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Paramount Ad Chief John Halley Embraces The “Refreshing Practicality” Of Pitching Upfront Buyers As Corporate Intrigue Swirls


Paramount Advertising chief John Halley said his group has seen positive response from buyers despite the corporate intrigue at his parent company.

In place of a single upfront presentation, long the tradition in the media business (and none was bigger than the Carnegie Hall events staged by CBS and, in 2022 by its new parent, Paramount), the company now convenes more intimate gatherings. Halley said the roster has included Billy Bob Thornton, Sylvester Stallone, Nicole Kidman, Drew Barrymore, Demi Moore, Stephen Colbert and Jon Hamm. “We’re still in the epilogue of the pandemic, believe it or not.” In addition to the hangover from Covid, he cited supply-chain issues, interest rate hikes, inflation, recession fears and global conflict, arguing that each has moderated, which should help advertising grow again.

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Paramount Advertising Chief John Halley Says Current Mix Of Streaming, Linear And Digital Is “A Big Mess” For Buyers And Sellers, “But We’re Going To Work Toward A Better Future”