CW Sees Digital Ad Dollars Rise in Upfront, But Primetime Near Flat

Chris Rock and Lake Bell were spotted out together on several occasions over the Fourth of July weekend. On Friday night, the 57-year-old comedian and the 43-year-old actress were snapped enjoying each other’s company while they dined at celeb hotspot Giorgio Baldi in Santa Monica, California.For the outing, Rock wore a white shirt with white pants and brown shoes, while Bell sported a black cropped top and black jeans.  An eyewitness also tells ET that the two were seen holding hands.A few days later, the pair was spotted out together again. In a photo obtained by , Rock and Bell had a casual brunch at Coast in Santa Monica on Sunday, and both looked relaxed during the meal.This weekend’s outings come after Rock and Bell were spotted in St.

Chris Rock and Lake Bell were spotted out together on multiple outings over the Fourth of July weekend. On Saturday night, the 57-year-old comedian and the 43-year-old actress were snapped enjoying each other’s company while they dined at celeb hotspot Giorgio Baldi in Santa Monica, California. For the outing, Rock wore a white shirt with white pants and brown shoes, while Bell sported a black cropped top and black jeans.  On Sunday, the pair were spotted out together again.

Ricky Martin has been issued a restraining order.The Associated Press reported earlier today (July 3) that judge Raiza Cajigas Campbell had signed off on the order on Friday (July 1), although police were unable to discern Martin’s whereabouts until a day later. Police spokesman Axel Valencia refused to tell the publication who requested the restraining order, as the party’s anonymity is secured under Puerto Rico’s domestic violence law.Further details came courtesy of Puerto Rican newspaper El Vocero, who reported that, per legal documents obtained from the court, Martin and the petitioner dated for seven months.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorTV networks continue to fare better than expected in the current “upfront” market as they harness streaming video and sports — and a willingness to accept lower rates — in order to keep Madison Avenue’s money flowing.NBCUniversal said it wrapped its upfront negotiations in the annual upfront, and could have seen advance advertising commitments for NBC’s primetime schedule rise by as much as 20%. Variety estimates that upfront commitments for NBC primetime could total between $3.2 billion and $3.4 billion, compared with  between $2.68 billion and $2.98 billion for its primetime broadcast inventory in 2021.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorHorizon Media, the independent media buying company, has acquired a controlling stake in First Tube, a company that specializes in a practice that has intrigued a growing number of advertisers: digital experiences.First Tube is one of a number of companies that works to give consumers a way to interact with concerts, gatherings and the like. The company has helped create a video hub centered around fitness for Anheuser-Busch InBev’s Michelob Ultra and helped launch a series of streamed musical performances for the GrubHub delivery service.“We are trying to anticipate consumer interest,” says Donald Williams, executive vice president and chief digital officer of Horizon Media, in an interview.Other advertising companies are also interested in these tactics are more consumers grow accustomed to experiencing live events in new ways, some of them via streaming video, or at times of their own choosing.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorTelevisaUnivision had something to sell in this year’s TV upfront market that many of its English-language counterparts did not: growing linear audiences.The Spanish-language media giant has finished its upfront negotiations and expects to see rising volume of advance commitments for its advertising, according to a person familiar with the matter. This person says TelevisaUnivision anticipates a double-digit-percentage increase in volume, with CPMs, or the cost of reaching 1,000 viewers, rising as much as 8% to 9%.Like other TV networks in the midst of selling upfront inventory this year, TelevisaUnivision noted significant advertiser interest in sports and streaming. Advertisers proved interested in the company’s soccer broadcasts, and saw ad investment in its streaming-video outlet, ViX more than double.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorMadison Avenue’s growing interest in sports and streaming video helped Fox Corp. nab new ad dollars amid a softening market.The owner of the Fox broadcast network, Fox Sports and Fox News Channel expects an uptick in advertising commitments made in advance of its next programming schedule, according to a person familiar with the matter, as the company becomes the latest media outlet to wrap negotiations in the industry’s annual “upfront.”Advertisers were interested in Tubi, Fox’s ad-supported streaming hub; the company’s sports events; and its Fox News programming, this person said, among other offerings.The company could see an uptick of volume committed to its primetime broadcast schedule in the mid-single-digit percentage range.

