Upfront week is here once again, four days full of presentations in baroque Manhattan theaters, parties offering canapes and cocktails, and a few deals getting done. As the week unfolds, one can't help but wonder, which broadcast network has the true mojo as they step on stage?
We tossed the question to a half-dozen TV biz insiders critics, consultants, retired executives and the answer came back NBC. Between sophomore smash This Is Us, competition behemoth The Voice, ratings- devouring Sunday Night Football, and the gaggle of Dick Wolf Chicago shows, NBC appears poised for another 18-49 ratings title, and the bragging rights that come with such a distinction.
The 2018 Upfront: Sales Execs Claim Strong Hand Going Into Upfront | Top Broadcast Sales Executives | Buyers Want Better Measurement, But Will Use Old Metrics in Upfront | Levy Wants 5% of TV Ad Budgets Spent on Audiences | The CW Brings a New Night to the Market | Pitching Hispanic Buying Power
Yet ABC was a notable runner-up and the top pick for a few pundits. As one put it: Ratings-wise, it has to be NBC. But perception-wise, it seems like ABC has had more series successes this year.
The Good Doctor was broadcast's rookie of the year, and the performances of American Idol and Roseanne gave ABC considerable ratings momentum. ABC has a lot of wind at their back, one insider said.
Yet ABC has its issues, too. Both American Idol and Roseanne were midseason additions. Roseanne has nine episodes this season, and will likely be a limited run next season too. Shonda Rhimes, the powerhouse behind Grey's Anatomy, Scandal and How to Get Away With Murder, among other ABC dramas, is leaving for Netflix in a multi-year production deal. When it was announced, she mentioned the desire to build a vibrant new storytelling home for writers with the unique creative freedom and instantaneous global reach.
Comedy cornerstone Modern Family is in its ninth season, and the 10 p.m. hour remains an issue for ABC. If they could only get one more 10 p.m. show to work, Preston Beckman, former senior strategist at Fox and chairman of media consulting outfit The Beckman Group, said.
Eye on Stability
CBS prides itself on its stability, and it can again boast of that heading into Upfront Week. CBS does not have a lot of slots to fill, media consultant Bill Carroll said.
Young Sheldon was a hit for CBS, but outside of it and The Big Bang Theory, wrapping up its 11th season, the network's comedies performed so-so.
They have to figure out how to do something other than procedurals, Beckman said.
Dealing With Disney
So if NBC has the most momentum, which network has the most to prove? Our panel said Fox. New dramas 9-1-1 and The Resident have attracted viewers, but not much else has seized Nielsens.
And then there's the deal to sell most of its assets, including its studios, to Disney. They're in limbo, they're in flux, Beckman said. It'll be tough for them to stand up there and act like nothing's going on.
On the bright side, Fox has Thursday Night Football, a package shared by CBS and NBC last fall. As a result, they'll be better in the fall than they've been in years, Carroll said.
Stretching to Sundays
The CW also picked up votes for most to prove. The network announced that it is expanding to Sunday nights, but it does not appear to be expanding from a position of strength. New shows, such as Life Sentence and Valor, and last year's debutants No Tomorrow and Frequency, ended after season one.
I don't think they came up with anything successful this year, Beckman said. They're expanding, but they're not expanding because they have a lot of strong shows.
Carroll said the superhero fare, such as The Flash and Supergirl, does well on The CW. It's a little more difficult with everything else, he added.
Trailer Trends
What programming trends might we see on stage this week? The success of Roseanne might prompt the networks to aim for Middle America with their shows. We're eager to see how broadcast programmers try to appeal to the Heartland in response to the election, Linda Ong, chief culture officer at Civic Entertainment Group, said. Will they explicitly target non-coastal tastes?
Ong also mentioned a TV trend related to omniculturalism a series offering the point of view of, as she puts it, people who are different. An example is The Good Doctor, whose main character has autism.
We look to see more of those, she said. There are opportunities to have a conversation about different points of view.
Business-wise, the network executives will talk up their ability to target specific segments of viewers for advertisers, and the merits of delayed viewing.
