Upfront News and Views: Scripps Networks Interactive

Venue Alice Tully Hall located on the corner of Broadway and W 65th St Network personalities were highlighted on the billboards outside while network logos were displayed on the glass wall welcoming attendees Food and drink areas were spaced throughout the lobby It wouldn39t be a Scripps Upfront without three amenities Each network getting a nook of the lobby for celebrity snapshots with attendees after the presentation food and drink served before and after the presentation and lobby monitors allowing guests to watch the presentation Inside the hall it was nice to watch a different preshow approach Yes we got the giant screen in the center but it was above a row of five small screens and the visuals complemented each other Grade 4 JacksPresentation The big argument for spending more on the lifestyle content Scripps distributes ratings are up across the board and the growth comes from more people watching that content live quotThese live realtime impressions are the best ones advertisers can buy and the ultimate compliment a viewer can payquot declared Jon Steinlauf the company39s President of National Ad Sales With the introduction of series over the last year featuring kids or teenagers getting creative in the kitchen and home such as amp8220Chopped Junioramp8221 and amp8220Kids Baking Championshipamp8221 on Food Network there39s a spike in family and Millennial viewership that sponsors can utilize In return Scripps39 channels will perk up their lineups with more series that are humorous in tone and sometimes celebritydriven quotFun is a big focus for us this yearquot noted Chief Programming Content and Brand Officer Kathleen Finch quotOur game plan now and for the next five years Make content that matters and turn talent into household namesquot Most of the videos were lighthearted and eyecatching especially one filled with factoids on the show hosts Example 750 walls torn out by Vanilla Ice during his DIY engagement Grade 4 JacksNews Queen Latifah and her Flavor Unit Entertainment enterprise will launch amp8220The Best Place to Beamp8221 celebrities show off their favorite world getaways on Travel Channel this July Latifah herself will showcase Rio site of the Summer Olympics this August on the first episode Other Travel newbies amp8220Celebrity Adventure Clubamp8221 with Jon Cryer among the star participants and amp8220Wild Things with Dominic Monaghanamp8221 formerly on BBC America New HGTV series ahead include amp8220Home Townamp8221 a couple renovates historic houses and amp8220Mountain Lifeamp8221 Attendees did not learn about two starpowered projects Scripps divulged through a press release amp8211 amp8220Being Mary Janeamp8221 star Gabrielle Union teaming with Miami Heat star Dwayne Wade in a home flipping series and actress Monica Potter reuniting with her family in Cleveland to restore their childhood home DIY39s newcomers include amp8220Stone House Revivalamp8221 amp8220Raise the Roofamp8221 and amp8220Sight Unseenamp8221 featuring Limp Bizkit guitaristvocalist Wes Borland Food Network will increase its kidcentric schedule with a amp8220Food Network Staramp8221 spinoff series first reported in Jack Myersamp8217 and Ed Martinamp8217s Lunch at Michaelamp8217s interview with Finch and amp8220Kids BBQ Championshipamp8221 The channel also touted new series in development with amp8220Modern Familyamp8221 costar Jesse Tyler Ferguson and YouTube talent Hannah Hart Ahead on Cooking Channel Patti LaBelle39s amp8220Place in Juneamp8221 Haylie Duffamp8217s amp8220On the Roadamp8221 July and amp8220Uprootedamp8221 September Grade 35 JacksHosts Some new faces participating with Steinlauf and Finch such as FoodCooking Channel Senior Vice President of Programming and Development Deirdre O39Hearn and HGTVDIYGreat American Country general manager Allison Page All were smooth and steady Grade 3 JacksStar Time Celebrities on hand were relegated to brief onstage interviews or taking applause from their seats Latifah used her onstage time to highlight a favorite beach quotThat39s where the hot bodies areamp8221 she said amp8220Just don39t leave your sandals there They won39t be there when you get backquot Grade 3 JacksCuisine Sliders and funky BBQ were the main attractions Best chowdown anything chicken from micro tacos with pickled relish on top to buffalo chicken sliders with a refreshing corn salad close behind Worst chowdown the salmon skewers No zing unless you used the dressing on hand Best thirstquencher a berry mimosa served at the press breakfast great zippy mix of strawberry blueberry raspberry and lemon Worst thirstquencher a kiwispinach mimosa also from the press breakfast Even Popeye couldn39t pack some punch into this Grade 35 Jacks Note Cuisine ratings do not factor into the overall Jacks scoreOverall Grade 35 JacksA quick reminder of our Jacks grading system5 Jacks Excellent4 Jacks Very Good3 Jacks Good2 Jacks Fair1 Jack Poor0 Jacks Donamp8217t go thereNext up Crown Media Hallmark ChannelHallmark Movies andamp160MysteriesUntil the next time stay well and stay tunedThe opinions and points of view expressed in this commentary are exclusively the views of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of MediaVillageMyersBizNet management or associated bloggers

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Upfront News and Views: Scripps Networks Interactive

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Simon Applebaum

We Are the Outliers - By Jack Myers

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Simon Applebaum

We Are the Outliers - By Jack Myers

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