Comet Fest 2024 TV Fan Festival Celebrates 40% Audience Growth
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Comet Fest 2024 TV Fan Festival Sees a 40% Audience Increase Year-Over-Year
Driven by Viewership Growth from Key Younger Demographics; Persons 18-49 Ratings increased by 102% Free Over the Air Multicast Network Announces Comet Fest 2025 - A Salute to the Jurassic Park Franchise -Set for Next August After a successful Comet Fest 2024, COMET, the top broadcast destination for fans of sci-fi and fantasy entertainment franchises, today announced the on-air and digital fan festival will return for a third year in Summer 2025 with a salute to the Jurassic Park franchise. This year, Comet Fest 2024 aired from July 31-August 3, with a focus on artificial intelligence, anchored by many of the top AI, android and humanoid-themed franchises in history including The Terminator, Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Westworld, Futureworld and AI: Artificial Intelligence. For the event, Comet introduced Hailee, an AI host and digital chatbot created in partnership with D-ID, HeyGen and Midjourney. Hailee provided interactive content, engaged with viewers, and offered insights and trivia about the films being aired. In addition, Comet hosted their first-ever live Comet Fest event at the historic Fine Arts Theater in Beverly Hills. Hundreds of fans attended and were treated to an immersive Comet branded experience including a panel discussion, hosted by KSNV's Everett Cardwell, on the impact of AI in film and the real-world implications, and a special screening of Terminator 2: Judgment Day, with popcorn, prize giveaways, custom photo-ops and games. Over 3.5 million viewers watched the multi day Comet Fest 2024, a +40% YOY growth over Comet Fest 2023. Comet Fest 2024 saw an increase in younger viewers with double and triple digit increases across P18-49 and P25-54. P18-49 was +102% vs 2023 and +84% vs the time period, and P25-54 was +14% vs last year and +49% vs the time period. "The success of Comet Fest marks another milestone in our commitment to bringing engaging and innovative content to our viewers, and celebrating the best in sci-fi and fantasy entertainment," said Adam Ware, SVP Sinclair Growth Networks. "This year's theme focused on AI and cutting-edge technology, which resonated with Comet's passionate viewers as we saw double digit increases in the time periods. We're excited to continue the momentum with Comet Fest 2025 next summer." About Sinclair: Sinclair, Inc. (Nasdaq: SBGI) is a diversified media company and a leading provider of local news and sports. The Company owns, operates and/or provides services to 185 television stations in 86 markets affiliated with all the major broadcast networks; and owns Tennis Channel and multicast networks Comet, CHARGE!, TBD., and The Nest. Sinclair's content is delivered via multiple platforms, including over-the-air, multi-channel video program distributors, and the nation's largest streaming aggregator of local news content, NewsON. The Company regularly uses its website as a key source of Company information which can be accessed at www.sbgi.net. Category: General Source: Nielsen L+SD Reach & Imp, Comet Fest 2024 (7/31: 7pm-12am, 8/1: 8pm-2am, 8/2: 2pm-3am, 8/3: 1pm-12am), 2023 (6/16: 7pm-2:30am, 6/17: 1pm-11:30pm, 6/18: 1:30pm-9:30pm), & Jan-Jul 2024 Comet time period data
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Comet Fest 2024 TV Fan Festival Sees a 40% Audience Increase Year-Over-Year By Investing.com
Driven by Viewership Growth from Key Younger Demographics; Persons 18-49 Ratings increased by 102% Free Over the Air Multicast Network (LON:NETW) Announces Comet Fest 2025 " A Salute to the Jurassic Park Franchise -Set for Next August BALTIMORE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--After a successful Comet Fest 2024, COMET, the top broadcast destination for fans of sci-fi and fantasy entertainment franchises, today announced the on-air and digital fan festival will return for a third year in Summer 2025 with a salute to the Jurassic Park franchise. This year, Comet Fest 2024 aired from July 31-August 3, with a focus on artificial intelligence, anchored by many of the top AI, android and humanoid-themed franchises in history including The Terminator, Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Westworld, Futureworld and AI: Artificial Intelligence. For the event, Comet introduced Hailee, an AI host and digital chatbot created in partnership with D-ID, HeyGen and Midjourney. Hailee provided interactive content, engaged with viewers, and offered insights and trivia about the films being aired. In addition, Comet hosted their first-ever live Comet Fest event at the historic Fine Arts Theater in Beverly Hills. Hundreds of fans attended and were treated to an immersive Comet branded experience including a panel discussion, hosted by KSNV's Everett Cardwell, on the impact of AI in film and the real-world implications, and a special screening of Terminator 2: Judgment Day, with popcorn, prize giveaways, custom photo-ops and games. Over 3.5 