Let’s be upfront about this: it’s that time of year again. The networks are in the midst of the annual upfront frenzy. This is a series of events, mostly in New York, where they announce which shows are being renewed, which ones are getting the axe, and which pilots will actually be seeing the light of day as series.
We’re chronicling the show news, star reactions, and network schedules here as the announcements are finalized.
Fox shifts ‘Bones’ to winter, announces debut of new baseball drama ‘Pitch’
Fox tweaked its previously announced fall TV lineup today, shifting the 12th and final season of “Bones†to early 2017 with the new drama “Pitch†debuting in its place.
“Pitch,†from producer Dan Fogelman of “Crazy, Stupid, Love,†will air Thursdays at 9 p.m. The series will star Kylie Bunbury as the first woman to reach baseball’s major leagues. Mark-Paul Gosselaar and Ali Larter are also part of the cast.
Additionally, Fox revealed that “Prison Break†will return on Tuesdays in spring 2017. The series last aired new episodes in 2009.
TV’s 2016-17 season looks more familiar than ever
The jokes were writing themselves as the broadcast networks rolled out their fall schedules for advertisers this week.
“In order for broadcast television to survive, we have to stay current, and that’s why we’re bringing you fresh new shows like ‘MacGyver,’ ‘Prison Break,’ ‘24,’ ‘Training Day,’ †ABC’s late-night host Jimmy Kimmel said when he took the stage at his network’s fall lineup presentation at Lincoln Center. “Fox picked up series based on ‘The Exorcist’ and ‘Lethal Weapon’ — all your favorite VHS tapes.â€
It got big laughs. But it told a not-so-flattering truth about the networks’ conservative approach to programming next season, reflecting both the fears and revenue-generating opportunities they have as Madison Avenue prepares to spend more than $8 billion to buy commercials in what is called the upfront marketplace.
After a few years of experimenting with edgy shows to compete with cable, broadcast networks are playing it safe during a period of upheaval in the TV industry, relying more heavily than ever on reboots and remakes of old shows that are more salable to advertisers.
Get ready for CW’s gigantic ‘Supergirl,’ ‘The Flash,’ ‘Arrow’ and ‘Legends of Tomorrow’ crossover episode
Get ready for a cavalcade of capes on the CW this holiday season. The CW has big plans to fold all of its superhero shows into one mega-crossover episode in December, and yes, that includes the newly transferred “Supergirl,†who defected from CBS and is now at the CW.
“Supergirl†already had a pretty popular crossover episode on CBS with Barry Allen (a.k.a. the Flash) that was akin to watching two puppies play fight atop a mountain of cookies. The tone over at the CW is a bit more dramatic -- people actually die on their superhero shows -- but the TV versions of the DC Comics characters are still chockablock full of charm (and infinitely less dark than their Warner Bros. movie counterparts).
The complete fall 2016 TV schedule
The networks have announced their primetime lineups for the fall 2016 TV season, which includes 19 brand-new shows. We’ve compiled them all in the complete schedule below (with the new shows in bold), so take a look and plan out your fall TV.
7:30 p.m.
- “Bob’s Burgers†(Fox)
8 p.m.
- “Once Upon a Time†(ABC)
- “NCIS: Los Angeles†(CBS)
- “The Simpsons†(Fox)
8:30 p.m.
- “Son of Zorn†(Fox)
9 p.m.
- “Secrets and Lies†(ABC)
- “Madam Secretary†(CBS)
- “Family Guy†(Fox)
9:30 p.m.
- “The Last Man on Earth†(Fox)
10 p.m.
- “Quantico†(ABC)
- “Elementary†(CBS)
8 p.m.
- “Dancing With the Stars†(ABC)
- “The Big Bang Theory†(CBS)
- “Supergirl†(CW)
- “Gotham†(Fox)
- “The Voice†(NBC)
8:30 p.m.
- “Kevin Can Wait†(CBS -- moves to 8 p.m. in October)
- “Man With a Plan†(CBS -- starting in October)
9 p.m.
- “2 Broke Girls†(CBS)
- “Jane the Virgin†(CW)
- “Lucifer†(Fox)
9:30 p.m.
- “The Odd Couple†(CBS)
10 p.m.
- “Conviction†(ABC)
- “Scorpion†(CBS)
- “Timeless†(NBC)
8 p.m.
