Paramount Global Says It Landed $1B In Digital Upfront Ad Commitments

Sports, broadcast TV and digital paced Paramount Global‘s overall performance in the upfront ad market, Co-CEO Chris McCarthy said during the company’s second-quarter earnings call.

One of Paramount's upfront dinners for advertisers in the spring of 2024 | Deadline

“We are pleased with our upfront results, particularly in the context of the evolution of the ad market and the scale of new entrants,” he said.

Linear volume on par with 2023 and CPMs were up on a blended basis, driven by sports and broadcast, which were “relatively strong,” McCarthy said.

“The digital marketplace was also healthy,” he added. “We secured commitments in excess of $1B across our streaming portfolio, reflecting both the quality and the scale of our assets. With our mix of pay and free, we offer the most efficient reach across premium video.”

The quarterly report featured a jarringly large write-down of cable networks totaling just shy of $6 billion. The move followed a similar one by Warner Bros. Discovery on Wednesday. With linear TV in free fall, the growth of streaming offers a ray of hope for Paramount, with its direct-to-consumer unit posting its first operating profit during the quarter. In terms of resources, however, the financial strain of operating a mix of traditional and digital assets has resulted in major cutbacks, with the company planning to lay off 15% of its U.S.-based workforce by the end of the year. The cuts and write-down both were in part motivated by the pending merger of Paramount and Skydance Media.

Netflix, Amazon and Disney have all entered the streaming marketplace as major sellers over the past year or two, disrupting the sector for a number of players like Paramount. The company has most of its subscribers to Paramount+ on an advertising tier and also has a number of well-established free services with ads, including Pluto TV and CBS News 24/7.

McCarthy did not provide any commentary on ad category trends or note any particular programs drawing interest from advertisers.

In a departure from decades-long precedent, Paramount in 2023 decided to ditch its large-scale presentation to ad buyers in New York, replacing the event with a series of smaller-scale dinners. Other media companies, along with tech giants Amazon, Netflix and YouTube, have continued to stake their claims on traditional upfront turf during mid-May in Manhattan. Paramount brass have insisted the new approach eliminates waste and enhances connections with ad buyers.

Ad chief John Halley told Deadline last spring that the new approach had a “refreshing practicality” to it, adding that a number of media buyers had expressed enthusiasm for the overhaul.

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More Nick: Skydance Media and Paramount Global Sign Definitive Agreement to Advance Paramount as a World-Class Media and Technology Enterprise!

Original source: Deadline.

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Nickelodeon UK to Premiere 'Popularity Papers' on April 5

Nickelodeon UK & Ireland will premiere the brand new live-action series Popularity Papers on Friday 5th April 2024, with new episodes premiering Fridays at 5:30pm as part of Thank Nick It's Friday!

Based on the award-winning scrapbook-style middle-grade book series by author Amy Ignatow, Popularity Papers follows middle-school besties Julie and Lydia as they seek to demystify one of life’s greatest questions: what makes someone popular? Every social experiment they test out comes with unexpected lessons about the value of friendship, kindness, and confidence, helping guide our characters through the struggles of middle school with humour and heart.

Popularity Papers is a single-camera, live-action comedy series (26 x 30′) adapted for the screen by Corus Media-backed Aircraft Pictures (Roxy Hunter, Bruno & Boots franchises), the Oscar-nominated producers behind The Breadwinner, and Emmy-nominated production company WexWorks Media. On top of the financial participation of the Canada Film Fund, BBC Studios co-funds and handles the international distribution rights for the show.

The series airs on YTV in Canada and recently made its debut on Nickelodeon in Italy.

Below is the show's official synopsis:

Lydia Goldblatt and Julie Graham-Chang are best friends on the hunt for answers to history’s greatest question: how does someone become popular? Should be easy enough! All they have to do is:

 

a) Research the behavior, habits and techniques of the popular kids;

b) Survive the 7th grade; and

c) AVOID COMPLETE AND TOTAL SOCIAL OBLITERATION!!!!

 

Okay… that was a bit dramatic. But TBH it’s kind of a tall order. Through pragmatic (and not-so-pragmatic) testing and social experimentation, they’ll figure out what it really means to be popular and finally get answers to questions like, do you really need to ditch your real friends to become popular? Should you quit the things you love just because they’re considered “uncool”? Is bleaching your hairwith actual bleach a good idea? (ALERT: IT IS NOT A GOOD IDEA. I REPEAT. NOT A GOOD IDEA).