In this jammed TV landscape, the broadcast networks will also make the case that, even as their ratings slip, their content attracts an enviable audience. Broadcast networks are the most valuable part of the multiplatform world, Beckman said. Networks will want to make the claim that they are extremely relevant.
Most recent headlines
17/02/2025
TVBEurope talks to the team who brought a piece of broadcasting history back to life on BBC Wales last night
By Jenny Priestley
Published: February 14, 2025 ...
17/02/2025
Eligible studios will receive the relief directly from their local authorities, with no need to submit a claim
By Matthew Corrigan
Published: February 17, 20...
17/02/2025
As DEI initiatives come under pressure in the USA, supporters of Rise, which promotes diversity in the media and entertainment sector, discuss the continuing im...
17/02/2025
EIB Global loan will partially fund SES's continued O3b mPOWER medium earth orbit (MEO) fleet expansion enabling additional capacity worldwide. O3b mPOWER s...
15/02/2025
At Nielsen, Business Resource Groups (BRGs) play a critical role in nurturing a ...
15/02/2025
Innovation to empower creativity: Explore the latest in Lightroom
Rob Christensen February 15, 2025
0 Comments
Whether you want to remove distracting ...
15/02/2025
Wisycom, a worldwide leader in RF technology and provider of wireless solutions, announces a new distribution agreement with EQUAPHON. An Argentinian profession...
15/02/2025
DPA Microphones, the leading manufacturer of high-quality microphone solutions, is pleased to welcome Nicholas Nick Mariano and Vincent Vince Divine to the ...
15/02/2025
Tuxera, a leading provider of quality-assured file systems and networking solutions, will showcase how Tuxera Fusion SMB enables unprecedented performance for m...
15/02/2025
Bitmovin's latest Video Developer Report indicates an increasing role of AI, the slow adoption of next-generation codecs, and continuing challenges when it ...
15/02/2025
When Michelin Enterprises set out to promote its prestigious Hotel Guide in the new Sleepless in the Kitchen , campaign, veteran German/Slovenian gaffer Robert...
15/02/2025
Formula E, the world's first all-electric racing series, revolutionizing motorsport with cutting-edge technology and a commitment to sustainability has sele...
15/02/2025
Agile Content, a global leader in TV and video technology solutions, announces its rebranding to AgileTV.
The transition to AgileTV stems from a commitment to ...
15/02/2025
Hiltron Communications will promote the latest additions to its range of satellite communication products, systems and supporting services at GovSatCom 2025. Th...
15/02/2025
Following the success of the original Airglow Booklight, DoPchoice debuts a new addition to their inflatable line the Float. This lightweight, inflatable, round...
15/02/2025
LAS VEGAS Marshall Electronics has announced that it will debut its newest camera controller, the RCP Plus, at the 2025 NAB Show at Booth N2649 between April 5 ...
15/02/2025
ATLANTA Gray Media has named Blake Sebo as the next general manager of KTUU and KYES, Gray's NBC and CBS affiliates in Anchorage, Alaska....
15/02/2025
KOKKEDAL, Denmark DPA Microphones will feature its new CORE+ technology for distortion-free microphone sound at the 2025 NAB Show, April 5-9, in Las Vegas....
15/02/2025
SWANSEA, U.K. QuickLink will launch StudioPro-NDI and StudioPro-3, two new models of its QuickLine StudioPro video production platform, at the 2025 NAB Show, Ap...
15/02/2025
Live From 2025 NBA All-Star Game Weekend: After 25 Years, Turner Sports All-In F...
15/02/2025
NASCAR Driver Cam on Max Embraces Cloud-Based Workflow for 2025 Season Chris Brown of WBD Sports says Mobii will play key part in delivering signals from the tr...
14/02/2025
Last month, we officially launched the Spotify Partner Program, a powerful new m...
14/02/2025
From an island off the coast of Lutruwita to the global stage in France SBS & ...
14/02/2025
The future of electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) land systems is evolving so that ...
14/02/2025
Here are 5 reasons why you should attend ISE 2025
Discover more about Calrec: Learn more about Calrec's legacy of innovation in broadcast audio solutions ...