- “The Middle†(ABC)
- “NCIS†(CBS)
- “The Flash†(CW)
- “Brooklyn Nine-Nine†(Fox)
- “The Voice†(NBC)
8:30 p.m.
- “American Housewife†(ABC)
- “New Girl†(Fox)
9 p.m.
- “Fresh Off the Boat†(ABC)
- “Bull†(CBS)
- “No Tomorrow†(CW)
- “Scream Queens†(Fox)
- “This Is Us†(NBC)
9:30 p.m.
- “The Real O’Neals†(ABC)
10 p.m.
- “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.†(ABC)
- “NCIS: New Orleans†(CBS)
- “Chicago Fire†(NBC)
8 p.m.
- “The Goldbergs†(ABC)
- “Survivor†(CBS)
- “Arrow†(CW)
- “Lethal Weapon†(Fox)
- “Blindspot†(NBC)
8:30 p.m.
- “Speechless†(ABC)
9 p.m.
- “Modern Family†(ABC)
- “Criminal Minds†(CBS)
- “Frequency†(CW)
- “Empire†(Fox)
- “Law & Order: SVU†(NBC)
9:30 p.m.
- “black-ish†(ABC)
10 p.m.
- “Designated Survivor†(ABC)
- “Code Black†(CBS)
- “Chicago P.D.†(NBC)
8 p.m.
- “Grey’s Anatomy†(ABC)
- “The Big Bang Theory†(CBS -- starting in October)
- “DC’s Legends of Tomorrow†(CW)
- “Rosewood†(Fox)
- “Superstore†(NBC)
8:30 p.m.
- “The Great Indoors†(CBS -- starting in October)
- “The Good Place†(NBC)
9 p.m.
- “Notorious†(ABC)
- “Mom†(CBS -- starting in October)
- “Supernatural†(CW)
- “Pitch†(Fox)
- “Chicago Med†(NBC)
9:30 p.m.
- “Life in Pieces†(CBS -- starting in October)
10 p.m.
- “How to Get Away With Murder†(ABC)
- “Pure Genius†(CBS -- starting in October)
- “The Blacklist†(NBC)
8 p.m.
- “Last Man Standing†(ABC)
- “MacGyver†(CBS)
- “Vampire Diaries†(CW)
- “Hell’s Kitchen†(Fox)
- “Caught on Camera with Nick Cannon†(NBC)
8:30 p.m.
- “Dr. Ken†(ABC)
9 p.m.
- “Shark Tank†(ABC)
- “Hawaii Five-0†(CBS)
- “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend†(CW)
- “The Exorcist†(Fox)
- “Grimm†(NBC)
10 p.m.
- “20/20†(ABC)
- “Blue Bloods†(CBS)
- “Dateline†(NBC)
‘Supergirl’s’ move to the CW bumps ‘Crazy Ex-Girlfriend’ to Fridays
Heading into its 10th anniversary, the CW is adding two brand-new series for the fall, plus “Supergirl,†which is relocating from CBS.
“We truly believe that this is a great help to us,†CW President Mark Pedowitz told reporters in a Thursday morning conference call, adding that his network, which is home to three other DC Comics adaptations, is “where it should have been in the first place.â€
“Supergirl†will air Mondays at 8 p.m., the same time slot it held at CBS, which should help ease the transition for migrating viewers and could potentially provide a boost for “Jane the Virgin,†the modestly rated but well-reviewed telenovela spoof.
The show will take over real estate previously occupied by “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend,†a critical darling that has struggled even more to find an audience. The musical comedy starring Golden Globe-winner Rachel Bloom will move to a lower-stakes Friday night at 9 p.m., where it could potentially benefit from lead-in “The Vampire Diaries.â€
Fall TV Friday: ‘MacGyver’ returns and ‘The Exorcist’ comes to prime time
A pair of familiar titles come to TV in a rebooted “MacGyver,†which trades the series’ ‘80s roots for a twentysomething new star, and the ‘70s horror classic “The Exorcist,†which is reimagined as a weekly thriller following two priests who come to the aid of a concerned mother played by Geena Davis.
“MacGyver,†8 p.m., CBS
“The Exorcist,†9 p.m., Fox
The Friday prime-time schedule
8 p.m.