Pink Floyd have announced a physical release date for their Ukraine benefit single ‘Hey Hey Rise Up’, which marked the rock titans’ first new song in 25 years when it arrived digitally back in April.The new song will be available as both a seven-inch vinyl and CD single on July 15 in the UK, Europe and other markets, while it will be released on August 3 in Japan. In North America, Canada, Australia and Mexico, it will arrive on October 21.The B-side will feature a reworked version of ‘A Great Day For Freedom’, from Pink Floyd’s 1994 album ‘The Division Bell’, reimagined by David Gilmour based on the original tapes for the track.‘Hey Hey Rise Up’ was recorded in March of this year.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorSir Nick Faldo, who has helped call golf tournaments for CBS Sports alongside Jim Nantz for years, plans to step down from his role as CBS Sports’ lead golf analyst in August.Faldo, who has held the role of CBS Sports’ lead golf analyst since 2007, will be replaced by Trevor Immelman, who joined CBS Sports’ golf team in 2019. His new multi-year deal with CBS Sports will begin with its 2023 coverage, when he sits with Nantz for the Farmers Insurance Open.“Sir Nick has had a remarkable career on Network television for nearly 20 years and is one of the most accomplished commentators to ever sit in the 18th tower,” said Sean McManus, chairman, of CBS Sports, in a statement.  “Nick brought the same passion and dedication that propelled him to the world’s number one golfer to our broadcasts.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorThe hottest place to be in TV may not be traditional television, but Paramount Global was able to make the medium seem pretty cool.Paramount Global has largely completed its upfront sales negotiations. And while the company saw its volume of advance advertising commitments rise most significantly for digital venues like Pluto and Paramount Plus, ad dollars committed for the traditional primetime schedule on the CBS broadcast network rose as well, according to a person familiar with current negotiations  The company expects at least a 10% rise in volume for its primetime schedule, this person says.  In 2021, CBS may have seen its primetime commitments total between $2.03 billion and $2.64 billion, according to Variety estimates, compared with $2.03 billion and $2.51 billion in 2020.

The Television Academy is looking to nab either Chris Rock or The Rock as host for this year’s Emmy Awards.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorTV’s upfront market is starting to close and ad dollars seem harder to collect.NBCUniversal expects the volume of advance advertising commitments secured in the annual haggle to be “in the same range as last year,” according to Jeff Shell, CEO of the Comcast owned unit. He said that declines due to “cord cutting were offset by pricing and Peacock for us,” during remarks made at an investor conference organized by Credit Suisse.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeThe Banff World Media Festival revealed the winners of the 2022 Rockie Awards International Program Competition on Monday, with big winners including the “Friends” Reunion, “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” “We Are Lady Parts” and more.The event, held in Banff and hosted by comedian Rakhee Morzaria (“Run the Burbs”) featured winners chosen by a panel of 150 international industry professionals. The Rockie Awards International Program Competition presented awards in 28 categories spanning Documentary & Factual, Arts & Entertainment, Children & Youth, Scripted, and Podcast.The competition featured 148 nominations from 45 countries including the UK, United, Canada, Australia, France, China, Germany, Italy and Norway.

Fans tuning in to watch the annual Soccer Aid charity match for UNICEF were eagerly anticipating Liam Payne's pre-match interview. Liam, who is captain of England in the England vs World XI game on ITV, were wondering what his accent would be after his famous chat from the Oscars earler this year.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorAdam Verdugo, a news producer who has worked for years with anchor Norah O’Donnell, has been named executive producer of “CBS Evening News,” just weeks after O’Donnell and CBS extended a contract to keep her at the helm of the show.Verdugo will start his new duties June 13, and brings the executive producer position for the program back to Washington, D.C. For the past several months, CBS News veteran Al Ortiz supervised the evening newscast out of New York.

Rock was slapped by Will Smith in the middle of an Oscars comedy bit and an angry fan launched at Dave Chappelle during a comedy show at the Hollywood Bowl earlier this year. News broke this week that Dave Chappelle is teaming up with Chris Rock for a show at the London-based O2 theater. The show won’t go down until September 3, but tickets will go on sale much sooner, with Ticketmaster noting a pre-sale for tickets started on June 9th and the full general sale starts on June 10.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorBefore finalizing Discovery’s purchase of WarnerMedia from AT&T, David Zaslav spent months holding friendly conversations with Hollywood moguls and influential agents. Now he’s locked in contentious discussions with Madison Avenue.Warner Bros. Discovery is making what media buyers and other executives say are  severe demands on advertisers in the course of discussions around the industry’s annual “upfront” market, when TV networks try to sell the bulk of their advertising inventory.