How NBCUniversal Connects Advertisers With Bravo’s Passionate Fandom Through Live Experiences

The second ever Bravo Fan Fest, held October 24 in Charleston, South Carolina, brought that strategy to life. The sold-out event featured more than 40 Bravolebrities, live panels, exclusive fan experiences and four special tapings of Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen in the days leading up to the celebration. Peacock extended the experience nationwide through live and on-demand programming. 

For NBCUniversal's advertising partners, the event created opportunities to engage directly with Bravo's audience through custom activations, talent partnerships and commerce-enabled experiences. 

Seven brands participated across the event and social platforms, including Ally Bank, Member FDIC, Colgate Optic White, Genesis, Planet Fitness, State Farm®, Wayfair and Wendy's®. From State Farm's Southern Charm-inspired experience and talent meet-and-greets to Colgate Optic White's interactive fan trivia and personalized giveaways, each partnership was designed to connect with the interests of Bravo's audience and become part of the storytelling. 

To explore how NBCUniversal is building on the connection between its franchises, fans and advertising partners, we spoke with executives about the growing role of live experiences and what makes them valuable for brands. 

Q: How does Bravo Fan Fest bring the Bravo universe to life beyond the screen? 

Andrew Gottlieb, VP,  Production Operations, Rock Studios, Advertising & Partnerships: It’s a huge team effort, and it’s about bringing together talent, storytelling, brand partners and fans in a way that really brings the Bravo universe to life in a tangible way. It gives fans something they just can’t experience by watching the shows. It’s like the world’s most enthusiastic group chat coming to life. 

Q: What makes Bravo Fan Fest such a powerful extension of the fandom? 

Ann Scheiner, EVP, Agency Partnerships: It all starts with passion. There is no place that a Bravo fan would rather be than at Bravo Fan Fest. Our partners already know that fans are emotionally connected, but here, they’re physically connected, too. 

When you come to a Bravo event, you get it. It’s the energy. It’s the excitement. It’s the love. It’s the connection. It really is like no other place on earth. 

At Bravo Fan Fest 2024, 99% of attendees said they were more likely to buy a product from one of our partners. 

Q: What’s one thing brands can do at Bravo Fan Fest that they can’t do anywhere else? 

Jay Adoue, VP, Development, Advertising & Partnerships: They can be at the epicenter of the Bravo community. They’re here where fans are ready to have so much fun with our talent and our shows, and brands can create experiences that take their day to the next level. 

Q: How do you create brand partnerships that add to the fan experience rather than interrupt it? 

Gottlieb: It starts with understanding what the fans want. The best brand partnerships don’t interrupt the fan experience. They really become part of it. 

Q: How do live experiences like Bravo Fan Fest complement NBCUniversal’s year-round media and marketing opportunities? 

Sari Feinberg, SVP, Development, & Kim Francella SVP, Brand Partnerships: What we’ve learned is that there is no fandom bigger than Bravo’s. People come from all 50 states and around the globe to experience what’s been built here. 

What these events also do is make the experience live on throughout the year. While we’re here for a live event and these communities can come together, partners can invest in Bravo throughout the year and build on that road to Bravo Fan Fest or really to our Super Bowl, BravoCon. 

Q: Why are fan-first live experiences becoming even more important in today’s fragmented media landscape? 

Feinberg & Francella: Fans want to build community. They want to be together. We see it on social channels, where fans are constantly talking, speculating and engaging. They live and breathe this. 

For them to be able to gather and experience that community in person is incredibly powerful, and we only see that increasing in the future. 

For brands, being able to put a product in someone’s hands or say, “We’re part of this ecosystem,” does wonders. They know it and they see it, which is why we have partners that come back year after year. 

Beyond the Fan Experience: What's Next for Bravo 

Bravo Fan Fest Charleston also served as a moment to share what's next for the network, with new programming announcements and renewals that build on its existing franchises. 

Ahead of the event, Bravo announced Next Gen Atlanta, a new series expanding the Next Gen franchise, alongside renewals of Next Gen NYC for Season 3, Southern Hospitality for Season 5 and In The City for Season 2. 

Bravo also unveiled its first original scripted microdrama, Charmed by a Southern Monster, starring Southern Charm's Craig Conover and Nicole Mattox. The series premieres November 9 exclusively on the Peacock mobile app, extending Bravo storytelling into Peacock's growing vertical video offering. 

Together, these announcements reflect Bravo's continued investment in its franchises and the passionate communities surrounding them. In addition, at the event, Bravo announced BravoCon 2027 will return to Las Vegas from Oct. 22 – 24, bringing fans fresh, new ways to connect with their favorite shows and talent while creating opportunities for advertising partners.