• by Adam Buckman , Featured Columnist, April 23, 2024

For those who like scorecards, here is how the Upfront season is shaping up so far, by the numbers.

By the TV Blog's count, there are 14 bona fide TV Upfronts, three of which have already been held -- A+E Networks (virtual), held on March 6, Scripps Networks on April 9 and AMC Networks on April 10.

Hallmark Media held a series of “Upfront Experiences” from April 2 to April 9 in New York featuring “a private tour and cocktail party at one of NY's most iconic venues, hosting and entertaining classes, a memorable dinner at a Michelin-rated restaurant, and more.” I must have misplaced my invitation.

Evidently, these were smaller events, something Hallmark did last year. “The positive response we received from our Upfront Experiences last year affirmed the effectiveness of this approach,” said Ed Georger, executive vice president of ad sales and digital media, in a press release in February.

Byron Allen's Allen Media Group has an Upfront scheduled for this Wednesday, according to an on-line Upfront/NewFront schedule maintained each year by MediaVillage.com.

The rest of the big TV companies will be jammed into Upfront Week starting Monday, May 13, with NBCUniversal in the morning, Fox in the afternoon and Telemundo in the evening.

On Tuesday, it's Amazon, TelevisaUnivision and Walt Disney.

There is a fourth Upfront that day too: Screenvision Media -- not a TV company, but the folks who offer advertising opportunities in movie theaters.

Wednesday's lineup is Warner Brothers Discovery, YouTube and Day One of a two-day Netflix event, most of which appears to be occurring the following day -- Thursday, May 16.

Noticeably absent from the Big Dance: Paramount Global, owner of CBS and umpteen other networks and platforms, one of which is a streamer, Paramount+.

The company is opting this year for small, private gatherings with the ad biz. But you have to wonder about the wisdom of this.

For a week, the attention of the trade press and all entertainment media will be fixed on the big companies mounting huge Upfront events. Paramount Global? Who are they again?

Personal invitation scorecard: The TV Blog is all set to attend and cover NBCU on Monday, Disney on Tuesday and WBD on Wednesday. Fox will also be likely.

I'm working on gaining access to Amazon and Netflix, but I'm too proud to beg. Anyone else out there who is reading this, and wishes to invite me to their Upfront, then please do!

Photo courtesy Walt Disney Co.