The Broadcast Networks Cancel May Upfront Presentations

Traditionally, the second week every May is upfront presentation week, where the five broadcast networks, plus select cable outlets, present their programming plans to advertisers and buyers. Today, CBS and corporate cousin The CW, NBCUniversal, Fox, WarnerMedia and Discovery all scrapped their in-person events. The companies will now present their upcoming slates to ad buyers, and select members of the media community digitally.

“NBCUniversal’s new Upfront Presentation will feature talent from across its portfolio and platform, and will preview new programming announcements, trailers and more, from Entertainment to Sports to News,” the company said. “Tune-in and programming details will be announced at a later date.”

“With Discovery’s increased scale and reach, we were proud and excited to showcase our expanded portfolio of beloved brands and talent, for the first time, during the traditional broadcast Upfront week,” noted Jon Steinlauf, Discovery’s Chief U.S. Ad Sales Officer in a statement. “The decision to cancel is bittersweet but unequivocally the right one,” he added “We have a terrific story to tell and more opportunities and products than ever for current and prospective advertisers. We will just tell that story in a way that best suits these unprecedented times

NBCU’s and Fox’s upfront were up first on Monday, May 11, followed by Discovery on Tuesday of that week, CBS and WarnerMedia on Wednesday, and The CW closing the annual festivities on Thursday. Since many of these presentations were already available to consume digitally in recent years, this option is an easy solution. But the likelihood of anything lavish, where various entertainment is normally part of the protocol, is unlikely.

Earlier this week, CBS said its live it will now produce an “video Upfront special” that will feature network executives and CBS talent unveiling the 2020-2021 primetime lineup and “unique content from CBS Entertainment, CBS News, CBS Sports and CBS All Access.” The special will be posted to digital platforms on May 13. 

At press time, only ABC is the only broadcast net not announcing plans to cancel its upfront event.

This slew of cancellations comes after upfront events this month for AMC Networks, A+E Networks, Fox News and FreeWheel were postponed or canceled.