AMC Networks' Upfront Message: Universes Matter

The Big Message There39s a growing universe of fans for the content franchises AMC Networks offers including The Walking Dead and Anne Rice39s Immortal Universe on AMCAMC and Growing Up HipHop on WEtv No matter what TV platform those fan universes watch these series on via linear cable digital or smart TV products and multichannel bundles the company can pinpoint and connect advertisers in a variety of ways commercialsprogram sponsorshipsoutreachinteractive and shoppable messages using advanced data and analytics technology including justlaunched consumer insights platform Audience quotOur shows break through popular culture win critical acclaim and engage fansquot said AMC Networks Chief Executive Officer Kristin Dolan quotWe39re a nimble fastmoving company We39re out to grow all of our businesses togetherquotHosts Dolan led off the presentation followed by a quartet of her executive colleagues AMC EntertainmentAMC Studios President Dan McDermott Chief Commercial Officer Kim Kelleher Commercial Sales and Revenue Operations Executive Vice President Evan Adlman and Head of Marketing Kim Granito Pictured above left to right Norman Reedus MC Lyte Dan McDermott Lauren Cohan Kristin Dolan Kim Kelleher and Clive OwenWhat Worked A generous and wellpaced new content review from McDermott loaded with video clips Many of the stars featured in those clips arrived early for a cocktail hour with attendees with their pictures hanging on the ceiling or flashed on a big screen on one side of the room next to the sitdown dinner space noted for its famous glass view of Central Park and Manhattan39s East SideWhat Also Worked Putting a spotlight on AMC Networks39 commitment to diversity among onandoffcamera talent throughout the presentation Near the end AMC announced a deal to be a presenting partner of the Harlem Festival of Culture last held in 1969 Two free tickets to the festival taking place July 2830 at various Harlem sites were distributed to each Upfront guest quotThis will leave a mark on the world and a lasting legacy for our communityquot declared Yvonne McNair Festival CoFounder Talent and Technical ProducerWhat Didn39t Work Not offering details or examples of interactive shoppable and other advanced ad formats when AMC executives invited attendees to take the plunge Some clients have via approaches like TEAL Tech Enabled Audience Led which was introduced at last year39s Upfront event Presenting one or two campaigns integrating those elements with results via a taped or live client testimonial would have been beneficialBonus Points Iconic soul superstar Gladys Knight pictured above surprising the crowd with an unbilled mini performance of her hits quotI Heard It Through the Grapevinequot and quotMidnight Train to Georgiaquot for a presentation closer With a NYC backdrop and accompanied by a keyboard player and three backup singers Knight looked and sounded luminous The audience was on its feet at the end Another musical bonus Wyclef Jean and MC Lyte star of the ALLBLK scripted series Partners in Rhyme hooking up for a few tunes during the dessert afterpartyData Points AMC Networks operates 15 adsupported services from IFC Film Picks to ALLBLK Gems launched over the last two years and circulating through seven smart TV set or multichannel bundle platforms WEtv39s Growing Up HipHop series are the top content franchise on Thursday nights over linear channelsNews Three series extensions of The Walking Dead will debut over the next year on AMC and AMC Dead City this June Daryl Dixon this fall and Rick ampamp Michonne 2024 The Walking Dead veterans Jeffrey Dean Morgan Danai Gurira Norman Reedus Lauren Cohan and Andrew Lincoln are pictured at top left to right Talamasca a possible third series derived from Anne Rice39s novels is in development with The Blind Side writer and Academy Award nominee John Lee Hancock as showrunner Also in AMC39s future Monsieur Spade starring Clive Owen as gumshoe Sam Spade solving cases in 1960s France and Parish formerly The Driver with Giancarlo Esposito as a man on a mission WEtv will take another stab at scripted series with Bev Is Boss based on the exploits of entertainment manager Deb Antney while introducing its latest Growing Up HipHop offshoot series Toya ampamp Reginae this fall Cooper39s Bar the SeriesFest pilot entry that became a shortsubject dramedy featuring Better Call Saul costar Rhea Seehorn and developed through AMC39s Content Room unit will graduate to an IFC halfhour series Another halfhour Content Room project In the Kitchen with Harry will showcase Anne Rice39s Mayfair Witches costar Harry Hamlin and his niece chef Renee Guilbault whipping up dinner parties for pop culture notablesParting WordsquotTV remains the best platform in the world to build brands and sell advertisingquot Kim Kelleher AMC Networks39 Chief Commercial OfficerquotThe ending of Rick ampamp Michonne will insure there isn39t a dry eye in any housequot Dan McDermott President of AMC Entertainment and AMC StudiosquotLive premieres is the starting point of the journey people have with a show When a viewer watches something for the first time that39s their live premierequot Evan Adlman AMC Networks Executive Vice President Commercial Sales and Revenue OperationsquotYeah I39m feeling pretty goodquot Gladys Knight in the midst of singing her chartbusting hit quotI Heard It Through the GrapevinequotClick the social buttons to share this content with your friends and colleaguesThe opinions and points of view expressed in this content are exclusively the views of the author andor subjects and do not necessarily represent the views of MediaVillagecomMyersBizNet Inc management or associated writers

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AMC Networks' Upfront Message: Universes Matter

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Simon Applebaum

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