Netflix at the last minute canceled its first live upfront presentation after striking writers said they planned to disrupt the event.
The streaming service notified attendees Wednesday night that the presentation would be made virtually instead of at the Paris Theater, which has been run by Netflix since 2019.
The company did not give a reason for the shift, although published reports indicated the New York Police Department expressed concerns about pedestrian safety in the vicinity of the event.
After years of being unabashedly ad-free, Netflix last year introduced a lower-priced ad-supported tier. Media buyers have given Netflix’s business mixed reviews because a limited number of subscribers have signed up. The service is also limited in its targeting capabilities, although Netflix is expected to announce new features as part of its presentation.
Netflix announced in January it would be holding an upfront presentation. It took the Wednesday night slot of upfront week vacated by CBS and its parent Paramount Global. CBS’s event was usually held at Carnegie Hall.
The Writers Guild of America strike could have an effect on other upfront presentations if talent decides not to cross picket lines. Striking writers marched in front of NBCUniversal’s Peacock NewFront presentation last week on Fifth Avenue.
Netflix said it would not have talent as part of its virtual presentation.
