This program is dedicated to celebrating the work of talented producers, hosts, sponsors and executives alike, and saluting the initiatives that drove audiences and turned sports viewers into fans this past year. With over 40 categories to choose from, you can be confident that your work will be evaluated in the best light. Industry leaders will be gathering on April 23rd in NYC to watch as winners are announced, and the best of the best are celebrated in style.

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BBC Two ordered a three-part social history series from Blink Films, Unforgotten, which shares the personal stories of ordinary people on a quest to find a special person who made a huge impact on their lives.

Marta Kauffman (Friends, Grace and Frankie) inked a first-look deal with Fox 21 Television Studios for her company with Robbie Rowe Tollin and Hannah Canter, Okay Goodnight. Along with Warren Littlefield’s The Littlefield Company, Okay Goodnight will develop a TV series based on The Dreamers, the novel by Karen Thompson Walker, as part of the agreement.

Rebel, a drama based on the life of Erin Brockovich, has been ordered to pilot at ABC. The drama from Krista Vernoff (Grey’s Anatomy), who produces alongside her husband and Trip the Light partner Alexandre Schmitt, will star Katey Sagal (Married…With Children, Sons of Anarchy). ABC also ordered a pilot for My Village, a comedy centered on an empty-nester mom, from Kari Lizer (The New Adventures of Old Christine), Sony Pictures Television and ABC Studios.

NBC ordered pilots for two comedies: Jefferies, from comedian Jim Jefferies, Suzanne Martin and Hazy Mills; and American Auto, from Justin Spitzer (Superstore) and Kapital Entertainment.

NBC News is launching a new production studio, NBC News Studios, to produce documentary and scripted programming aimed at emerging platforms. Initial partners include Focus Features, Blumhouse Television, NBCU’s Peacock and Quibi.

Chuck Lorre comedy B Positive, about a newly divorced dad in need of a kidney donor who finds one in a woman from his past, landed a pilot order from CBS. Project falls under Lorre’s deal with Warner Bros. TV.

The Cleaning Lady, based on the Argentinian drama, got a pilot order from Fox. Show comes from Miranda Kwok (The 100), Melissa Carter (Stargirl), Amore & Vita Productions and Warner Bros. Television.

Entertainment One picked up two more seasons of comedy game show Funny You Should Ask. The daily half-hour strip, which features a panel of comedians who interact with contestants for cash, has cleared in 96% of US television markets.

Cineflix Rights inked a first-look development deal with UK’s Curious Films. The partnership gives Cineflix Rights exclusive distribution rights to Curious Films’ new slate.

Travel Channel renewed The Holzer Files for a second season. Paranormal series pulled in over 5.8 million viewers during its freshman run.

NEW & RETURNING SERIES

Smithsonian Channel is expanding its aerial franchise with Aerial Greece. The four-parter, produced in partnership with Tile Films, will explore Greece’s landscape, culture and history. Past series followed aerial explorations of the US, UK, Ireland and New Zealand.

What’s Eating America, hosted by chef Andrew Zimmern, premieres Sunday, February 16 at 9p on MSNBC. In each of five episodes, Zimmern travels the country to explore political issues impacting Americans today – immigration, climate change, addiction, voting rights and healthcare – through the lens of food.

The Alaska Triangle, focused on missing aircraft, UFOs and monster sightings, makes its debut on Travel Channel Sunday, February 9 at 10p, following the season launch of These Woods Are Haunted at 9p.

RuPaul’s Drag Race returns to VH1 for season 12 on Friday, February 28 at 8p. After-show RuPaul’s Drag Race: Untucked follows, at 9:30p.

A team of boat captains and divers tackle an unsolved mystery in new Science Channel series, Curse of the Bermuda Triangle, debuting Sunday, February 9 at 10p.

Oxygen’s In Ice Cold Blood is back for season three on Thursday, February 13 at 9p. Ice-T returns as host for the true crime series. The net’s Up and Vanished, based on the investigative podcast, returns with a two-hour premiere two days later, at 7p.

Also returning for season three is MTV’s Jersey Shore Family Vacation, on Thursday, February 27 at 8p. This time around, Mike “The Situation” rejoins the group after his release from prison, Jenni embraces her newly single life, and Vinny eats carbs again.

