#FIRSTLOOK: HIGHLIGHTS FROM AMAZON U.S. ANNUAL UPFRONT

Yesterday evening, Amazon (U.S.) presented its annual Upfront to advertisers, showcasing how Amazon reaches customers through bold creative ideas from the biggest stars in movies, television, and sports. The various announcements as part of the presentation are linked below for your reference.

The Upfront with Amazon (Canada) will take place on Wednesday, May 27 in Toronto, Ontario.

QUOTES FROM AMAZON U.S. UPFRONT PRESENTATION

Tanner Elton, Vice President of U.S. Ad Sales: “Amazon Ads delivers the industry’s largest authenticated reach—90% of US households—and it matters because these signals give us unparalleled precision, that precision drives performance, and that performance delivers outcomes.”

Tanner Elton, Vice President of U.S. Ad Sales: “This week is usually about pitches and promises. We’re showing advertisers how Amazon delivers. How we deliver premium entertainment, authenticated audiences at unparalleled scale, and precisely measured outcomes that help grow businesses.”

Peter Friedlander, Head of Global Television, Amazon MGM Studios: “One of the things we do better than anyone in entertainment is reaching young adult audiences. These are the viewers shaping culture in real time — driving conversation, building fandoms, and bringing brands along for the ride.”

Peter Friedlander, Head of Global Television, Amazon MGM Studios: “With our ambitious slate of Originals, we are focused on the best global selection — big swings and bold creative ideas. And they are anchored by extraordinary talent.”

Alan Moss, Vice President of Global Ad Sales, Amazon Ads: “Prime Video ad-supported customers are watching 17% more hours every month than just a year ago. When the content is this good, people don’t just show up. They stay.”

Alan Moss, Vice President of Global Ad Sales, Amazon Ads: “There’s a difference between reaching an audience, and truly knowing them. Only Amazon gives brands the premium entertainment, authenticated audiences, and the insights to know what moves consumers. All in one place.”

Courtenay Valenti, Head of Global Film, Streaming and Theatrical, Amazon MGM Studios: “We work backward from the customer, delivering series and films across genres that people love — backed by a century of iconic IP from Amazon MGM Studios.”

Courtenay Valenti, Head of Global Film, Streaming and Theatrical, Amazon MGM Studios: “YA is timeless. It’s current day for one generation and nostalgia for another. And we will keep delivering the stories this audience obsesses over — the first loves, the friendships, the moments that shape who you are.”

Escorted: Prime Video has ordered Escorted to series from Warner Bros. Television. The eight episode, half-hour comedy stars and is co-showrun by Emmy® Award winner Brett Goldstein alongside co-showrunner Brian Gallivan. In Escorted, a divorced dad in Manhattan (Goldstein) accidentally becomes a male escort in a romantic comedy about keeping secrets and whether real intimacy can ever be bought.

Fallout: Aaron Paul has joined the cast of Fallout for its third season. Annabel O’Hagan and Dave Register have been upped to series regulars. Fallout Seasons 1 and 2 have surpassed 100 million viewers worldwide, with both seasons ranking in the top four most-watched seasons of all time on Prime Video. Season Three begins filming this summer.

Fourth Wing: Prime Video has ordered Fourth Wing to series, based on the No. 1 New York Times bestselling novel by Rebecca Yarros. Meredith Averill will serve as showrunner. Executive Producer Lisa Joy of Kilter Films will direct the pilot. Executive producers include Kilter Films, Michael B. Jordan’s Outlier Society, and Premeditated Productions.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power: Season 3 will premiere on November 11, 2026. The globally successful series has attracted more than 185 million viewers worldwide and continues to be one of Amazon’s strongest drivers for new Prime membership sign-ups.

Reacher: Prime Video announced that Reacher has been renewed for a fifth season ahead of its fourth season premiere. The third season reached 54.6 million viewers globally in its first 19 days, making it the most-watched season on the service since Fallout Season 1 over the same timeframe.

Reality Retreat: Prime Video greenlit Reality Retreat (working title), a new series bringing together eleven of reality television’s most recognizable women for a high-stakes wellness retreat. The cast includes Kenya Moore, Christine Quinn, Brittany Cartwright, Tamar Braxton, Kaitlyn Bristowe, Jenn Tran, Julie and Savannah Chrisley, and Hilaria Baldwin. Premiering in 2027.

