The 2019 season of Upfronts and NewFronts has come to an end, and it wasn’t without memorable moments. This year’s events had TV networks address #MeToo-related scandals; make light of awkward situations regarding series renewals; and deliver powerful onstage moments. One moment was courtesy of NBC, which touted the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo by welcoming 13 female medal-winning Olympians to the stage at Radio City Music Hall.
In their annual effort to pitch projects and initiatives to advertisers, buyers, and media, many companies once again opted for scaled-down, traditional theater presentations at venues throughout Manhattan. Notably, Disney held its first combined Upfront at Lincoln Center, which included a presentation that lasted more than two hours. Other companies such as Univision and WarnerMedia Group opted to give attendees more immersive and Instagram-ready experiences.
Here’s a look at some of the major highlights from companies including Univision, the CW, Verizon, Screenvision, Warner Media Group, and more.
Twitter NewFront
Twitter introduced its new video content offerings to advertisers by turning Terminal 5 into a speakeasy-inspired space. Guests entered the venue through a branded, reflective tunnel that was illuminated with neon lights. Twitter’s events team partnered with NA Collective to execute the event.
Photo: Jon Carmichael
The main presentation area featured a massive, neon-lighted chandelier consisting of overlapping circles and a silhouette of the company’s bird logo. The circles were designed to mimic the energy of Twitter and the overlap of conversations on the platform.
Photo: Jon Carmichael
Another space featured a digital wall with imagery and hashtags highlighting important current and upcoming events. Additional decor included a hashtag sign of the event in bold, blue-lighted block letters.
Photo: Jon Carmichael
Univision Upfront
The American Spanish-language network held its Upfront over two days at Center415. The main presentation, which touted Univision’s variety of programming, used venue pillars to enhance audiovisual elements. The network’s events team partnered with First to produce the event.
Photo: Freedom Film LLC
After the presentation, guests were invited to make their own sangria. The D.I.Y. wall, which was created by Riviera Caterers in partnership with First and Univision, held glasses filled with fruit. Guests could take a glass and choose to fill it with red or white wine from a spout.
Photo: Courtesy of Univison
The experiential part of the presentation was designed to immerse guests in the network’s variety of content offerings. One activation invited attendees to test out their soccer skills.
Photo: Freedom Film LLC
To promote its new music competition show, Reina de la Cancion, the event featured a branded karaoke booth.
Photo: Courtesy of Univision
Musical guest Amara La Negra performed in front of a tropical backdrop created by Starbright Floral Design. The stage also featured a reflective DJ booth.
Photo: Courtesy of Univision
Hulu NewFront
Hulu’s presentation took place at the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden. The streaming platform announced new series and films, renewals, and subscriber stats on a stage that featured a massive screen flanked by smaller cubes that displayed changing audiovisual content. Hulu led the stage show and creative direction, with Jack Morton Worldwide and Atomic helming the stage design and build. Live production and audiovisual elements were handled by Valencia Production Partners and Production Glue.
Photo: Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images for Hulu
Telemundo Celebration
Spanish language network Telemundo delivered LED-enhanced entertainment for its celebration at the Manhattan Center. Before ending with a performance by Pitbull, the event featured dance moments that incorporated a holographic effect. Ray Bloch Productions produced the event.
Photo: Steve Fenn for Ray Bloch Productions
Additional entertainment included parkour acrobats on trampolines.
Photo: Jeremy Driesen
Screenvision Upfront
Cinema advertising and film distribution company Screenvision Media took over Ziegfeld Ballroom for its presentation, which was produced by Empire Entertainment for a fifth consecutive year. To convey a sense of old movie theater grandeur and elegance, Empire created custom crystal and LED chandeliers in an art deco design.
Photo: Rick Gilbert
The event featured custom photo booths where guests could create cinema-inspired GIFs.
Photo: Rick Gilbert
The CW Network Upfront Party
After touting new series including Batwoman and Nancy Drew, the CW held its after-party at the Pool. The event had a pink color scheme, and welcomed guests with a floating flower bed that was surrounded by floral arrangements of varying sizes. Diana Gould created the arrangements. The event was produced by the CW internal team in partnership with the Co:Laboratory.
Photo: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The CW Network
WarnerMedia Group Upfront Party
For its first upfront as WarnerMedia, the company held an event at Stage 48 and tapped AGENC to produce and design a neon-infused event. The experiential firm created an illuminated candy wall that featured pierced acrylic boxes used as candy holders for lollipops and test tubes filled with a variety of candy.
Photo: Courtesy of Warner Media Group
Samantha Silverman, AGENC's associate director of production, said the creative theme was "vibrant and daring layers." Design elements included a branded wall with pop-art inspired graphics and neon light fixtures.
Photo: Courtesy of WarnerMedia Group
Verizon Media NewFront
First produced Verizon Media’s presentation, which was held at Skylight on Vesey. A unique stage setup included a main screen with visuals that extended to smaller, vertical screens on the side of the venue.
Photo: Freedom Film LLC
Stations included a hexagonal, kaleidoscope-inspired photo booth.
Photo: Freedom Film LLC
Sleek, minimalist decor elements included Verizon's red logo on a wall, followed by neon light fixtures placed diagonally.
Photo: Freedom Film LLC
NBCUniversal Upfront
NBCUniversal held its presentation at Radio City Music Hall. After a segment about the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, a group of female Olympians walked out on the stage and received a standing ovation. Olympians included Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Mary Lou Retton, and Kerri Strug. The presentation was produced by NBC’s in-house team.
Photo: Charles Sykes/NBCUniversal
NBCUniversal Upfront
Steve Harvey may no longer be with the network, but Kenan Thompson still portrays the talk show and game show host in Family Feud sketches on Saturday Night Live. Thompson and several S.N.L. co-stars performed a sketch that was themed around the Upfront.
Photo: Charles Sykes/NBCUniversal
XandrFront
Xandr, the advertising and analytics company owned by AT&T, held its first-ever presentation at Bryant Park Grill. The focal point of the arrival and breakfast tent was a deconstructed art piece featuring the Xandr logo. Ray Bloch Productions produced the event.
Photo: Jeremy Driesen
Meredith Corporation NewFront
Meredith Corporation held its event at Henry Luce Auditorium in the company’s lower Manhattan offices. While waiting to enter the presentation, guests could participate in a number of branded activations highlighting the company’s publications, including InStyle. The InStyle Badass Selfie mirror gave guests with an opportunity to take selfies of themselves on a magazine cover, aligning with the brand’s "Badass Women" series, which is now in its second season. Ray Bloch Productions produced the event.
Photo: Amie McCarthy/Getty Images for People