- “Last Man Standing†(ABC)
- “MacGyver†(CBS)
- “Caught on Camera with Nick Cannon†(NBC)
- “Hell’s Kitchen†(Fox)
- “Vampire Diaries†(CW)
8:30 p.m.
- “Dr. Ken†(ABC)
9 p.m.
- “Shark Tank†(ABC)
- “Hawaii Five-0†(CBS)
- “Grimm†(NBC)
- “The Exorcist†(Fox)
- “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend†(CW)
10 p.m.
- “20/20†(ABC)
- “Blue Bloods†(CBS)
- “Dateline†(NBC)
Fall TV Thursday: ‘The Great Indoors,’ ‘Notorious’ are among a crowded field of new shows
Thursday offers two new comedies with NBC’s afterlife series “The Good Place,†created by “Parks and Recreation’s†Michael Schur, and the millennium-baiting “The Great Indoors,†which stars ex-â€Community†fixture Joel McHale. A pair of dramas also debut in “Notorious,†which was inspired by the high-profile L.A. defense attorney Mark Geragos, and the medical drama “Pure Genius.â€
“The Good Place,†8:30 p.m. NBC
“The Great Indoors,†8:30 p.m. CBS
“Notorious,†9 p.m. ABC
“Pure Genius,†10 p.m. CBS
The schedule:
8 p.m.
- “Grey’s Anatomy†(ABC)
- “The Big Bang Theory†(CBS — after football)
- “Superstore†(NBC)
- “Rosewood†(Fox)
- “DC’s Legends of Tomorrow†(CW)
8:30 p.m.
- “The Good Place†(NBC)
- “The Great Indoors†(CBS — after football)
9 p.m.
- “Notorious†(ABC)
- “Mom†(CBS — after football)
- “Chicago Med†(NBC)
- “Bones†(Fox)
- “Supernatural†(CW)
9:30 p.m.
- “Life in Pieces†(CBS — after football)
10 p.m.
- “How to Get Away With Murder†(ABC)
- “Pure Genius†(CBS — after football)
- “The Blacklist†(NBC)
Fall TV Tuesday: ‘American Housewife,’ ‘Bull’ enter the picture
Tuesday brings four newcomers to the primetime schedule. NBC’s comedy-drama “This Is Us†is led by former pop star Mandy Moore. ABC’s sitcom “American Housewife†features Katy Mixon of “Eastbound & Down†fame. CBS adds the legal drama “Bull†to accompany its two “NCISâ€-related offerings on the night. Over on the CW, there is “No Tomorrow,†the hour-long romantic comedy from the creators of “Jane the Virgin.â€
“American Housewife,†8:30 p.m., ABC
“Bull,†9 p.m., CBS
“No Tomorrow,†9 p.m., The CW
“This Is Us,†9 p.m., NBC
The schedule:
8 p.m.
- “The Middle†(ABC)
- “NCIS†(CBS)
- “The Flash†(CW)
- “The Voice†(NBC)
- “Brooklyn Nine-Nine†(Fox)
8:30 p.m.
- “American Housewife†(ABC)
- “New Girl†(Fox)
9 p.m.
- “Fresh Off the Boat†(ABC)
- “Bull†(CBS)
- “No Tomorrow†(CW)
- “This Is Us†(NBC)
- “Scream Queens†(Fox)
9:30 p.m.
- “The Real O’Neals†(ABC)
10 p.m.
- “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.†(ABC)
- “NCIS: New Orleans†(CBS)
- “Chicago Fire†(NBC)
Fall TV Wednesday: ‘Lethal Weapon,’ ‘Designated Survivor’ add action to the night
A reboot of the ‘80s blockbuster franchise “Lethal Weapon†joins Kiefer Sutherland’s return to political intrigue with the post-terror attack thriller “Designated Survivor.†On the CW, the supernatural drama “Frequency†premieres and “Speechless,†a half-hour comedy led by Minnie Driver, also debuts this fall.
“Lethal Weapon,†8 p.m., Fox
“Speechless,†8:30 p.m., ABC
“Frequency,†9 p.m., CW
“Designated Survivor,†10 p.m., ABC
The schedule:
8 p.m.
