Disney, NBCU, Fox Start to Sell in TV’s Accelerating Upfront Market (EXCLUSIVE)

Jamie Lang Just over half a year since its launch, upstart European sales company Feel Content is heading to the Cannes Film Market with a slate of six Spanish-language features from Spain and Latin America.Feel Content is the joint endeavor of Geraldine Gonard, director of Spain’s Conecta Fiction co-production forum, and Luis Collar, a partner and CEO at The Circular Group, a diversified film company.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorCherie Grzech, who has managed the operations of Fox News’ Washington bureau in recent years, will leave that operation and join NewsNation, the Nexstar Media start-up that has since its launch found the task of getting its footing in national news circles a challenging one.Grzech will join the network as its managing editor and vice president of news, reporting to Michael Corn, the former “Good Morning America” chief who is president of the operation.

Ann-Marie Corvin Premiere Entertainment has acquired the international rights to family faith-based film “The Girl Who Believes in Miracles” after the film’s solid performance at the U.S.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorMadison Avenue has a lot to say about the current state of the TV industry — and more of it will need to be spoken in Spanish.Univision, the Spanish-language broadcaster that is operating under new ownership, has secured double-digit percentage increases in advance advertising commitments for its next programming cycle, the latest traditional broadcaster to benefit from an unusually speedy “upfront” market, when TV companies try to sell the bulk of their

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorFox saw increases in advance ad commitments for its primetime schedule and expanding digital venues as part of the industry’s annual “upfront” sales process, the latest of the nation’s big media companies to see robust activity as advertisers try to move forward as the coronavirus pandemic diminishes.The Fox Corporation unit saw advertising commitments rise across all areas of its portfolio, which includes the Fox broadcast network; Fox Sports and Fox News Media,

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorNBC is working up a new play for the Super Bowl.Eager to generate millions of dollars in revenue from the Big Game, the Comcast-owned media conglomerate is talking to potential advertisers about a price tag of $6 million for a 30-second spot in the event, according to executives familiar with current negotiations, marking a new high-water mark in pricing for Super Bowl commercials. Super Bowl LVI is slated to be broadcast on Feb.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorCustomer-relationship management company Salesforce has struck an advertising pact that will have it become a sponsor of both Team USA and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic and Paralympic Games, as well as an advertiser in NBCU’s coverage of the Olympics and Paralympics over the next seven years.As part of the agreement, Salesforce will provide proprietary technology to help create digital experiences for fans and athletes over that time period as the 2028 Games draw

Nick Vivarelli International CorrespondentBelgian director Felix van Groeningen (“Beautiful Boy”) and Charlotte Vandermeersch have started shooting in the Alps on “The Eight Mountains,” an Italian drama based on a bestseller about male bonding set against a mountainous backdrop.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorMadison Avenue’s interest in digital ads, sports and new concepts tied to bolstering messages of diversity helped Disney close a fast-paced upfront that saw more than 40% of total dollars committed to the company go to streaming and interactive venues, the latest sign of how advertisers are working differently with some of the nation’s most traditional media companies.“We led with streaming this year.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorAccelerating climate change and its far-flung effects have  fast become the most important story in the news cycle. But that isn’t always the stuff that gets talked about or tweeted — or the biggest ratings.Part of the issue? Shifts in the environment happen gradually over time, not usually in a violent, shocking moment that can be captured by cameras.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorThe CEO of NBCUniversal said the company enjoyed robust demand in the TV industry’s upfront market, but offered no tangible detains on volume or pricing to help bolster his case.“It was the strongest upfront I think probably in the history of NBCUniversal,” said Jeff Shell, NBCU’s CEO, speaking during an investor conference with Credit Suisse Monday. “We saw results in this upfront far beyond what we thought we’d see.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorA new lineup of Saturday programming and a surge of post-pandemic spending by Madison Avenue helped the CW boost its volume of advertising commitments in TV’s annual “upfront” market, a sign that advertisers continue to make the medium a central part of their plans even as they are showing new interest in chasing viewers to new streaming venues.The network, jointly owned by ViacomCBS and AT&T’s WarnerMedia, has wrapped its upfront negotiations, according to a

Naman Ramachandran Altitude Film Sales has boarded high concept survival thriller “The Wreck” and will introduce the project to buyers at the upcoming Cannes virtual market.Based on a screenplay by Nick Saltrese (“Jetski,” “A Prayer Before Dawn”), the film will follow a group of old college friends who reunite on a Caribbean scuba diving trip exploring the wreckage of a WWII battleship and find themselves trapped inside the underwater labyrinth of rusted metal surrounded by great white

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorThis year’s upfront ad-sales session is shaping up to be one of the fastest in recent memory. But some TV companies are working to slow things down.At a time when advertisers appear willing to capitulate to significant pricing increases, they are still balking at demands from both Discovery and ViacomCBS, according to three media buying executives and other people familiar with the tone of these annual negotiations for commercial inventory between U.S.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorHyundai didn’t go to the Super Bowl this year, but it’s taking a trip to Disneyland.The large automaker has struck a broad advertising pact with The Walt Disney Company that will have characters from ABC’s “Black-ish,” announcers from ESPN’s “SportsCenter” and even characters from Marvel tout the benefits of the new Tucson compact SUV in on-screen appearances set to roll out over the next few months.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorConcerns about holding the Tokyo OIympics continue to surface, but at least one participant is ready to go all in on it.NBCUniversal plans to broadcast 7,000 hours of Olympics coverage across NBC, USA, CNBC, NBCSN, and Peacock, among other properties, signaling the intense economic interest in keeping the athletic extravaganza going despite the challenges of holding it amid coronavirus outbreaks in Japan.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorSavannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb are, for many, a morning habit. NBC hopes the “Today” pair will soon become an afternoon or evening one for a different kind of viewer.Starting June 8, the duo will take the network’s nearly seven-decade-old “Today” show into new territory.

David Boreanaz tells ET.With making the move to Paramount+ for season 5 — not after a special four-episode run on CBS this fall to kick things off — Boreanaz discusses the season closer, that nagging health issue and why he's invigorated by going to streaming. For Jason, he's definitely become a little bit better, more aware of his own pain and struggles that for many years, he's really ignored a lot of stuff.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorWho will Greg Gutfeld yell at now?Juan Williams, the resident liberal member of the popular Fox News panel show, “The Five,” is leaving the program for which he has worked since 2011.“COVID taught me a lot of lessons. As the show goes back to the New York studio, I’ll be staying in DC.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorFox News Channel said it would make its lineup of primetime opinion programs available on its Fox Nation streaming-video service just one day after they air on cable, a significant distribution element that underscores the allure of streaming for the entire media sector.Starting Wednesday, June 2, episodes of “Tucker Carlson Tonight,” “Hannity” and “The Ingraham Angle” will all be made available the day after they air for on-demand viewing.