IAB Releases 2016 Digital Content NewFronts Schedule

Founding Partners—AOL, DigitasLBi, Google/YouTube, Hulu, and Yahoo—Welcome Major Media Brands & Digital Innovators to the 10-Day Roster

NEW YORK – The Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) released the preliminary schedule for the fifth annual Digital Content NewFronts, including presentations from some of the biggest, blue-chip names in entertainment, news, and information, as well as newer, cutting-edge content creators that are winning engaged audiences. Slated for May 2-13, 2016 in New York City, the 10-day marketplace for advertisers and media buyers will spotlight the latest in original digital video programming, featuring well-known talent and innovative storytelling. For the fourth year in a row, IAB will serve as managing partner of the NewFronts, handling event logistics and marketing and communications.

“Advertisers and agencies can certainly expect to see to some truly impressive and exhilarating original programming – content that is sure to spark even more investment in the medium.”

Original digital video content has captured considerable consumer attention, drawing a viewership of 59 million, and has the proven ability to attract the difficult-to-reach 18-34 year-old audience of cord-cutters/cord-nevers. Last year, marketers acknowledged digital video’s popularity by spending $3.3 billion, a double-digit increase of 17 percent from 2013.

NewFronts’ co-founders—AOL, DigitasLBi, Google/YouTube, Hulu, and Yahoo—will be joined at the 2016 marketplace by AwesomenessTV, Bloomberg Media, BuzzFeed, Collective Digital Studio, Condé Nast Entertainment, DailyMail.com/Elite Daily, DEFY Media, Federated Media, Fullscreen, HealthiNation, Hearst, Machinima, Maker Studios, Mashable, Mode Media, National Geographic, The New York Times, NowThis, Playboy, POPSUGAR, Refinery29, StyleHaul, TheStreet.com, Time Inc., Time Warner Cable, Trusted Media Brands, Vevo, VICE, WebMD, Whistle Sports Network, and Woven Digital. As in years past, each company will produce and manage its own independent, invitation-only event. In addition, the IAB Digital Video Center of Excellence will host a research luncheon during the NewFronts’ second week to introduce new studies on the evolving digital video arena.

“In short order, the NewFronts has become a ‘must-attend’ for brands and media buyers, especially if they are looking to reach the coveted 18-34 year-old demographic,” said Anna Bager, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Mobile and Video, IAB. “Advertisers and agencies can certainly expect to see to some truly impressive and exhilarating original programming – content that is sure to spark even more investment in the medium.”

Additional digital content producers are expected to join the roster in the weeks ahead. For further information and regular NewFronts updates, please go to www.iab.com/Newfronts2016.

About the Digital Content NewFronts

The Digital Content NewFronts is an annual series of events founded by AOL, DigitasLBi, Google/YouTube, Hulu, Microsoft, and Yahoo in 2012. It is committed to the creation of valuable partnerships between brands and native digital content. Our mission is to shape the NewFronts into a new and practical marketplace for connecting the wealth of digital content and content creators to brands and their media and marketing agencies.

About the IAB

The Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) empowers the media and marketing industries to thrive in the digital economy. It is comprised of more than 650 leading media and technology companies that are responsible for selling, delivering, and optimizing digital advertising or marketing campaigns. Together, they account for 86 percent of online advertising in the United States. Working with its member companies, the IAB develops technical standards and best practices and fields critical research on interactive advertising, while also educating brands, agencies, and the wider business community on the importance of digital marketing. The organization is committed to professional development and elevating the knowledge, skills, expertise, and diversity of the workforce across the industry. Through the work of its public policy office in Washington, D.C., the IAB advocates for its members and promotes the value of the interactive advertising industry to legislators and policymakers. Founded in 1996, the IAB is headquartered in New York City and has a West Coast office in San Francisco.

via BusinessWire