Ride or Die: Action comedy Ride or Die, starring and executive produced by Octavia Spencer and Hannah Waddingham, will premiere all eight episodes globally on July 15. The series follows best friends who thought they knew everything about each other—except one turns out to be an international assassin. Also stars Bill Nighy, Ed Skrein, and Sylvia Hoeks.

Rose Hill: Prime Video has ordered Rose Hill to series, based on the bestselling romance novels by Elsie Silver. Heidi Cole McAdams serves as showrunner, with Marc Webb directing the pilot. Produced by Temple Hill. The series follows best friends West Belmont, a rancher with commitment issues, and Ford Grant, Forbes’ “World’s Hottest Billionaire,” who’s long carried a torch for West’s sister.

Sex Criminals: Nia DaCosta will direct the pilot and second episode of Sex Criminals. Starring Imogen Poots and John Reynolds, and based on the Image Comics title by Matt Fraction and Chip Zdarsky, the series is co-created and showrun by Emily V. Gordon, Kumail Nanjiani, and Tze Chun, with LuckyChap executive producing.

The Terminal List: All eight episodes of The Terminal List Season 2 will premiere on Wednesday, October 21, 2026. Executive produced by Chris Pratt, Antoine Fuqua, David DiGilio, and author Jack Carr, the season is based on Carr’s novel True Believer and follows James Reece on a globe-trotting espionage thriller across Africa, the Middle East, and Europe.

The Man with the Bag: The holiday heist comedy starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Alan Ritchson will premiere on Prime Video on December 2, 2026. Directed by Adam Shankman, the film follows a thief recruited by Santa to recover his stolen magic bag and save Christmas. Also starring Awkwafina, Ken Jeong, Jane Krakowski, Liza Koshy, and Michael Cyril Creighton.

Jury Duty: Riding a wave of critical acclaim, Prime Video has picked up a third season of the wildly popular, Emmy® and Golden Globe-nominated Jury Duty franchise. The renewal follows the success of the series’ second instalment, Jury Duty Presents: Company Retreat, which moved the show’s signature hidden-camera format from the courtroom to the conference room.

SPORTS

Thursday Night Football (U.S. Only): TNF on Prime’s fifth year of exclusive coverage will kick off with one of the most anticipated events of the season when the Detroit Lions and Buffalo Bills square off on September 17 at Orchard Park’s Highmark Stadium, the NFL’s newest state-of-the-art venue..

#FIRSTLOOK: “AMAZON WISH LIST GAMES” TRAILER

Prime Video released the official trailer for the new holiday special Amazon Wish List Games. All five episodes of the special are set to debut exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide on November 20, 2024.

Amazon Wish List Games, a multi-episode holiday event, is produced by MGM Alternative. Content creator Lele Pons will join Emmy-nominated host Nick Cannon on this high-energy, half-hour game show where contestants play for the chance to win everything on their Amazon Wish Lists, totalling up to $25,000. Every episode, contestants are pulled from the audience to play a rotating series of fun and fantastical games. It all builds to the final round, where one contestant plays to win a prize for everyone in the audience. Alycia Rossiter is showrunner and executive producer of Amazon Wish List Games along with Cannon who serves as Executive Producer. Sean Kelly, Steve Hughes, Jessie Binkow and Susan Janis- Mashayekhi are co-executive producers of the series.

About Prime Video

Prime Video is a one-stop entertainment destination offering customers a vast collection of premium programming in one application available across thousands of devices. On Prime Video, customers can find their favourite movies, series, documentaries, and live sports –including Amazon MGM Studios-produced series and movies Fallout, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, Reacher, The Boys, and Roadhouse; licensed fan favourites Vampire Diaries and Degrassi; exclusive entertainment such as Prime Monday Night Hockey, ONE Championship; and programming from partners such as Sportsnet, Paramount+, Crave, Citytv+, STARZ, AMC+, Super Channel, BritBox, Hayu, STACKTV, a multi-channel service featuring 16 top-tier networks (Global, Food Network Canada, HGTV Canada, W Network, The HISTORY® Channel, Adult Swim, Lifetime, Slice, Showcase, National Geographic, Cartoon Network, Treehouse, YTV, Disney Channel, Disney Junior and Disney XD), via Prime Video Channels add-on subscriptions. Prime Video is one benefit among many that provides savings, convenience, and entertainment as part of the Prime membership. All customers, regardless of whether they have a Prime membership or not, can rent or buy titles, including blockbusters such as Barbie and Oppenheimer, via the Prime Video Store. Customers can also go behind the scenes of their favourite movies and series with exclusive X-Ray access. For more info visit www.amazon.com/primevideo.

