Fox, ABC, CW, Discovery Cancel TV Upfront Events, Plan Digital Presentations

Four major TV networks/groups -- Fox Television Network, Disney’s ABC, The CW and Discovery -- have joined NBCUniversal, ViacomCBS, and WarnerMedia in cancelling their live upfront presentations due to coronavirus concerns.

Fox was scheduled to have its presentation on Monday, May 11, while Walt Disney and Discovery were both scheduled for May 12 and The CW was scheduled for May 14. All will be cancelling their plans.

NBCUniversal was also scheduled to be held on May 11, while CBS Television Network and WarnerMedia/Xandr were scheduled to be held May 13.

All TV networks will now offer up some version of a digital video presentation -- streaming and/or on-demand.

Walt Disney is planning two streaming events that will include new programming for the ABC Television Network and another for Disney-owned streaming platform Hulu.

Last year, Discovery made the decision to have its upfront event the same week as the bigger TV players for 2020 -- typically the second week in May, a period that customarily sees heavy attendance from advertising and media agency executives.

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The latest TV network cancellations follow other recent cable TV network groups' decisions -- AMC Networks, Fox News Channel, and A+E Networks -- that cancelled their upfront events in March.

Amidst all this, TV networks have already altered some TV productions due to coronavirus concerns.

For example, TV networks with late-night TV talk shows have opted to ban studio audiences. A number of other shows' productions have been temporarily halted  including ABC’s "Grey’s Anatomy"; CBS’ "The Amazing Race" and "Survivor"; The CW’s "Riverdale" and Apple TV+’s "The Morning Show."

 
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