Nick Cannon Hosts NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment 2015 Upfront Season Wrap Up
By: Caryn Robbins May. 15, 2015
For the second year in a row, the networks of NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment - Bravo, E!, Esquire Network, Oxygen, Sprout, Syfy and USA - came together at the Javits Center North Hall to present an All Together Powerful Upfront celebration, hosted by portfolio stars Nick Cannon (Oxygen), Andy Cohen (Bravo) and Giuliana Rancic (E!). Bonnie Hammer, Chairman, NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment, kicked off the event and NBCUniversal Chairman Advertising Sales and Client Partnerships Linda Yaccarino later took the stage to welcome industry luminaries and demonstrate the portfolio's unique value in the marketplace. Over 165 stars from across the portfolio's 140 original series were in attendance.
As guests arrived to the presentation, E!'s LIVE FROM THE RED CARPET, hosted by Maria Menounos and Ross Mathews, streamed highlights of the star-studded red carpet on E! Online. Bravo's Jenni Pulos hosted the first of its kind social lounge, where many of the stars took part in engaging and fun digital content that was distributed across social channels in near real time.
"Simply put, our portfolio offers more...more unique brands, more premium content and more opportunities to connect with our audience, across all platforms, 24/7," said Hammer. "We know what it takes to compete in a crowded media landscape. And no one does it better."
"When you wrap these incredibly diverse, powerhouse brands together, the NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment Group's reach and scale is unmatched," said Yaccarino. "And, when paired together with cutting edge data-driven products, we provide the most powerful sales environment out there for our advertisers."
The immersive event showcased the scale, strength and quality across the portfolio's premium scripted and unscripted original content through the overall theme of All Together. Different. Hosts Nick Cannon, Andy Cohen and Giuliana Rancic introduced each brand with new and exclusive content, and a special surprise performance by singer/songwriter Rob Cantor.
During the post event reception, Oxygen's THE PRANCING ELITES gave a rousing and inspirational performance and The Roots frontman, Questlove, got everyone moving when he stepped into the DJ booth. Talent from all the NBCUniversal Cable networks joined in the fun by "bartending" throughout the evening.
BRAVO
Bravo Media's diversified slate of high-quality original programming continues to grow with over 40 new and returning series. With fresh formats, exotic locales and more larger than life Bravolebrities, the new series presented include APRÉS SKI, WORK OUT NEW YORK and TOUR GROUP. Last year, Bravo entered the scripted arena with GIRLFRIENDS' GUIDE TO DIVORCE from Universal Cable Productions (UCP), which was picked up for a second season to air later this year. The network will continue this trajectory with its first half-hour comedy series, ODD MOM OUT, premiering with back-to-back episodes on June 8, 10/9c. Bravo maintains the most upscale and educated P18-49 audience among ad supported cable entertainment in prime. In addition, Bravo has the most loyal P18-49 audience in cable entertainment, translating to one of the most effective environments for advertisers.
E!
E!'s highly successful first original scripted series, THE ROYALS, which concludes its first season on May 17 at 10/9c and returns for season two in November, was spotlighted at today's event. E! also recently announced a new documentary series with Bruce Jenner premiering July 26 at 9/8c living his life as a transgender woman, along with a two-part special KEEPING UP WITH THE KARDASHIANS: ABOUT BRUCE, airing May 17 at 9/8c and May 18 at 9/8c. E! continues to expand its pop culture prowess with new original series, including STEWARTS & HAMILTONS, JUST JILLIAN, WAGS, THE COMMENT SECTION and DASH DOLLS. E!, the multi-platform pop culture powerhouse, delivered significant April ratings growth and success, marking the network's most-watched primetime in A18-49 since August 2014. E! is one of only six top 30 networks to deliver growth in primetime in April, and one of only three networks to see double digit lifts. E! digital also continues its tremendous growth and momentum delivering its highest quarter ever in 1Q15 with over 39MM comScore multiplatform uniques.
ESQUIRE NETWORK
Esquire Network's new line-up of highly engaging content features five new original series and the network's first ever scripted series. At today's Upfront, Esquire presented SPOTLESS, a 10-episode dark and irreverent scripted drama from Tandem Productions (a StudioCanal Company) starring Marc-André Grondin ("C.R.A.Z.Y."), Denis Ménochet ("Inglourious Basterds"), Miranda Raison ("24: Live Another Day") and Brendan Coyle ("Downton Abbey"). Esquire Network also presented SOMM (WT), a documentary series following six aspiring master sommeliers from New York, as they prepare for one of the toughest exams in the world - the Court of Masters Sommelier; and the real-life Jerry Maguire...THE AGENT, a documentary series following four top sports agents as they navigate the cutthroat world of professional football. Launched just over 18 months ago with 21 original series to date, Esquire Network's growth has been accelerated with a marked SPIKE in ratings making it the 2nd fastest growing cable entertainment network. Esquire recently closed in on its most watched quarter in its network history during 1Q15, and achieved its 7th month of consecutive year-to-year growth with Adults 18-49. Esquire Network's 2015-16 slate features innovative and dynamic content that reinforces its ongoing commitment to creating authentic lifestyle programming that speaks to the passions and interests of men today.
