With the Covid-19 pandemic throwing a wrench into the television industry’s upfront plans, Univision rescheduled its presentation to the ad community for this afternoon, going the virtual “at-home” route so many broadcasters have in 2020. The most-watched network on Spanish-language TV for 28 straight seasons, and No. 5 in all of U.S. TV, followed up…
GroupM’s Matt Sweeney on the State of Media in a Struggling Economy
GroupM chief investment officer Matt Sweeney thinks gaming and esports will be central to the future of entertainment, calling the content “intriguing.” “It will be interesting to see what happens to esports when live sports gets back on the air,” Sweeney told Lisa Granatstein, editor, svp, programming, Adweek, as part of Adweek at Home, a…
Is America Still in the 1960s? This Video Shows Civil Rights Is Still a Struggle
To many, the Civil Rights protests of the 1960s seem a distant memory. But watching police crack down on protesters as a movement spread nationwide also makes it feel like it could be happening today. A new video, created as a passion project by a trio of 72andSunny New York staffers, highlights how what happened…
YouTube FameBit Is Now YouTube BrandConnect
YouTube’s FameBit branded content studio is now YouTube BrandConnect, which the Google-owned video site described as a platform where brands and creators can collaborate on branded content for its platform. YouTube BrandConnect global business head Lori Sobel and product manager Henry Scott Green said in a blog post that the influencer marketing industry as a…
NBCUniversal Reunites 30 Rock Cast to Host Its Upfront Special Next Month, on NBC
NBCUniversal promised it would hold a big upfront event for both marketers and audiences–and the company seems to have found a way to satisfy both groups: by combining its upfront with a 30 Rock reunion. The company is reuniting the cast of Tina Fey’s hit NBC sitcom–including Fey (Liz Lemon), Alec Baldwin (Jack Donaghy), Jane…
The NFL Will Observe Juneteenth as a League Holiday
The National Football League announced on Friday in an internal memo that it will observe Juneteenth as a league holiday, joining the increasing ranks of companies including Google, Nike and Twitter planning to give their employees June 19 off. Juneteenth commemorates the end of legal slavery in the U.S. in 1965, when the last remaining…
Q&A: Cannes’ Simon Cook Promises a ‘Creative Reboot’ With First Virtual Event
In April, organizers of the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, advertising’s largest event, canceled the 2020 edition due to the Covid-19 pandemic, marking the first time in nearly 70 years the festival won’t be held. While the event is slated to return to France in 2021, organizers were determined provide an outlet to engage…
UK Energy Drink DRGN Pokes Fun at Boris Johnson’s Less-Than-Clear Quarantine Guidance
When British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced an easing of lockdown in England last month, his speech prompted a huge flurry of memes as people criticized his messaging as confusing and contradictory. In trying to straddle a line between easing total lockdown, but urging people continue to be cautious, critics said Johnson’s messaging emerged as…
Hulu to Premiere Pilot Episode of Original Series Love, Victor via Twitter Watch Party
Brands have been slow to embrace conversation settings Twitter began testing last month that enable accounts to determine who can reply to their tweets–everyone, only people they follow or only people they mention in that tweet–but Hulu is giving the feature a test drive Tuesday night as part of a watch party for its screening…
Nascar Appoints First Diversity Chief After Confederate Flag Controversy
Nascar has appointed its first diversity and inclusion lead, Brandon Thompson, who was formerly managing director of the Nascar Touring Series. He will step into the new role overseeing industrywide D&I strategy. “Nascar has made significant progress in the areas of diversity and inclusion, and we now have an opportunity to build on our momentum–both…