Initial Schedule for 2014 NewFronts Unveiled, Featuring Founding Partners AOL, DigitasLBi, Google/YouTube, Hulu, Microsoft and Yahoo, As Well As Big TV Brands, Blue-Chip Print Publishers & Innovative Web Start-Ups

Event Expands Beyond a Week To Showcase Multitude of Presenters, Connecting Media Buyers with Original Digital Video Marketing Opportunities

NEW YORK, NY (February 6, 2014) – With research confirming that three-quarters (78%) of buy-side attendees said they found new opportunities at last year’s Digital Content NewFronts event, the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB), today unveiled a “super-sized” schedule for the third annual NewFronts marketplace, which expands the traditional weeklong event to nine days of presentations between April 28 and May 8. Held in New York City, this series of action-packed programming upfronts from digital video content leaders promises to attract marketers and media buyers to learn about a range of compelling digital video opportunities. For the second year in a row, IAB is serving as managing partner for the NewFronts, supervising logistics and communications for this dynamic industry event.

The NewFronts’ six founding partners – AOL, DigitasLBi, Google/YouTube, Hulu, Microsoft and Yahoo – will host presentations that spotlight original digital video content, alongside 14 other prominent online companies, with more to come. Top companies that produce and distribute original digital video programming were invited to participate in the 2014 NewFronts based a multilayered screening process which included rankings from comScore and Nielsen and a survey conducted by the IAB among leading ad agency media buyers. Once a short list was determined, the NewFronts Advisory Board provided high-level buy-side recommendations on the potential line-up. Notables on the board include:

• Sarah Baehr, Senior Vice President, Digital Director, Carat USA
• David Cohen, Global Chief Media Officer, Universal McCann
• Angela Courtin, U.S. President, Aegis Media U.S.
• Scott Donaton, Global Chief Content Officer, UM
• Melissa Keller, Executive Vice President, Channel Investments, Havas Media
• Peter Moylan, Senior Vice President, National Broadcast, Havas Media
• John Nitti, President, Activation, ZenithOptimedia
• Rob Norman, Chief Digital Officer Global, GroupM
• Amanda Richman, President, Investment & Activation, Starcom
• Rino Scanzoni, Chief Investment Officer, GroupM
• Adam Shlachter, Head of Media Activation, DigitasLBi
• Robert Tas, Managing Director, Digital, JP Morgan Chase
• Donnie Williams, Chief Digital Officer, Horizon Media
• Ben Winkler, Chief Digital Officer and Managing Director, OMD

As a result, presenters at this year’s NewFronts encompass digital heavyweights, some of the biggest television brands in the world, a collection of blue-chip print publishers and a select group of innovative web start-ups. In addition to the founding media partners, those on the exclusive roster include BuzzFeed, Condé Nast Entertainment, Crackle at Sony Pictures Television, the Dow Jones Company/Wall Street Journal, Glam Media/Project M, Maker Studios, National Geographic, The New York Times, POPSUGAR, Scripps Networks, Time Inc., Time Warner Cable, VEVO and Vice Media. Each partner will host and manage its own independent, invitation-only event.

Initial 2014 NewFronts Schedule

In the coming weeks, even more original digital video creators will be accepted for coveted slots within the remainder of the official schedule.

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) is comprised of more than 600 leading media and technology companies that are responsible for selling 86% of online advertising in the United States. On behalf of its members, the IAB is dedicated to the growth of the interactive advertising marketplace, of interactive’s share of total marketing spend, and of its members’ share of total marketing spend. The IAB educates marketers, agencies, media companies and the wider business community about the value of interactive advertising. Working with its member companies, the IAB evaluates and recommends standards and practices and fields critical research on interactive advertising. Founded in 1996, the IAB is headquartered in New York City with a Public Policy office in Washington, D.C. For more information, please visit iab.com.

IAB Media Contact
Laura Goldberg
347.683.1859
[email protected]