- “The Goldbergs†(ABC)
- “Survivor†(CBS)
- “Blindspot†(NBC)
- “Lethal Weapon†(Fox)
- “Arrow†(CW)
8:30 p.m.
- “Speechless†(ABC)
9 p.m.
- “Modern Family†(ABC)
- “Criminal Minds†(CBS)
- “Law & Order: SVU†(NBC)
- “Empire†(Fox)
- “Frequency†(CW)
9:30 p.m.
- “black-ish†(ABC)
10 p.m.
- “Designated Survivor†(ABC)
- “Code Black†(CBS)
- “Chicago P.D.†(NBC)
New ‘Star Trek’ series promises new heroes, new villains and a whole new look
Is it just us or did the brand new “Star Trek†series from CBS just get a giant heaping of timey wimey whimsy?
Channeling a bit of the TARDIS, the video reveal of the new “Star Trek†logo dropped at the CBS upfront presentation in New York is a fast paced (and very blue) brave new world for Trekkers — and a slightly familiar one for “Doctor Who†fans. (The similarities are striking.)
It’s been 11 years since the last “Trek†series, and already fans are freaking out online over this tiny bit of footage.
CBS turns to past sitcom stars to compete with cable and streaming
CBS will add seven new series to its fall prime-time lineup with an added emphasis on comedy.
The push toward more laughs on the CBS schedule for the 2016-17 TV season was helped by having two proven sitcom stars, Kevin James (“The King of Queensâ€) and Matt LeBlanc (“Friendsâ€), willing to go back to the network series grind.
CBS sees an opportunity to fill a gap left by cable networks and streaming services such as Netflix and Amazon, which are focused more on developing edgy drama series that aim for critical accolades.
“We like comedy because there is not a lot of comedy out there,†said Kelly Kahl, senior executive vice president for CBS Primetime.
The new shows will expand the network’s comedy slate that includes returning sitcoms such as “Mom,†“Life In Pieces,†“Two Broke Girls†and “Big Bang Theory.â€
Good news for ‘The Good Wife’ fans as CBS confirms spinoff
Still not done grieving the end of “The Good Wife,†which wrapped its seven-season run earlier this month? You’re in luck. After much rumor of a spin-off, CBS chief Les Moonves confirmed Wednesday an offshoot was in the works during the network’s presentation to advertisers in New York. The spin-off will feature Christine Baranski, reprising her role of Diane Lockhart, and Cush Jumbo, who joined the series in its final season as Lucca Quinn.
Fall TV Sunday: Fox’s ‘Son of Zorn’ stands as the lone newcomer
The networks primarily stood pat on Sunday with a timeslot change for “NCIS: Los Angeles†on CBS and the new animation-live action comedy on Fox, “Son of Zorn,†marking the only tinkering with the schedule.
‘Son of Zorn,’ Fox, 8:30 p.m.
The schedule:
7:30 p.m.
- “Bob’s Burgers†(Fox)
8 p.m.
- “Once Upon a Time†(ABC)
- “NCIS: LA†(CBS)
- “The Simpsons†(Fox)
8:30 p.m.
- “Son of Zorn†(Fox)
9 p.m.
- “Secrets and Lies†(ABC)
- “Madam Secretary†(CBS)
- “Family Guy†(Fox)
9:30 p.m.
- “The Last Man on Earth†(Fox)
10 p.m.
- “Quantico†(ABC)
- “Elementary†(CBS)
Fall TV Monday: Newcomers include ‘Timeless,’ ‘Conviction’ and a pair of new comedies
The TV picture for Monday includes two rookies at 10 p.m.: the time-travel-oriented action series “Timeless†and the legal drama “Conviction.†Elsewhere, CBS introduces two new comedies that feature a pair of sitcom veterans, Kevin James and Matt LeBlanc.
“Kevin Can Wait,†8:30 p.m. CBS
“Man With a Plan,†8:30 p.m. CBS
“Timeless,†10 p.m. NBC
“Conviction,†10 p.m. ABC
The schedule:
8 p.m.
- “Dancing With the Stars†(ABC)
- “The Big Bang Theory†(CBS)
- “Supergirl†(CW)
- “The Voice†(NBC)
- “Gotham†(Fox)
8:30 p.m.
- “Kevin Can Wait†(CBS)
- “Man With A Plan†(CBS -- starting in October)
9 p.m.
