Cynopsis: Year in Review 2006

Cynopsis:  Year in Review 2006 01/01/07 Good morning.  It's Monday, January 1, 2007 and this is your Year in Review 2006.  The one thing that stands out above all else in 2006 is this was the year of digital! A year when all industry parties developed alternative ways to deliver network programming and originals to the masses - broadband, mobile, viral, subscription and free VOD, SecondLife.com, and that's just a sampling. It was also a year that felt like we had more than our share of losses, and a year of several significant and major moves by major folks.  Here's the quick rundown in "headline" format ... JANUARY 2006 NPR has nailed the big fish -- Ted Koppel will join NPR in June as a Senior News Analyst CBS preps to launch microseries - The Courier  Iran banned CNN from operating in the country  CNN Headline News will add a new face to its primetime lineup - Glenn Beck  ESPN has cancelled its original series ESPN Hollywood  As The World Turns available to podcasters CBS looking outside for new single anchor DirecTV launches family friendly tier, as does DISH NBC Universal will acquire KDEN/Denver Bob Woodruff and cameraman Doug Vogt were both seriously injured yesterday while on assignment in Iraq for World News Tonight when their convoy was hit by an explosive device. NFL Network picks up package of 8 NFL regular season games Viacom Inc. went out of 2005 as one company and enters into 2006 as two separate publicly traded entities, the CBS Corporation and "new" Viacom Inc. FEBRUARY 2006 ABC News plans for interim co-anchor chair while Bob Woodruff recovers New to iTunes:  Oxygen's two original series Campus Ladies and Snapped NBC will launch an internet-exclusive series this summer on NBC.com called StarTomorrow Grey's Anatomy comes to iTunes 90.7 million US television viewers tuned into the Super Bowl XL  Turner Classic Movies has picked up the cable TV rights to 100+ film titles from the Paramount Pictures  Citadel Broadcasting has acquired ABC Radio's 22 AM and FM stations and most of ABC Radio holdings from The Walt Disney Company for a price tag of approx $2.7 billion  Bravo will be taking its newest endeavor straight to the internet - OutZonetv.com        The Documentary Channel - a 24/7 network dedicated entirely to documentaries- launched on February 6   Univision Communications Inc. has now officially announced will test the "for sale" waters.    MARCH 2006 ABC has won the February Sweep by two tenths of a rating point over Fox  In its first three days, Cynopsis Video Podcast downloaded more than 2800 times Cingular Video service with content from NBC, Fox News, Cartoon Network, ESPN and HBO NBC Universal TV will buy iVillage.com Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. has signed a video distribution deal with Cingular Wireless  Music Choice is partnering with Warner Music Group to offer Cingular Wireless customers access to music videos  TiVo has partnered with Verizon Wireless to launch TiVo Mobile  VNU will be taken over by six private equity firms who will collectively purchase the company for $8.9 billion and assumption of debt  Bunim-Murray Productions has formed M Theory Entertainment  SoapNet acquires Sony's The Young & the Restless USA Network picks up NCIS, distributed by Paramount  ABC and ABC Family pick up 8 film deal from Warner Bros. Domestic Cable Verizon FiOS TV and CBS have signed a retransmission deal Spike will launch new logo/tag line ... again The US Senate Judiciary Committee has voted 12-6 for a bill that would allow TV cameras to cover Supreme Court proceedings APRIL 2006 Meredith Vieira will get a new view - from the couch of NBC's Today Steven Spielberg will be looking for the next great filmmaker in American Idol fashion with executive producer Mark Burnett, in a show titled On the Lot for Fox Media General will acquire four new television stations and divest four others new horror channel, FEAR.Net, a co-venture of Comcast Corp and Sony Pictures Entertainment Disney-ABC TV Group will offer ad-supported, full-length episodes of four ABC primetime series online at www.ABC.com TV One does rich off-net and movie deal with Warner Bros. Domestic Cable Distribution Matt Lauer will stick with Today for three more years (Cynopsis) Katie Couric moves to CBS. Lifetime acquires off-net series Desperate Housewives MAY 2006                  Re-launching today:  The new and improved Cynopsis website!  