Tonight’s Finale
A&E: Alaska PD at 9p

IN THE NEWS

Entertainment Studios has closed on the acquisition of 11 broadcast television stations for $305 million – and it looks like they’re just getting warmed up. “Over the past six months we’ve invested nearly $500 million to acquire best-in-class, top-tier broadcast network affiliates,” said Byron Allen, Founder/Chairman/CEO of Entertainment Studios/Allen Media Group. “We plan to invest approximately ten billion dollars to acquire ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox television stations over the next three years with the goal of being one of the largest broadcast television groups in America.” The most recent acquisition of 11 stations, serving nine US markets, was from USA Television.

Which networks do cable operators value the most? Topping the chart in a new study from Beta Research, which ranked perceived value during fall 2019, were ESPN ($.97), Fox News Channel ($.86), ESPN2 ($.78), NFL Network($.69), TNT ($.69), Disney Channel ($.66), HGTV ($.65), Fox Sports 1($.64), TBS ($.64), Discovery Channel ($.63) and USA ($.63). The top four networks in value were also the top four in the fall 2018 and 2017 studies. ESPN has ranked 1st for 20 years in a row; as in 2018, three of the top five and four of the top ten networks were sports networks.

The organizations rated by Beta as most helpful in selling TV Everywhere/HDTV/VOD were Disney/ESPN Networks (63%), NBC Universal Cable (60%), Discovery Networks (56%), Fox Corporation (53%) ,and Hallmark Networks (48%).

Epix renewed Godfather of Harlem, starring Forest Whitaker, for a 10-episode second season. Drama from ABC Signature Studios tells a story inspired by infamous crime boss Bumpy Johnson.

As the launch date for HBO Max approaches, WarnerMedia is shifting resources to streaming shows, according to a study from Ampere Analytics. New streaming shows made up 7% of original commissions in 4Q18, but by 4Q19 accounted for 73% of new projects, while cable commissions dipped to just over a quarter of total activity, down from over 90% in the fourth quarter of 2018. HBO Max is set to launch in May.

Digital political ad spending will exceed $1 billion for the first time during the 2020 campaign cycle, projects eMarketer, but TV ad spending will handily top that, reaching $4.55 billion. The total predicted ad spend of close to $7 billion is 63% more than the 2015-26 election cycle total, noted eMarketer.

Nickelodeon parent ViacomCBS released a study that found that 72% of kids globally play a role in household decisions, with 60% of parents saying that when watching TV together, their child usually decides what to watch. In “Are We There Yet?: Today’s Parents, Tomorrow’s Kids,” 58% of parents surveyed said they use TV or screen time to reward good behavior from their children, and 84% said watching TV together is good for family bonding.

It’s not just about funny cat videos – a study from Whistle Wise found that millennial and Gen Z audiences actively seek out inspirational content online, too. Six percent of inspiration seekers find their desired content on YouTube, which is 181% more than Amazon Prime Video, 95% more than cable TV, and 19% more than Netflix, according to the “Capturing More Than Just Their Impressions” report.

News wire Reuters has launched a fact checking unit aimed at flagging misinformation on social media, in partnership with Facebook’s Third Party Fact-Checking Program. The unit will verify content posted on Facebook and Instagram and identify media that is false or misleading. “It’s a growing issue that impacts society daily and it’s a responsibility for news organizations and platforms to halt the spread of false news,” said Jess April, Director of Global Partnerships, Reuters. “Reuters has a superior track record in sourcing, verifying and clearing user-generated content for distribution to thousands of clients globally and we are best placed in using our in-house expertise to fact check social media content.”

In related news, Twitter is teaming with the US Census Bureau to reduce the spread of misinformation around the 2020 population count, with the launch of a new tool. When someone searches for certain keywords associated with the Census, a prompt will direct them to the official Census site, where they’ll get accurate info. It’s not Twitter’s first Census dance – the social networking service also partnered with the bureau in November to host training at TwitterDC that educated civil society partners about the platform’s civic integrity policies and best practice content tactics.

Winners of the 2020 Kidscreen Awards were announced in Miami, with shows from Netflix, Amazon, Nickelodeon, Sesame Workshop and more taking home trophies. For a list of winners, go here.

Ready to connect the dots between network, brand, agency and tech to grow your business in the new TV landscape? The date is set for Cynopsis’ That Big TV Conference. Make plans to join us in NYC on September 23rd + 24th and stay tuned for more info!

Peach Maria Productions is producing GameMaster, a new esports reality show hosted by Wil Wheaton (Star Trek: The Next Generation) featuring 12 amateur contestants living in the same house as they compete for a $100,000 prize. Nine-parter is expected to debut on a streaming service (TBD) in spring 2020.

Stephanie Allain, co-producer of the 2020 Academy Awards, inked a multi-year first-look deal at Warner Horizon Scripted Television. Allain will develop new scripted programming for cable and broadcast networks and streaming services.

Netflix nabbed a docu-series about young tennis star Naomi Osaka from Uninterrupted and Film 45. “It won’t look like a traditional sports documentary, and I’m so excited to share it with everyone,” said Osaka of the so-far-untitled series.

