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THE HISTORY CHANNEL | A&E | LIFETIME | LMN | FYI | VICE ON TV

Today’s Premieres
CNN: CNN Primetime at 9p
Discovery: Homestead Rescue at 8p
Disney+: Voice Rising: The Music of Wakanda Forever
Netflix: Too Hot to Handle: Germany
Paramount+: FBI True

Today’s Finale
MTV: Catfish: The TV Show at 8p

IN THE NEWS

The FCC’s Media Bureau has determined a judge needs to be involved in Standard General’s proposed $8.6 billion acquisition of 64 TV stations and other assets from Tegna. “As part of the FCC’s mission, we are responsible for determining whether grant of the applications constituting this transaction serves the public interest,” said FCC chair Jessica Rosenworcel. “That’s why we’re asking for closer review to ensure that this transaction does not anti-competitively raise prices or put jobs in local newsrooms at risk.” The decision will likely lead to a delay for the deal, if not its end. Said Standard General’s Managing Partner Soo Kim, “A decision delayed is a decision denied. Our proposed transaction is consistent with all FCC regulations and precedent. It is bolstered by a voluntary commitment to invest in local news, preserve newsroom jobs, and address purported concerns related to consumer pricing. But rather than rule on the transaction’s merits, as the law requires, the Media Bureau is attempting to scuttle the deal by ordering a wholly unnecessary hearing process, that if left standing by the Commission, would kill the deal.”

Fifty-three percent of advertisers believe that legitimate news does not pose a significant brand safety risk, according to new insights from Advertiser Perceptions. Interviews conducted in October with marketer and agency executives found that two-thirds of advertisers believe it’s important for advertising to support quality news sources, though just under half are working for companies that have made it a priority. Additional findings from the analysis include:
· Over half (52%) of marketers agree that de-funding the disinformation ecosystem is an active priority for their organization with 61% taking the step to block known misinformation/propaganda channels.
· 75% agree that brands need more oversight and control over where their ads are placed, and who profits from those placements.
· Advertisers have less confidence in disinformation filters than they did a year ago (“Filters work extremely well” dropped from 35% in 2021 to 23% in 2022).
· Paid social causes the most concern (“high concern”) for brand safety at 46%, followed by search (33%) and digital video (29%), display (29%) and mobile in-app (29%).

TV winners at the SAG Awards included Sam Elliott (“1883”), Jessica Chastain (“George & Tammy”), Jennifer Coolidge (“The White Lotus”), Jason Bateman (“Ozark”), Jeremy Allen White (“The Bear”), Jean Smart (“Hacks”), and the casts of “The White Lotus” and “Abbott Elementary.”

Sixty-three percent of consumers said contextually relevant ads are more likely to feature products they want or need, in a study from Integral Ad Science that explored what consumers consider to be effective contextual links. IAS also found:
* 35% of consumers said that it’s annoying to see unrelated ads
* 28% said unrelated ads are more disruptive than related ads
* 16% lift in engagement with ads that are placed alongside relevant content

Great American Family and Great American Living have launched on Altice’s “Optimum Select” package. It will be the first time Great American Living will be available in the new markets and for Great American Family it will be the first time the network is available in HD.

Sinclair Broadcast will partner with The National Alliance on Mental Illness to launch Sinclair Cares: Mental Health Support + Hope, a campaign to encourage mental health awareness, with a focus on young adults. The campaign will begin on March 6 and run throughout the month.

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PRODUCTION & DEVELOPMENT

Netflix and The Pokémon Company are partnering for a stop-motion animated series being developed by Dwarf Studios. “Netflix is looking forward to delighting fans in Japan and around the world with ‘Pokémon Concierge,’ an entirely new visual and storytelling experience featuring ground-breaking stop-motion animation set in the Pokémon world in close collaboration with The Pokémon Company,” said Minyoung Kim, VP of Netflix Content in Asia.

Kelley L. Carter, ESPN Andscape senior entertainment reporter, inked a deal with ABC that makes her entertainment reporter across all shows under the ABC and ABC News umbrella. “I truly work with some amazing colleagues and am blessed to have continuous opportunities within the ABC news family where I learn and grow,” said Carter.

Casting notes: Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias has joined the season two cast of Disney+’s “The Santa Clauses.”…Showtime’s “Waco: The Aftermath” now has its Timothy McVeigh, in Alex Breaux (“See”). Also onboard is Gary Cole (“NCIS”).

