NewFront Presentations to Stress Accelerated Change

Saying that industry reaction to the coronavirus crisis has shifted from panic to innovation, the Internet Advertising Bureau said this year’s NewFronts will focus on how fast media habits are changing.

Originally scheduled for the end of April, the Digital Content NewFronts--where streaming video companies make their pitch to advertisers--were postponed to June 22-26 because of the virus and turned into a series of virtual presentations.

The live broadcast and cable network upfronts were also canceled. 

NewFront founders Hulu and YouTube will be presenting this year. The IAB also confirmed that Condé Nast, Crackle Plus, Ellen Digital, Roku, The Recount, The Wall Street Journal/Barron’s group, Tubi, Vibenomics and 3Blackdot will be making presentations.

Facebook, GSTV, Samsung Ads, Tremor Video and Xandr are expected to make “program contributions,” the IAB said, adding that other presenters are likely to be added.

“I’ll be honest – when we first confronted the need to hold the NewFronts entirely online back in March, it was exciting but daunting,” said David Cohen, president, IAB. “Already, working with publishers, brands, and tech companies to pull it all together feels much more natural. Just look around at the innovation we are seeing in production, storytelling and building immersive virtual experiences. That’s how fast things have changed. This is one NewFronts no one should miss.”

Jon Lafayette

Jon has been business editor of Broadcasting+Cable since 2010. He focuses on revenue-generating activities, including advertising and distribution, as well as executive intrigue and merger and acquisition activity. Just about any story is fair game, if a dollar sign can make its way into the article. Before B+C, Jon covered the industry for TVWeek, Cable World, Electronic Media, Advertising Age and The New York Post. A native New Yorker, Jon is hiding in plain sight in the suburbs of Chicago.