Amazon stole the show once again at the upfronts in New York, making their second formal appearance with a bang. Just like their previous presentation in 2024, Amazon brought out the big guns and announced some exciting new projects to get advertisers buzzing.
The evening kicked off with world-renowned DJ Steve Aoki pumping up the crowd with his electrifying beats on behalf of Twitch. The energy was infectious, especially for the tired advertisers who had been attending various network presentations throughout the day. Aoki’s performance was the perfect way to kick off a Monday evening.
Next up, the stage was graced by the presence of Jason Momoa and Dave Bautista, accompanied by the talented Lizzo. Lizzo treated the audience to a performance of her hit song “About Damn Time,” setting the stage for Momoa and Bautista to tease their upcoming action-packed movie “The Wrecking Crew” from Amazon MGM Studios.
Bautista humorously declared, “Spoiler alert: we kick some ass,” to which Momoa playfully responded, “Some of us kick more ass than others.” The banter between the two stars was entertaining and kept the audience engaged.
VP of US Ad Sales for Amazon, Tanner Elton, took the stage to highlight Amazon’s impressive ad-supported audience of over 300 million people. He emphasized the meaningful engagements and opportunities for brands that Amazon provides.
The evening continued with hosts Travis and Jason Kelce, who brought their playful sibling rivalry to the stage. The brothers entertained the crowd with their witty banter and high energy.
Amazon made several exciting announcements, including the renewal of “Fallout” for a third season, a new “Barbershop” TV series starring Jermaine Fowler, and a first look at the highly anticipated superhero series “Spider-Noir” featuring Nicolas Cage. Unscripted series like Mr. Beast’s “Beast Games” also received a two-season renewal.
The presentation also showcased Prime Sports’ coverage of major sports events like “Thursday Night Football,” NBA, WNBA, and NASCAR. The evening concluded with a fun Pop-A-Shot shootoff between Blake Griffin and Ryan Fitzpatrick, with Fitzpatrick emerging as the winner.
Stars like Octavia Spencer, Elizabeth Banks, and Jamie Lee Curtis graced the stage, showcasing their upcoming projects on Prime Video. Michael B. Jordan unveiled a new series set in the “Creed” film universe, adding to the excitement of Amazon’s diverse content offerings.
Amazon’s film slate was a major highlight, with John Cena presenting his film “Heads of State” alongside Courtenay Valenti, Amazon’s head of theatrical and streaming film. The evening took a humorous turn when Arnold Schwarzenegger made an unexpected appearance, delighting the crowd with his charismatic presence.
Overall, Amazon’s second appearance at the upfronts was a resounding success, showcasing their innovative content and star-studded lineup. Advertisers and audiences alike can look forward to the exciting projects coming to Prime Video in the near future.