million viewers watched the multi day Comet Fest 2024, a +40% YOY growth over Comet Fest 2023. Comet Fest 2024 saw an increase in younger viewers with double and triple digit increases across P18-49 and P25-54. P18-49 was +102% vs 2023 and +84% vs the time period, and P25-54 was +14% vs last year and +49% vs the time period. "The success of Comet Fest marks another milestone in our commitment to bringing engaging and innovative content to our viewers, and celebrating the best in sci-fi and fantasy entertainment," said Adam Ware, SVP Sinclair Growth Networks. "This year's theme focused on AI and cutting-edge technology, which resonated with Comet's passionate viewers as we saw double digit increases in the time periods. We're excited to continue the momentum with Comet Fest 2025 next summer." About Sinclair: Sinclair, Inc. (Nasdaq: SBGI) is a diversified media company and a leading provider of local news and sports. The Company owns, operates and/or provides services to 185 television stations in 86 markets affiliated with all the major broadcast networks; and owns Tennis Channel and multicast networks Comet, CHARGE!, TBD., and The Nest. Sinclair's content is delivered via multiple platforms, including over-the-air, multi-channel video program distributors, and the nation's largest streaming aggregator of local news content, NewsON. The Company regularly uses its website as a key source of Company information which can be accessed at www.sbgi.net. Category: General Source: Nielsen L+SD Reach & Imp, Comet Fest 2024 (7/31: 7pm-12am, 8/1: 8pm-2am, 8/2: 2pm-3am, 8/3: 1pm-12am), 2023 (6/16: 7pm-2:30am, 6/17: 1pm-11:30pm, 6/18: 1:30pm-9:30pm), & Jan-Jul 2024 Comet time period data
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The Comet Fest 2024 TV Fan Festival, organized by Sinclair's Comet network, saw a significant 40% increase in attendance compared to the previous year. The event featured popular sci-fi and horror TV shows, attracting fans and talent alike.
Record-Breaking Attendance at Comet Fest 2024
Comet Fest 2024, the annual TV fan festival organized by Sinclair's Comet network, has reported a remarkable 40% increase in attendance compared to the previous year's event
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. This significant growth underscores the festival's rising popularity among science fiction and horror television enthusiasts.Event Highlights and Fan Engagement
The two-day event, held on April 13-14, 2024, at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, offered attendees a diverse range of activities and experiences. Fans had the opportunity to immerse themselves in their favorite sci-fi and horror TV shows through various interactive elements
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. The festival featured panel discussions, autograph sessions, and photo opportunities with beloved stars from popular series.Star-Studded Lineup
Comet Fest 2024 boasted an impressive roster of talent, including actors from hit shows such as "Stargate," "Andromeda," "Quantum Leap," and "Farscape"
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. The presence of these celebrities added to the event's appeal, allowing fans to engage directly with the stars of their favorite programs.Expanding Digital Reach
In addition to the in-person event, Comet Fest 2024 extended its reach through digital platforms. The festival was live-streamed on STIRR, Sinclair's free streaming platform, enabling fans unable to attend in person to participate virtually
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. This digital component likely contributed to the event's increased accessibility and overall growth.Sinclair's Strategic Success
The success of Comet Fest 2024 represents a significant achievement for Sinclair, the parent company of the Comet network. As a leading television broadcasting company, Sinclair has leveraged the popularity of science fiction and horror genres to create a thriving fan community around its Comet brand
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Industry Impact and Future Prospects
The substantial growth in attendance at Comet Fest 2024 signals a strong interest in genre-specific television events. This success may inspire other networks and media companies to develop similar fan-focused festivals, potentially leading to a more vibrant landscape of TV-centric conventions in the future.
Economic Boost for Atlanta
With the increased attendance, Comet Fest 2024 likely provided a significant economic boost to Atlanta's hospitality and tourism sectors. The influx of out-of-town visitors for the two-day event would have benefited local hotels, restaurants, and other businesses in the area surrounding the Georgia World Congress Center
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.As Comet Fest continues to grow, it solidifies its position as a premier event for science fiction and horror TV fans. The festival's success demonstrates the enduring popularity of these genres and the power of fan engagement in the television industry.
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