The Elton John AIDS Foundation announced that Paul Buccieri, president and chairman of the A+E Networks Group, was named to its board of directors.

The foundation noted that under Buccieri, A+E has been recognized for its philanthropic commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, and its supports for causes including heart health awareness, veterans and military families, education and mentorship.

Last year, A+E Networks organized an event for Elton John to perform at the White House.   Buccieri formed a relationship with the foundation at that time.

“Raising awareness of the ongoing global AIDS epidemic, and the means to protect yourself, as well as the barriers to ending the disease are absolutely critical to our work at the Elton John AIDS Foundation,” said David Furnish, Chairman of the Elton John AIDS Foundation. “Paul’s deep experience and understanding of messaging and the global media ecosystem at the highest level is a tremendous asset to our Board.  Elton and my fellow board members are delighted he has joined us at such a critical time for the Foundation. We deeply value both his professional expertise and longtime understanding of, and compassion for, those who are vulnerable and in need of support.” 

Buccieri joined A+E in 2015 as president of A&E and History Channel. Before that he was chairman of ITV Studios U.S. Group & ITV Studios Global Entertainment.

“I have long admired Elton's unparalleled dedication to equality and human dignity, and I am honored to join Elton, David, Anne and the entire Board of the Elton John AIDS Foundation to help further their life-saving work," said Buccieri. “The Foundation has an unwavering commitment to ending the AIDS epidemic and supporting communities in need, and I look forward to contributing to their vital mission."

Whenever advertisers are ready to make their upfront buys, A+E Networks has programming ready for them.

At a time when the COVID-19 crisis has bottled up production, Paul Buccieri, group president at A+E Networks, said his channels are in production 52 weeks a year. They have more than 1,000 hours of content that hasn’t been on the air and another thousand hours in post production.

That’s enough content to take A+E Networks all the way through the third quarter of 2021, Buccieri said. And it’s big name content. Producers and stars working for A+E including President Bill Clinton, Robin Roberts, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jeff Foxworthy, Betty White and Jamie Lee Curtis.

“In a time of uncertainty, we’re providing certainty,” he said. At A+E, advertisers can buy shows their familiar with, or watch full episodes of shows that haven’t been on the air yet.

“I think that’s a differentiator between us and some of our competitors, who don’t have the product produced yet.”

A+E produced a star-studded virtual upfront tape back in March. Peter Olsen, A+E’s executive VP for ad sales said it’s collected more than 500 views.

“I think clients have been impressed with this kind of continuity message,” Olsen said. “We can point to what the content is going to be.”

Olsen said that recent conversations with clients have started to sound like typical pre-upfront conversation. “There’s been that hint of optimism and normalcy returning to the dialog,” he said.

“Some clients want to go down the path of innovation and targeting and guaranteed outcomes. Some just want to go back and get their spots on the air,” Olsen said. “We’re taking a flexible approach and really listening to what their needs are, timing-wise. Whether it’s this summer or this fall or in between, we’re prepared for all those scenarios.”

In terms of programming, A&E Network has a new live series coming up, an auction series hosted by Jeff Foxworthy called What’s It Worth? Live.

Speaking of live, the network has ordered 160 new episodes of Live PD.

A&E also has a new project with WWE called The Quest for Lost WWE Treasures.

History is announcing a documentary series with President Clinton that will explore the history of the American presidency. The network is expanding its partnership with Appian Way, RadicalMedia and historian Doris Kearns Goodwin by greenlighting three miniseries: Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt and The Men Who Built America 2, executive produced by DiCaprio.

History is also teaming up with foodie Adam Richman for a second season of The Food That Built America. Richman will also be hosting a new series with the working title American Made, about the creators of America’s most groundbreaking inventions.

Lifetime is marking its 30th anniversary of original movies this year and has more than 50 new movies set to premiere over the course of the rest of 2020.

Talent involved in the latest crop of films including Jamie Lee Curtis, Robin Roberts, Kelly Rowland, Mario Lopez, Melissa Joan Hart and Betty White.

Curtis is executive producing, directing and staring in How We Sleep at Night: The Sara Cunningham Story, which is a true story about a devout Christian mother who comes to terms with her son being gay.

White will be in one of Lifetime holiday movies. Despite the production issues affecting the industry, Lifetime expects to have as many holiday movies as last year. Christmas films will feature Kelly Rowland, Melissa Joan Hart and Mario Lopez.

Lifetime is also working on a third movie about the formerly royal couple with the working title Harry & Meghan: Escaping the Palace.

Paul Buccieri has been named as president of A&E and History effective early next year.

Buccieri, who most recently was chairman of ITV Studios U.S. Group & ITV Studios Global Entertainment for the UK media company ITV, will oversee content creation, programming, b rand development and marketing for A&E and History and their affiliate brands. He will report to Nancy Dubuc, president & CEO of A+E Networks.

“I could not be more excited that he is joining the A+E Networks family.  Paul is one of those unique executives who brings both strong leadership skills and business acumen to the creative process,” said Dubuc.

Buccieri's appointment comes two days after A+E Networks chair Abbe Raven told the company that she would be retiring on Feb. 2.