The original book series, for which the first installment was selected as a top-10 title of 2011 by the American Library Association’s Rainbow Project and won the 2010 Gold Award from the National Parenting Publications Association, tells the story of two best friends, Lydia Goldblatt and Julie Graham-Chang, who are on a mission to crack the popularity code and dismantle the social construct for middle-schoolers everywhere. Using the scientific method, the girls conduct social experiments on their peers with hilarious results.

The Popularity Papers is executive produced by showrunner Vivian Lin (Holly Hobbie, Hudson & Rex) and co-created for television by Lin and Amanda Brook Perrin (The Croods: Family Tree, Fast Layne). Matthew Wexler of WexWorks Media executive produces, along with Amelia Johnson at BBC Studios together with Anthony Leo and Andrew Rosen of Aircraft Pictures.

“From the moment I read Amy Ignatow’s series of books I was determined to share the timeless and hilarious world she had created with audiences everywhere,” said Wexler, president of WexWorks Media. “I’m thrilled to be working with Aircraft Pictures again to bring these stories to life.”

Aircraft’s Leo and Rosen added: “The Popularity Papers is a heartfelt, funny and original story that’s all about being your authentic self and staying true to your values. Under Vivian’s leadership, and with the support of incredible partners WexWorks Media, BBC Studios and YTV, our aim is to deliver a series that will have kids and their families laughing together.”

Henrietta Hurford-Jones, director of children’s content for BBC Studios, said: “Funny, quirky, and aspirational, yet completely relatable, BBC Studios are delighted to be working in creative partnership with the stellar production team at Aircraft Pictures and WexWorks Media.”

Popularity Papers was originally scheduled to premiere on Nick UK & Eire on Monday 8th January 2024, however, the show's debut was postponed until April.

Paramount+ UK & Ireland is HERE! Stream a Mountain of Entertainment, including your Nickelodeon favourites! Try it FREE at ParamountPlus.com!

Paramount+ is also available with Sky Cinema at no extra cost.

More Nick: Nick Jr. UK To Premiere 'Dora' on April 15!

Originally published: December 19, 2023.

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Paramount Confirms It Won't Be Hosting Upfront Event In 2024

Paramount today (Jan. 22) confirmed that it won’t be returning for upfront week in 2024. Instead, the New York owner of Nickelodeon, CBS and the Paramount movie studio will once again host a series of “high-impact, intimate upfront gatherings” for each of its agency partners and their clients across New York, Los Angeles and Chicago, a Paramount spokesperson told Adweek. The events are set to begin in late April.

John Halley presided over several New York upfront dinners in late April 2023. Photo credit: Paramount

Paramount shocked the TV industry in 2023 by skipping its decades-long formal, glitzy upfront week presentation event at Carnegie Hall, but this announcement doesn’t come as a surprise.

The company feels clients responded well to the technique introduced last year and expects to build upon the practice with a new experience for those who attend.

“The feedback from last year’s approach was incredibly positive,” the spokesperson said. “And we’ll be building on the success of the format with a fresh new experience that deepens our connection with the advertisers we serve.”

The company also had a successful upfront season without its single lavish event, closing talks up low to mid-single digits in dollar commitments.

In a different era, Paramount was a backer of what was perhaps the most symbolic presentation of the upfront, when TV networks try to sell the bulk of their commercial inventory ahead of their next programming cycle. In its time, CBS’ Carnegie Hall event grew to symbolize the networks’ efforts during their annual week of publicity aimed at wooing Madison Avenue and has featured everything from live songs by The Who to a farewell from David Letterman.

But John Halley, who was named head of Paramount Global’s ad sales outreach last year, believes bespoke meetings carry the potential for more benefit, especially in an era when advertisers are seeking more precise placement of their pitches alongside narrower audiences defined by better data mining techniques. “We are not going to go back to the old way of doing things,” Halley told news outlets last year.

For Paramount’s 2023 upfront dinners, the company transformed Chelsea Factory in New York to showcase its “Popular Is Paramount” brand positioning. In addition to the immersive displays showcasing Paramount’s IP, the gatherings featured Paramount talent as well as musical entertainment.

The announcement comes as news of the TV upfront revs up. Recently, Warner Bros. Discovery announced it would return to upfront week, ending any speculation that the company could also exit. In addition, upfront week presenters YouTube and Disney have also already announced 2024 plans.

Thus far, Paramount remains the only major publisher to stay out of upfront week.

