Tonight’s Finale
CNBC: Five Day Biz Fix at 11p

IN THE NEWS

Michelle Obama and her initiative Reach Higher have partnered with ATTN: on A Year of Firsts, a new IGTV series that aims to empower and inspire first-year college students. Each episode highlights the journey and personal stories of students as they take on their freshman year of higher education, providing a platform to discuss their challenges. The first episode of the six-episode series premieres in mid-January.

Although Michael Bloomberg won’t qualify for the next Democratic presidential debate on Tuesday, January 14, he’s booked an appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert later that night on CBS. The talker will broadcast live after the debate.

iHeartMedia renewed and extended its partnership with Rush Limbaugh, the most-listened-to national radio talk show host in America. Specific terms were not announced, but the long-term, multi-platform agreement reflects The Rush Limbaugh Show’s decades-long dominance in the talk show format, including increased audience levels and revenue.

Starting Friday, local non-profits can apply for $225,000 in grants through NBC 4 New York and Telemundo’s 47’s Project Innovation. The third annual competitive grant program helps foster the next generation of storytellers and inspire a culture of inclusion for underrepresented communities.

After signing Property Brothers Drew and Jonathan Scott to a multi-year talent deal extension in December, HGTV and parent company Discovery, Inc. have invested in the duo’s online shopping platform, Casaza.com. “We started Casaza to make shopping for premium items for your home a fun, content-driven experience,” said Drew. “We’re absolutely thrilled that our long-standing partner, Discovery, has joined our Casaza family to help make good on our goals and expand our reach.”

A few key findings of Cynopsis’ Salary Survey Report showed that the gender gap continues across all departments, benefits are becoming more extensive and varied, and much more. “At a time when transparency is more highly valued than ever, this year’s salary survey outlines the shifting terrain of media today. Because of our trusted relationship with our readers, we are able to deliver details of their compensation and more importantly, how our community feels about their professional lives, so that we can all clearly see what’s working, and what we need to improve.” said Cynopsis Publisher Robbie Caploe. View the full report here: https://www.cynopsis.com/2020-cynopsis-salary-survey/

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Ellen DeGeneres is partnering with Fox Entertainment on The Masked Dancer, a celebrity competition show based on The Masked Singer and inspired by a popular segment on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. In the new format, celebrity contestants will perform unique dances, while covered from head-to-toe in elaborate costumes and face masks.

Fox Entertainment also ordered stop-motion holiday special from Stoopid Buddy Studios, the company founded by Seth Green, John Harvatine IV, Matthew Senreich and Eric Towner. The special, written by Tom Root (Robot Chicken), will debut next winter on FOX as part of its “Not So Silent Nights” holiday-themed programming.

And Fox Entertainment secured a network-direct script deal with writer-producer Mara Brock Akil (Black Lightning, The Game, Being Mary Jane). Brock Akil will develop and write a scripted series for Fox to air on the network and be produced by Fox Entertainment.

The CW issued early renewals to all 13 of its current scripted series that aren’t ending this season, including newbies Batwoman and Nancy Drew. Included are All American (Season 3), Black Lightning (Season 4), Charmed (Season 3), DC’s Legends of Tomorrow (Season 6), Dynasty (Season 4), The Flash (Season 7), In the Dark (Season 3), Legacies (Season 3), Riverdale (Season 5), Roswell, New Mexico (Season 3) and Supergirl (Season 6). In addition, Riverdale spinoff, Katy Keene, received an order for 13 additional scripts ahead of its February 6 premiere.

Melissa McCarthy will star opposite Nicole Kidman in Hulu’s limited series Nine Perfect Strangers, based on Big Little Lies author Liane Moriarity’s latest book, reports Deadline. McCarthy will also EP the project, which hails from David E. Kelley, Bruna Papandrea’s Made Up Stories, Kidman’s Blossom Films and Endeavor Content, alongside Kidman.

Vudu greenlit Legacy, an eight-episode docuseries from Whistle and executive producer Dwayne Wade. Starring Wade, sports legend Evander Holyfield and Randall Cunningham, Legacy chronicles the lives of gifted young athletes who are the children of famous athletes working toward living up to the name on their back, while building their own identity.

