A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE FROM DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

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CYNOPSIS
01.12.17

 

Good morning. It’s Thursday January 12, 2017 and this is your first early morning briefing.

 

Tonight’s Premieres:
E!: Revenge Body With Khloe Kardashian at 8p
FM: Sole Searching at 11p
FOX:  My Kitchen Rules at 9p
RFD-TV: Larry’s Country Diner at 8p
Spike: Caraoke Showdown at 10:30p
Up: Growing Up McGhee at 9:30p
USA: Colony at 10p

 

Tonight’s Finales:
ABC: The Great American Baking Show at 8p
ID: Pandora’s Box: Unleashing Evil at 10p

 

CNN fired back at Donald Trump yesterday after the president-elect, in his first press conference in six months, refused to answer questions from CNN senior White House correspondent Jim Acosta. “Your organization is terrible…you are fake news!” charged Trump, following the news net’s report that intelligence officials briefed Trump about having compromising information about him. Said CNN in a statement, “We are fully confident in our reporting. It represents the core of what the First Amendment protects, informing the people of the inner workings of their government; in this case, briefing materials prepared for President Obama and President-elect Trump last week. We made it clear that we were not publishing any of the details of the 35-page document because we have not corroborated the report’s allegations. Given that members of the Trump transition team have so vocally criticized our reporting, we encourage them to identify, specifically, what they believe to be inaccurate.”

Fox News anchor Shepard Smith weighed in on the CNN contreTrump, siding on the side of his cable rival. “Though we at Fox News cannot confirm CNN’s report, it is our observation that its correspondents followed journalistic standards,” Smith said. “Neither they, nor any other journalists, should be subjected to belittling and delegitimizing by the president-elect of the United States.”

Meanwhile Buzzfeed, called a “failing pile of garbage” by Trump during the press event because the site actually had posted the unsubstantiated contents of the Trump material, immediately started offering limited edition “failing pile of garbage” t-shirts, bumper stickers and garbage cans for sale.

It was Fox’s turn at the winter TCA tour, and the net started its executive session with the news that Empire, on spring hiatus until March 22, was renewed for a fourth season. The hit drama is not only the number one broadcast drama among A18-49, it boasts a total multi-platform audience of 16 million total veiwers, up 82 percent versus Live+SD.

Fox is reviving game show Love Connection, with Andy Cohen (Watch What Happens Live) taking over where Chuck Woolery left off as host. Mike Fleiss (The Bachelor) is exec producer. “I was a huge fan of the original Love Connection,” said Cohen, “and hosting the new version allows me to do one of the things I love most: meddling in people’s personal lives.” Love Connection will be produced by Next Entertainment in association with Warner Horizon Television and Telepictures Productions.

Fox’s interactive game show from Mark Burnett, Beat Shazam, which got a straight to series order in August, now has a host: Jamie Foxx. Slated for a summer premiere, the show, created by Jeff Apploff (Don’t Forget the Lyrics), is produced by Apploff Entertainment and MGM Television.

The X-Files may be back – again. While there’s been talk that the Fox drama, revived for a 6-episode run last season, would return, “We hope to be able to announce something shortly,” said Fox Entertainment president David Madden at TCA.

Soft ratings have kept Fox freshman Pitch and The Exorcist from season 2 orders, but stronger delayed viewing is keeping the possibility alive. “We can’t make a decision yet,” said Madden. As for Wayward Pines’ chances to make it to season 3, the series “is not canceled, but it will not be on this summer,” said Fox chairman Gary Newman. “It’s possible you’ll see Wayward at some point back on Fox. But we’re focusing a little more heavily on scripted this summer.” Better news for new comedy The Mick, which had 4 episodes tacked to its order, for a total of 17.

The FCC approved the $4.6 billion acquisition of Media General by Nexstar, which plans divestitures of seven of its TV stations to comply with TV ownership rules. The Justice Department approved the deal in September, on the condition the stations are sold, leaving the company with a combined reach of 38.9 percent of U.S. households, just under the 39 percent cap.

Alan Wurtzel, NBCUniversal’s president of research and media development, is transitioning to an advisory role at the company. “In his more than 40 years in television, Alan has pioneered research and measurement initiatives that have not only changed our company, but have also had a large impact on the industry as a whole,” wrote NBC president of program planning, strategy and research, Jeff Bader, in a memo, adding, “I think it’s safe to say that NBCU would not be the thought-leader in research that we are today without him.”