Stream a Mountain of Entertainment, including your Nickelodeon favorites on Paramount+! Try it FREE at ParamountPlus.com!

More Nick: 2024 on Nickelodeon: New Shows, Episodes, Specials and More!

Additional source: Variety; Special thanks to @KeydalisColo, @NickSchedules, @MtthwClmn for the news!

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2024 on Nickelodeon: New Shows, Episodes, Specials and More

New Year means New Stuff! Get ready for brand new shows, episodes and specials, coming your way in 2024 everywhere you find Nickelodeon!

Share This!: https://bit.ly/2024onnick

Stream a Mountain of Entertainment, including your Nickelodeon favorites on Paramount+! Try it FREE at ParamountPlus.com!

A Look Ahead: 2024 & Beyond

A look at some of Nickelodeon's upcoming highlights!

Paramount Australia Announces 2024 Highlights

Hitting It Out Of The Park. Big Swings Bring The Biggest Hits.

Strap yourselves in for a wave of premium content coming your way in 2024!  The new year promises a fresh and exciting early evening line-up, the return of your favourite programs plus some beloved legacy hits ripe for discovery by a new generation of fans.

Bursting out of the blocks in 2024 is a show that is the very definition of family entertainment. Gladiators is one of the world’s most exciting sports entertainment game shows and it’s all set for a triumphant return to Australian screens early in the new year.

A team of 21st century superhumans are relishing the chance to challenge a new breed of brave, everyday Aussie contenders in the ultimate test of speed, strength, stamina, agility and power. Hosted by sporting legends Liz Ellis and Beau Ryan, Gladiators will unquestionably get the thumbs up from viewers this summer.

From gladiatorial combat to a different kind of battle: our latest crop of castaways will once again be at each other’s throats when Australian Survivor: Titans v Rebels lands back on the beaches of Samoa.

Hosted by Jonathan LaPaglia, the Titans are both physically intimidating and utterly ruthless, but they’ll need to be at their absolute best to take on the Rebels – a group of individuals who live life by a different set of rules.

Across the ocean from Samoa’s white sands to Africa’s teeming jungles… and we’re pulling out all the stops in 2024 to celebrate a huge 10th season of the Logie-winning I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here!.

For almost a decade I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! has delivered a winning mix of fun and laughter, high adrenaline trials and fascinating insights into what makes celebrities tick. This 10th season promises to be the best yet with plenty of surprises in store – not least, a brand-new co-host!

That’s right. Alongside Julia Morris in our African treehouse next year will be none other than the Wildlife Warrior himself, Robert Irwin.

Our dynamic duo will be swinging into the South African jungle from Sunday, 24 March.

Filling out a packed March is the Australian Formula One Grand Prix, a sporting event so popular that when tickets went on sale, they sold out in less than two hours. Now, the only place to catch the action live and free (and cheer on hometown hero Oscar Piastri) is on 10 and 10 Play.

Australian audiences wholeheartedly embraced last year’s season of MasterChef Australia, a series which embodied everything the much-missed Jock Zonfrillo loved about the show.

In 2024, legendary game show Deal or No Deal returns to Australian screens, hosted by one of Australia’s most beloved TV presenters, Gold Logie winner Grant Denyer.

Among the most popular game shows of all time, Deal or No Deal promises thrilling gameplay that will have the entire family enthralled. Airing weekdays at 6pm, it’s the perfect complement to 10’s fresh early evening schedule.

Nothing rattles the funny bone harder than 10’s comedy stable of Have You Been Paying Attention?, The Cheap Seats, Thank God You’re Here, Gogglebox Australia and global hit Taskmaster. All are back in 2024 and guaranteed to keep viewers laughing out loud.

Also returning in 2024 is a new season of Hunted Australia. This brilliant reality series never fails to deliver pulse-pounding suspense when a group of desperate fugitives attempt to vanish into the urban wilderness and survive a thrilling game of cat and mouse.

In the second half of the year, The Amazing Race Australia: Celebrity Edition is pulling out the passports for a second season. A new gaggle of celebrities and their loved ones are tossed out of their comfort zone and into the big, wide world, all scrambling from pistol to pitstop for their chosen charity.

Returning recent faves? Tick. But that’s not all. We’re also proud to introduce a raft of classic shows to a new generation of viewers.

Wheel of Fortune Australia hosted by the charismatic, BAFTA award winner Graham Norton [Eurovision UK] and produced by Whisper North, part of the Sony Pictures Television-backed Whisper Group, will bring the classic game show back to primetime.