NEW & RETURNING SERIES

Action comedy series “Fubar,” starring Arnold Schwarzenegger as a retiring CIA operative forced into one more job, is set to debut May 25 on Netflix. “Everywhere I go, people ask me when I’m going to do another big action comedy like ‘True Lies,’” said Schwarzenegger. “Well, here it is. ‘Fubar’ will kick your ass and make you laugh – and not just for two hours. You get a whole season.”

Two game shows are headed back to NBC for fresh seasons. “The Wall” returns April 11 at 9p, followed by “The Weakest Link” on April 17 at 10p.

Prime Video’s “Citadel” kicks off April 28 with two episodes. Added to the cast of the spy series is Lesley Manville (“Vera Drake”).

Six TLC premieres are set for spring: “Dr. Pimple Popper” (April 5 at 9p); “90 Day Fiance: Love in Paradise” (April 17 at 8p); “You, Me & My Ex” (April 17 at 9p); “7 Little Johnstons (April 18 at 9p); “Doubling Down with the Derricos” (May 3 at 10p); and “Save My Skin” (June 14 at 9p).

Season four of E!’s “Celebrity Game Face” launches April 6 at 9p. Host Kevin Hart presides as celebs compete in absurd challenges for their favorite charities.

A new season of Discovery’s “Street Outlaws: Fastest in America” rolls out March 13 at 8p. Instead of group head-to-head match-ups like previous seasons, this year, two racers from each team are selected every night to compete in a 16-driver bracket showdown for cash.

Limited series “The Last Thing He Told Me,” starring and exec produced by Jennifer Garner and based on the novel by Laura Dave, kicks off April 14.

“Secret Sauce with Todd Graves” premieres March 4 at 1p. The restaurant journey starts in Baton Rouge, where Graves meets up with Shaquille O’Neal.

EstrellaTV is launching its new daytime lineup and theme, ¡Alegra Tus Dias! (Brighten Your Day), starting with Mexican morning show, “Venga la Alegria” at 12p followed by “100 Latinos Dijeron” and as does morning movie Cine Clasico.” Gossip show “Ventaneando” anchors the new lineup at 4p.

BY THE NUMBERS

Tegna reported 4Q22 revenue of $917 million, up18% year-over-year. Total company revenue was down 2% from the fourth quarter of 2020 due to reduced political revenue. Subscription revenue hit a record $372 million, up 11% year-over-year.

FuboTV record highs in annual revenue and subscribers across its global business, exceeding previously announced forecasts. The company surpassed $1 billion in global annual revenue for the first time including $100 million in advertising revenue (up 37% year-over-year) and reached 1.445 million subscribers (up 29% year-over-year).

COMING UP

Oscar nominated documentary “All the Beauty and the Bloodshed” debuts Sunday, March 19 at 9p on HBO. The story about renowned artist and activist Nan Goldin is told through her slideshows, interviews, photography, archival family snapshots and footage of her personal fight to hold the Sackler family accountable for the opioid overdose crisis.

STREAMING

More than 60% of children use paid streaming services daily, with 85% of those children preferring streaming services over cable TV (6%), according to a survey from Parent Tested Parent Approved. The survey also revealed that 41% of families watch under 10 hours weekly, 37% watch 11-20 hours and 22% use streaming services more than 20 hours per week. Netflix was the most popular among all streaming platforms, with 81% of households watching its programming. Prime Video was second at 78% followed by Disney+ at 69%. Hulu (46%) and Paramount+ (38%) rounded out the top five. Sixty-five percent of survey respondents felt that Disney+ had the best programming content for children. Netflix came in second with 18%.

Hemisphere Media Group has launched a new FAST channel for aficionados of Spanish-language films. Todocine features dramas, action, comedies, cult films, and modern classics from Latin America and the Caribbean.

FOX News Audio is expanding its true crime content with a new weekly podcast as well as a True Crime Minute for smart speakers. “Outnumbered” co-host Emily Compagno hosts “The FOX True Crime Podcast with Emily Compagno,” with new episodes dropping Tuesdays and Thursdays.