Hearst Television announced a year-long multi-platform news and investigative series, State of Addiction, reporting on the opiod crisis. Non-profit Partnership for Drug-Free Kids will help the Hearst stations develop monthly stories and connect the audiences to vital resources. “Many Hearst Television stations have been focused on this national crisis for the past few years,” said Jordan Wertlieb, Hearst Television President. “Now we will be expanding our efforts and devoting even more time and resources across our company to help make a difference in the communities we serve.”

Nickelodeon opened its newly expanded building in Burbank, an over 200,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art home to more than 700 Nickelodeon employees and over 20 productions. The sustainable facility includes a new five-story, building; an expansive, redesigned courtyard; and the newly renovated, original 72,000 square-foot studio that first opened in Burbank in 1998.

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A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE

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Tuesday, January 17
 
There are 3 Simple Steps to do before the deadline!
 
1) Select your Nominee
2) Complete the Entry Form
3) Process your Payment
 
SUBMIT NOW.

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Eagle Rock Entertainment is broadening its reach into the Latin market. A concert film from Colombian star J Balvin, the second in a series of planned releases between Eagle Rock and Universal Music Latin America, will be released later this year.

Blackfin inked an overall co-production deal with former ID exec Christina Douglas and her newly launched production company, Momentum Content. Under the deal, Douglas will create, develop and produce unscripted programming to be co-produced with Blackfin in the US, Canada and UK.

MTV competition format The Challenge, focused on 18 series Underdogs looking for their first victory, comes back with a twist on Tuesday, February 7 at 9p. The Challenge: Invasion includes a season-long attack on the Underdogs from 8 Challenge champions, including last season’s winner, Johnny “Bananas.”

Fox set series premiere dates for time travel comedy Making History (Sunday, March 5 at 8:30p), unscripted Kicking & Screaming (Thursday, March 9 at 9p) and event series Shots Fired (Wednesday, March 22 at 8p). Prison Break, originally slated for January, has its season debut Tuesday, April 4 at 9p.

ABC News chief meteorologist Ginger Zee and her husband, NBC and Extra reporter Ben Aaron, buy and revamp their first home in DIY’s upcoming Renovation Realities: Ben & Ginger. The four-episode series, currently in production, premieres in June 2017.

President Obama’s last presidential interview on network television will air on CBS’s 60 Minutes, Sunday, January 15 at 7p. The chat with Steve Kroft was conducted this week at the White House.

The TCM Classic Film Festival, April 6-9 in Hollywood, will pay tribute to Peter Bogdanovich. The director, writer and actorwill appear at screenings of his Oscar nominated film The Last Picture Show(1971) and What’s Up, Doc? (1972).

A two-part special covering the New York City Ballet’s summer of 2016 season in Paris airs on Thirteen’s Great Performances Friday, February 17 and 24 at 9p on PBS.

The Directors Guild of America announced nominees in TV categories for its awards. Nominated for dramatic series are the Duffer Brothers (Stranger Things), Ryan Murphy (The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story), Jonathan Nolan (Westworld), Miguel Sapochnik (Game of Thrones) and John Singleton (The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story). Trophies will be handed out February 4; for more, go here.
 
Nominees were also announced for the Make-up and Hair Stylists Guild Awards. Ceremony is set for Sunday, February 19 in LA. Game of Thrones, Penny Dreadful, Westworld, American Horror Story: Roanoke and Saturday Night Live were among the multiple nominees, and AHS’s Ryan Murphy will receive the Distinguished Artisan Award – for awards details, go here.

Country star Blake Shelton will perform at the People’s Choice Awards on Wednesday, January 18 at 9p on CBS. The Voice coach, who won his first People’s Choice award in 2016, is nominated in three categories this year.

Jelani Cobb will be honored with the WGA East’s inaugural Walter Bernstein Award at the guild’s ceremony in NYC on February 19. Bernstein’s Policing the Police, which aired as part of PBS’s Frontline, explored the challenges in reforming the Newark Police Department.

Chris Noth (The Good Wife) and Keisha Castle-Hughes (Roadies) have been cast in upcoming Discovery scripted series Manifesto, which starts filming in Atlanta on January 30. Noth will play a divisional head of the FBI, while Castle-Hughes will star as a street agent.

Meredith Eaton (Boston Legal) has joined the cast of CBS’s MacGyver as a series regular. Eaton will play the new director of operations at the Phoenix Foundation.

Sheridan Smith (Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps) will star in UK 6-part ITV drama Clean Break, as an office cleaner with an online gambling addiction.
 

