Condé Nast debuts 2021-22 entertainment programming slate

• 75 returning series and 50 new pilots announced across 17 brand channels, including a supercharged Vanity Fair video relaunch

• Launches new slate of live programming for GQ Sports, Vanity Fair and Vogue

• Introduces new performance marketing product, Condé Nast Shoppable, along with a slate of shoppable video series

• The company’s video network has delivered 10.3M unique incremental individuals who were not reached by broadcast or cable, up 6% year over year, according to Nielsen

During its annual NewFront presentation today, Condé Nast announced its video programming slate for the 2021-22 season, unveiling new and returning originals, live event programming, shoppable integrations, enhanced distribution and incremental audiences verified by Nielsen.

The company announced 75 returning blockbuster originals and 50 new digital video pilots in production across 17 brand channels, including Vogue’s expansion into wellness, GQ Sports’ 2022 Super Bowl lineup, and Vanity Fair’s expansion into audio.

The company also launched Condé Nast shoppable, a new video capability that provides buyable opportunities for viewers in real time. The presentation took place virtually for the second year in a row.

“Last year we announced the launch of the Condé Nast Influence Network, our alternative to traditional broadcast and cable networks, showcasing our unmatched ability to create video content that resonates with consumers and drives the cultural conversation,” said Pam Drucker Mann, global chief revenue officer and president, U.S. revenue.

“This year, we’re building on that influence by creating more engaging, interactive experiences for our audiences and distributing them across new channels — connecting with 10.3 million viewers that aren’t reachable on broadcast and cable. We’re introducing a new slate of innovative live programming, integrating shoppable technology into our video content and expanding the Condé Nast storytelling universe.”

The company’s global video network currently drives an average of one billion monthly views, with an average of over 18 minutes spent per viewer each month. According to Nielsen Media Impact data, Condé Nast has delivered 10.3M unique incremental individuals (P18+) who were not reached by broadcast or cable, up 6% year over year. On YouTube, Condé Nast has over 61.5 million subscribers across its global channels, and its OTT and linear channels are up 119% year over year in time spent.

“Condé Nast is the gold standard of storytelling, with iconic global brands that have had lasting appeal for generations of audiences around the world,” said Agnes Chu, president of Condé Nast Entertainment. “We’re in that rare echelon of companies truly positioned to make an impact, surfacing fresh voices and new stories every day. As we expand our channels, growing our content ecosystem with a fresh slate of programming, we’re reaching new audiences and strengthening the connection with our core fans.”

The company also announced the launch of Condé Nast Shoppable, which builds buyable content directly into its marquee series. Shoppable series include Vogue’s “7 Days 7 Looks” and “Beauty Secrets” and GQ’s “Grooming Gods,” each of which will give viewers the ability to instantly purchase the products showcased by their favorite celebrities, models and influencers.

The company announced 75 returning blockbuster series and 50 new digital video pilots in production across 17 brand channels, including:

Vogue: The company announced new programming for Vogue, including an exclusive limited series with Kendall Jenner and YouTube Health, which will explore Vogue’s unique perspective on mental health through the lens of fashion. In collaboration with Vogue global editorial director Anna Wintour and european editorial director Edward Ennifull, the brand is doubling down on wellness content across print, digital, social and video platforms. “Good Morning Vogue,” which launched in 2020, will also return for its second season.

The Met Gala is returning this fall, celebrating American fashion past and present, across two exhibitions. Part One, “In America: A Lexicon of Fashion,” will open in September, and Part Two: “In America: An Anthology on Fashion” will open in May 2022. New live programming will invite viewers to explore fashion’s biggest night — from the final fittings and last minute looks to the star-studded red carpet.

GQ: GQ’s dedicated sports channel, GQ Sports, experienced triple digit audience growth in 2020 with over 21 million views on YouTube, and is betting big on the 2021-22 season. The channel’s Super Bowl 2022 lineup features exclusive off-the-field coverage that reimagines the way viewers engage with football’s biggest stars, giving audiences access to the whole athlete — from what they wear and how they spend to the causes they support. The Super Bowl lineup will also feature a special live episode of “Epic Conversations” moderated by GQ global editorial director Will Welch.

Returning GQ Sports series include “Above Average Joe,” “10 Essentials,” “My First Million,” “Tattoo Tour,” “On the Rocks” and more.

The company also announced the launch of a new GQ / GQ Sports linear channel later this year. According to Nielsen Media Impact data, GQ Sports reached 5.1M adults that cannot be reached on ESPN last year.

Vanity Fair: The company is reimagining Vanity Fair’s video channel, with ambitious extensions into film, including a docu-series based on the title’s recent expose on Hillsong church. The brand will also expand into audio with the launch of “Dynasty,” a new podcast that brings Vanity Fair’s expertise on powerful families to listeners around the world, starting with the house of Windsor.

The Vanity Fair Oscar party will return in 2022, giving audiences exclusive access to the hottest ticket in Hollywood including live red carpet content, an expanded Portrait Series that includes custom video content, and “Quick Change,” a new series following celebrities from the minute they walk out of the auditorium with their trophy to the moment they step inside the party.

AD: The international design authority Architectural Digest is expanding its lineup to include three fresh series with inspiring do-it-yourself ideas and advice from all-new experts, with a special focus on sustainability. Upcoming programming includes “Replace This Space,” starring AD PRO contributor Erick Garcia, founder of the wildly popular Los Angeles firm Maison Trouvaille, and “Reclaimed by Design,” starring passionate local Detroit designers Bo and Kyle of Woodward Throwbacks. Brad Leone, a familiar face from the Bon Appetit test kitchen, will star in the hands-on series “From The Ground Up: Brad The Builder.” And blockbuster series “Open Door” will also return this season, giving insider access to the most exclusive celebrity and influential homes in the world.

The company also shared highlights from its ongoing expansion into film & television, including:

• The Woman Shaking Up the Diamond Industry, based on Ed Caesar’s January 2020 piece for The New Yorker. (The New Yorker Studios; Sony)
• Escape from Spiderhead, a sci-fi thriller adapted from George Saunders‘ short story, which originally appeared in The New Yorker. The cast includes Chris Hemsworth, Miles Teller and Jurnee Smollett with director Joseph Kosinski and screenwriters Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick. (The New Yorker Studios; Netflix)
• Yes People, the 2021 Academy Award-nominated short. (The New Yorker Studios)
• The Great Chinese Art Heist, based on the GQ article by Alex W. Palmer. Jon M. Chu is set to direct. (GQ Studios; Warner Bros.)
• Last Chance U: Basketball, a spinoff of the Emmy Award-winning college football docu series based on a 2014 GQ article. (Condé Nast Entertainment; Netflix)

Sources:

Monthly views: Google Analytics, YouTube, Prime and Extension Syndication, OTT and social distribution channels, 2020 monthly average video views

Time spent: Comscore Video Metrix, 2020 average monthly minutes per viewer

Incremental audiences: Nielsen Media Impact; Total Universe; TV, Digital; March 3-30, 2019 vs March 1-28, 2020; P18+; Unique Reach (000), Conde Nast Digital reached 10.3M unique individuals P18+ (an increase of 6% from year ago) that had not been reached on Broadcast + Cable

Incremental audiences vs. ESPN: Nielsen Media Impact; Total Universe; TV, Digital; November 1-28 2020; P18+; Unique Reach (000), GQ + GQ Sports Digital reached 5.1M unique individuals P18+ that had not been reached by ESPN Linear