Hollywood Creative Forum: Inspiring and Developing Diverse Voices in Film and TV
The 9th annual Hollywood Creative Forum (HCF) concluded this week in Beverly Hills, and while every year brings intriguing discussions around diversity in TV and mentorship for diverse content creators, this year the conversation opened up even more. The Forum, hosted by The Walter Kaitz Foundation, is a once-a-year event when mid-career creatives along with veterans in the industry gather to foster diversity and creativity in the media and entertainment industries. “It’s an event designed for proven content creators who are looking to advance in Hollywood through career development and
Viewers Say TV is Growing More Diverse
More than two-thirds of TV viewers say that the TV programming they watch reflects people of different races, ethnicities, gender and sexual orientation, according to a recent poll from Morning Consult. Specifically, the survey asked whether viewers considered the actors seen on TV shows to be of diverse backgrounds, to which 68 percent responded agreeably. The survey also asked viewers whether they are able to find shows that speak directly to their backgrounds and lifestyles, and 70 percent answered yes. These findings seem to reflect the impact of the growing number of new TV shows in
Why TLC Viewers Stay Loyal
TLC had a great year. According to president and general manager Nancy Daniels, the network finished 2017 as the fastest-growing network with women in the 25-54 age group demographic. Known for its reality TV and lifestyle programming, TLC shows encourage loyalty and leave viewers eager to keep watching year after year, even amid a competitive TV marketplace and a vast menu of options. We talked with Daniels earlier this month at the TV Critics Association Winter Tour to find out what it is about the TLC brand that makes viewers stick around for the long haul. How does TLC stand out in reality
What’s Next After ‘Portlandia’ and How IFC Programs For Binge Viewers
At the TV Critics Association Winter Tour in Pasadena last week, cable networks and critics gathered not just to discuss the premieres of upcoming shows, but to also celebrate the stories and content that make their networks unique. We sat down with Christine Lubrano, IFC senior vice president of original programming, to talk about how her network creates new stories, keeps viewers excited, and imagines the future after the hit series, Portlandia. “We are actively looking for projects that feature women's points of view, diverse casts, diverse points of view–that is super important to us as
truTV President Chris Linn Talks on Creating TV Content for the Smartphone Era
The first day of the cable portion of the Television Critics Association Winter 2018 tour in Pasadena, California was full of TV talent and critics eager to get the latest scoop on shows coming out this spring and summer. We sat down with truTV President Chris Linn to talk a bit about how his network, which has recently shifted to delivering primarily comedy content, reaches its audience and keeps viewers coming back for more. How has truTV evolved in the past several years? In 2008, truTV became the reality arm of Turner, and this was during the big reality boom, and it had solid success in
Women Shine at This Year’s Golden Globes
The 75th Golden Globes aired earlier this week, and if anything stood out, it was the accolades for the strong female storytelling that’s been missing in years past. HBO's Big Little Lies made a big splash, winning in four categories: Best Television Limited Series; Nicole Kidman for Best Performance by an Actress in a Limited Series (fellow co-star Reese Witherspoon was also a nominee in the same category); Laura Dern for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Limited Series; and Alexander Skarsgard for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Limited Series
Three Questions: How a Network Stays True to Its Mission in the Digital Era
Expert: Richard Weinstein, C-SPAN Vice President, Digital Media C-SPAN’s Richard Weinstein gives the lowdown on how the network has adapted to the evolving marketplace while continuing to provide audiences with its staple product—which is uninterrupted and uneditorialized coverage of all facets of the U.S. political process. What makes C-SPAN stand apart as a network? In this era of social media and instantaneous public commentary, giving people the chance to see what's going on in our government without filters is more critical than ever. We are still driven by the same mission we had when C
2017 Brings in More Scripted TV Content Than Ever Before
As 2017 winds down, it's common to see annual "best of year" lists floating around, and TV and entertainment writers have even more programming to choose from this year. FX Networks estimates that the final count for the number of scripted TV series in 2017 will exceed 500 by year end. That's up from 455 from last year, and more than double since 2010. With more options than ever in programming content, 2017 continued the trend of bringing viewers a plethora of niche and diverse stories, reaching people of all different backgrounds. In fact, a survey from PricewaterhouseCoopers speaks to the
Connected TVs and TV Everywhere Are Gaining Ground
With more pay TV subscribers becoming regular TV Everywhere users, the connected TV is rapidly becoming the preferred device to watch. Industry reports show that consumers are opting to utilize connected TVs, TV Everywhere services and programming apps that are creating a whole new way of watching television. The Nielsen Total Audience Report, which found that consumers this year are spending 32 more minutes a day than last year connected to media for a total of 10 hours and 48 minutes, highlighted internet-enabled devices capable of streaming content to a TV set. TV-connected devices include
American Ninja Warrior Nick Hanson Shares His Story of Rural Broadband
Nick Hanson is a lot of things; he’s a coach, a volunteer, a Native Alaskan, and a Ninja Warrior. He’s also an internet advocate. Hailing from Unalakleet, an extremely small town in Western Alaska, Hanson knows how important a reliable internet connection is for small communities like his. It’s a lifeline, delivering access an education, receive quality healthcare, and remain plugged in to the rest of the world. With Hanson’s notoriety as a competitor on American Ninja Warrior, a TV show where athletes race to complete extremely difficult obstacle courses, Hanson has a remarkable platform to