Check it out and watch the daily video podcast! CBS announced the launch of its own ad-supported, free broadband channel, called innertube. Fox joins iTunes  A special episode of the USA Network series The 4400 premiered exclusively on Yahoo! TV   CBS Corporation will sell its Paramount Parks division for $1.24 billion  ABC has named Charles Gibson as anchor of World News Tonight, effective Monday. A lawsuit was filed yesterday in the US District Court in Manhattan against Cablevision for its plan to launch a Network DVR service   JUNE 2006 In Iraq a car bomb killed two of the CBS News crew and injures a third Law & Order will undergo yet another major cast change - new ADA for Law & Order - Alana De La Garza Cablevision Systems yesterday announced it would delay the launch of its new network DVR system Launching this fall is cable network ReelzChannel, formerly known as Moviewatch Kagan Research: cable networks in 2005 earned $29.9 billion in revenue, up 12.7% over the previous year  MTV has launched Viewser Labs, a new experiment partnering the network, sponsor clients and advertising agencies  ABC News anchor Bob Woodruff made a surprise visit to the ABC Newsroom Nielsen Media Research will now provide integrated, all-electronic ratings for television wherever and whenever it is viewed: Anytime Anywhere Media Measurement   Weekends with Maury & Connie ... no more.  (Oh my goodness - have you see the video??) The Montel Williams Show is breaking the syndication mold and offering its daily talk on weekly podcasts. Say goodnight, Dan (Rather) Layoffs at Court TV There's a new sports channel launching next summer - The Big Ten Channel  Univision's board approved the sale of Univision Communications for a final bid of $13.4 billion from a group led by Haim Saban Star Jones announced yesterday on The View that she will be leaving the show in July - tho planned, it's not nice to surprise Barbara Walters The Office will premiere 10 stand-alone webisodes on NBC.com  JULY 2006 ABC has closed its Upfront 2006 books, with a total tally of $2.3 billion Dan Rather signs on with Mark Cuban's HDNet  Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. and Major League Baseball have signed a new television agreement through 2013  CBS' summer reality series Rock Star: Supernova has been hit with a law suit  Lionsgate has purchased television distributor Debmar-Mercury  MyNetworkTV has reached its goal of penetrating at least 90% of the U.S. before its debut on September 5  Spike Lee has signed a one year development deal with NBC Universal Television Studio ABC News has officially changed the name of its evening newscast to World News with Charles Gibson  Nash Entertainment has agreed to house its video library on Google Video  AUGUST 2006 Time Warner and Comcast's purchase of Adelphia Communications Corp for a cool $17 billion has been finalized Media General has sold off its four CBS stations in three separate deals  SCI FI Channel picks up extensive series & made-for library from CBS Paramount Domestic Television  The Ellen DeGeneres Show has been renewed for another three years   Fox News is reporting two of its news crew in Gaza City were abducted by Palestinian gunmen yesterday The FCC sent out three and a half dozen letters of inquiry to 77 broadcast license holders asking about the use of Video News Releases  America's Next Top Model will debut on schedule, not effected by the writers strike Fox Entertainment Group will offer free primetime programs on the websites of nine O&O stations Pegasus Broadcast Television, Inc. has sold 11 television stations to CP Media, LLC of Wilkes-Barre  Chris Cuomo made News Anchor of Good Morning America   Sony Pictures Entertainment announced its acquisition of viral video website Grouper  Telepictures President Jim Paratore will leave the company to launch a new full-service television production company, paraMedia inc.  