http://tv.esquire.com/videos/embed/uCUAUi7sNXo=
http://tv.esquire.com/videos/embed/ncZoFQz4ztU=
OXYGEN
The youngest skewing women's network in prime, Oxygen Media continues its commitment to increase original programming by 25 percent with vibrant and bold new series targeting millennial women. Partnering with leading producers such as Nick Cannon and Wilmer Valderrama, the network spotlighted a few of the series such as NEXT GEN BOSS, PRETTY.STRONG. and TIME TO QUIT YOUR DAY JOB. The network also secured the exclusive cable distribution for the half-hour Syndicated daily comedic show, CRAZY TALK, debuting this fall from NBCUniversal Domestic Television Distribution. Among the Top 10 most social cable reality networks, Oxygen reaches viewers with the greatest number of followers - helping to drive show and advertiser buzz faster and further. Post rebrand (4Q 2014), viewers of Oxygen's original series are younger and more likely to be early adopters, influential and receptive to advertising.
SPROUT
Sprout - recently named Kids Brand of the Year*- launches NINA'S WORLD - the animated prequel to the network's beloved THE GOOD NIGHT SHOW - in September, and brought the series' stars Nina Moreno and Michele Lepe to the event. THE SUNNY SIDE UP SHOW, the only live daily morning show for preschoolers, now broadcasts live from 30 Rock, and the show's hosts - including Sprout's brand icon Chica - also appeared live.
SYFY
With 30 originals slated for 2015-16, Syfy is unleashing its biggest, boldest lineup to date, featuring some of the most acclaimed Science fiction franchises of all time and top creative talent both on and off the screen. At today's event, Syfy presented the miniseries event CHILDHOOD'S END, the first-ever adaptation of Arthur C. Clarke's classic novel, starring Charles Dance ("Game of Thrones"), Mike Vogel ("Bates Motel") and Julian McMahon ("Nip/Tuck"); and THE EXPANSE, an epic drama set in a future colonized solar system, starring Thomas Jane ("Hung"), Steven Strait ("Magic City") and Shohreh Aghdashloo ("House of Sand and Fog," "24"). The network also showcased its upcoming drama series THE MAGICIANS, based upon Lev Grossman's best-selling book series and starring Jason Ralph ("Aquarius") as a brilliant college student who enrolls in a secret university specializing in magic.
http://www.syfy.com/theexpanse/videos/the-expanse-trailer
USA
usa network unveiled a new trailer for its award-winning hacker drama MR. ROBOT (premiering June 24, 10/9c), from Universal Cable Productions (UCP) and executive producer Sam Esmail ("Comet"), starring Christian Slater ("Adderall Diaries") and Rami Malek ("24"). The network also featured a preview of its new futuristic thriller COLONY, from Legendary Television and UCP and executive producer Carlton Cuse ("Bates Motel," "Lost"), starring Josh Holloway ("Lost") and Sarah Wayne Callies ("The Walking Dead"). Additionally, USA showcased the first-ever look at the trailer for the recently announced drama QUEEN OF THE SOUTH, set to premiere in 2016. The powerful series is based on a best-selling novel, which spawned one of the highest rated telenovelas of all time on Telemundo. From FOX 21 Television Studios and UCP, QUEEN OF THE SOUTH stars Alice Braga ("City of God") is executive produced by M.A. Fortin and Joshua John Miller ("The Final Girls"), along with David Friendly ("Little Miss Sunshine," "Big Mommas House") and Pancho Mansfield ("Damien").
http://player.theplatform.com/p/OyMl-B/FuzMKey7SGew/select/media/guid/2140458126/2865783
NBCUNIVERSAL CABLE ENTERTAINMENT
NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment is made up of leading cable brands which include USA, Bravo, Syfy, E!, Oxygen, Esquire Network, Sprout, Chiller and Cloo - as well as production entities Universal Cable Productions (UCP) and Wilshire Studios. The portfolio engages a worldwide audience across multiple platforms through powerful award-winning scripted dramas, innovative reality, lifestyle and late night programming, popular acquired series, a rapidly expanding entertainment news division and inventive children's television.
*Sprout received the highest numerical Equity Score among Kids TV brands included in the 2015 Harris Poll EquiTrend Study, which is based on opinions of 38,670 U.S. consumers ages 15 and over surveyed online BETWEEN January 8 and February 2, 2015. Your opinion may differ. "Highest Ranked" was determined by a pure ranking of a sample of Kids TV brands.
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