Major broadcasters are returning to physical upfronts in 2022

After the pandemic forced the industry’s main media groups to suspend their upfront presentations for two years in a row, several companies are already organizing face-to-face events again for 2022.

Fox Corporation was the first company to announce its plans. The group will hold its upfront in its traditional date of May 16, but it will be at the Skylight on Vesey in New York City, a venue recently used for “Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience.” Instead of the Beacon Theater presentations held when in-person events were possible, Fox said, “the new event will be reimagined to showcase the Fox portfolio across its entertainment, sports, news and streaming platforms.”

Meanwhile, NBCUniversal will return to New York’s Radio City Music Hall for its annual upfront presentation on the morning of May 16. It will host a Telemundo-branded party that evening at the Ziegfeld Theater. “We’ll lift the stories that hundreds of millions of consumers trust, connect with, and rely on no matter the stage or screen — and preview what’s coming next and how you can be a part of it,”  commented Linda Yaccarino, Chairman of Advertising and Partnerships at NBCUniversal, in a letter to the company’s partners.

Furthermore, ViacomCBS plans to return to New York’s fabled Carnegie Hall for its upfront presentation on May 18. However, ViacomCBS’ presentation will also be streamed for people who choose not to attend in person. “We are thrilled to return to the iconic stage at Carnegie Hall this year and spotlight the power of ViacomCBS in what will surely be a show-stopping event. We look forward to delivering an entertaining and informative presentation that addresses the dynamic needs of our clients, which is absolutely critical as the marketplace continues to transform at a rapid pace,”  said Jo Ann Ross, president, and chief advertising revenue officer for ViacomCBS Domestic Advertising Sales.

Disney is also planning an in-person event this year, although its details are still unknown. The company said its event would not be held in a large theater but plans to find a space to create a more interactive experience for advertisers and media buyers.