#FIRSTLOOK: AMAZON MGM STUDIOS ANNOUNCE PARTNERSHIP WITH PINEWOOD TORONTO STUDIOS

In a further commitment to Canada’s production industry, Amazon MGM Studios today announced a landmark contract with Pinewood Toronto Studios for exclusive use of new production facilities at the studios in Downtown Toronto for future productions. The announcement was celebrated with a ribbon-cutting event to officially open the new studio space, attended by Premier of Ontario, Doug Ford and Toronto Mayor, Olivia Chow. The deal is the first multi-year commitment by Amazon MGM Studios to Canadian studio space and includes exclusive use of five new state-of-the-art sound stages, accompanying workshops and office accommodation, totalling approximately 160,000 square feet.

“Pinewood Group is an industry-leader and with the Toronto region’s best-in-class crews, this agreement offers us immense opportunity for the continued expansion of film and series projects in Toronto, Ontario, and Canada,” said Dan Scharf, Vice President of Global Business Operations, Amazon MGM Studios. “We are thrilled our productions will continue to have a home in Toronto for many years to come.”

“This landmark agreement further strengthens our relationship with Amazon MGM Studios and demonstrates our joint commitment to the City of Toronto.” said Paul Golding, chairman, Pinewood Group. “We are very much looking forward to working together and welcoming many incredible productions to the Pinewood Toronto Studio lot.”

Amazon MGM’s long-term commitment to new studio space in Toronto is a tremendous vote of “Amazon confidence in our province and our workers,” said Premier Doug Ford. “This investment is going to provide a big boost to our cultural sectors and help to ensure Ontario remains one of the world’s leading jurisdictions for film and television production for years to come.”

“Good things are filmed in Ontario,” said Neil Lumsden, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport. “This multi-year commitment by Amazon is a reflection of the work our government has done to build a thriving film and television sector in our province and means that more Ontario-made productions will be seen by audiences around the world.”

“The film and television industry is an important economic driver for our city and this new partnership will ensure Toronto’s world class screen industry continues to thrive,” said Mayor Olivia Chow. “This investment by Amazon MGM Studios will also support our creative sector, resulting in jobs for the numerous professions that are crucial to the success of the local industry. I look forward to watching the film and television productions that will be made here in our great city as a result of this deal.”

“As the landowner on behalf of the City of Toronto, this deal further reinforces the commitment CreateTO has made to fostering the growth of this critical industry in the Port Lands,” said Vic Gupta and this investment by Amazon MGM Studios is a testament to Pinewood’s the screen facilities and cements Toronto’s position as a leading destination for content creators, “Toronto’s film, television and digital media production industry is among the best in the world and this long-term commitment and multimillion-dollar investment by Amazon MGM Studios represents a huge vote of confidence in our local workforce and the strength of our screen industry,” said Councillor Paula Fletcher (Toronto-Danforth) and Chair, Toronto’s Film, Television and Digital Media Advisory Board. “It also reinforces the Port Lands as a longstanding major production hub and the city as a Centre of excellence for film and television production.”

The long-term commitment to studio space in Toronto aligns with Amazon MGM Studios’ current strategy of expanding its production footprint in Canada. Amazon MGM Studios, as well as MGM Television and MGM+ Studios have produced and commissioned more than 40 series and films that have been shot in Canada, including The Boys, Gen V, Reacher, and The Handmaid’s Tale in Ontario; Fargo and Billy The Kid in Alberta; The Man in the High Castle and Upload in British Columbia; Tales from the Loop in Manitoba; as well as parts of Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan and The Voyeurs in Quebec.

About Amazon MGM Studios

Amazon MGM Studios is a leading entertainment company focused on creating, producing, and distributing Original films and television series for a global audience in more than 240 countries and territories. A diverse home for talent, Amazon MGM Studios also produces and acquires Original movies for theatrical release and exclusively for Prime Video, in addition producing Original content for Freevee, Amazon’s premium free streaming service, the premium commercial free pay television network MGM+U.S., and MGM+ International, an on-demand service available in 25 countries across Europe, Australia, Asia, Latin America, and Canada.

