INCLUSION ISN’T TRULY INCLUSION
IF IT COMES WITH AN EXPIRATION DATE
The A55+ AUDIENCE is 95 MILLION STRONG
And that represents 40% of annual consumer spending.
That’s too big to be ignored…
…and a lot of reasons to break out of traditional demos

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HISTORY | A&E | LIFETIME | LMN | FYI | VICE ON TV
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Tuesday January 18, 2022

IN THE NEWS

The number of scripted original series in 2021 hit a record high 559 in 2021, according to FX Content Research estimates. That’s 13% higher than Covid-impacted 2020, and 5% higher than 2019, but the production shutdown clouds the figures, as some shows planned for 2020 were pushed to 2021. The tally includes broadcast, cable and streaming shows for adults.

“Next Level Chef” scored the post-NFC Championship game timeslot on Fox, Sunday, January 30. Drama “Monarch,” which had been slated to make its grand premiere after the game, has been moved to the 2022-2023 season.

DirecTV is dropping right-wing cable news channel One America News Network, owned by Herring Networks. “Following a routine internal review, we do not plan to enter into a new contract when our current agreement expires,” said a spokesperson for DirecTV, which is OAN’s largest carrier. A source of false claims about the 2020 election and Covid vaccines, the network is being sued for defamation by two election technology companies. DirecTV also plans drop a second channel owned by the Herrings, lifestyle-focused AWE.

The ANA and IAB are among 15 organizations asking the Federal Trade Commission to pass a single, national privacy law. “A growing patchwork of state laws are emerging which threaten innovation and create consumer and business confusion,” said the groups in a letter sent to Congress.

The season six midseason return of The CW’s “Riverdale,” originally scheduled for Sunday, March 6, has been postponed until March 20. The change was made to accommodate the network’s broadcast (with TBS) of the Critics Choice Awards, bumped from January 9 to March 13 due to the Omicron surge.

Peacock renewed YA drama “One of Us Is Lying” for a second season. “The fandom behind the series is incredibly passionate and we can’t wait to deliver more twists and turns that will leave viewers on the edge of their seats,” said Lisa Katz, President Scripted Content, NBCUniversal Television and Streaming.

It’s the last gasp for “The Last Man,” canceled by FX on Hulu in October. While a search for new distribution had been underway, “Sadly, it doesn’t look like it’s going to happen,” tweeted showrunner/executive producer Eliza Clark. “It is always incredibly difficult to move a show, and in recent years, it has only gotten harder.”

Join us at this year’s Best of the Best and Rising Star Awards, where Cynopsis salutes excellence in national TV programming, marketing campaigns, people, tech and more. This is not going to be like other virtual events you’ve attended—we are planning surprising reveals and delightful moments that will keep you glued to your chair (or couch, as the case may be)! Join us on Feb 24th when we announce the winners! Registration is free and easy.

Would you like to see your project celebrated by top people in the sports media world? Entries are now open—early deadline is February 16.

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Tim Allen (“Last Man Standing”) will reprise his role of Santa proxy Scott Calvin from “The Santa Clause” movie franchise in a limited series for Disney+. Jack Burditt (“30 Rock”) is the executive producer and showrunner; Kevin Hench (“Last Man Standing”), Richard Baker and Rick Messina will also serve as executive producers.

The team from “Justified” is reuniting for the FX limited series “Justified: City Primeval.” Timothy Olyphant will reprise his role as U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens in a new story inspired by City Primeval: High Noon in Detroit, by Elmore Leonard. Dave Andron and Michael Dinner are showrunners, writers and executive producers, with Dinner directing. Olyphant is also executive producer. Graham Yost, Sarah Timberman and Carl Beverly are executive producers, alongside Peter Leonard, Taylor Elmore and Chris Provenzano. The series will be produced by Sony Pictures Television and FX Productions.

Netflix has ordered a docuseries following men’s and women’s tennis players during four Grand Slam tennis tournaments. The series comes from Box to Box Films (“Formula 1: Drive to Survive”), which is also producing a project featuring the PGA golf tour for Netflix.

Casting notes: Mark O’Brien (“Blue Bayou”) will recur on season two of HBO’s “Perry Mason.”…Storm Reid (“Euphoria”) is guest starring on HBO’s “The Last of Us.”