New kid entertainment network Qubo is born SEPTEMBER 2006 FOX introduced a new quiz show concept imported from the U.K. -  The Rich List - it lasted 1 episode Bravo has picked up the off-HBO rights to Six Feet Under  Advertising spending has increased by 5.1% during the first half of this year  For the first time in this daily, Emails to the Editor appear at the base of Cynopsis - topic: upcoming season of Survivor CBS Evening News with Katie Couric premiered with 13.59 million total viewers Mark Burnett Prods gets into syndication with Telepictures Cynopsis introduces a new web-based feature - Cynopsis Showcase The New York Times Co. has announced plans to sell off its station group  NBC Universal and its broadcast affiliates will launch an independent business-to-business unit called nbbc  ABC Newsman Bob Woodruff has recovered enough from his injuries sustain in Iraq last January, that he plans to be back at work this fall   NBC will offer streaming of its new fall primetime shows on www.nbc.com CBS primetime series will stream on Google Video   Disney-ABC Television Group will again offer ad-supported, full-length primetime shows for free online at www.ABC.com A&E's Dog the Bounty Hunter, Duane Dog Chapman, his son and his colleague Tim Chapman (no relation) were arrested in Hawaii yesterday The View on ABC began its tenth season week and the debut of Rosie O'Donnell  Meredith Vieira made her Today show debut  Does Dennis Rodman, noted for being a really snappy dresser, need a makeover, or will he just host a makeover show? VP/GM of Cablevision's Fuse network, Catherine Mullen, will officially announce her departure  OCTOBER 2006 Showtime will be offering a handful of its primetime series on Yahoo  FX has picked up the cable TV rights to the film Invincible Fox will now put ad-supported primetime episodes on MySpace  NBC's Kidnapped is the first official cancellation of the new season The first fall freshman series to get a full season pickup - Heroes on NBC Google Inc. will purchase YouTube for $1.65 billion in a stock-for-stock transaction From FremantleMedia North America, the beach patrol series Baywatch will return to American televisions next fall 2007  CBS Corp. has entered into a deal with YouTube to provide programming clips and to share any advertising revenue  See if this ranking of the Evening Broadcast News sounds familiar:  NBC  1, ABC  2 and CBS  3 Jim Gaffigan will launch a series of webisodes called Pale Force on NBC.com  NBC's NBCU 2.0 initiative will cut 700+ jobs, consolidate news bureaus, use lower rent programs at 8p ABC News has scheduled the return of Bob Woodruff  RHI has cut a deal with Sci Fi Channel to produce up to 10 monster films over the next two years  Cable nets opting out of Nielsen Media Research's new commercial viewer tracking data service CMT Loaded will debut a 10-week made-for-broadband series called MUZIKMAFIA TV  Vanished on Fox told to finish up kidnapping story arc in 13 eps The St. Louis Cardinals win the World Series in five - average viewers for the series was down considerably from last year Young Broadcasting Inc. will make free commercial time available to political candidates for the November election  Dick Clark will return to his hosting duties for the New Year's Rockin' Eve  Comcast Corp. launches its new broadband and VOD channel FEARnet.com for VOD, online and mobile NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution will renew The Martha Stewart Show for a third season Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. will debut its newest broadband and interactive-online community channel, Super Deluxe Spot Runner has received $40 million in financing from the CBS Corp. and two advertising holding companies, WPP Group and Interpublic Group of Cos NOVEMBER 2006 NGC Crew injured in Afghanistan After 35 years as the host of The Price is Right and 50 years on television, Bob Barker says he will retire in June  The Tennis Channel is partnering with Bellrock Media and has launched Turbo Tennis, a new mobile game  Kuma Reality Games, a publisher/developer of episodic videogames, and The History Channel have joined to develop gaming and TV content  Fangoria TV launched online last month and provides content for fans of the horror genre  NeuLion Incorporated and Africast TV (www.africast.tv) have teamed to launch a new African consumer broadcast network in December  Nielsen Media Research and NetRatings, Inc. have launched their National TV/Internet Fusion database  Spanish-language Telemundo programming