14/02/2025
World Radio Day: On the same wavelength
By Graham Murray, International Sales Manager at Calrec
To mark World Radio Day, Calrec's International Sales Ma...
14/02/2025
DALLAS and TYSONS, Va. Tegna has concluded a broadcast rights agreement that makes Tegna's KFAA in Dallas the exclusive local television partner of the Dall...
14/02/2025
Amazon's Prime Video has released a new app for Apple TV that the streamer said delivers an improved streaming experiences with faster scrolling, improved s...
14/02/2025
CLEVELAND Telos Alliance announced a software update for its Axia Quasar XR and SR line of audio-over-IP (AoIP) mixing consoles and will show the offering at th...
14/02/2025
Puget Systems Returns to HPA Tech Retreat 2025 with New Analysis Tools for Puge...
14/02/2025
Glass Animals: Tour of Earth Uses Blackmagic Live Production Workflow
Brie Clayton February 14, 2025
0 Comments
80six deploys Blackmagic URSA Broadcas...
14/02/2025
A dispute between Paramount and Youtube TV that would have pulled CBS stations and Paramount's cable channels from the streaming service has been temporaril...
14/02/2025
Colourist Deidre (Dee) McClelland details how she helped shape the distinct look and feel of whimsical Oscar-nominated stop-motion film, Memoir of a Snail
By C...
14/02/2025
BitFire said it intends to introduce forward-looking services that simplify the launch of live production workflows, and enhance real-time collaboration
By Jen...
14/02/2025
The claim by the liquidators is the latest twist in the ongoing saga of the companys collapse at the end of 2021
By Matthew Corrigan
Published: February 14, ...
14/02/2025
A carriage dispute between YouTube TV and Paramount could come to a head today (Feb. 13), with the virtual pay TV provider threatening to pull all of the progra...
14/02/2025
ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J. LG Electronics USA has opened a new in-house, state-of-the-art virtual production studio at its 360,000-square-foot North American headqu...
14/02/2025
NEW YORK In a bid to help local broadcasters find new ways of monetizing their content, the Coalition for Innovative Media Measurement (CIMM) and TVB have relea...
14/02/2025
WASHINGTON Three Democratic U.S. Senators have sent a stern letter blasting FCC Chair Brendan Carr for the weaponization of the agency for attacking broadcast...
14/02/2025
Years after launching the streaming service Apple TV+ in November of 2019, Apple has finally released a version of its steaming app for Android devices....
14/02/2025
FOOTHILL RANCH, Calif. Red Digital Cinema will make its V-RAPTOR [X] and KOMODO-X camera systems available with Nikon's premier Z Mount, providing filmmaker...
14/02/2025
DAYTONA, Fla. The Fox Sports production of this year's Daytona 500 will see the addition of a few new tech elements and the continued unfolding of the broad...
14/02/2025
Watch Bryson Battles Blind Audition on The Voice Get a Four-Chair Turn Michael Bubl said the Boston Conservatory at Berklee musical theater senior might have...
14/02/2025
2025 Daytona 500: FOX Sports Looks To Ride Super Bowl LIX Momentum Into NASCAR S...
14/02/2025
14 Feb 2025
VEON's Kyivstar and the Come Back Alive Foundation Raise USD 2....
14/02/2025
Max Renews THE PITT, Starring Noah Wyle, For A Second Season
Max
Warner Bros. Television Group
The Pitt
New Episodes Of The Medical Drama From John...
14/02/2025
This year, Technicolor proudly celebrates 110 years of shaping the magic of cinema pioneering color, visual effects, and innovation that bring unforgettable l...
14/02/2025
NBA All-Star: More Games, More Teams, More Music, More Sound From the Court Turner Sports' team will deploy familiar tech to capture all the audio By Dan D...
14/02/2025
LIV Golf Continues To Innovate With Drones, Data-Driven Graphics, and All-Access...
Upfront week is here once again, four days full of presentations in baroque Manhattan theaters, parties offering canapes and cocktails, and a few deals getting done. As the week unfolds, one can't help but wonder, which broadcast network has the true mojo as they step on stage?
