All articles tagged with #upfronts
NBC canceled The Hunting Party after two seasons, ending Melissa Roxburgh’s FBI profiler drama about a team pursuing killers who escaped from a secret prison; the final episode aired May 7. The decision came during NBC’s upfronts, where several shows were canceled or renewed, and the network is planning new dramas (a Rockford Files reboot and Line of Fire) and comedies (Sunset P.I. and Newlyweds) for 2026–27.
The 2026 Upfronts underscored a seismic shift as YouTube, Netflix, and Amazon dominated the scene with data‑driven, AI‑assisted ad tools and creator‑led programming, sidelining traditional media. Netflix pitched a growing ad‑supported tier; YouTube showcased a creator slate and real‑time audience targeting; Amazon highlighted ad products tied to commerce. Legacy players like NBCUniversal, Fox, and Warner Bros. Discovery leaned into automation and new monetization approaches, while Paramount sat out the week. The takeaway: Big Tech now controls TV ad dollars and the broader content distribution playbook.
The four broadcast networks (ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC) expect about 55 to 56 scripted series on their 2026-27 slates, up from last year’s wave of cancellations. It’s the first uptick since 2024 and signals a cautious rebuild as networks coordinate scheduling with streaming (Peacock) to maximize reach. One NBC show, The Hunting Party, remains in limbo, and even if renewed the total could reach 56; overall, output remains far below the 87 scripted series seen five years ago.
During Upfronts Week, studios showcased ads and clips to advertisers, with Disney deemed the big winner and Netflix and Amazon generating significant buzz, while Warner Bros. Discovery underwhelmed and NBCUniversal faced challenges. YouTube solidified its platform dominance, and the centerpiece controversy revolved around Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey and Lupita Nyong’o’s casting, prompting online backlash and a rare public culture-war moment in Hollywood, even as Nolan stayed out of the fray.
At this year’s upfronts, NBCUniversal, Fox, Disney, Warner Bros. Discovery, Amazon, Netflix and YouTube pitched a renewed focus on midseason launches, pilots, and a mix of blue-sky and family-friendly shows, while expanding live-sport integration and 360-degree ad strategies. Executives stressed production in Los Angeles, renewed interest in pilots, and a growing emphasis on AI and programmatic advertising as the industry braces for mergers like WBD-Paramount Skydance and leadership shifts reshaping the TV landscape.
Deadline’s 2026 upfronts recap highlights Disney’s polished, star‑studded presentation and Netflix’s strongest ad‑supported upfront yet, while NBCUniversal’s showcase felt bloated and struggled with energy. The week also spotlighted Amazon and TelevisaUnivision’s hype segments, Fox’s Brady‑driven showcase, and Netflix’s NFL rights news, signaling a shift toward tighter, showier pitches in a rapidly consolidating TV‑and‑streaming landscape.
Netflix used its 2026 Upfronts to reveal a renewal spree: Quarterback and Love is Blind earned new seasons, while Big Mistakes (Season 2), Running Point (Season 3), and My Life with the Walter Boys (Season 4) were renewed for additional seasons. The streamer also announced new series Myron Bolitar and Calabasas, and confirmed Bridgerton’s return in 2027 alongside The Lincoln Lawyer ending with a final season. The Night Agent will close out with its fourth season next year. Notably, XO, Kitty and Man on Fire were not renewed in this cycle, leaving their fates undecided for now.
In Deadline's coverage of the 2026 upfronts, CBS, NBC, Fox and ABC unveiled lineups that lean back toward scripted series, marking a cautious resurgence after recent slates. CBS adds three dramas and a comedy while trimming others for a net gain of about 1.5 hours; NBC adds two dramas and two comedies with a similar potential increase; Fox adds two dramas and a comedy for another ~1.5-hour rise; ABC breaks with tradition by adding The Rookie: North while renewing all scripted series. The shift is framed as a blend of budget discipline, the ongoing impact of vertical integration and streaming-era strategy, and a push to grow the networks’ owned libraries—even if some episode counts are being adjusted as part of broader cost-management efforts.
Warner Bros. Discovery’s upfront lunch carried a valedictory air as Paramount Skydance’s $110 billion bid to acquire WBD looms, with a Sept. 30 close target pending regulatory approvals. Executives touted the company’s advertising products while the deal’s implications—turning Turner, HBO, and Warner Bros over to a new parent—hung over the room. Insiders pointed to two factors likely to help garner approval: Larry Ellison’s influence and Makan Delrahim, DOJ antitrust veteran now Paramount’s chief legal officer. CEO David Zaslav could collect up to $886 million on closing, despite a shareholder vote against part of his pay, underscoring the ongoing volatility of media M&A.
At its Brandcast upfront, YouTube positioned itself as the modern TV, unveiling a creator-led slate from stars like Trevor Noah, Alex Cooper, and Jesser, along with new features such as Google Pay purchases on TV and multimodal creation tools, signaling a shift from legacy media to a YouTube-first, creator-centered ecosystem.
At its Brandcast upfront in New York, YouTube announced exclusive creator-led series from Alex Cooper, Trevor Noah, Kareem Rahma and others, while rolling out ad-market innovations that let brands sponsor individual creator shows, add a masthead with curated video shelves, deploy AI-powered sponsorships and enable purchases via Buy With Google Pay—underscored by Nielsen data showing broad reach as YouTube positions itself as the future of media.
Netflix’s upfront leans into a “Get Closer” theme with Jennifer Lopez and Brett Goldstein previewing their Office Romance rom‑com as Pete Davidson riffed on stage; the presentation also doubles down on the ad‑supported model, announcing expansion to 15 more markets and highlighting hundreds of millions of monthly viewers, while unveiling a packed slate (Bridgerton Season 5 in 2027, new adaptations and sports deals) and celebrity moments, plus Westminster Dog Show streaming.
Warner Bros. Discovery’s annual upfront spotlighted a strong IP slate—Minecraft Movie 2, a Harry Potter TV series, The White Lotus season 4, and cross‑platform ad offerings across HBO Max, Discovery+, and CNN—while openly acknowledging industry upheaval and the looming Paramount Skydance deal, playfully nodding to “Ellison in the room” as a symbol of change ahead. The showcase featured cameos from Shaquille O’Neal, Leslie Jones, and Terry Crews, and underscored a push to engage the TikTok generation, but left audiences after about an hour while executives reaffirmed that the core content portfolio remains the company’s centerpiece.
Netflix, in partnership with AEG Presents, is launching a global concert tour for the film-inspired KPop Demon Hunters, announced at upfronts in New York City. Details are sparse for now, with a waitlist for updates on tickets, cities and dates as Netflix aims to bring the movie’s world and music to life on stage.
At Warner Bros. Discovery’s Upfront in New York, ad-sales leaders used a faux Freudian slip to acknowledge the looming $111 billion Paramount merger, signaling potential industry-wide changes as regulators weigh the deal. The presentation highlighted advertiser nerves and industry skepticism, with Paramount pledging a strong theatrical slate and job protections, while shareholders already approved the merger in April and regulators remain the remaining hurdle.