Users can place stars of WE tv shows in their selfies using the net’s new WE + Me Selfie Booth on WEtv.com. “Photo sharing has become such an integral part of engagement on social media, so it was natural for us to create a new and fun medium for our viewers to create and share images for their friends to see,” said Marc Juris, WE tv president. “Providing fans the opportunity to insert their favorite celebrities into their photos, starting with Marriage Boot Camp: Reality Stars, will allow users to form an even deeper connection with WE tv stars and shows.”

 
Canada’s Mandy May Cheetham (MUTHA) has developed a show about rapping and acting, slated to launch on Fibe TV1 this spring. Mandy Mayhem’s Rapping with Actors will include interviews, performances and sketch comedy.

Keshet International opened a subsidiary in Mexico City, part of its effort to expand its local production capabilities for the Latin America and US Hispanic markets. The Keshet MX location was chosen for its central position between the English-speaking and Spanish-speaking Americas and will produce across the region from the US Hispanic market to Colombia, as well as offering development and consulting services throughout the Latin American region.

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A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE

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Bumped to 10p with President Obama as a lead-in, NBC’s This Is Us scored a series high 3.0 rating among A18-49 and 10.5 million total viewers on Tuesday. The freshman hit returns to 9p next week.

Season to date, NBC leads the Big Four in the A18-49 demo with an average 2.7/9, and is scoring 9.76 million total viewers, according to Live+7 data (Live+SD for the last two weeks). Fox is next in the demo with 2.0/7 (and 6.33 million total viewers), followed by CBS’s 1.9/7 (9.87 million total viewers) and ABC’s 1.7/6 (6.65 million total viewers).

Univision Deportes Network, which launched in 2012, registered year-over-year ratings gains with an increase of 33 percent and average 124,000 A18-49 in 2016.

Katz Broadcasting’s Grit was up in primetime year-over-year 24 percent in households and 43 percent in P25-54. Escape hit all-time highs, including in HHs (up 55 percent), P25-54 (up 52 percent) and W25-54 (up 73 percent), while Laff’s primetime gains were led by whopping increases of 98 percent in HHs, 107 percent in P18-49 and 106 percent in P2+. 

In syndication, the last week of December Entertainment Tonight had a 6 percent boost, to 3.4 in Live+SD Nielsens, with tributes to the late Debbie Reynolds and Carrie Fisher. Family Feud was the top the game show for a 36th straight week, up 6 percent to a season high 7.4. Judge Judy had a 3 percent lift with all repeats to 6.8, while Crime Watch Daily had a 10 percent increase to match its season high of 1.1.

Bravo’s Ladies of London delivered a season high among all key demos, earning 627,000 P18-49 (up 12 percent versus the prior week’s episode), 750,000 P25-54 (up 13 percent), and 1.2 million total viewers (up 1 percent). Among total viewers, this was the third consecutive season high. Top Chef delivered the highest rated episode of the season to-date since the season premiere among P18-49 (974,000, up 6 percent) and 1.1 million P25-54 (up 3 percent), while Married to Medicine: Atlanta ranked as the highest rated Friday premiere of the season to-date among all key demos, delivering 751,000 P18-49 (up 30 percent versus the prior week’s episode) and 1.4 million total viewers (up 27 percent).

Top 10 M-F Syndicated Strip Series for the week of 12/26/16 ranked in order by HH Rtg
Family Feud (2/T) 7.4AA
Judge Judy (CTD) 6.8AA
Wheel of Fortune (CTD) 6.2AA
Jeopardy (CTD) 6.0AA
The Big Bang Theory (WB) 4.0AA
Entertainment Tonight (CTD) 3.4AA
Modern Family (2/T) 2.9AA
Dr. Phil (CTD) 2.8 AA
Inside Edition (CTD) 2.8AA
Live! With Kelly (DAD) 2.6AA
Source: Nielsen Media Research

Live + Same Day Household Ratings: Tuesday, January 10, 2017 time period averages.
Source: NTI, Galaxy as dated. Live+SD
CBS: 3.7/6
Big Bang Theory 5.4/9, Kevin Can Wait 3.7/6, Man with a Plan 3.2/5, The Odd Couple 3.3/5, Scorpion 3.2/6
ABC: 3.5/6
The Bachelor 4.2/7, Big Fan 2.3/4, Big Fan 1.8/3
NBC: 2.3/4
Apprentice 2.5/4, Wall 1.8/3
FOX: 1.5/2
Showtime at the Apollo 1.5/3
UNIVISION: 1.2/2
Despertar Contigo 1.0/2, Vino el Amor 1.2/2, Color de la Pasion 1.3/2
TELEMUNDO: 1.0/2
Silvana Sin Lana .9/1, La Dona 1.0/2, El Chema 1.1/2
CW: .7/1
Supergirl .8/1, Penn & Teller .7/1
Tuesday A18-49: BC 2.4/8, ABC 1.2/4, FOX 1.0/4, CBS .9/3, UNI .8/3, TELE .8/2, CW .3/1

