WarnerMedia's 2021 Upfront Spotlights Franchises on the Move -- and "Friends"!

The Big Message Every programming service WarnerMedia operates including HBO Max which will launch its longplanned limited commercial format the first week of June and will have plenty of original content with which to reach consumers At the same time popular franchises already with big audience appeal from animated adaptations of DC Comics characters to Impractical Jokers on truTV and the AllElite Wrestling series on TNT will expand as the 202122 season progressesHost Several top WarnerMedia executives shared hosting duties including chief revenue officer Tony Goncalves and advertising sales head JP Colaco pictured below Colaco making his Upfront event debut in the job previously held by Donna Speciale now with Univision was impressive standing center stageWhat Worked A panoramic 15minute opening sequence connecting the various WarnerMedia services coming across as a single camera shot with no cutaways Hamilton costar Leslie Odom Jr was the guide from start to finish intermingling with a variety of personalities from Henry Winkler to A Black Lady Sketch Show host Robin Thede and former NBA superstar and The Cube executive producer Dwayne Wade Odom Jr is pictured below center with Niecy Nash of Claws and Shawn Hatosy of Animal Kingdom Some of the dialogue was on the uberhyperbole side nevertheless Odom39s infectious demeanor carried the day Also loved the brief dance sequence inspired by clips from MGM musicals running on Turner Classic MoviesWhat Also Worked Individual sequences devoted to CNN Cartoon Network and other linear channels that often injected a welcome breath of selfparody into the proceedings By far the prime example of this TBSTNTtruTV general manager Brett Weitz speaking in advertiser pitch mode to various costars of TNT39s hit actiondrama Snowpiercer led by Daveed Diggs all of them in character Weitz and Diggs are pictured below Added bonus The Last OG star Tracy Morgan making mock announcements on the Snowpiercer train39s public address systemWhat Didn39t Work A few things here and there such as the lack of onscreen graphics identifying many of the participating notables With all that talent moving around it sometimes got confusing Also the absence of news on Cartoon Network39s sister net BoomerangData Points TBS TNT and truTV now labeled collectively as the TNets reach 110 million viewers a month and in 2020 reached over 250 million unique viewers HBO Max now has over 13000 hours of content available to subscribers with over 100 original series expected to debut this yearNewsWhen HBO Max launches its limited commercial format the first week of June customers will pay 995 a month 5 below the monthly adfree subscription rate Off the bat sponsors can buy programming blocks and later this year use a number of interactive formats starting with pause ads Upcoming HBO Max original series include animated My Adventures with Superman and Batman Caped Crusader which will get additional runs on Cartoon Network A number of Max originals including Love Life and Close Enough will be replayed with limited commercial interruptions on TBS or TNT as part of their new Front Row franchise starting next monthAlso HBO Max unveiled a first look at the upcoming Friends reunion special premiering May 27 which seems to be making as much news as the DiscoveryWarnerMedia dealTBS will premiere new game show The Cube a third season of Miracle Workers and second seasons of Wipeout and Chad in the months ahead The network will become the new fulltime home of AEW series replacing TNT as more live sports coverage originates there Another TBS coming attraction is Friday Night Vibes a movie doublefeature with celebrity interviews music performances and comedy wraparounds all hosted by Tiffany Haddish Start date June 18 TBS also will join HBO Max and Cartoon Network in a special fivenight presentation celebrating the 20th anniversary of the first Harry Potter movieAhead on TNT The final seasons of Claws and Animal Kingdom and new unscripted series Rich People Problems At tru TV Impractical Jokers will get a new spinoff series and an award special Adult Swim has at least two new series on tap Royal Crackers and Smiling Friends Look for CNN to premiere three more miniseries this year and six in 2022 including History of the Sitcom Patagonia and Dark Was the Night The Life of HitlerParting WordsquotYou want to know fan power Try cancelling Rick ampamp Mortyquot Leslie Odom JrquotHow much better my staff meetings would be if Leslie Odom Jr opened themquot Jason KilarClick the social buttons above or below 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

SUBSCRIBE FOR FREE MEDIAVILLAGE CONTENT | BECOME A THOUGHT LEADERSHIP CONTRIBUTOR

WarnerMedia's 2021 Upfront Spotlights Franchises on the Move -- and "Friends"!

Author

Publish date

Channel

Archived in

Simon Applebaum

FEMA and the Ad Council Encourage AANHPI Communities to Enhance Disaster Preparedness in New PSAs - Ad Council InSites

More Videos:

SUBSCRIBE FOR FREE MEDIAVILLAGE CONTENT | BECOME A THOUGHT LEADERSHIP CONTRIBUTOR

WarnerMedia's 2021 Upfront Spotlights Franchises on the Move -- and "Friends"!

Enjoying This Commentary? There's More to Love

Simon Applebaum

FEMA and the Ad Council Encourage AANHPI Communities to Enhance Disaster Preparedness in New PSAs - Ad Council InSites

Cookies