- “2 Broke Girls†(CBS)
- “Jane the Virgin†(CW)
- “Lucifer†(Fox)
9:30 p.m.
- “The Odd Couple†(CBS)
10 p.m.
- “Conviction†(ABC)
- “Scorpion†(CBS)
- “Timeless†(NBC)
ABC beefs up comedy slate and ‘Scandal’ shifts to midseason
In recent seasons, ABC had focused on more inclusive programming, but at the end of a TV year in which it’s poised to finish in fourth place in the 18-to-49 demographic, the network appears to be tweaking its strategy.
Tuesday’s upfront, which opened with a performance by “Quantico†star Priyanka Chopra, was loosely organized around the theme of “family.â€
New drama, “Notorious,†starring Piper Perabo and Daniel Sunjata, looks at the relationship between the news media and the criminal justice system. It will air Thursdays at 9, taking the place of “Scandal,†which has been pushed to midseason.
ESPN touts the advantages of sports programming and the late-night edition of ‘SportsCenter’
The theme of ESPN’s “upfront†event, “At the Speed of Live,†highlighted one main advantage of sports programming -- viewers want to watch it the moment it happens, unlike scripted shows that can be watched any time on streaming video services or on a DVR.
But ESPN also touted how the audience for its own streaming video content is rapidly growing and emphasized the growth in its “over-the-top†stream, which requires a cable subscription.
Additionally, ESPN appears to be generating some ratings results with its efforts to become a destination in late night with Scott Van Pelt’s offbeat midnight edition of “SportsCenter.†The program was designed with the late-night comedy audience in mind.
Netflix’s ‘Narcos’ will air on Univision
It looks like Netflix is chilling with Univision.
The first season of the Netflix drama “Narcos,†which chronicles the life of Colombian drug kingpin Pablo Escobar, will air on Univision leading up to the second season that will run only on Netflix. Meanwhile, the Spanish-language series “Club de Cuervos,†another Netflix property, will air on Univision’s youth-skewing network UniMas.
Netflix and Univision also will coproduce a series about Mexican drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo†Guzman. It will air in the U.S. on UniMas in 2017, before becoming available to Netflix subscribers. It will premiere on Netflix in other markets.
Univision announced these rare programming deals with the streaming giant during its presentation to advertisers at the Lyric Theatre in New York.
“Netflix knows that Hispanics are their growth consumers,†Chief Marketing Officer Jessica Rodriguez told the crowd.
Jimmy Fallon’s ‘Hamilton’ parody and more highlights from NBC’s upfront presentation
NBCUniversal bucked tradition by showcasing its entire portfolio of broadcast, cable and news programming in a single, (mostly) high-energy, two-hour presentation pitched squarely at deep-pocketed media buyers.
Clad in his finest colonial garb, “Tonight Show†host Fallon kicked off the morning with a “Hamilton†parody.
Another successful bit featured “Saturday Night Live†star Kate McKinnon, who broke out her spot-on Ellen DeGeneres impression to re-create 2014’s famous Oscar selfie with NBCUniversal talent, including Jennifer Lopez.
The perks of Netflix? Gillian Jacobs says she isn’t missing TV’s upfront season
Gillian Jacobs, of Netflix’s “Love,†talks about not missing the dog-and-pony show that comes this time of year during upfronts.
After years living in the cancellation bubble with NBC-turned-Yahoo Screen’s “Community,†Gillian Jacobs isn’t missing TV’s Upfront season now that she’s a member of Netflix. Her comedy “Love†was renewed for a second season before it made its debut earlier this year.
Megyn Kelly teases Donald Trump sit-down
Cable news star Megyn Kelly made an appearance Monday during Fox’s presentation to advertisers at New York’s Beacon Theatre. And, naturally, she touted her upcoming prime-time special “Megyn Kelly Presents,†which airs Tuesday at 8 p.m.on Fox and features a sit-down with presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump.
Kelly called the interview “riveting†and promised a few shocking moments.
For more on the re-match, check out this piece from Times reporter Stephen Battaglio.
Don Francisco is back, and there’ll be more Super Series: Telemundo announces plans for next season
Mario “Don Francisco†Kreutzberger made Saturdays gigantic on Univision, and now he’ll soon see what he can do with Sundays on Telemundo.