Live + Same Day Household Ratings: Monday, January 9, 2017 time period averages.
Source: NTI, Galaxy as dated. Live+SD
CBS: 3.7/6
Big Bang Theory 5.4/9, Kevin Can Wait 3.7/6, Man with a Plan 3.2/5, The Odd Couple 3.3/5, Scorpion 3.2/6
ABC: 3.5/6
The Bachelor 4.2/7, Big Fan 2.3/4, Big Fan 1.8/3
NBC: 2.3/4
Apprentice 2.5/4, Wall 1.8/3
FOX: 1.5/2
Showtime at the Apollo 1.5/3
UNIVISION: 1.2/2
Despertar Contigo 1.0/2, Vino el Amor 1.3/2, Color de la Pasion 1.2/2
TELEMUNDO: .9/1
Silvana Sin Lana .9/1, La Dona .9/1, El Chema 1.0/2
CW: .7/1
Supergirl .8/1, Penn & Teller .7/1
Monday A18-49: ABC 1.7//5, CBS 1.0/3, NBC 1.0/3, FOX .7/2, UNI .7/2, TELE .7/2, CW .3/1

David Lynn was named President and CEO of Viacom International Media Networks. Lynn had been President of operations in the UK and Northern and Eastern Europe.

Magnus Djaba has been appointed Global President of Saatchi & Saatchi, after serving as CEO of Saatchi & Saatchi London since 2011. Global CEO Robert Senior will be leaving after a transition period to “pursue personal ambitions.”

Alex Kaplan was appointed Executive Vice President, Commercial for Discovery Communications’ Eurosport Digital. Previously, Kaplan held senior leadership roles at the National Basketball Association and DirecTV/AT&T.

The Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers and its global arm, the International Society of Broadband Experts, named Matt Aden as Vice President of Sales and Operations. Aden has served as SVP of worldwide sales for Casa Systems and Terayon Communications and as VP of sales for Harmonic and Concurrent.

GRB Entertainment named Saul Goldberg to the position of Senior Vice President of Development. Most recently, Goldberg was Head of Unscripted Television at Covert Media.

 

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This Day in History: 1773 – The first public museum in America was established, in South Carolina.

Answer to Our Last Trivia Question: What was the name of the butler in Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990-1996)? Geoffrey. Kudos to: Chris Schwieterman-Gray Television Group/Tallahassee, FL, Rob Casalaina-ITN/NYC, Angela Matos-Altice USA/NYC, Dan Quiterio-Understood/NYC, Jerneeka Sams-Zenith Media/NYC, Barry Wooley-Telepictures/Chicago, Bejaye Ilegbodu-Comcast Spotlight/Houston, Sabree Walker-Comcast Spotlight/Houston, Matt Fumagalli-NBC Sports/Chicago, Adam Leston-Weigel Broadcasting/Milwaukee, Julie Schettig-Warner Bros./Burbank, Liana Gonzales-APM Music/LA, Kerri Huyck/Pasco, WA, Paul Gygli-NBCUniversal Television Distribution/Universal City, CA, Allison Roy-WGN America/LA, Chris Faulds-Massively inc./Toronto.

Today’s Trivia Question: Why did the title character in the original MacGyver (1985-1992) resist using a gun? (Email [email protected] with your answer and be sure to include your name, company, city and time zone. Unofficial rules: A limit of four correct answers from each time zone will be selected.).

Spin-off Anagram: Cellular At Best (Email [email protected]; first three respondents with the correct answer who aren’t in trivia – will be posted along with the answer on www.Cynopsis.com.)
 
Keep Watching & Reading,
Lynn Leahey: Editorial Director @Lynn_Leahey
01.12.17

Roberta Caploe: Publisher @robertacaploe
Diane K Schwartz: Senior Vice President, Media Communications Group 

Cynopsis Ad Sales: Mike Farina | VP, Sales | 203-218-6480
Cynopsis Job Listings Sales: Trish Pihonak | Director of Operations | 203-899-8459

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CYNOPSISJOBS – To view our full job listing online, please visit our webpage: HERE!.