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#FIRSTLOOK: 2022 SUPER BOWL COMMERCIAL PREVIEW

Super Bowl LVI kicks off at 6:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, February 13, 2022 and in keeping with tradition, here is a first look at some of this year’s most star-studded TV Spots to air during the broadcast. Our faves so far are Amazon Alexa‘s brilliant pairing of real-life couple Colin Jost and Scarlett Johansson, and UberEats‘ teaming-up of Jennifer Coolidge, Nicholas Braun, Trevor Noah and Gwyneth Paltrow. Hilarious!

AMAZON ALEXA – Colin Jost & Scarlett Johansson

HELLMAN’S – Pete Davidson

BUDWEISER – A CLYDESDALE’S JOURNEY

PEPSI – EMINEM, MARY J. BLIGE, KENDRICK LAMAR, DR. DRE and SNOOP DOGG

BMW – Arnold Schwarzenegger & Salma Hayek

NISSAN – Eugene Levy, Brie Larson, Dave Bautista and Danai Gurira

UBEREATS – Jennifer Coolidge, Trevor Noah, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Nicholas Braun

GENERAL MOTORS – Mike Myers, Rob Lowe and Seth Green

DORITOS FLAMIN’ HOT

T-MOBILE – MILEY CYRUS & DOLLY PARTON (TEASER)

#NEWMUSIC: DJS PARTNER WITH AMAZON MUSIC FOR “THE SUMMER SESSIONS”

Did you know that your Amazon Prime membership also gives you free access to AMAZON MUSIC? They’ve partnered with some of the world’s hottest DJs as part of their The Summer Sessions Series now through August 28, 2020. Above this, these artists are releasing brand-new Music available only on Amazon Music.

The list includes:

• Jayda G  – “Are U Down (Kootenay Klub Mix)”
• Martin Garrix – “Higher Ground” (DubVision Remix)
• Disclosure – a Joe Goddard Remix of their forthcoming new single
• Kygo – Track to be announced
• Love Regenerator, Steve Lacy – “Live Without Your Love (Solardo Ball Bass Remix)”
• Tiësto – Track to be announced
• Galantis – “Faith (Sondr Remix)”

Schedule as follows:

• 7/17: Martin Garrix (headliner)plus additional playlists from Bklava, MK, Sofi Tukker, Felix Jaehn, Purple Disco Machine and Chromeo
• 7/24: Jayda G (headliner)plus additional playlists from Regard, Prospa , Loud Luxury and HUGEL
• 7/31: Disclosure (headliners) plus additional playlists from Black Coffee, Sofi Tukker, VIZE, Gamper & Dadoni, and Juan Magán
• 8/07: Kygo (headliner)plus additional playlists from CamelPhat, Felix Da Housecat, LUM!X, Frank Walker
• 8/14: Love Regenerator (headliner) plus additional playlists from Aluna, Monki, and Jerome
• 8/21: Tiësto (headliner)plus additional playlists from Eats Everything, Idris Elba and Martin Jensen
• 8/28: Galantis (Closing party headliner). All playlists will be re-promoted globally, including additional playlists from Groove Armada, Faithless and Solardo.

Week 1 of The Summer Sessions playlists are now live:

• Chromeo – https://amzn.to/SummerSessionswithChromeo
• Martin Garrix – https://amzn.to/SummerSessionswithMartinGarrix
• Bklava – https://amzn.to/SummerSessionswithBklava
• MK – https://amzn.to/SummerSessionswithMK
• Sofi Tukker – https://amzn.to/SummerSessionswithSofiTukker
• Felix Jaehn – https://amzn.to/SummerSessionswithFelixJaehn
• Purple Disco Machine –  https://amzn.to/SummerSessionswithPurpleDiscoMachine
• Sinego – https://amzn.to/SummerSessionswithSinego
• The Wookies – https://amzn.to/SummerSessionswithTheWookies

To access Amazon Music, log-in to your Amazon Prime account and under “YOUR PRIME“, select “MUSIC“!

(Photo credit: Amazon Music)