Netflix and Amazon held their first-ever physical events in New York during upfronts week, aiming for a share of the $20 billion usually reserved for traditional entertainment companies.
Amazon's debut upfront event featured a parade of A-list actors like Reese Witherspoon, Hannah Waddingham, and Octavia Spencer, showcasing its spending power and star-studded content.
NBC's presentation had a nostalgic feel with appearances by Zachary Quinto, Kelly Clarkson, and Reba McEntire, but lacked new, innovative content to captivate modern audiences.
Fox focused on promoting its owned content, sidelining "Family Guy" in favor of "The Simpsons" and "Bob's Burgers" to launch new shows "Universal Basic Guys" and "Krapopolis."
Disney CEO Bob Iger returned to the upfront stage, highlighting the company's vast content. However, his enthusiasm was tempered by investor concerns over Disney's heavy streaming investments.
Warner Bros. Discovery's presentation had a retro feel, emphasizing the strength of its linear networks while previewing upcoming Max and HBO originals.
Feature films took center stage at upfronts, with NBCUniversal showcasing "Wicked," Amazon announcing a "Road House" sequel, and Netflix confirming "Happy Gilmore 2."
Despite promises of 20 new scripted series, this year s upfronts felt sparse in new programming due to post-strike impacts and budget constraints, falling short of previous years' offerings.