Disney Sets In-Person May Upfront At New York’s Basketball City, And Slates Events For Sports, Tech & Content For March And April
deadline.comDisney has confirmed it will join other media companies in hosting an in-person New York City upfront during the familiar mid-May week long known for broadcast network presentations to ad buyers.The event on May 17 will be held at Basketball City, a facility on Pier 36 along the Hudson River, which is a change from the company’s longtime Lincoln Center base.
Ad sales chief Rita Ferro, in a note to clients, said the plan is to “transform” the new space in order to “deliver an upfront event unlike anything you’ve ever seen from Disney.”In recent years, Disney has consolidated a previously separate event dedicated to ESPN into the main showcase.
It also populated the 2019 upfront stage with brands like FX and National Geographic, which were acquired in the $71.3 billion Fox deal.
Hulu, which Disney now controls, has exited the NewFronts after more than a decade of annual presentations there, and will now be part of the main Disney production.In the leadup to the big-tent event in May, the company will host three stand-alone events dedicated to technology, sports and storytelling in March and April.NBCUniversal, Fox, ViacomCBS and the CW have all confirmed a return to in-person upfronts after two years of virtual gatherings due to Covid concerns.
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