• by Wayne Friedman , June 18, 2018

Discovery networks is upping its game in a new upfront selling programming package of exclusive high-rated shows.

The big cable network group says its new “Discovery Premiere” sales effort allows clients to advertise exclusively in a mix of premiere episodes from 30 of the most in-demand series across its networks for the 2018-19 upfront selling season.

While many TV upfront network deals offer advertisers access to key high-rated, must-have programming, they typically can come as part of a larger package deal that includes other run-of-schedule programming.

Shows in Discovery Premiere includes, among others: “Deadliest Catch,” HGTV’s “Property Brothers,” Discovery’s “Gold Rush,” OWN’s “Queen Sugar,” Food Network’s “Chopped,” HGTV “Trading Spaces” and  Investigation Discovery’s “On the Case with Paula Zahn.”

Discovery’s “Shark Week,” TLC’s “90 Day Fiancé,” Investigation Discovery’s “People Magazine Investigates,” HGTV’s “House Hunters” and Food Network’s “Iron Chef Gauntlet” are also available.

Jon Steinlauf, Chief U.S. Advertising Sales Officer for Discovery, stated that the company’s research shows premiere episodes of its top shows deliver ratings “90% higher on average than the prime averages on their channels.”

The Discovery Premiere deal also includes 100% first positions in commercial pods. These “A” positions typically get higher brand recall in many TV advertising studies.