Fox's 2023 Upfront: An Energetic Mix of Sports Stars, News Personalities and Gordon Ramsay

The Big Message: Fox will be open for business and serving up original content on its catalog of services no matter how long the writers' strike endures. If scripted series on Fox's broadcast network encounter production delays, unscripted and animated series, as well as live sports, will occupy more primetime space. At the same time, multichannel bundle Tubi is running great on all cylinders, with more opportunities for advertisers to increase audience reach through the rest of 2023 and beyond. "When our audience loves something here, we make more of it," said Tubi Chief Revenue Officer Mark Rotblat.

Hosts: A mix of Fox Entertainment executives (including new Chief Executive Rob Wade), taking turns with Fox Sports and Fox News Channel talent. On the sports side, Fox NFL Sunday co-host Michael Strahan scored with his overall demeanor, and matched well at the outset with Gordon Ramsay, Fox's culinary series superstar. Ramsay (pictured at top with Strahan) didn't fail to sprinkle some F-bombs in his repartee with Strahan or later in the event.

What Worked: The overall production design, where presenters and performers alike at any time could move from the stage in front of the audience to a space on top of the enormous bar, located in the center of the main floor. Segment after segment was filled with eye-catching graphics and video clips.

What Also Worked: The opening sequence, where characters from The Simpsons around an office table access Tubi to click on a Fox sizzle reel, complete with live dancers in various sports uniforms grooving all over the stage -- at one point to the Fox NFL Sunday theme. For a closer, former NFL star Rob Gronkowski threw autographed footballs and soccer balls into the audience.

What Didn't Work: Despite all the time spent on sports coverage on Fox broadcast -- and all the sports talent on hand -- there was no time devoted to what's on or what's coming on cable channel Fox Sports 1 or Spanish-language Fox Deportes. Another subject not addressed: Fox and Fox Sports 1's current coverage of United States Football League games.

Bonus Points: Fox News Media learning from what didn't work at its Upfront gathering earlier this year. Their segment included details and video about Fox Business Network. Another plus: sportscaster Erin Andrews bringing out U.S. Women's Soccer Team star player Carli Lloyd for a preview of Fox's Women's World Cup coverage this summer.

Data Points: Tubi engages 64 million active users a month, with more than 50,000 movies and TV series in its on-demand collection. Nine Dallas Cowboys games will be presented nationally or regionally on Fox's NFL coverage this fall and winter 2024.

News: Six new series will join Fox's primetime schedule during the 2023-24 season. A pair of dramas (Doc, based on an Italian format, and Rescue: Hi-Surf, from ER/The West Wing/Shameless executive producer John Wells) are on deck, along with toons Krapopolis (this fall) and Grimsburg (2024) and game shows Snake Oil (think Shark Tank encounters Liar's Club) and We Are Family (co-hosted by Jamie Foxx and his daughter Corinne). Still to be determined: whether comedy series Welcome to Flatch gets a second season.

Parting Words:

"We'll keep things short so we get to the best part of this event -- the afterparty." -- Fox NFL Sunday co-host Michael Strahan

"This is my kind of crowd, because I love commercials!" -- former NFL star Rob Gronkowski

"We love being together. We didn't cancel. We didn't move out of Upfronts. We love being in business with you." -- Marianne Gambelli, Fox President of Advertising Sales, Marketing and Brand Partnerships

"Gordon Ramsay, the man who puts the F in Fox." -- Fox Entertainment Chief Executive Officer Rob Wade

"I promise each and every one of you, you'll have chairs with your names on the back next year." -- Gordon Ramsay, host of several Fox food-centric series, including Next Level Chef and Kitchen Nightmares

"You don't have a choice of (late-night talk shows) right now … and I'm for no choice." -- Gutfeldhost/The Five co-host Greg Gutfeld

"A lot of things have to go right to win a World Cup." -- Carli Lloyd, U.S. Women's Soccer Team star player, on the U.S. team's chances to three-peat this summer at the Women's World Cup tournament

Click the social buttons to share this content with your friends and colleagues.

The opinions and points of view expressed in this content are exclusively the views of the author and/or subject(s) and do not necessarily represent the views of MediaVillage.com/MyersBizNet, Inc. management or associated writers.