Amazon is set to make its mark during TV's upfront week this year by hosting an upfront event on the morning of Tuesday, May 14. The event will take place at New York's Pier 36 event space, with a reception to follow. Amazon's lineup of media offerings, including Prime Video, Prime Video Sports, Twitch, Amazon Freevee, and Amazon Music, is expected to be showcased during the event.
While Amazon held an event last year on May 1 in connection with the IAB newfronts, this year it will be part of the main TV upfront week. This move aligns Amazon with other streaming giants like YouTube and Netflix, as well as traditional entertainment companies such as Disney, NBCUniversal, TelevisaUnivision, and Fox.
YouTube was the first streaming platform to transition from the newfronts to upfront week in 2022, with Netflix following suit last year after introducing its ad tier. Despite canceling its in-person event due to the writers' strike, Netflix made its presence felt.
At last year's Amazon event, a significant focus was placed on NFL football, a trend likely to continue this year as Amazon is poised to broadcast its first NFL playoff game. The event also highlighted content from Freevee and Twitch. This year, Amazon will have the opportunity to emphasize its core Prime Video service, which recently introduced ads for users who opt not to pay a $3 monthly fee.
The extensive reach of Prime Video, coupled with its diverse offerings, positions Amazon well for a successful pitch during upfront week, making it a suitable participant for the broader audience of the event compared to the more specialized newfronts.
