The impact of the was felt as major television networks began their annual week of sales presentations to advertisers on Monday, with news personalities like Willie Geist and Stephanie Ruhle left to hawk comedies and dramas for NBC Universal.
Fox declined to announce a fall television schedule on Monday, citing uncertainties created by the strike.
Some 11,500 members of the Writers Guild for America, saying the their earning power, walked off the job two weeks after talks on a new contract broke down, and havenB次元官网网址檛 returned to the negotiating table since.
Network late-night shows immediately shut down. Picketing writers targeting some of the few shows shooting episodes forced the shutdown, at least temporarily, of programs including ShowtimeB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址淏illions,B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址淪everanceB次元官网网址� on Apple TV+ and the new Marvel show, B次元官网网址淒aredevil: Born AgainB次元官网网址� on Disney+.
The network sales presentations, known as upfronts because TV executives use them to convince advertisers to lock in commercial spending months in advance, are major events on the television schedule. They opened with turmoil; writers picketed in front of Radio City Music Hall where NBC previewed programming it hoped viewers would be able to see.
Mark Lazarus, NBC Universal president of television and streaming, quickly acknowledged the uncertainties in speaking to the ad representatives.
B次元官网网址淚t may take some time, but I know we will eventually get through this,B次元官网网址� Lazarus said, B次元官网网址渁nd the result will be a stronger foundation from which we can all move forward together.B次元官网网址�
Lazarus came to the stage following a song-and-dance routine by an animated bear, Ted, voiced by creator Seth MacFarlane. Following two movies, the B次元官网网址淭edB次元官网网址� character is set to begin a series on the Peacock streaming network.
The upfront presentations are generally known for star power attempting to woo advertisers, but entertainers were notably missing from NBC UniversalB次元官网网址檚 presentation. For example, the network and Peacock announced new series that will star Jon Cryer, Jesse L. Martin, Kaley Cuoco and Anthony Hopkins and none of them were there on Monday.
Instead, the news personalities were put in the odd position of pitching entertainment fare, like Geist highlighting programming around the upcoming 50th anniversary of B次元官网网址淪aturday Night Live,B次元官网网址� while Ruhle and business journalist Andrew Ross Sorkin touted new dramas.
Entertainers and creators Amy Poehler, Dick Wolf and Simon Cowell each spoke in taped messages, which NBC said were recorded before the strike began.
Three musicians performed for the crowd, each of them with NBC ties. Reba McEntire was announced as a coach for an upcoming season of B次元官网网址淭he Voice,B次元官网网址� Grace Potter was a winner of a past edition and Nick Jonas is a former coach. Jonas noted the audienceB次元官网网址檚 cool reaction on a Monday morning.
B次元官网网址淚 know itB次元官网网址檚 early,B次元官网网址� he said, B次元官网网址渂ut yB次元官网网址檃ll feel free to let loose a little bit.B次元官网网址�
In advance of FoxB次元官网网址檚 presentation later Monday, executives talked about upcoming shows, but not when they would appear.
B次元官网网址淣o one has a crystal ball about the duration and impact of the strike,B次元官网网址� said Dan Harrison, executive vice president of program planning and content strategy. B次元官网网址淥nce we have a clearer view, we will announce our plans.B次元官网网址�
Fox executives said that the pandemic offered practice in the need to be flexible when the content pipeline is suddenly shut down.
The strike will likely mean a greater reliance on unscripted fare, said Allison Wallach, president of FoxB次元官网网址檚 unscripted programming. To that end, Fox announced a new game show, B次元官网网址淪nake Oil,B次元官网网址� hosted by David Spade and a music guessing game, B次元官网网址淲e Are Family,B次元官网网址� produced and hosted by Jamie Foxx.
B次元官网网址擠avid Bauder, The Associated Press
READ MORE:
READ MORE:
