Upfront News and Views: At Discovery, Unscripted Content Is Everything

Venue amp160Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center for many years home base to Scripps Networksamp8217 own Upfront ceremony amp160Just like 2018 Discovery kept in place many of the elements making those events memorable amp160Channel logos and posters lined the lobby walls food and refreshments were served before and after the presentation and lobby areas were set aside for postceremony celebrityattendee pix and social media postings arranged by networkamp160 When the capacity crowd entered the hall they found stuffed animals on top of their seats to take home a big overhead screen for videos company logos on either side of the stage and a podium centerstageamp160Presentationamp160 Whether it was the longer than usual opening remarks from Discovery President and Chief Executive Officer David Zaslav or the collection of short network profiles from TLC to MotorTrend that followed the main advertiser pitch was consistentamp160 Unscripted content is everything and they produce and run more mostwatched series miniseries and specials of this nature by far amp160Scripted is not their business with Oprah Winfrey Network the rare exception amp160amp8220Itamp8217s all about delighting our viewers and working effectively with youamp8221 Zaslav said amp160amp8220Our strategy is own it all take it to the globe amp8230 and later take it directtoconsumer referring to the 2020 BBC joint ventureamp8221amp160 Or as Chief US Sales Officer Jon Steinlauf declared several times amp8220real life is real businessamp8221amp160News amp160Off the bat Zaslav confirmed that DIY Network will morph into a new unnamed lifestyle channel curated by former Fixer Upper hosts Chip and Joanna Gaines amp160amp8220Weamp8217ll present stories that help us lean in and stand outamp8221 Chip Gaines notedamp160 amp8220We want to build bridges and communitiesamp8221amp160 As for specific channel developments Discovery will present a set of nature miniseries in the months ahead starting with Serengeti this summer and continuing through 2021 Perfect Planet Mating Games Deep Planetamp160 A major fall attraction will be Why We Hate the longawaited collaboration with Steven Spielberg amp160TLC will reboot What Not to Wear one of the most popular series in its history with HGTV presenting companion spinoff What Not to Design amp160A Very Brady Renovation with all six actors who portrayed the Brady kids involved see photo below will be another HGTV highlight this season ahead amp160Food Network host Alton Brown will mark 20 years there with new episodes of awardwinning Good Eats amp160Look for Travel Channelamp8217s 201920 primetime lineup to feature more series going for the unknown unexpected and unexplainedamp160Hosts amp160Zaslav and Steinlauf joined by Chief Lifestyle Brand Officer Kathleen Finch pictured at top and Chief DiscoveryFactual Brand Officer Nancy Daniels engaged the audience and kept the proceedings on trackamp160 Star Time amp160Plenty on hand from that Brady sextet to the Property Brothers pictured below and Robin Givens star of the new Will Packerproduced drama Ambitions for OWN amp160Got some postpresentation face time with Brady costars Christopher Knight and Barry Williams amp160Knight and I recalled his gig as host of the syndicated game show Trivial Pursuit America Plays more than a decade ago amp160Both of us believe this game cancelled after one season deserves another life somewhereamp160Data Insight amp160Good flow of stats offered throughout the presentationamp160 Some notable items Investigation Discovery HGTV TLC and Food Network in that order are the top four rated channels among women between 2025 percent of women watch Discoveryamp8217s group of networks on any given night adding up to a 46 rating the company will invest 45 billion on more than 8000 hours of original content this yearamp160Innovative Opportunity amp160Discovery Premiere a new roadblock ad initiative will begin this fall Companies or brands can occupy the first advertising pod of a variety of series across various networks amp8220This can act as a fifth broadcast networkamp8221 Steinlauf explainedamp160 Cuisine amp160Tasty delectables before and after the presentation amp160Best eats chicken wonton with sweet dipping sauce chopped lobster on small crackers steamed pork belly buns and saucy lamb meatballs Worst eat a lasagnalooking potato pie with no tasteamp160Next up amp160Digital Content NewFront Week unless someone schedules an event on late noticePhotos courtesy of Discovery IncClick 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 writersamp160

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Upfront News and Views: At Discovery, Unscripted Content Is Everything

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Simon Applebaum

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Upfront News and Views: At Discovery, Unscripted Content Is Everything

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Simon Applebaum

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