AMC Networks 2018 Upfronts
During the past severalyears AMC and Empire have partnered to create large-scale, groundbreakingUpfront events worthy of their extraordinary programming. This year, similar to2016, AMC opted to host a series of intimate, bespoke culinary events in NewYork and Chicago designed to present a "tasting menu" of AMC Networks’award-winning programming. Each event was intimate, elegant and created theperfect environment for conversations between the guests, the programming andthe network hosts.
Six of the upfronts tookplace at Chefs Club, a trendy SoHo restaurant that welcomes culinarymasterminds into their state-of-the-art chef’s kitchen. AMC Networks took fulladvantage of this unique space to provide guests a once in a lifetime culinaryexperience, with menus curated and prepared by some of the world’s best-knownchefs including: Chris Santos, executive chef and owner of The Stanton Social, Beauty& Essex and Vandal; Scott Conant, James Beard Award Winner and co-owner ofFusco; Alex Guarnaschelli, executive chef at Butter Midtown and author ofOld-School Comfort Food; Tyler Florence, owner of Wayfare Tavern; and TomColicchio, recipient of five James Beard Awards and owner of Gramercy Tavern,Craft and Colicchio & Sons.
Each event began with acocktail hour and passed hors d’oeuvres during which AMC Networks executivesand ad sales teams mingled with advertisers and agency personnel. Followingcocktails, guests were seated for welcome remarks from Josh Sapan, President& CEO of AMC Networks and Ed Carroll, COO of AMC Networks. Charlie Collier,President & GM of AMC, SundanceTV & AMC Studios, and Scott Collins, Presidentof National Ad Sales, AMC Networks, teased new programming coming to AMC, BBCAmerica, Sundance, IFC, and WeTV. Guests also had the opportunity to previewnew shows on screens positioned throughout the dining room. As dessert wasserved, each chef gave a personalized introduction to the course.
In addition to AMCNetwork execs and celebrity chefs, show talent from across all five networksalso attended the various events, giving clients the opportunity to minglewith the stars. Attendees included Norman Reedus, Julianna Margulies, PaulGiamatti, Kevin Smith, Danay Garcia,and Eli Roth.
In addition to the sixUpfronts at Chefs Club, another event was held at Boka Resturant in Chicago.
Empire was proud to workclosely with AMC Networks to create these exclusive culinary experiences.Empire served as overall producer of the event series, secured the venues,contracted and worked with each chef on menu and logistics, provided technicalproduction and décor, and executed all needs for the programs.
Empire is a leadingproducer of standout Upfront events and key business-to-business presentations.
Guests received their first taste of technological innovation at registration, where they were welcomed by name on a reactive LED screen installation covering the full width of the entry wall. A large lunch café was created with a décor scheme that incorporated custom-built, ceiling-high steel LED frames draped with foliage to create smaller, intimate restaurant-style spaces that displayed both technology and nature.
A series of breakout sessions presented content targeted to attendees’ varied interests, while imagery displayed throughout the venue showcased real-life applications of how products designed to empower developers help to unleash the power of data and reimagine possibilities that will improve our world.
Every element of Microsoft Connect(); from registration, breakfast and keynote, to lunch and evening cocktails, were custom-designed to communicate exacting brand messaging and to deliver a high-touch guest experience to this important audience. The keynote and breakout sessions were livestreamed through an onsite studio built for this purpose and content was watched online by millions around the world.
Empire is proud to collaborate with Microsoft on this annual, top-tier business communication event.
To view excerpts of Connect(); 2017, please visit https://www.microsoft.com/connectevent
