The TV industry and buyers of commercial time were able to breathe a little easier going to their annual week of presentations known as the upfronts.
Not long before the curtain went up Monday at Radio City Music Hall for NBCUniversal’s event, President Trump announced he would hold off on tariffs on China, easing some of the economic uncertainty going into the selling season for television networks.
But the messaging from media executives throughout the week acknowledged that advertisers will be under pressure to get more from their marketing dollars. Between performances by Lizzo, Lady Gaga and the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, ad buyers heard about the new artificial intelligence-powered tools for targeting specific audiences.
While traditional TV still commands the bulk of U.S. advertising spending, advertisers’ increasing comfort with streaming was apparent.
Seven years ago, YouTube executives had to reassure sponsors that the company would work harder to keep their ads from running in user-created videos that pushed conspiracy theories or hate speech.
But at the Google-owned platform‘s gathering at Lincoln Center on Wednesday, the audience saw a glowing testimonial video from Marc Pritchard, chief branding officer for Procter & Gamble, a company known for being meticulous about its marketing and media decisions.
Netflix and Amazon marched into the week buoyed by the growing number of streaming subscribers who see ads. Netflix said its service carrying commercials now reaches 90 million subscribers worldwide while Amazon’s Prime Video is now at 130 million in the U.S.
The week of parties and parade of celebrities offered a glimpse into the current state of the TV business. Here’s what stood out:
Live sports rule, especially the NFL
Walt Disney Co.’s TV lineup is packed with big-name talent. But the company kicked off its upfront with an opening number by an unlikely singing duo — former NFL quarterbacks Eli and Peyton Manning.
The audience at North Javits in Manhattan saw two more NFL stars, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley, before a single actor appeared on stage. It was a sign of the NFL’s vital importance to the company and the TV business writ large.
Disney — where not too long ago Chief Executive Bob Iger mused about spinning off ESPN — wasn’t alone in touting its commitment to the league.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell did a walk-on at the YouTube presentation to announce the platform’s first exclusive livestream of a league game, the Los Angeles Chargers season opener against the Chiefs in Brazil on Sept. 5.
Roger Goodell speaks onstage during Netflix’s Upfront 2025 on Wednesday in New York.
(Roy Rochlin / Getty Images for Netflix)
On the Netflix stage, Goodell was joined by Cowboys owner Jerry Jones to plug a documentary series on the franchise and announce this year’s two Christmas games that will be carried on the platform.
Jason and Travis Kelce promoted their Wondery podcast at Amazon’s show. Former tight end Rob Gronkowski showed up at two upfront presentations, one for Fox where he is part of the network’s NFL coverage and later at YouTube because, well, why not?
NFL games accounted for 95 out of the top 100 most-watched TV programs last year and is now setting records on streaming. Netflix had its most watched Christmas Day in history when 65 million U.S. viewers streamed some portion of its NFL double header. (Goodell wore a Santa Claus suit for his announcement of this year’s Netflix games).
For TV industry veterans, the emphasis on live sports was surprising. “Traditionally entertainment was the driver of the upfront,” Ben Silverman, co-CEO of production company Propagate, told CNBC.
Or as ABC late night host Jimmy Kimmel put it during his annual Disney upfront roast: “This is all sports. What happened? We used to be so gay.”
But as the audience continues to be atomized by the growing number of streaming options, sports are more valuable than ever for advertisers who want to reach a mass audience.
Executives at Netflix, long on the leading edge of providing niche offerings to fit every consumer’s taste, now extol the virtues of the mass audience viewing experience now that it carries NFL games.
Live sports have become a lifeline to traditional TV, as most young viewers have turned to streaming for scripted series and movies. The trend was reflected in NBCUniversal’s presentation, which emphasized the arrival of the NBA on the network that will cost $2.5 billion a year.
“Tonight” host Jimmy Fallon may have summed it up best when he said, “Good morning, I’m glad to be at the NBA upfront — I mean NBC upfront.”
Planning for life after cable
Warner Bros. Discovery stunned the crowd at the Theater at Madison Square Garden with the announcement that its streaming service Max will once again be called HBO Max. The company stripped HBO from the name in 2023, believing the HBO brand name was too exclusive for the service’s ambitions to broaden its audience.
Dropping the prestigious HBO logo from the name of the service was a dubious decision from the start. But restoring it was a recognition of an undeniable fact: the future belongs to streaming, so why relegate a familiar and respected brand name to the waning cable box?
CNN and ESPN announced that their direct-to-consumer streaming services rolling out later this year will use the network names that have been familiar to cable viewers for more than four decades. The monikers will not carry a plus sign or any other designation that suggest the product differs from what’s on TV, and that’s by design.