and bilingual mun2 shows will be available for purchase and download on the iTunes  Sinclair Broadcast Group wants cable operator Mediacom Communications Corp. to pay retransmission fees to Sinclair of $1 million more than what Mediacom is interested in paying United Artists, will be resurrected in a new partnership agreement between Tom Cruise, Paula Wagner and MGM  Zone Mobile division has brokered a deal with Amp'd Mobile in the U.S. to exclusively carry the made-for-mobile horror series, When Evil Calls  Nielsen Media Research has decided to wait indefinitely on releasing its first-ever Average Commercial Minute MIT Data File Service  Bill O'Reilly is embroiled in a controversy and a potential investigation ... again CBS has launched a new broadband-only series on its Innertube site today - The Papdits  Previous episode order of 13 for the NBC project Singles Table from 20th Century Fox, has received a reduced order for only 6 episodes  If you haven't heard or checked out the website SecondLife.com, now may be the time   Writers Guild of America, West filed suit against the producers of The CW's America's Next Top Model show The Anime Network has made a deal with Sprint  Eli Broad and investor Ron Burkle have submitted a bid to buy Chicago-based Tribune Co NBC Universal Television Stations, iVillage and Universal Orlando Resort are working together to launch multi-platform, interactive daytime talk show iVillage Live  CBS' freshman cancellation Smith will be streamed on the network's broadband channel innertube  NBC Universal has launched a new comedy broadband channel DotComedy  NBC Universal has begun layoffs based on its NBCU 2.0 plan designed to tighten budgets in every department  Buena Vista Television has secured a robust handful of local station syndication clearances for Grey's Anatomy  FremantleMedia N.A. have shifted the distribution rights of Family Feud from Tribune Entertainment Co., over to Debmar-Mercury  Television producer Steven Bochco teams up with video-sharing website Metacafe   Aggregator Limited and MercuryMedia will launch a new TV-over-broadband (TVoBB) service called joiningthedots.tv   Randy Falco is making his move from NBC Universal Television Group over to head up Time Warner's AOL division Nielsen completed its first Product Placement Valuation Study, which is part of its Anytime Anywhere Media Measurement  Comcast is set to launch its new HD cable channel, Golf Channel/Versus in January  HBO and AOL have partnered to launch a new broadband website for first quarter next year: This Just In.  Cynopsis teams with CABLEready to launch a new subscriber-based website for programmers and producers alike: CableU Fox Reality Channel will launch several of its new series on iTunes a full week before the official launch on air Cox Communications will launch Oxygen on Demand in all its On DEMAND YouTube will join the list of content providers for Verizon's wireless VCAST service BitTorrent signs new deals with a bevy of networks DECEMBER 2006 ABC wins November sweep among A18-49 Another NBC Universal executive is exiting: Keith Turner, President/Advertising Sales and Marketing A new series coming to Comedy Central that originally debuted on mobile phones:  Lil' Bush: Resident of the United States It's finally here - birth of CableU! CBS has scheduled Criminal Minds to air in the coveted timeslot immediately following the Super Bowl XLI David Letterman renews thru fall of 2010 The advertising expenditures numbers are out from TNS Media Intelligence Š and media is up across the board VH1 Mobile has launched a new original mobile series called Celebhead, a short-form parody of what it's like being inside a famous celebrity's head GAMEPLAY HD will stream full episodes of its programming online for free Say what you want about the FCC, but don't say it with profanity News Corp. and Liberty Media have confirmed they struck a deal Time Warner Cable will soon add the free service Music Choice On Demand to its VOD offerings Time Warner Cable, Inc. has filed a lawsuit against DirecTV alleging false advertising and deceptive business practice Nielsen Media Research will offer its clients raw data based on how many people watch broadcast commercials minute by minute Media Rivals discuss possibility of joining forces to