WarnerMedia Successfully Wraps 2021/22 Upfront with All Major Ad Agencies – WarnerMedia announced today that it has completed all major ad agency negotiations as part of the 2021/22 Upfront, concluding the most successful Upfront marketplace in the company’s history.
“WarnerMedia is home to a tremendous collection of premium content and IP that we are incredibly proud to represent each day,” said JP Colaco, head of advertising sales, WarnerMedia. “We are deeply appreciative of how favorably the marketplace responded to that message, with significant demand for all of our properties, from our stellar linear networks to our growth engines like digital and the best-in-class streaming service, HBO Max. Today is just the start of how we are working together with customers to unlock greater possibilities and maximize results, while uniting their valuable messages with solutions that connect to the right consumers at the right time, on all screens.” [WarnerMedia]
The Walt Disney Company Executives To Discuss Fiscal Third Quarter 2021 Financial Results Via Webcast – The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS) will discuss fiscal third quarter 2021 financial results via a live audio webcast beginning at 4:30 p.m. ET / 1:30 p.m. PT on Thursday, August 12, 2021. [Disney]
Dynamic, Diverse and Accomplished Team to Present ESPN’s NHL Coverage to Fans – ESPN’s NHL commentator team will feature an unprecedented roster of talented and diverse play-by-play announcers, analysts and reporters as the Stanley Cup Final, Playoffs and NHL regular season come to ABC, ESPN, ESPN+ and Hulu this fall. In March, The Walt Disney Company, ESPN and the National Hockey League announced a historic and innovative seven-year television, streaming and media rights deal, beginning with the 2021-22 season and continuing through the 2027-28 season.
ESPN’s play-by-play commentary will be led by the award-winning Sean McDonough, with Steve Levy leading the studio team and calling several games throughout the season. John Buccigross, Bob Wischusen and Leah Hextall will also add their voices to play-by-play. The versatile Hextall was part of ESPN’s NCAA Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Championship and World Cup of Hockey coverage since 2016, and she will also serve as a reporter for some games throughout the season. [ESPN]
Apple Studios orders “City on Fire,” new drama series from creators Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage – Apple today announced a series order for “City on Fire,” a new drama series inspired by the acclaimed novel of the same name by Garth Risk Hallberg. Set to be produced by Apple Studios and written and executive produced by Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage (“Gossip Girl,” “Looking for Alaska,” “The OC”), the eight-episode first season of the series will make its global debut on Apple TV+.
In “City on Fire,” an NYU student is shot in Central Park on the Fourth of July, 2003. Samantha Cicciaro is alone; there are no witnesses and very little physical evidence. Her friends’ band is playing her favorite downtown club but she leaves to meet someone, promising to return. She never does. As the crime against Samantha is investigated, she’s revealed to be the crucial connection between a series of mysterious citywide fires, the downtown music scene, and a wealthy uptown real estate family fraying under the strain of the many secrets they keep. [Apple TV+]
L.A. Times design team announces promotions, new hires [LA Times]
Netflix has optioned the rights to Annie Barrows’ New York Times bestselling book series Ivy & Bean and will adapt into one-hour family films. [Netflix]
Experience live sports with 4K Plus and other new features on YouTube TV – 4K Plus will bring some of the most highly requested features to YouTube TV, including the ability to watch 4K content on YouTube TV for the first time. With a compatible 4K enabled TV and/or streaming device, you can enjoy watching content in one of the best, most crisp resolutions.
With 4K Plus, you’ll have access to watch major sports events this summer in 4K, plus live content from networks like NBC and ESPN, sports like college football and basketball later this year and on-demand content from FX, Discovery Networks, Tastemade and more. [YouTube Blog]
Sixers CEO Scott O’Neil resigns after eight years of ‘The Process,’ the franchise’s latest seismic news – A day after longtime broadcaster Marc Zumoff retired, and 10 days after Ben Simmons’ ignominious refusal to dunk in an elimination playoff-game loss, O’Neil on Wednesday announced his resignation after eight years.
O’Neil also is selling his silent limited partnership in the team and its parent company; The Philadelphia Inquirer learned that he was a part-owner Tuesday. [Philadelphia Inquirer]
As part of a $20 million Series A raise, streaming sports discovery app Buzzer has added more than 20 current and former athletes to its cap table, headlined by Michael Jordan and Wayne Gretzky – The round, led by existing investor Sapphire Sport and new investor Canaan Partners, also included investments from tennis star Naomi Osaka and NFL MVP Patrick Mahomes, as well as backers affiliated with MLB, MLS, NBA, NFL and NHL team ownership.
Founded in 2020, Buzzer has partnerships with the NBA, NHL and PGA, offering users notifications for key moments and links to buy one-time streaming access. In a statement, the company said the new funding would go toward social feature development, new partnerships and increased staffing. [Sportico]
First Look of Cinderella Movie. Coming to Amazon Prime Video September 3 –
Olivia Munn Covers New Beauty Summer issue, on stands July 6 –
Over 70% of US podcast listeners fast forward through ads – Close to 34% of US adult monthly podcast listeners almost always skip ads in the shows they regularly tune in to, and about 17% do so most of the time. In fact, more than 7 in 10 bypass in-episode commercials—for toothbrush subscriptions, mail-order mattresses, and the like—at least some of the time. [eMarketer]