The epic game show will once again be centered around a giant carnival wheel as contestants spin to win for a life changing cash prize.

Graham said: “I’m beyond excited to be bringing such an iconic American show to Australia with Network 10. Hosting game shows is brilliant fun and even more so when you have a giant wheel to spin!

“This show has it all, mixing skill, luck and lots of surprises and I hope the Australian audience loves it.”

The original U.S. show is produced by Sony Pictures Television Studios, a Sony Pictures Entertainment Company, and is distributed by Paramount Global Content Distribution along with the format rights.

If Wheel of Fortune Australia doesn’t bring a nostalgic tear to the eye, then there’s another old favourite that just might!  A brand-new incarnation of the much-loved cooking show Ready Steady Cook is primed to hook Friday night audiences. The host? None other than the Prince of Paella… the God of Gazpacho… the incredible Miguel Maestre.

Elsewhere, a bunch of factual favourites are bouncing back in the new year, including Bondi Rescue, Ambulance Australia, Mirror Mirror, The Dog House Australia and Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly.  For gripping drama and heartwarming real-life stories, every one of these shows is a do-not-miss.

And if that isn’t enough, The Bachelors Australia, Shark Tank Australia and The Masked Singer Australia will ensure we have everyone covered for year-round entertainment.

But… we’re nowhere near done! Our newest free-to-air darling Nickelodeon is serving up a stack of premieres for preps and primary school kids, with the likes of PAW Patrol, Blue’s Clues & You!, Baby Shark’s Big Show, SpongeBob SquarePants, The Really Loud House and Middlemost Post. Over at Nick@Nite, the big kids are sorted with Friends, The Graham Norton Show and movies galore.

Flicking across to Bold and Peach, it’s comfort TV at its finest with NCIS, Bull, The Big Bang Theory and South Park. Plus, we’re kicking goals and shooting hoops with the A-League and the NBL.

In 2023 we introduced Pluto TV with our 50 FAST channels, making all your TV viewing dreams come true.

Featuring a wide variety of content across every genre and for all generations, Pluto TV collects all your comedy, reality, crime, classic TV, game shows, kids shows and more in the one place.  And incredibly, there are even more fast channels on the way in 2024.

We weren’t kidding when we said we were hitting it out of the park in 2024. Because the biggest swings… bring the biggest hits.

Paramount ANZ 2024 Upfronts

Gladiators Australia returns to Channel 10 in 2024

Robert Irwin to join Julia Morris as co-host of I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here in 2024

MasterChef Australia and Dessert Masters line-up for 2024 includes Jean-Christophe Novelli, Andy Allen, Poh Ling Yeow, Sofia Levin, Melissa Leong, Amaury Guichon

Grant Denyer hosts reboot of Deal Or No Deal in 2024 on Channel 10

Tim McDonald and Melanie Bracewell return for The Cheap Seats in 2024

Hunted Australia returns in 2024

Wheel of Fortune Australia hosted by Graham Norton in 2024

Miguel Maestre to host Ready Steady Cook in 2024

Mirror Mirror with Todd Sampson returns in 2024

Osher Günsberg hosts The Bachelors Australia

The Project returns in 2024

10 Late News to return to weeknights in 2024

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Missing from Paramount Australia & New Zealand's 2023 upfronts announcements was confirmation that The Project, and Studio 10 would be returning in 2024, however both have now been confirmed via social media posts and by Angela Bishop on the show this morning.

10 News First will return to a one-hour bulletin, delivering comprehensive news coverage from 5.00pm. Deal or No Deal will then hit screens at 6.00pm followed by The Project at 6.30pm.

For the full story on everything that’s happened during the day, Network 10 promises a brand-new, late-night news offering. You can catch 10 at 10: The Late News from 10.00pm on 10 Play, and on 10 from 10.30pm.  

10’s daytime news bulletin Midday hosted by Narelda Jacobs wasn’t mentioned anywhere in the Upfront information, but is expected to return as part of their daytime line-up following Studio 10 in 2024.

Also missing from Paramount's Upfront presentation were:

• The Traitors Australia
• Location Location Location Australia
• Would I Lie To You? Australia
• The Living Room (rested in 2023)
• Tough As Nails Australia
• Just For Laughs Australia
• Pilot Showcase
• North Shore

More Nick: Nickelodeon Makes A Splat With Dedicated Premium Free-To-Air Channel On Network 10 in Australia!

Additional source: TV Blackbox.

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