TECH TALK

Snap introduced My AI, a new chatbot running the latest version of OpenAI’s GPT technology that’s been customized for Snapchat. My AI – available as an experimental feature for Snapchat+ subscribers – “can recommend birthday gift ideas for your BFF, plan a hiking trip for a long weekend, suggest a recipe for dinner, or even write a haiku about cheese for your cheddar-obsessed pal,” said the company, with a warning: “As with all AI-powered chatbots, My AI is prone to hallucination and can be tricked into saying just about anything. Please be aware of its many deficiencies and sorry in advance!”

Geopath, the not-for-profit organization that provides the industry-standard audience metrics for OOH advertising, released its 2023 Annual Forecast, which contains updated audience impression data for all audited inventory and, for the first time in the current generation of measurement, transit station and scheduled fleet media. Additionally, unifying all OOH media formats is Geopath’s new reach and frequency model that is empirically derived from observed mobile location data. “With the launch of our new forecast, we’re continuing to enhance the quality and precision of OOH audience data that our members rely upon to transact confidently,” said Dylan Mabin, President of Geopath. “Geopath now provides up to date media measurement for over one million OOH assets. This ‘single source of truth’ enables our members to provide a comprehensive view of the audience delivery and reach across all OOH. This is a huge step forward as we work collectively as an industry to enhance the value of OOH for our clients.”

Charter Communications is showcasing the capabilities of its advanced Spectrum network and its ability to serve businesses of all sizes with multi-gigabit data needs, in a new national TV campaign called “Designed for Business; Built for You.” Capabilities range from providing an always-on WiFi network for a retail store to run customer credit cards, to supporting a large data center requiring Enterprise services up to 100 gigabits per second. “We understand the many pain points businesses have in developing a digital infrastructure that supports their needs today, but also readies them for future growth,” said Bill Archer, EVP and President, Spectrum Enterprise. “Our advanced Spectrum network is designed to help decision makers at businesses of all sizes implement effective solutions that will enable them to thrive in today’s fast-paced and competitive environment.”

SPORTS ROUNDUP

The NFL and Cinedigm extended a deal for distribution of film of this year’s Super Bowl.“Through this film, it’s easy to see why the Chiefs have won two Super Bowls in four years. The most striking thing is how focused on winning this team was throughout the season,” said Todd Schmidt, Senior Producer at NFL Films. “You see it through our sound and wire footage how this team came together to pull out so many tough wins, especially in the post-season and Super Bowl. Some of our films show the character of one or two players – this one conveyed the professionalism and teamwork of an entire organization.”The deal also includes select other releases from NFL Films.

Warner Bros. Discovery is exiting the RSN business, according to Sports Business Journal. WBD has given ten MLB, NBA and NHL teams that have distribution deals with its AT&T SportsNet channels until the end of March to reach a deal to take their distribution rights back. “AT&T SportsNet is not immune to the well-known challenges that the entire RSN industry is facing,” said the company in a statement. “We will continue to engage in private conversations with our partners as we seek to identify reasonable and constructive solutions.”

NCAA March Madness Live, the live streaming and second screen destination for the 2023 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship, will for the first time offer a mix of new content and features in time for the NCAA Conference Championships. The app update will give fans access to live conference tournament updates, classic game footage, post-game highlights, bracket tips, NCAA.com reporting and analysis with articles and videos posted daily. It will also introduce the new Men’s and Women’s Conference Tournament Pick ‘Em game, which will give fans the opportunity to play and predict the outcome of every match-up against friends and other college basketball fans.

Collegiate Sports Management Group and EsportsU will host CECC West, the third leg of the Collegiate Esports Commissioner’s Cup Texas, and in conjunction with the 2023 Big Sky Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships, presented by Idaho Central Credit Union. This will be the first time a major esports tournament will be in tandem with an NCAA college basketball tournament.

Insane Championship Wrestling will now be exclusively on FITE+, joining a growing array of live and on demand content from pro-wrestling and combat sports providers. ICW on FITE+ will include every new weekly show on Fridays 3p and monthly drops from their past catalog. The first Friday show will stream on FITE+ March 3.

GOING GLOBAL

UK game show “The Traitors” scored a season two renewal by the BBC. Season one of the hit show averaged over 3 million viewers per episode overnight.

Fremantle’s line-up of new entertainment programming coming to this year’s London Screenings includes “The Second Chance Ex-periment,” “The Big Celebrity Detox,” “The Beatbox” and “DNA Singers.”