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JOB OPENING: PR and EXPERIENTIAL MARKETING/FC Bayern Munich/NYC: Work w/NY & Munich teams to achieve the club’s Americas-specific communications & marketing strategy goals. Knowledge of international soccer industry, media landscape, digital/social marketing, German & Spanish. Full info / apply HERE (1/20)

JOB OPENING: VP, COMMUNICATIONS & TALENT RELATIONS/CMA/Nashville: Create/dvlp/implement nat’l media initiatives to enhance CMA PR & Comm campaigns for the Association’s TV & Broadcast events & mission of advancing Country Music worldwide. Resume/cvr (MS word) to: [email protected] EOE (1/19)

JOB OPENING: DIRECTOR PROGRAMMING RESEARCH/BRAVO/OXYGEN/NY, NY: Manage detailed analyses/ratings reporting, audience profiling, for nets and their competitors. 7 years exp required. Full info/apply HERE (1/19)

JOB OPENING: INDEPENDENT SALES REPS/Blue Vista 725/NYC: We are looking for successful sales people who want an opportunity to utilize their years of experience. Strong comm & written skills. Full info/apply HERE (1/19)

JOB OPENING: DIRECTOR, SOCIAL MEDIA & FAN ENGAGEMENT/MTV/NYC: Resp for dvlpmnt/execution of daily social content & fan engagement strategy across all MTV’s brand social channels. 5+ yrs exp w/social content dvlpmnt & fan engagement strategy @ major media/ent co., brand or agency. Full info/apply HERE (1/18)

JOB OPENING: SR ANALYST/Fuse Media NY: Extract and analyze linear ratings and programs. Provide insights/strategic direction in regards to scheduling. Cable and brdcst TV knowledge. BS req & Min 2 yrs exp. Exc verbal/written comm skills. Apply HERE www.fuse.tv (1/14)

JOB OPENING: MARKETING MGR/UPTV/ATL: 3+ creative media exp. at cable network. Exp. dev. mkting strategies & creative briefs. Exp. working w/creative agencies and executing campaigns. Must have budget mgt exp. Exp. managing media trafficking for off channel. Send res: [email protected] (1/14)

JOB OPENING: SALES SERVICE REP/Weather Channel/Chicago: Sales service rep looking to grow career and knowledge supporting Account Exec and Dir of Chicago Office. Must have 1+ yrs. current Cable TV media experience to be considered. Go to https://careers.weathergroup.com/ to apply (1/14)

JOB OPENING: DIGITAL MEDIA MANAGER/CSI Sports/NYC: Manage digital asset distribution. Be integrally involved with expansion of digital products and social media initiatives on global scale. Passion for sports. Strong writing skills. 7+ yrs exp req’d. APP and CMS skills required. cvr/res to Rose: [email protected] (1/14)

JOB OPENING: DIR, MARKETING & PARTNER INSIGHTS/Viacom/LA: Provide multi-platform rsrch support to Ad Sales, Pricing & Inventory & Mktg. Strong #2 to VP.Outward facing presentation skills & dynamic personality, +8+ yrs related media rsrch exp. Proficiency w/Nielsen based apps a must. Full info/apply HERE (1/13)

JOB OPENING: MGR PARTNERSHIPS MARKETING SERVICES/World Surf League/NYC: Dvlp creative 360 integration ideas and global, regional, and media sales pitches. Mng coord to maintain all materials. 3-5 yrs integrated media/mktg exp. Sports exp a +. Exc PP/key note skills req’d. Resume HERE (1/13)
 
SITUATION WANTED: VIDEO CONTENT CREATOR: 10+ yrs exp. multimedia professional specializing in high production value entertainment-related visual projects ranging from custom branded content and commercials to music videos and broadcast series. – [email protected] (1/19)

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WHAT’S ON TONIGHT -THURSDAY JANUARY 12, 2017

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ABC: The Great American Baking Show [f], Taking the Stage: African American Music and Stories That Changed America
CBS: The Big Bang Theory, The Great Indoors, Mom, Life in Pieces, Pure Genius
CW: DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, Supernatural
FOX: Hell’s Kitchen, My Kitchen Rules [p]
NBC: Superstore, The Good Place, Chicago Med, The Blacklist
PBS: This Old House Hour, Nazi Mega Weapons [r], Antiques Roadshow [r]
Telemundo: Silvana Sin Lana, La Dona, El Chema
Univision: Despertar Contigo, Vino el Amor, El Color de la Pasion

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