It’s shaping up to be another busy year at the NewFronts. The annual gathering of online video platforms, ad agencies, and production studios will return to New York between May 1 and May 4. The four-day marketplace will include pitches from long-time NewFronts presenters like TikTok, YouTube, Snap, and Meta, as well as a new event hosted by NewFronts organizer IAB.
The tentative NewFronts schedule includes 14 full-length sessions and an IAB Main Stage event, which will take up the entire day on Wednesday, May 3. The first-of-its-kind Main Stage will include appearances from more than a dozen distinct content brands, each of which will get a few minutes to share upcoming offerings with potential ad buyers. The list of Main Stage presenters includes the BBC, Hispanic-oriented streaming service Canela Media, and LGBTQ-focused platform REVRY.
“The growth of ad-supported platforms means that consumers and media buyers have more choices than ever,” said IAB Media Center VP Eric John in a statement. “No one should be taking last year’s approach to this year’s NewFronts. The IAB NewFronts is a must-attend event for everyone who needs to understand the latest consumer trends and newest interactive ad models to remain competitive.”
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In recent years, the NewFronts has faced competition from its older sibling. The upfronts, once limited to the TV industry, will begin in New York 11 days after the NewFronts end. That slate includes presentations from new media platforms like YouTube and Netflix. YouTube will also continue its long-term relationship with the NewFronts by hosting an event and a networking breakfast on the digital marketplace’s opening day.
Most of the presentations at the 2023 NewFronts will feature a hybrid model, which will allow invitees to either attend in person or watch an online stream. The two exceptions will be the sessions hosted by Yahoo and TikTok, neither of which will be streamed.
The latter of those presentations is sure to draw a large crowd. We don’t know if TikTok will still be active in the U.S. come May, but even with its status in doubt, its execs will have a chance to remind potential buyers about its expansive suite of ad products.