The Spanish-language network is looking to Kreutzberger to help the network claim the coveted TV night as part of a multiyear deal with the veteran host. “Don Francisco Te Invita†(“Don Francisco Invites Youâ€), a mix of interviews and celebrity guests, will close out a new block of programming on Sunday nights that includes “Siempre Niño,†which features children with extraordinary talents,†and “Zoomundo,†an animal show with wildlife expert Ron Magill.
Launching in prime time on Sunday will be “Los Reporteros,†an hourlong news magazine.
The announcements came during NBCUniversal’s presentation to advertisers Monday at New York’s Radio City Music Hall, where Telemundo and NBCUniverso made their pitches alongside NBC, USA and Syfy.
It seems Telemundo is continuing its efforts to court the younger, bilingual generation with its 2016-17 programming announcements, which include unscripted series that mix English and Spanish as well as a deeper investment in serialized and darker dramas.
NBC brings back ‘Blindspot,’ ‘Superstore,’ ‘Chicago Med’ and more for the fall
NBC is taking a conservative approach to the launch of the 2016-17 TV season, adding just three new series — including a new sitcom starring Ted Danson and Kristen Bell — to its fall lineup. Five freshman shows -- including “Blindspot,†“Superstore†and “Chicago Med†-- are set to return next season.
The network has an additional eight scripted shows, including a spinoff of the hit drama “The Blacklist,†a prequel to the Liam Neeson film “Taken,†and a workplace comedy about regular mortals living in a world of DC superheroes, in the pipeline for mid-season.
Fox taps ‘24,’ ‘Prison Break,’ ‘Lethal Weapon’ and ‘The Exorcist’ for its new prime-time schedule
Fox is keeping it familiar and largely rerun-free for the 2016-17 TV season.
The network announced Monday that nearly 90% of its prime-time schedule will have original programming.
The need to develop more programming now that “American Idol†is gone made Fox more open to picking up new shows based on established titles that audiences are familiar with. Fox will have new iterations of its anti-terrorism thriller “24,†a revival of the series “Prison Break,†and two shows based on decades-old films “Lethal Weapon†and “The Exorcist.â€
Returning favorites include “Empire,†“New Girl,†“Gotham†and “Bob’s Burgers.â€
John Stamos says a prayer for network TV after ‘Grandfathered’ is canceled
Rob Lowe and Fred Savage respond to ‘Grinder’s’ cancellation
Case closed: Saying goodbye to ‘Castle,’ which signs off after 8 seasons
So the word finally came down Thursday that after eight seasons, ABC had canceled “Castle.†The episode that airs Monday will be a series, and not a season, finale — a conclusion, not a cliffhanger. (Producers were ready with alternative endings, just in case.)
This news was followed by an unsettling month with word that Stana Katic had not been asked back for a potential ninth season, although Nathan Fillion and other cast members had. But the fate of the series itself remained a mystery.
Even in its often trying eighth season, which saw a change in showrunner from creator Andrew W. Marlowe to longtime staffers Alexi Hawley and Terence Paul Winter, “Castle†played regularly in my house. I may have never missed an episode.
NBC cancels ‘Undateable’
Nathan Fillion reacts to ‘Castle’ cancellation with his trademark humor
The ‘Nashville’ cast reacts to cancellation news
‘Supergirl’ will join ‘Arrow’ and ‘Flash’ on the CW
Looks as though the CW superhero family just got a little bit bigger. “Supergirl,†which last month ended its first season, will be leaving CBS to join her DC Comics family at the CW.
Announced via the official DC Comics Twitter account, this shift makes a lot of sense because the spandex-heavy network has long been home to the fresh and bright world of DC Comics.
Networks say some of the digital video advertising dollars are coming back to TV
Last year, broadcast and cable networks were battered by the perception that digital video sites such as YouTube are making them obsolete, leading advertisers to hold back on ad spending. But TV is feeling needed again as networks prepare for negotiations for the advance sale of commercial time for the 2016-17 TV season. The marketplace, known as the upfront, begins after the major networks present their new programming to Madison Avenue during the week of May 16.
“We’re going into the upfront season I think with a lot of wind at our back,†NBCUniversal Chief Executive Steve Burke told analysts Wednesday. “My prediction is that it’s going to be a strong upfront.â€