Listen Live
Donate
 on air
    Schedule

    KCRW

    Read & Explore

    • News
    • Entertainment
    • Food
    • Culture
    • Events

    Listen

    • Live Radio
    • Music
    • Podcasts
    • Full Schedule

    Information

    • About
    • Careers
    • Help / FAQ
    • Newsletters
    • Contact

    Support

    • Become a Member
    • Become a VIP
    • Ways to Give
    • Shop
    • Member Perks

    Become a Member

    Donate to KCRW to support this cultural hub for music discovery, in-depth journalism, community storytelling, and free events. You'll become a KCRW Member and get a year of exclusive benefits.

    DonateGive Monthly

    Copyright 2026 KCRW. All rights reserved.

    Report a Bug|Privacy Policy|Terms of Service|
    Cookie Policy
    |FCC Public Files|

    Back to Hollywood Breakdown

    Hollywood Breakdown

    Checking in on the broadcast TV upfronts in the age of streaming

    While ratings for broadcast television continue to plummet, the annual ritual known as the upfronts soldiers on in New York.

    • rss
    Download MP3
    • Share
    KCRW placeholderBy Matthew Belloni • May 17, 2019 • 4m Listen

    While the upfront presentations were held in many of the same familiar places across New York City with the networks trotting out their latest offerings, there were some marked difference from previous years. For one, it's the first upfronts following Disney's acquisition of most of Fox, which means the Disney presentation went on for hours, only getting to ABC at the very end. Also, Disney announced that they'd be taking control of Hulu, which will give them yet another streaming platform. On the CBS side of things--one of the most famous elements of past upfronts a breakfast hosted Leslie Moonves. That didn't happen this year--the former CEO was ousted following sexual misconduct allegations. Instead, top CBS exec Kelly Kahl took the breakfast reins. He faced tough questions about the CBS show 'Bull,' and the decision to bring it back after star Michael Weatherly was also accused of inappropriate sexual behavior.

    • KCRW placeholder

      Matthew Belloni

      founding partner of Puck News

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Kim Masters

      partner/writer at Puck News, host of KCRW's “The Business.”

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Kaitlin Parker

      Producer, 'The Business' and 'Hollywood Breakdown'

      CultureEntertainmentArts
    Back to Hollywood Breakdown