AWARDS UPDATES

Glenn Weiss is returning to direct the 92nd Academy Awards show, his fifth consecutive year on the job. “We are so lucky that Glenn is back as our director this year,” said Oscarcast producers Lynette Howell Taylor and Stephanie Allain. “He is deeply creative and collaborative and has a terrific instinct for live television. It’s a huge win to us to have Glenn at the helm.”

The Producers Guild of America announced nominations for the 31st Annual PGA Awards in the motion picture and television categories. TV shows making the cut include Big Little Lies, The Crown, Game of Thrones, Succession and Watchmen in the drama category, and Barry, Fleabag, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Schitt’s Creek and Veep in the comedy category.

Wanda Sykes will host the 28th Annual Bounce Trumpet Awards, recognizing African-American achievements and contributions, on Sunday, January 12 at 9p on Bounce. Set to be honored this year are Martin Lawrence, Cedric the Entertainer, Marsai Martin, Ambassador Andrew Young, Hydeia Broadbent and Phylicia Fant. The event will also feature performances and appearances by Will Smith, Niecy Nash, Steve Harvey, Anthony Anderson, Fait Evans, Sheila El, Rapsody, Nas Lamma Rucker and more.

Pose producer Janet Mock and Grammy-winner Taylor Swift were named honorees for the 31st Annual GLAAD Media Awards in Los Angeles, taking place Thursday, April 16 at the Beverly Hilton. The pair will be honored for their LGBTQ advocacy.

NEW & RETURNING SERIES

Beat Shazam host Jamie Foxx touches down as guest panelist in the Season 3 premiere of The Masked Singer, debuting Sunday, February 2 on Fox, following Super Bowl LIV. The series will then make its time period premiere on Wednesday, February 5 at 8p.

Celebrity LEGO fans will join host Will Arnett on new unscripted competition series LEGO Masters, bowing Wednesday, February 5 at 9p on Fox. Mayim Bailik, Terry Crews, Nicole Byer and The LEGO Movie writers and directors, Phil Lord and Chris Miller, are slated to guest star throughout the season.

Cinemax’s Strike Back debuts its final season on Friday, February 14 at 10p.

Operacion Pacifico bows Monday, February 10 at 10p on Telemundo. The drama, which marks the return of Majida Issa (Sin Senos si hay Parais) to the network, centers on the captain of the Secret Intelligence Unit of the Police (Issa), whose mission is to take down the most wanted Mexican drug lord.

Showtime’s Our Cartoon President returns on Sunday, January 26 at 8:30p. The season three order takes a satirical look at President Trump, his family and the power players in Washington, D.C. and beyond.

Universal Kids premieres a new a new season of American Ninja Warrior Junior on Saturday, February 22 at 7p. Hosts Matt Iseman and Akbar Gbajabiamila return alongside new co-host, Paralympian gold medalist Victoria Arlen as the next generation of Ninja fans compete on the course.

Cynopsis Sports is the industry insider’s most trusted, reliable and indispensable source for sports news and developments. Just like the edition, The Cynopsis Sports Media Awards prides itself on no fluff or fillers, zeroing in on the hottest campaigns, content and individuals in the industry today. Entering is simple. Click here to get started. Finalists will be celebrated at The 8th Annual Cynopsis Sports Media Awards Breakfast on Thursday, April 23rd at the New York Athletic Club in NYC.

COMING UP

Leading up to the premiere of El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie on Sunday, February 16 at 8p, AMC will air a Breaking Bad marathon featuring all episodes of the five-season series. Binge-a-thon kicks off Sunday, January 19 at 4p and will air over five consecutive Sundays. Better Call Saul returnsSunday, February 23 at 10p.

The Paley Center for Media Spring 2020 PaleyLive NY season starts with The Power Series Finale Celebration, taking place on Friday, February 7 at 7p. The series’ final episode will be screened followed by a discussion with executive producers Courtney A. Kemp and Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson and cast members Omari Hardwick, Naturi Naughton, Joseph Sikora, Michael Rainey Jr. and Larenz Tate.