Guy Fieri hosts and executive produces a new culinary show, Tournament of Champions, premiering on Food Network Wednesday, March 4 at 10p with a supersized 90-minute episode. During the five-part tournament, chefs go head to head in a bracket-style competition.

STREAMING SNIPPETS

During Comcast’s earning call on Thursday, Steve Burke, chief executive of NBCUniversal, was bullish on upcoming streaming service, Peacock. “I think our company is better positioned as the world moves to streaming than any other company in the world,” Burke said. “I think you could argue that in the next 10 to 20 years, if you look at all those three businesses combined, we could make more money in streaming than anyone else, by a lot.” Burke said he anticipates most cable and satellite companies will make a deal to offer Peacock to their users.

ABC News Live set out its strategy for new, original programming in 2020. By year’s end, the streamer reports it will air 18 hours of live and original content daily across all dayparts, with a mix of anchored news programs, breaking news coverage and original documentaries. ABC News has expanded the roles of Correspondent Linsey Davis and Chief National Affairs Correspondent and World News Tonight Weekend Anchor Tom Llamas to anchor two primetime hours streaming each weeknight and breaking news and live special event coverage, respectively. “In 2020 we have the rare opportunity to create what a perfect 24/7 news channel looks like – breaking news, live events and documentary storytelling all in one place,” said Justin Dial, Senior Executive Producer, ABC News Live.

What are the differences between Netflix and Hulu users (besides a preference for The Witcher versus The Handmaid’s Tale)? New people-based data from Viant found:
· Netflix users are nearly twice as likely to have an Amazon Echo
· Hulu users are 78% more likely to watch Empire, while Netflix users are 90% more likely to watch The Voice
· Netflix users are nearly twice as likely to watch network TV

TVS Television Network has launched an ad-supported free streaming service, offering classic TV shows including Bonanza, Petticoat Junction, Green Acres, Dobie Gillis,My Favorite Martian, Sea Hunt, Peter Gunn and more. TVS produces and distributes multiple post cable TV networks via Watch Your.TV OTT, IPTV, and Mobile platforms such as Google, ROKU, Android, and Apple.

Outdoor Sportsman Group has new offering, OutdoorChannelPlus.com, connecting Outdoor Sportsman Group’s magazine brands, television networks, print and digital content components in one format. Branded content from each of OSG’s outdoor lifestyle magazines, including Guns & Ammo, Game & Fish, Petersen’s Hunting, In-Fisherman and 19 websites will be accessible through the main website portal.

CJC Network and TheGrid Network are launching on OTT platform TikiLive as channel 98 and 52. CJC features family and alternative entertainment, while TheGrid Network is afro-centric and Latin focused.

Facebook Watch inked a three year deal for Red Table Talk with Jada Pinkett Smith and Westbrook Studios. The pact will keep the series exclusively on the platform with new episodes streaming through 2022. Facebook Watch also greenlit a second Red Table Talk franchise from Jada Pinkett Smith and Westbrook Studios. Red Table Talk: The Estefans will feature Grammy winner Gloria Estefan, her daughter and rising musician Emily Estefan and her niece and Daytime Emmy Award-winning Lili Estefan.

TECH TALK

Ampersand announced the launch of The AND Platform, a TV ad planning, buying and measurement platform for audience-based TV advertising with reach across 85 million households, 120 cable networks and more than 55 percent of all addressable households. Ampersand says AND is the first advanced TV platform to centralize the campaign planning and buying process within a simple interface for both local and national TV buying. “With the launch of The AND platform, we’re bringing a new level of capability and scale to advanced TV advertising, providing agencies and marketers with a flexible and open solution for reaching audiences across the entirety of the TV viewing experience,” said Nicolle Pangis, CEO of Ampersand. “This is the most substantive advancement to date in our ongoing mission to unify the advanced TV ad ecosystem across all screens, inventory and audiences.” For more, go here.

COMING UP

Cynthia Erivo, Elton John, Idina Menzel, Chrissy Metz and Randy Newman will perform this year’s nominated songs at the 92nd Oscars ceremony, airing Sunday, February 9, on ABC.

