A+E Networks and AMC Networks are both canceling the live presentations they had scheduled in March as part of the industry’s annual upfront ad-sales market, as the fears over the growing spread of the coronavirus keep impacting the TV industry.
In the case of A+E, the group said it would cancel its March 25 presentation and instead schedule “virtual discussions” with media-buying agencies and clients over the course of the week of March 23. On the other hand, AMC Networks has opted to cancel its live upfront presentation scheduled for March 18 and will do individual conversations with their advertising clients.
“The health, safety and well-being of our clients, colleagues and our industry is our top priority. A+E Networks is leaning-in to our culture of flexibility – one of the business mandates to operate in today’s world, and certainly a necessity underscored in our current environment,” said Paul Buccieri, CEO of A+E Networks Group, in a statement. He also indicated the company would use the sessions to do many of the things it would have done at a live gathering: preview upcoming series; introduce talent; and discuss new plans for cable networks like A&E, History and Lifetime.
A couple of days ago, Fox News Channel was the first network to cancel a presentation it had planned to hold at its New York headquarters in March, citing health concerns. Comcast’s FreeWheel ad-tech unit did the same. CNN, meanwhile, held an event last week. Other networks, at least for now, are keeping their upfront plans intact.