Younger viewers may be forgoing cable subscriptions, but they know the CNN and ESPN brand names through their digital content. For those viewers, streaming isn’t an add-on, it is the way they watch TV
Movies are open for ad business, too
Not so long ago, seeing a movie star on stage at a network upfront presentation was a big deal.
But streaming has blurred the line by offering both series and original movies, and media companies are using that to their advantage when pitching to advertisers. The trend has given the platforms a bit more sizzle in their pitches.
Charlize Theron speaks onstage during Netflix’s upfront presentation Wednesday in New York.
(Jamie McCarthy / Getty Images for Netflix)
Arnold Schwarzenegger riffed at length about his upcoming Christmas film for Amazon, “The Man With the Bag.” The moment got added mileage when the former California governor’s “True Lies” co-star Jamie Lee Curtis joined him on stage.
Charlize Theron took the stage at the Perelman Performing Arts Center to plug her upcoming Netflix feature “Apex.”
NBCUniversal teased the sequel to “Wicked,” which will eventually run on its Peacock streaming service.
Warner Bros. Discovery touted its sponsor partnerships for the theatrical blockbuster “A Minecraft Movie” and brought out James Gunn and Peter Safran, keepers of DC Studios, to say there will be opportunities for the upcoming Superman movie and other projects.
Eight years after its release, the film is gaining a second life on Netflix.
Defiance is on Netflix(Image: (Image: Paramount Pictures))
Netflix UK has added a real gem to its collection with the wartime drama Defiance, featuring the star power of James Bond’s Daniel Craig and Ray Donovan’s Liev Schreiber in an incredible true story from WWII.
Daniel Craig and Liev Schreiber team up in the enthralling historical drama Defiance, the 2008 offering that’s been garnering a cult following and is now thrilling Netflix UK audiences who hail it as “one of the best films ever.”
Set against the backdrop of Nazi-occupied Belarus, Defiance follows the extraordinary tale of the Bielski brothers – Tuvia, Zus, Asael, and Aron – four Jewish rebels who defiantly took on the Nazis by forming a vigilante group in the wilderness.
Based on Nechama Tec’s factual book Defiance: The Bielski Partisans, the film recounts their heroic saga of providing sanctuary to over 1,200 Jews in forest hideouts, building a veritable secret village threatened with constant jeopardy.
Defiance is on Netflix(Image: (Image: Karen Ballard))
The cast features Daniel Craig as Tuvia Bielski, the group’s appointed head, whilst Liev Schreiber portrays his combative sibling Zus. Jamie Bell appears as their younger brother Asael, and a pre-1917 George MacKay plays the junior member of the clan, Aron, reports the Express.
Helmed by Edward Zwick of The Last Samurai fame, Defiance had its US debut just shy of the 2009 awards season and was tipped for an Oscar for Best Original Score by composer extraordinaire James Newton Howard, with a Golden Globe nod to match.
Filmed right in the heart of Lithuania, merely 200 kilometres from the original saga’s setting, ‘Defiance’ took storytelling to the next level, utilising authentic forest backdrops and even enlisting extras with personal ties to Jewish kin saved by the Bielskis.
The movie started off with a low key in selected theatres, but once it spread its wings for a wider showing, it managed to rake in an impressive $52 million across the globe. Reviewers sent out mixed signals, however, as time passed, it has only received more adulation from movie-goers.
Defiance tells the true story of four Jewish brothers who fought against the Nazi regime(Image: (Image: Paramount Pictures ))
A gleaming review on Letterboxd enthused: “Must watch 10/10. Whenever you have Daniel Craig (Bond) and Liev Schreiber (Ray Donovan) play two Nazi-hunting Jews navigating a group of a thousand displaced Belorussian Jews through the Yarden forest, facing the ultimate adversity – you have me sold”. Another chimed in with high praise: “Action-packed, great quotes, accurate, and a thrill ride from start to finish. You’ll be rethinking how powerful a sense of community is. (People forget! )”
Scores of cinema enthusiasts have lauded the film’s potent narrative, a blend of vast survival themes and deeply personal character journeys. Defiance further delves into the intense pressure of steering a multitude amidst dire straits, especially as the numbers swell from a mere band to a throng surpassing one thousand souls.
One viewer mused: “For me, one of the best films ever. So inspiring and tragic at the same time. Worth watching.”
Another queried its lack of wider acclaim, stating: “I still find it crazy that this film is not considered a modern classic, with its stunning cinematography, fantastic performances, and gripping story.”
From a gritty Netflix documentary about the Wests to a silver anniversary for Kirstie Allsopp and Phil Spencer, our TV columnist Sara Wallis picks tonight’s best telly
“Selena y Los Dinos,” the latest documentary film about the life of Tejano music icon Selena Quintanilla, has been acquired by Netflix. The film is currently scheduled to begin streaming in winter 2025.
