HBO, In Style Magazine, NBC |
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| NEWS 01.07.08 6:26 PM |
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NBC Scales Back Globes Broadcast
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FROM LOS ANGELES
In a move that some industry insiders were expecting today, NBC has revealed plans to change the scope of its Golden Globes broadcast, according to The Los Angeles Times. Instead of the traditional format, NBC News will air a press conference revealing the winners, followed by a block of related programming, expected to include party coverage. The fates of many related events are still undetermined—or, at least for now, unannounced. —Alesandra Dubin
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Golden Globes, Award Season, Writers' Strike, WGA, NBC |
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| NEWS 01.07.08 6:19 PM |
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Planners on Hold Ahead of Today's Expected Globes Announcement
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FROM LOS ANGELES
While hordes of industry folks wait on official word—expected to come today—about the fate of the Golden Globes under the writers strike, planners we spoke to earlier today who are working on the week's big related events were resigned to a wait-and-see approach.
"Everything's on hold," said Eileen Rivard, HBO's New York-based vice president of special events, who works on the network's annual party at the Beverly Hilton, when we spoke to her today. "It would be nice to know what's going on." HBO's bash is among the most anticipated of the night.
NBC Universal's party was in a holding pattern as well. "The tent was supposed to be installed today, and then we got a call over the weekend and it was pushed back until tomorrow," said Mark Yumkas of Angel City, the group that designs and produces the party. The load-in was on indefinite hold.
Only organizers behind gift suites—like In Style's and a suite sponsored by CVS and Access Hollywood—have told us decisively that they have no plans to pull the plug. Nonetheless, the landscape of the suites around town is likely to change in some way when official announcements come down regarding the state of the Globes. "If the telecast goes on, none of the talent go on, and none want to be seen at suites," said Cara Kleinhaut, whose Caravents produces the event for In Style. "What [the planned suites] might do is reposition themselves as a chance to come by and look at jewelry and get a blowout. No press, not the usual media circus. But right now we're still on [as scheduled]." —Alesandra Dubin
RELATED TOPICS
Writers' Strike, Golden Globes, Award Season, Hollywood Foreign Press Association, HBO, NBC, Access Hollywood, CVS, In Style Magazine |
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