CASTING

Betty Gilpin (GLOW) will play Ann Coulter in Ryan Murphy’s American Crime Story: Impeachment, for FX…Tosin Cole (Doctor Who) and Bentley Green (Snowfall) have joined the cast of AMC drama 61st Street.

GOING GLOBAL

Particular Crowd, the new film banner of WarnerMedia’s Turner Latin America, and MarVista Entertainment struck a multi-year production slate deal. Particular Crowd and MarVista will target production of 10 plus films per year, focusing on edgier stories and breakthrough talent, with the potential to crossover to the theatrical space.

Endemol Shine’s Swedish production company, Filmlance, announced that long-running crime drama Beck is back in production. Filming of the 39th Beck film begins next month; when the series wraps mid-summer, a total of 42 Beck films will have been produced.

Globo and Univision announced the licensing deals of two shows in Brazil, Sweet Diva and Orphans of A Nation. The titles are in the catalog that Globo is making available at NATPE.

Thema America announced that the Kanal D Drama and CincoMAS channels have been added to Bolivian operator COTAS.

The premiere of Awkwafina is Nora From Queens delivered a .31 rating among A18-49 and 489,000 total viewers, Comedy Central’s highest-rated season one debut since 2017.

Live + Same Day Viewers AA (millions) Wednesday, January 22 time period averages
Source: Nielsen Live+SD
NBC: 7.81 million
Chicago Med 8.37, Chicago Fire 8.13, Chicago P.D. 6.93
CBS: 4.10 million
Undercover Boss 4.44, Criminal Minds 4.46, S.W.A.T. 3.42
ABC: 2.97 million
The Goldbergs 4.05, Schooled 2.98, Modern Family 3.51, Single Parents 2.49, Stumptown 2.38
FOX: 2.00 million
9-1-1: Lone Star 2.14, 9-1-1: Lone Star 1.86
UNIVISION: 1.72 million
Ringo 1.67, Amor Eterno 1.83, El Dragon 1.67
CW: 0.69 million
Riverdale 0.82, Nancy Drew 0.55
Wednesday A18-49 Ratings
NBC 1.0/5, CBS 0.6/3, ABC 0.6/3, UNI 0.6/3, FOX 0.4/2, CW 0.2.1

EXECUTIVE MOVES

Carol Hinnant has been promoted to Chief Revenue Officer at Comscore. Hinnant had been EVP, National Television Sales.

Pia Chaozon Barlow has joined HBO Max as SVP of Program Marketing. Chaozon Barlow was responsible for HBO creative campaigns for series including Girls, Silicon Valley, Boardwalk Empire and The Newsroom when she served as Director of Advertising & Promotions at HBO, until her departure for Netflix in 2014.

Jill Dickerson has joined Snap Inc. as a senior member of the Snap Originals team. Dickerson, formerly SVP of Programming & Development at OWN, will help lead the development of docuseries and unscripted efforts.

OZY Media appointed Raj Narayan as Chief Technology Officer and Head of Product. In addition, Marion Cunningham was promoted to Executive Producer, and Lindsay Rodger was hired as Director of Production.

RhythmOne named Kumaran Sambandam as VP of International Demand Partnerships. Sambandam most recently worked as SVP of Global Revenue at Matomy Media Group.

Popsugar elevated Angelica Marden to General Manager. In her newly expanded role, Marden will manage operations across Popsugar.

Keith Grant has been tapped to serve as Creative Marketing Lead, Original Series at Hulu, starting February 10. Grant has been Executive Creative Director at ABC in the Entertainment Marketing group.

IN MEMORIAM

Journalist Jim Lehrer died January 23. He was 85. Lehrer was anchor of PBS NewsHour, originally The MacNeil/Lehrer Report, for 36 years, before his retirement in 2011. “From co-creating the groundbreaking MacNeil/Lehrer Report to skillfully moderating many presidential debates, Jim exemplified excellence in journalism throughout his extraordinary career,” said PBS president Paula Kerger. “A true giant in news and public affairs, he leaves behind an incredible legacy that serves as an inspiration to us all.”

Actor John Karlen died January 22 of congestive heart failure. He was 86. Karlen was best known for his roles on TV’s Dark Shadows and Cagney & Lacey,.