create viral video site to compete against YouTube CBS Interactive and Artificial Life, Inc. will launch the first avatar-based mobile game tied to America's Next Top Model Granite Broadcasting has filed for Chapter XI protection in the US Bankruptcy Court with a plan of financial reorganization Sundance Channel will launch a virtual screening room within the online community of Second Life ABC News and Yahoo will expand their current content relationship ABC has given the official go to two projects, both from Harpo Prods. News Corp. considers programming strategy overhaul of MyNetwork TV   MAJOR EXECUTIVE MOVES ... Dick Askin leaves Tribune; Hamish McLenan named CEO of Y&R Adv; Peter Kosann appointed President/CEO, Westwood One; Following the split of Viacom into two entities, Herb Scannell, President/Nickelodeon Networks Group and Vice-Chairman/MTV Networks announced he is leaving the company; Marc Graboff named President/NBC Universal Television; James Sullivan named President/CBS Television Stations National Sales; President Bush selected Robert M. McDowell to fill the vacant seat on the FCC; MSNBC Pres Rick Kaplan resigns , Gary Chapman retires, Judith McHale will leave her post as Pres/CEO of Discovery Comm; Jim Paratore leaves Telepictures to form paramedia; Tom Freston resigns; MGM restructures with Jim Packer top of MGM Worldwide TV Dist; Laura Desmond named CEO of Starcom MediaVest; Roger King heads up CBS TV Dist with Robert Madden and John Nogawski named Pres/COOs; Schleiff leaves Court TV, later named Pres/CEO of Crown Media Holdings; Steve Koonin to Pres/turner Ent Networks; Richard Beaven joined Initiative Worldwide as CEO/North America; David Ellender promoted to CEO of FreemantleMedia Enterprises; Warner Bros. named Ken Werner as President/Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution; BBC Chairman Michael Grade jumps ship over to rival ITV; Y&R Brands' chairman and CEO Ann Fudge retired at year's end; Nancy Dubuc named EVP/GM for The History Channel; Telemundo named Carlos R. Bardasano as EVP/Network EntertainmentBruco Chetaille named Chairman of Mediametrie; Joe DiSalvo named pres/Sales for CBS TV Dist; Randy Falco moves from NBC Univ TV Group to head up Tim Warner's AOL division; David Zaslav named Pres/CEO of Discovery Comm; Jon Mandel leaves Group M to become CEO of VNU/NY's NielsenConnect; Sling Media names Jason Hirschhorn as Prez; Michael Pilot named Pres/Ad Sales for NBCU; Lloyd Braun departs Yahoo Media Group; IMG names Douglas Perlman as Pres/IMG Media, NA. IN MEMORIAM ... Richard DeAngelis, Neil Strawser, Lou Rawls, Shelley Winters, Coretta Scott King, Adam "Chip" Pauken, Tony Franciosa, Franklin Cover, Wendy Wasserstein, Curt Gowdy, Al Lewis, Don Knotts, Darren McGavin, Dennis Weaver, Dana Reeve, Maureen Stapleton, Bill Beutel, Lew Anderson (Clarabell), Don Fitzpatrick, Louis Rukeyser, Earl Woods, Elma G. "Pem" Fransworth, Buck Owens, Paul Gleason, Gloria Monty, Aaron Spelling, George Page, Jan Murray, June Allyson, Red Buttons, Mike Douglas, Bruno Kirby, Moose (Eddie on Frazier), Barnard Hughes, Benjamin Hendrickson, Tony Malara, Glenn Ford, Jack Warden, Steve Irwin, Jane Wyatt, Arthur Hill, Ed Bradley, Jack Palance, Michael Gilden, Philip (Phil) R. Dixson, Betty Comden, John M. Higgins, Robert Altman, Joseph Barbera, John Jones, Ronnie F. Lippin, Peter Boyle, Mike Evans, Robert E. Yde, James Brown, Frank Stanton, President Gerald Ford, Eric Schmuckler, Noreen Welle and Jared Nathan. Did we forget something or somebody?  Of course we did, tho never intentionally.  It's a New Year ... let's move on. Happy New Year! Later -- Cyn Cynopsis Ad Sales: Mark Bohn- 203- 583-1224 / Classifieds - Trish Pihonak- 203-926-9878 / Features Available at Cynopsis Website: www.Cynopsis.com Cynopsis Daily Video here and Cynopsis Audio Feed here --- both streaming (download option) Extended Classified Ads Cynopsis Showcase Subscribe a new address or change your email Unsubscribe Media Kits for all editions Archive Cynopsis Contact Info   To Unsubscribe from this edition or any Cynopsis editions, please click here   Cable U - Know Networks Better. Pitch Smarter. Click here   All outgoing e-mails are scanned and sent out virus free. Copyright Cynopsis 2007

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