Warner Bros. Discovery showcased its annual Upfront presentation to advertisers yesterday morning at the Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
The media mogul presented its collection of networks and titles across its sports, news and lifestyle and entertainment brands at the presentation through a newly formed combined portfolio to marketers.
Hosted by David Zaslav, President and CEO, and Jon Steinlauf, Chief U.S. Advertising Sales Officer, the Upfront showcased Warner Bros. Discovery’s content offerings and “ability to drive demand” for brands with commercial advertising solutions.
Some fans remain curious on the company’s intentions for certain branches, specifically the DC Universe, and Upfront offered no answers.
Jennifer Hudson kicked off the event on the importance of telling powerful stories, establishing fresh perspectives and amplifying dynamic voices. Attendees were then shown brands, talent and content across Warner Bros. Discovery. The show concluded with a special performance from Hudson.
“Warner Bros. Discovery is a new, unparalleled player in the marketplace. With an engaging and sought after portfolio that, year-to-date, is on par with the companies that own the four broadcast networks combined in Primetime, we have an unmatched offering that sets us and our clients apart,” said Steinlauf. “We are home to the industry’s most trusted brands, and our viewers come to us for inspiration, giving us the distinctive ability to follow the consumer journey from awareness to activation and use that knowledge to curate tailored advertising solutions.”
In addition to Steinlauf and Zaslav, Warner Bros. Discovery executive leadership who presented at the event included Kathleen Finch, Chairman and Chief Content Officer, U.S. Networks Group; Chris Licht, Chairman and CEO, CNN Worldwide; and JB Perrette, CEO and President, Global Streaming and Interactive.
During the event, the company unveiled its 2022-23 programming highlights across linear, streaming and digital platforms. Guests heard from leadership and talent across brands such as Adult Swim, Cartoon Network, CNN, discovery+, Discovery Channel, Food Network, HBO Max, HGTV, Magnolia, OWN, TLC, TNT, TBS and truTV. In addition to Hudson, on-stage talent (in order of appearance) included Shaun Robinson, Grant Hill, Anderson Cooper, Bobby Flay, Chip and Joanna Gaines, Shaquille O’Neal, Wayne Gretzky, Pedro Martinez, Jonathan Scott, Lil Jon, John Cena, Nicole Byer, Mike Rowe, Shaun White, Mindy Kaling, Andy Garcia, Gloria Estefan and Lizzo.