NEW & RETURNING SERIES

New series Three Busy Debras and Beef House debut on Adult Swim on Sunday, March 29 at midnight and 12:15, respectively. Three Busy Debras follows three women named Debra in the affluent suburb of Lemoncurd, while Beef House centers on five men living under one roof.

Limited series The Third Day makes its HBO debut on Monday, May 11, with six stand-alone, but interconnected episodes divided between “Summer” and “Winter.” Jude Law (The New Pope) stars in “Summer” as a man drawn to a mysterious island off the British Coast, while Naomi Harris (Moonlight) plays a strong-willed outsider who comes to the island in “Winter.” An immersive theater event will take place midway through the show’s run.

TLC’s Little People, Big World returns on Tuesday, March 31 at 9p. For those who can’t get enough of the Roloffs, digital series Little People Big World: Inside the Episode will be available on the TLC GO app each Tuesday after the regular episode premiere.

Some of the most shocking cases of espionage in the last 50 years are explored in Smithsonian Channel’s eight-episode Spy Wars with Damian Lewis, premiering Sunday, March 22 at 8p.

Kings of confection Buddy Valastro (Cake Boss) and Duff Goldman (Ace of Cakes) face off again in season two of Food Network’s Buddy vs. Duff, starting Sunday, March 15 at 9p. Viewers needing a refresher on the rivalry can check out special Buddy vs. Duff: Road to Rematch at 8p.

Season 12 of The Real Housewives of New York City premieres on Bravo Thursday, April 2 at 9p. Dropping into the drama this go-round is an “edgy downtown girl [who] has the ladies clutching their pearls.”

NBC set season premiere dates for three alternative series. Little Big Shots returns “in a completely reimagined season” on Sunday, March 1 at 8p, with a special preview on Monday, February 24 at 10p after the season debut of The Voice. The Wall is back Sunday, March 15 at 7p, with Chris Hardwick returning as host, and Songland starts season two on Monday, April 13 at 10p.

You be the judge. Entries are coming to a close for the Cynopsis Sports Media Awards and there are still a few spots left on our judging panel. Do you know a creative superstar qualified to join our panel of industry experts? Click here to nominate yourself or a colleague to judge.

COMING UP

Pete Davidson’s (SNL) first stand-up comedy special for Netflix, Pete Davidson: Alive From New York, drops on the streamer on Tuesday, February 25.

CuriosityStream has teamed with Gedeon Programmes and the Archaeological Park of Pompeii for documentary Pompeii: Disaster Street, premiering Thursday, March 19. The film follows archaeologists over 10 months as they excavate the site of Vesuvius’s eruption, revealing evidence of daily life, works of art, mythical figures, and human remains buried for 2000 years.

Discovery special #TeamPluto focuses on the controversy surrounding Pluto, once considered the ninth planet in the solar system, but reclassified as a dwarf planet in 2006. YouTube host Nick Uha joins astronomers, scientists and historians for the show, premiering at 11p on Tuesday, February 18, the 90th anniversary of Pluto’s discovery.

ET is on location in London for Royal Revolution: Harry & Meghan On Their Own, a special episode of the newsmag airing Monday February 17 (check local listings). ET is also on the ground in Canada, to offer a look and the new life of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s new life.

TECH TALK

Samsung unveiled the Galaxy S20 phones at its Samsung Unpacked event. The refresh for the Galaxy models includes the Galaxy S20 Ultra, almost 7 inches. The highest end model offers a 100x zoom camera, 108-megapixel photos, integrates two forms of 5G and offers 8K video recording, among other advances. Samsung introduced its new Galaxy Z flip folding phone with an Oscars ad.

Media and marketing services company ENGINE, in partnership with Clickagy, a data intelligence company, announced the launch of its “Attitude Based Audience” capability, which leverages survey research to enable digital marketers to reach consumers online an average of 25% more effectively than traditional audience targeting solutions. The new capability draws upon ENGINE’s research and data competencies and Clickagy’s data intelligence assets to build audiences via first-hand consumer testament. Details can be found here.

Altice USA is upgrading the in-home connectivity experience for its customers with the introduction of Smart WiFi, a whole-home intelligent mesh WiFi system. Benefits include: Simplified network connection; intelligent band and access point steering to provide the best connection for devices; mesh network technology to boost signal and eliminate dead zones; and advanced traffic management for streaming and gaming. For more, go here.

Want to make a robot cry? Google’s Gboard for Android has added a feature called “Emoji Kitchen,” enabling users to mix and match different emoji and use them as stickers for messaging. The keyboard will suggest mashups for any stock emoji; there are about 800 combined in all.

A+E Networks has partnered with technology provider Asus for its HISTORYTalks event, “Leadership & Legacy,” taking place February 29 in NYC. “HISTORY is known as a premier, trusted storytelling brand – and we’ll bring those attributes to HISTORYTalks in part through our strategic partnership with Asus,” said Lance Still, senior vice president, Consumer Enterprises, A+E Networks. Asus will support the event production team with its ZenBook Pro Duo and ProArt Studio Book 17 laptops. A custom behind-the-scenes piece, created by HISTORY in collaboration with Asus, will be featured at the event.