Among the shows on the Spring 2023 slate from Cineflx Rights are factual titles “Tempting Fortune,” “The Secret Life of the Auction House,” “Designing Dreams,” and “Beyond the Farm: Men at Work.”

Quiz format “Jeopardy!” is heading to ITV1 and ITVX this autumn. Hosted by broadcaster Stephen Fry, the show will provide nostalgia for fans of the format, while introducing the quiz show to a new audience.

All3Media International has signed a first round of pre–sales for “The Real Crown: Inside the House of Windsor,” from independent producer 72 Films for ITVX in the UK.

Studio 100’s comedy-adventure CGI series “Vegesaurs” has made its UK debut on CBeebies, on the channel’s Discover & Do zone in a weekday morning slot.

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RATINGS

Overnight streams of Sunday’s SAG Awards on Netflix drew over 1.5 million viewers across YouTube, Twitter and Facebook. On YouTube, about 882,000 people watched the ceremony, and 250,000 listened with just audio.

Top 10 Streaming Shows for the week of February 20
Program, Platform, Total Actions, Total Content, Actions per Content, Fans & Followers
Outer Banks (Netflix), 17.0m, 19, 895,879, 5.9m
The Last of Us (HBO Max), 2.0m, 51, 39,878, 1.3m
The Mandalorian (Disney+), 1.4m, 32, 42,627, 2.7m
Wednesday (Netflix), 675k, 2, 337,525, 3.9m
The Chosen (Prime Video), 658k, 19, 34,627, 1.2m
Umbrella Academy (Netflix), 622k, 5, 124,335, 5.2m
Shadow and Bone (Netflix), 566k, 15, 37,727, 876k
Netflix is a Joke (YouTube), 418k, 52, 8,043, 2.7m
Ginny & Georgia (Netflix), 363k, 2, 181,598, 1.4m
You (Netflix), 348k, 19, 18,296, 2.0m
Source: Comscore powered by Shareablee

Broadcast Nielsen Ratings for Thurday, February 23
Show, P2+ 000s, (A18-49)
ABC: Station 19 3.97 (0.5), Grey’s Anatomy 3.60 (0.5), Company You Keep 1.53 (0.2)
CBS: Young Sheldon 4.33 (0.4), Ghosts 2.61 (0.4), So Help Me Todd 2.61 (0.2), CSI: Vegas 2.00 (0.2)
CW: Walker 0.67 (0.1), Walker: Independence 0.45 (0.1)
FOX: Next Level Chef 2.08 (0.4), Animal Control 1.60 (0.3), Call Me Kat 1.31 (0.2)
ION: Chicago PD 0.91 (0.1), Chicago PD 0.96 (0.1), Chicago PD 0.94 (0.1)
NBC: Law & Order 4.71 (0.5), Law & Order: SVU 5.01(0.6), Law & Order: Organized Crime 3.65 (0.5)
Telemundo: La Casa de los Famosos 1.14 (0.3), El Señor de los Cielos 1.21 (0.4), Amor y Traición 0.95 (0.3)
Univision: Premio lo Nuestro 2.27

EXECUTIVE MOVES

David Rhodes, former CBS News president, has been named Executive Chairman of Sky News Group. Jonathan Levy has been promoted to Managing Director and Executive Editor of Sky News UK.

Brian Edwards, named Co-head of Unscripted at Amazon’s restructured MGM TV business three months ago, is leaving the company at the end of next month, reports Deadline. Edwards had previously served as President, Television Operations at MGM.

Common Sense Networks has tapped Ashlee Conner to serve as Sales Director, East, and Farhad Fozounmayeh as Sales Director, West. Most recently, Ashlee served as East Coast Director of Ad Sales for Future Today’s CTV portfolio of apps, while Fozounmayeh was Sales Director at The Guardian.

This Day in History
1849 – The first boatload of gold rush prospectors from the East Coast docked in San Francisco.

Answer to Our Last Trivia Question
Which friend of Larry David’s from his days as a standup comedian auditioned for the part of Elaine on “Seinfeld” (1989-1998)? Rosie O’Donnell. Kudos to: Gerry Bixenspan-TV Marketing Inc./NYC; Louis Lewow-FITE/Atlanta; Susan Nessanbaum-Goldberg-M and S Entertainment/LA

Today’s Trivia Question
The cast of which sitcom included an actor whose real-life brother played his adopted brother? (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.)

Cynopsis Team