The movie, directed by Isabel Castro, features original VHS footage taken by Selena’s older sister, Suzette, and is interspersed with present-day interviews with family and friends.
Netflix announced its acquisition in a Tuesday press release.
“Through personal archive and intimate interviews with her family, the film reveals new dimensions of her journey that have never been seen before,” Castro shared in the release. “I am deeply grateful to her family for their trust and support throughout this journey, and I can’t wait for a global audience to experience the magic, heart and community that Selena gave to all of us.”
Suzette also shared her enthusiasm about the scope of the partnership with Netflix in the Tuesday announcement, stating, “Grateful to have a platform that helps bring Selena’s story to fans around the world.”
This is not the first time that the Quintanilla family has collaborated with the streaming giant. They worked with Netflix to help create “Selena: The Series” — a scripted retelling of Selena’s childhood, rise to fame and death starring Christian Serratos as the Texas singer.
It was after working as an executive producer on the Netflix series that Suzette consulted her lawyer about making her own documentary.
“There’s some things that you just want to hold on to and not share with everyone,” Suzette said at the documentary’s 2025 Sundance Film Festival premiere. “I was always taking the pictures, always with the camera. And look how crazy it is, that I’m sharing it with all of you so many years later.”
The documentary surfaces footage from performances in which Selena subverts the idea of the well-manicured image that the Quintanilla family has constantly put out of the singer in the 30 years since her death. It also captures, in real time, the evolution of a bold new identity growing among Latino youth in the 1980s, encapsulated in Los Dinos’ cultural hybridity.
The film was awarded with a special jury prize for archival storytelling at the renowned movie gathering at Sundance. The jury made note of how the feature “transported us to a specific time and place, evoking themes of family, heritage, love and adolescence.”
So badly were people clamoring to view the movie that the organizers of Sundance pulled it from its online platform. The film had fallen victim to a number of copyright infringements as eager fans were uploading clips from it to social media platforms. This was the first time that Sundance had removed a feature during the festival.
De Los assistant editor Suzy Exposito and Times staff writer Mark Olsen contributed to this report.
The Liver King has amassed millions of followers on social media for his extreme lifestyle
The Liver King became famous for living an extreme lifestyle(Image: Netflix)
Brian Johnson, known as the Liver King on TikTok, gained millions of followers by showcasing his extreme lifestyle online, which included eating testicles and adhering to nine strict rules he claimed were essential for a healthy life.
He heavily promoted the ‘ancestral’ way of living, claiming it cured his two sons of respiratory issues and allergies that frequently required hospital treatment.
Johnson insisted that living like our ancestors was the secret to his sculpted physique, denying steroid use in interviews. However, it later came to light that the fitness influencer was splashing out around $11,000 per month on performance-enhancing drugs.
He posted a public apology video admitting to his steroid use, sparking a massive public backlash and leaving fans questioning the authenticity of the star.
His steroid scandal is addressed in the Netflix show(Image: Netflix)
Despite the controversy, he still boasts a massive social media following, with an impressive six million followers on TikTok, nearly three million on Instagram, and over one million YouTube subscribers.
A new Netflix documentary delves into the controversy surrounding the Liver King and directly addresses the steroid scandal head-on. However, it fails to mention a £60,000 cosmetic surgery lie told by the star that had a big impact on fan trust, reports Surrey Live.
The Liver King left his followers baffled after he joked about having ab implants during a chat on the Full Send podcast. He later clarified on his website that the “experimental procedure” he claimed to have undergone was just a gag.
Fans have questioned if he has had ab implants(Image: Netflix)
“Personally, I thought it was funny AF…. they actually believed me, which made it even funnier,” the Liver King shared on his website. “You should’ve seen the subprimal look on their faces thinking ‘AlI have to do is get implants?’ I sure as s*** never thought ‘the joke’ a.k.a the fake news would spread the way that it did. It has officially gotten out of hand… and I f****** love it!”
He continued: “Turns out millions of people believed me too, and started actually believing Liver King has ab implants. To this day, if you Google ‘Ab Implants’ I remain the poster child.”
In a bid to regain his fans’ trust, he visited plastic surgeon Dr Daniel Barrett and shared a video of the doctor examining his abs to confirm whether or not they were natural.
Untold: The Liver King is now streaming on Netflix
Erik and Lyle Menendez, the infamous brothers convicted of brutally murdering their parents more than three decades ago, have had their sentences reduced today in Los Angeles
02:24, 14 May 2025Updated 02:44, 14 May 2025
(Image: AP)
Two brothers who murdered their parents more than three decades ago have their sentences cut.
Erik and Lyle Menendez had been caged for life without parole but this punishment has been slashed to 50 years to life, making them eligible for parole under California’s youthful offender law. The law applies to those who committed crimes under the age of 26 — Erik was 18 and Lyle 21 when they killed Jose and Kitty Menendez in 1989.