CASTING

Robert Aramayo (Game of Thrones) will take on the lead role in Amazon series, The Lord of the Rings… Broadway actress/musician Alison Luff (Waitress) nabbed the female lead in Starz drama Heels, which is set in the world of independent professional wrestling, according to Deadline.

STREAMING SNIPPETS

Disney+ original movie, Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made, premieres Friday, February 7. Based on the best-selling book of the same name, the film follows the exploits of hero Timmy Failure and his 1,500-pound detective agency partner, a polar bear partner named Total.

Comedy Dynamics’ linear version of their ad-supported programmed television experience is now available on Samsung TV Plus. The linear channel presents 24/7 stand-up comedy specials curated by Comedy Dynamics’ staff.

TECH TALK

Xandr announced the launch of Pause Ads, dynamic ad units leveraging the native functionality of the “pause” button, since consumers only see the ads when they take a break from the content they’re watching. Xandr’s Pause Ads are enabled within live, video on-demand and DVR programming across cable, broadcast and premium networks on both digital and satellite, and are available now with beta advertising partners including AT&T Mobility, EPIX and STARZ across AT&T TV NOW and select DIRECTV households. For more on Xandr’s Pause Ads, go here.

IBM Watson Advertising touted the debut of IBM Advertising Accelerator with Watson, a solution aimed at helping advertisers find and convert the right audiences through Watson AI-powered technology. “Ad targeting enables marketers to identify core customers, who are often overserved with messages that might not drive immediate action,” said Jeremy Hlavacek, Head of Revenue, IBM Watson Advertising. “Advertising Accelerator with Watson aims to address this challenge head-on, arming clients with IBM Watson to help them better engage and understand their target audience.”

Facebook is banning videos manipulated to distort reality, commonly known as “deepfakes.” Facebook Vice President, Global Policy Management, Monika Bickert posted on the platform’s blog that, “while these videos are still rare on the internet, they present a significant challenge for our industry and society as their use increases.” Going forward, Facebook will delete media that has been “edited or synthesized, beyond adjustments for clarity or quality, in ways that aren’t apparent to an average person and would likely mislead someone into thinking that a subject of the video said words that they did not actually say,” the post stated. In addition, content that is the product of AI or machine learning that merges, replaces or superimposes content onto a video, making it appear to be authentic will also be banned. The policy does not apply to parodies or satire, nor video edited “solely to omit and change the order of words.”

TiVo has entered the internet-streaming device wars. The DVR pioneer company announced the TiVo Stream 4K, a streaming video dongle set to launch with Dish Network’s Sling TV as the preferred subscription TV partner, in addition to apps for services including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, HBO, Walmart’s Vudu and YouTube. TiVo Stream 4K will be available in April.

Mediaocean announced a completed integration to give local TV ad buyers access to YouTube inventory through Mediaocean’s Television Platform. The move helps local buyers have access to a larger set of audiences, brings automation and efficiency to buying local, and helps bridge the gap between traditional and digital media in local TV buying.

Video commerce tech company TheTake partnered with LG Electronics and media players including WarnerMedia, NBC Universal, A+E Networks and Crown Media Family Networks to enable owners of LG’s 2020 webOS smart TVs to buy products featured in shows and movies playing on participating networks. The technology will be rolled out on participants’ various networks during the course of 2020. When they want to shop an item, viewers will be able to tap in their mobile numbers, which are saved on the TV for future use, and receive links to retailers via whom they can purchase the merchandise on their phones.

GOING GLOBAL

Richard Dreyfuss and Tan France (Queer Eye) are among the celebrities donning aprons and competing in Channel 4’s special Stand Up To Cancer episodes of The Great British Bake Off.

Smithsonian Channel expanded its UK distribution with a new elevated position on Freeview. The move boosts the channel’s audience in the UK and coincided with a 45% expansion of its DTT availability in UK homes.

Love Nature announced the launch of its premium 4K natural history channel on Antik Telecom in Slovakia, fexpanding its reach in Central Europe.

REGISTER HERE

The Season 8 return of Last Man Standing (1.4/7, Live+3) and premiere of Deputy (1.1/5, Live+3) ranked as the top two shows on Thursday, January 2, driving Fox to win the first Thursday of 2020.