NEW & RETURNING SERIES

“South Park” will kick off its 25th season on Wednesday, February 2 with six episodes. New episodes will follow weekly on Comedy Central. “To be halfway done with “South Park” is a great accomplishment – we can’t lie,” said co-creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker. The animated comedy has been renewed through 2027, and will also air 14 original movies on Paramount+.

Disney+ has set Wednesday, February 23 as the premiere date for “The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder,” the revival of Disney Channel’s, “The Proud Family.” The series will pick up the story Penny Proud and her madcap family.

Epix standup comedy series “Unprotected Sets” returns for season three on Friday, February 4 at 12:35a, while new series “From,” unraveling the mystery of a nightmarish town that traps all who enter, makes its debut Sunday, February 20 at 9p.

STREAMING

Netflix is raising prices in the US from $14.00/month to $15.50 for its standard plan. The price of the 4K plan will rise from $18 to $20, and the basic plan will go from $9 to $10.

Podcasts reached an estimated 120 million US listeners in 2021, an audience projected to surpass 160 million in 2023, according to an analysis by SMI. Since 2019, US podcast ad spend has grown 142% and in the last year alone it’s grown 80%. Also of note: Host-read podcast placements grew 630% since 2019.

COMING UP

Friends and celebrities will pay tribute to Betty White in “Celebrating Betty White: America’s Golden Girl,” airing Monday January 31 at 10p on NBC. White died December 31 at age 99.

Disney+ hosted an Earth Day panel at the TCA Winter Press Tour, where it announced three new movies and specials launching on Earth Day, April 22. “Polar Bear” is a new wildlife movie from Disneynature; “Explorer: The Last Tepui” is a new installment of National Geographic’s “Explorer” series; and “The Biggest Little Farm: The Return,” updates the 2018 documentary on the making of Apricot Lane Farms.

Film producers George Lucas and Kathleen Kennedy will be honored with the 2022 Milestone Award at the 33rd Annual Producers Guild Awards. The ceremony, originally scheduled for February 26, was postponed until March 19 over Covid concerns.

GOING GLOBAL

WildEarth TV has launched on Samsung TV Plus in Italy, Spain, Netherlands and Sweden. The channel is a mix of interactive wildlife content, featuring twice-daily live safaris direct from locations including South Africa’s Djuma Game Reserve.

Awards season is here! Join us on February 24th at 1pm at the annual event that honors the insiders who make it all happen, from innovative programming to impactful campaigns and beyond.

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Broadcast Nielsen Ratings for Thursday, January 13
Show, P2+ 000s, (A18-49)
ABC: Women of the Movement 3.08 (0.5), Let the World See 2.59 (0.4)
CBS: Young Sheldon 7.70 (0.7), United States of Al 5.48 (0.5), Ghosts 6.47 (0.7), B Positive 4.96 (0.5), Bull 4.68 (0.4)
CW: Walker 0.99 (0.1), Legacies 0.26 (0.1)
Fox: Joe Millionaire 1.61 (0.4), Call Me Kat 1.58 (0.3), Pivoting 1.02 (0.2)
NBC: Blacklist 3.41 (0.4), Law & Order: SVU 4.22 (0.7), Law & Order: Organized Crime 3.25 (0.6)
Telemundo: Hercai: Amor y Venganza 1.27 (0.3), Malverde: el Santo Patron 0.80 (0.2)
Source: Nielsen live + same day time period averages

EXECUTIVE MOVES

Joann Acevedo has been promoted to Senior Vice President, Softlines Licensing, North America, ViacomCBS Consumer Products. A 19-year Viacom veteran, Acevedo most recently served as Vice President, Softlines Licensing.

Answer to Our Last Trivia Question
Which actress was originally cast as Mary Alice Young on ABC’s “Desperate Housewives” (2004) pilot but was replaced by Brenda Strong? Sheryl Lee. Kudos to: Rory Rosegarten-The Conversation Company/Manhasset, NY; Rev. Mark Wajda/Clermont, FL; Judith Arden/NYC; Linda Walker-Smith-Orlando, FL/Comcast Cable; Sandy Spiegel-WTTW/Chicago; Terri Corigliano-Checkyourlocallistings.com/LA; Paul Blutter-Walk and Talk Production Rentals/ Burbank; David Garber-Loyola Marymount University/Playa Vista, CA; Lorrie Shilling/El Segundo, CA

Today’s Trivia Question
Who played April in the backdoor pilot for “The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.” (1966-67)? (Email [email protected] with your answer and be sure to include your name, company, city and time zone. Unofficial rules: a limit of four answers per time zone.)