And Superior Court Judge Michael Jesic told the packed courtroom in Los Angeles: “I’m not saying they should be released, it’s not for me to decide. I do believe they’ve done enough in the past 35 years, that they should get that chance.”
The brothers, who appeared via livestream, remained largely stoic — though Erik cracked a smile when a cousin praised his recent A+ grades in college courses behind bars.
Appeared via livestream video, they spoke for the first time in court before the ruling. Lyle said in a statement to the court: “I killed my mom and dad. I make no excuses and also no justification. The impact of my violent actions on my family … is unfathomable.”
The ruling paved the way for the brothers’ potential release(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
The ruling means the decision now lies with California’s parole board, who will determine whether the pair still pose a risk to the public.
The sensational case remains one of America’s most talked-about family tragedies, reignited recently by hit Netflix dramas and a wave of public support.
Attorneys for Erik and Lyle Menendez must prove the pair have been rehabilitated during their time in prison and deserve a lesser sentence of 50 years to life.
Such a ruling that would make them eligible for parole under California’s youthful offender law, since both were under 26 when they killed their parents.
Their high-profile defence lawyer Mark Geragos told reporters outside court that he wants the charges dropped to manslaughter, and for the brothers to be given time served.
This move would effectively grant them immediate release. At least seven family members are expected to testify in support during the hearings, highlighting the level of backing the brothers continue to receive.
While Los Angeles County prosecutors are opposing the resentencing, arguing the pair haven’t fully accepted responsibility, Geragos fired back:
“The purpose of resentencing is to encourage rehabilitation — that is the law, not relitigate the facts of the crime as the D.A. wants to do.”
Former District Attorney George Gascón has already paved the way, citing new understandings of trauma and the brothers’ lengthy rehabilitation behind bars, including their educational achievements and support work with fellow inmates.
Brian Johnson, also known as the Liver King, was a huge star on social media
The Liver King’s story is explored in a brand new Netflix documentary(Image: Netflix)
A TikToker who goes by the moniker Liver King faced intense backlash after he confessed to steroid use, despite having promoted a physique he claimed was achievable through an ‘ancestral’ way of living that included consuming testicles.
He amassed millions of fans by showing off his raw meat-based diet, extreme fitness regime, and adherence to traditional gender roles, while marketing his range of supplements and advocating for nine fundamental life pillars: sleep, eat, move, shield, connect, cold, sun, fight, and bond.
Johnson, who repeatedly denied he had used steroids, was forced to issue a public apology following the leak of an email revealing his $11,000 monthly spend on performance-enhancing drugs. He subsequently owned up on YouTube, saying: “Yes, I’ve done steroids, and yes, I’m on steroids.”
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This lets members watch live and on-demand TV content without a satellite dish or aerial and includes hit shows like The Last of Us and Black Mirror.
The polarising influencer, whose real name is Brian Johnson, is now at the centre of a brand-new Netflix documentary that launched today (May 13). The film presents interviews with Johnson himself, his family, and those who supported him as he built up his enterprise.
The documentary’s synopsis reads: “He built a supplement empire by devouring raw meat on social media. And he had the muscles to prove it. But really, how did the Liver King get so huge?”
Where is the Liver King now?
Brian Johnson is featured in Netflix’s latest UNTOLD documentary(Image: Netflix)
Some of his followers may have had their trust in their fitness idol shaken after he disclosed using steroids, yet he still commands a massive audience on social media despite infrequent posts. He currently holds a whopping 6.1m TikTok followers, 2.9 million on Instagram, and has crossed the 1 million mark on YouTube, reports Surrey Live.
The documentary’s emotional climax features Johnson as he undergoes a transformation in outlook from his previously “extreme” regimen. He’s now cut out steroids and radically increased his consumption of fruits and vegetables.
In a memorable sequence, he’s shown expressing gratitude to each strawberry before consuming it.
He has big plans for the future(Image: Netflix)
“I was so convinced all of the carnivore stuff, well, that’s all you needed to really kick ass in life. I’m convinced now I was starving myself,” he reflects. “I guess I want the world to know that I was wrong. I got all of it wrong… There’s a lot more that I don’t know than I do know.
“An extreme approach to anything probably ain’t f****** working out. That’s probably the cautionary tale.”
The social media star has already plotted out his future venture, and is shown on camera revealing his plans for a series of 302 health and fitness retreats in a ranch-like setting.
Responses to the Netflix documentary are split so far. One disgruntled subscriber said: “Netflix, this might be rock bottom for you,” while another vented: “I hate that Netflix gave him a platform. So sick.”
UNTOLD: The Liver King is now streaming on Netflix
