No Mention of NBC News at Network Upfront

By Chris Ariens 

NBC held its splashy upfront presentation for advertisers this morning at Radio City Music Hall.

There was Dolly Parton, who has two biopics in the works for the network. Neil Patrick Harris was there to talk up his variety show which debuts in the fall. And Michael Phelps was on hand to talk about the 2016 Rio Olympics. Plus all those new shows, live events, and Sunday Night Football. Absent from the presentation: NBC News, not even the words “NBC News” were mentioned, despite the fact that NBC News produces up to 6 hours of programming every day on NBC. NBC entertainment chief Bob Greenblatt did thank NBC News chairman Andy Lack by name, along with other division leaders. But that was it. The network is still weighing whether to bring Brian Williams back to NBC. Today marked the midway point of his 6-month unpaid suspension from the network.

NBCU’s other networks will hold their presentations in the coming days: Telemundo/NBCUniverso is tomorrow while the NBCU Cable Group upfront will be held Thursday. Adweek will be covering them all.

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