On Monday, December 30, HGTV’s Love It or List It delivered the highest-rated episode in series history, garnering 0.92 Live+3D rating among P25-54. It was a 130% increase in the demo for the 9-9:30p timeslot over the previous year and a 61% lift over the previous six-week period.

TV Time Binge Report: Most Binged TV Shows for the week of December 30
(Show/Share of Streams)
You (Netflix) 11.37%
The Witcher (Netflix) 3.84%
Friends (NBC) 1.98%
Lost in Space (Netflix) 1.79%
Spinning Out (Netflix) 1.72%
Janet the Virgin (The CW) 1.64%
Anne with an E (CBC) 1.40%
Alexa & Katie (Netflix) 1.34%
Lucifer (Netflix) 1.09%
Grey’s Anatomy (ABC) 1.04%
*The weekly Binge Report ranks shows with the most binge sessions. A binge session is when four or more episodes of a show are watched and tracked in our TV Time app within a given day.

Broadcast Evening News Shows Average Ratings week of December 30
ABC World News Tonight 8,810,000 million total viewers; 1.5/7 and 1,770,000 A25-54
NBC Nightly News 8,174,000 million total viewers; 1.4/7 and 1,657,000 A25-54
CBS Evening News 5,686,000 million total viewers; 0.8/5 and 995,000 A25-54

Late Night Shows Weekly Average Ratings week of December 30
NBC: The Tonight Show 1.99 million total viewers; 0.47/3 A18-49
CBS: The Late Show 1.87million total viewers; 0.22/2 A18-49
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live 1.53 million total viewers; 0.28/2 A18-49

Live + Same Day Viewers AA (millions) Monday, January 6 time period averages
Source: Nielsen Live+SD
CBS: 6.43 million
The Neighborhood 6.91, Bob Hearts Abishola 6.70, All Rise 5.91, Bull 6.20
NBC: 6.40 million
America’s Got Talent 8.03, Manifest 4.77
ABC: 6.03 million
The Bachelor 6.03
FOX: 2.01 million
911 2.57, Prodigal Son 1.44
UNI: 1.66 million
Ringo, 1.73, Amor Eterno 1.93, El Dragon 1.32
TELE: 1.55 million
Decisiones: Unos Ganan, Ostros Pierden 1.50, La Dona 1.47, El Senor de los Cielos 1.68
CW: 0.48 million
Supergirl 0.67, Crisis Aftermath 0.28
Monday A18-49 Rating
ABC 1.8/9, NBC 1.1/6, UNI 0.9/2, CBS 0.7/4, FOX 0.3/2, CW 0.1/1, TELE 0.3/1

EXECUTIVE MOVES

Howard Kurtzman, President of Business Operations for 20th Century Fox Television and head of business and legal affairs for over two decades, will step down in June. Carolyn Cassidy, formerly president of Creative Affairs and partnered with Kurtzman, will be named President, 20th Century Fox Television.

Chris Berry was promoted from Senior Vice President to Executive Vice President of News, Talk and Sports Programming for iHeartMedia.

Kantar appointed Ian Griffiths as Chief Financial Officer. He last served as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer of ITV.

Nuno Sanches joined Kaltura as General Manager to lead the Media and Telecom Business Unit. Sanches had been Global Group Head of Vodafone.

Answer to Our Last Trivia Question
The first prime time run of Hollywood Squares was a midseason replacement for which short-lived sitcom? Accidental Family (1967-1968). Kudos to: Carl Mayer-Active International/Pearl River, NY; Charles Lore/NYC; Gerry Bixenspan-TV Marketing, Inc./NYC; Andy Pittman-TAMU/College Station/TX; John Kukla-FOX TV/Dallas; Paul Blutter-Walk and Talk Production Rentals/Burbank; Susan Nessanbaum Goldberg-M and S Entertainment/LA; Tom Moore-Kalt Productions/LA; Ken DuBow-Bob’s Your Uncle/LA

Today’s Trivia Question
Jim Rockford, the character that headlined NBC’s The Rockford Files, was originally written in an unproduced script for which ABC series? (Email [email protected] with your answer and be sure to include your name, company, city and time zone. Unofficial rules: a limit of four.)