By Leanne Burnett-Wood
NBC Universal (NBCU) doubled down on its focus around tent-pole events and live moments, especially sports, during its 2025 U.S. Upfronts on Monday.
The network, which will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2026, tapped stars Seth Meyers, Jimmy Fallon, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Daniel Radcliffe, Andy Cohen and Snoop Dogg for the two-hour show. John Tesh was on hand for a live rendition of “Roundball Rock,” and Michael Jordan shared a taped message expressing his excitement in joining NBC’s NBA coverage as a special contributor.
“Live is driving engagement,” NBCU chairman Mark Marshall said on stage, which was a Wicked-inspired set. And that is exactly what the network will deliver, Marshall added, touting 70% live content.
From the Super Bowl to the Winter Olympics, NBC Sports is billing itself as the go-to destination for sports-loving viewers for the 2025-26 season. In addition to the network’s regular sports coverage – which includes Sunday Night Football, college football, the English Premier League, PGA Tour and the Tour de France – the NBA will return to NBC, including the NBA All-Star weekend.
The NBA will be the network’s biggest “new show” for the upcoming season, driving the NBC fall schedule.
For awards and holiday celebrations, NBC will take viewers through the seasons with a roster of tent-pole event coverage including the Macy’s Day Parade, the Critics’ Choice Awards, the Prime Time Emmys and to New Year’s Eve at Rockefeller Center.
In addition, NBC announced the return of The Voice, American Ninja Warrior, America’s Got Talent and Love Island USA. Adding to its slate of award-winning unscripted shows, Peacock announced Tiffany Haddish Goes Off and On Brand with Jimmy Fallon, a new unscripted competition series that follows Fallon as he establishes a leading marketing agency and recruits the most creative, intelligent, and ambitious talent he can find.
Sophomore comedies St. Denis Medical and Happy’s Place will return next season, joined by new comedy, The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins, starring Radcliffe and Tracy Morgan and executive produced by 30 Rock creators Fey and Robert Carlock.
NBCU’s Peacock was front and centre with stars from upcoming shows like The Office spinoff The Paper, mystery drama series All Her Fault, and The Miniature Wife, starring Elizabeth Banks and Michael McFadden. The “Wicked Event Special” was also announced, airing ahead of the theatrical release of Wicked: For Good in November.
During the network’s Upfront, NBC also brought out SNL star Marcello Hernandez to speak to the power of the Spanish-speaking audience and highlight Telemundo’s +5,000+ hours of live TV, FIFA World Cup 26 coverage, premium series and reality TV.
Leanne Burnett-Wood is the president of Magna Canada