ADVERTISING

iHeartMedia unveiled the iHeartPodcast AdSuite at Podfront LA 2020. Products offer better targeting, measurement and insights across platforms. “As the podcast industry continues to evolve and capture massive consumer attention, advertisers and brands are looking for tools and products to capture and measure the impact,” said Conal Byrne, President of the iHeartPodcast Network. “They are often left without a system for quantitatively monitoring the success, impact and reach of podcast advertising.” For details, go here.

Pixability, a provider of insights and optimizations for video advertising on YouTube and Connected TV, announced the launch of BrandTrack, a software solution built to help marketers measure brand performance on YouTube. An interactive dashboard analyzes and benchmarks brands by vertical on YouTube, enabling marketers to track channel growth, estimated ad spend by competitors, sentiment toward their brand, top videos by industry and other key metrics. The tool also provides best practice metrics. “As we continue to see huge shifts away from linear TV into digital video advertising, YouTube will be a critical part of every brand’s marketing strategy,” said Jeremy Cornfeldt, CEO at iProspect. “Pixability’s BrandTrack gives marketers and agencies a comprehensive way to track a brand’s presence on YouTube and learn from other brands.”

Vivendi-owned video platform Dailymotion announced that media buyers can now purchase premium connected television inventory via the company’s proprietary ad platform. “With the prevalence of smart TVs, new over-the-top offerings and better broadband options, the cord-cutting mindset is no longer associated purely with penny-pinching, younger more tech-savvy audiences,” said Adam Irlando, SVP of global demand at Dailymotion. “The CTV audience continues to expand globally and increasingly, to those viewers that were once believed to be accessible exclusively via linear TV.” Dailymotion offers global inventory at scale across Samsung Smart TV, Amazon’s Fire TV, Xbox and Android TV devices.

GOING GLOBAL

The Masked Singer is traveling to Russia. Endemol Shine Group’s Weit Media will produce nine episodes of the show for NTV. The format, which premiered in Korea in 2015, has been adapted in over 50 countries.

Sky renewed David Schwimmer’s Intelligence for season two, ahead of its February 21 season one launch on Sky One. Also earning renewals were political drama Cobra, also for a second season, and comedy drama Brassic, for a third.

HBO GO is now available in Indonesia as a standalone service. The streaming app is accessible on HBOGOAsia.com and can be downloaded from the App Store or Play Store for about $4/day.

Studio 100 Media and Playmobil announced that Heidi Special: Spring Is Here will premiere on several TV channels in Europe this spring: Canal Panda in Portugal, Kidzone in the Baltics, Studio 100 TV in Belgium, Toggolino on Super RTL for the German-speaking territories, TVPabc in Poland and the Rai Yoyo App in Italy.

MEDIATOON Distribution has sold its preschool series The Fox Badger Family, commissioned by France Televisions, to over new 25 broadcasters, among them TV Brazil, CCTV-14 in China and Télé-Quebec in Canada, as well as RAI Yoyo in Italy, WDR/ARD/KiKa in Germany, Sweden’s SVT, RTBF/Ouf Tivi in Belgium, RTS in Switzerland and Poland’s TVP-ABC in Europe,with Norway’s NRK Super and YLE in Finland and RSI in Switzerland acquiring both free TV and VOD rights.

CASTING

Lauren Graham (Gilmore Girls) landed the lead in upcoming Disney+ series The Mighty Ducks, based on the ‘90s movie franchise. Brady Noon (Good Boys) will play her son…Look for Dave Annable to guest on an episode of NBC’s This Is Us this season. Annable starred on Fox’s Red Band Society, where This Is Us’ Mandy Moore recurred as his character’s former fiancée…John Carroll Lynch (American Horror Story) will co-star in upcoming ABC procedural thriller The Big Sky…John Corbett (Northern Exposure) joins Katey Sagal in ABC drama pilot Rebel, inspired by the life of Erin Brockovich.

Answer to our last Trivia Question
Amy performed a spell to turn Buffy into what kind of animal on a Valentine’s Day episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997-2003)? A rat. Kudos to: Samantha Salvatore-WNET/NYC, Robert Levy-Intellor Group/Washington, DC, Keri Pike-Nielsen/Queensbury, NY, John Langermann-Fox 36/Toledo, Gerry Bixenspan-TV Marketing Inc./NYC, Paul Blutter-Walk and Talk Production Rentals/Burbank, Susan Nessanbaum-Goldberg-M and S Entertainment/LA, Lorrie Shilling/El Segundo, CA, Eric Litt-Tribune Media/Chicago, Wendy Holmes-CBSN/Denver, Charlie Conner-KOKI/KMYT/Tulsa, OK, Tom Moore-Kalt Productions/LA

Today’s Trivia Question
Which song did Mercedes sing in the 2012 Valentine’s Day episode of Glee (2009-2015)? (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.).