Today’s Premieres
CBS: Survivor at 8p
The CW: Kung Fu at 9p
Disney+: Weekend Family
Fox: The Masked Singer at 8p, Domino Masters at 9p
Freeform: Good Trouble at 10p
Netflix: Andy Warhol Diaries; Byron Baes;Queer Eye Germany
Science: Black Files Declassified at 9p

IN THE NEWS

Pay-TV providers lost nearly 4.7 million net video subscribers in 2021, according to a report from Liechtman Research Group. Overall losses in 2021 moderated slightly compared with 2020, when nearly 4.9 million cut the cord. Total subscriber levels are now at 76.1 million with the top seven cable companies accounting for 41.3 million of those. Other services, including satellite operators DirecTV and Dish, account for 26.8 million. The remaining 7.9 million subscribers have internet-delivered packages like Hulu + Live TV.

More stars have been added to the list of presenters for the Academy Awards ceremony. Ruth E. Carter, Anthony Hopkins, Lily James, John Leguizamo, Simu Liu, Rami Malek and Uma Thurman will be handing out trophies during film’s biggest night on Sunday, March 27 on ABC at 8p.

Natasha Bedingfield will host and perform during The Masked Singer 2022 National Tour. Bedingfield, a contestant on Season 6 of FOX’s “The Masked Singer,” was “Pepper.”

Law&Crime struck a deal to launch on DISH Network. The channel is now available in DISH TV’s America’s Top 120 pack and higher.

UPFRONTS CALENDAR

March 15: National CineMedia at 11:30a (Gene Siskel Film Center, Chicago)
March 15-16: Black Owned Media Upfront at 1p (virtual)
March 22: NBCUniversal’s One22 Conference at 11a (30 Rock Studio H, NYC)
March 23: Fox’s Content Drives Commerce Brand Partnership Summit (Fox Lot, LA)
March 24: Nickelodeon at 4p (Palladium Times Square, NYC)
March 28: National CineMedia at 11:30a (Film at Lincoln Center, NYC)
April 1: Black Owned Media Upfront at 1p (virtual)
April 6: Disney’s Sports Summit (virtual); AMC Networks at 6:30p (The Peak in Hudson Yards, NYC); National CineMedia at 11a (Academy of Motion Pictures, LA)
April 25: Disney Storyteller’s Showcase
May 2-6: IAB NewFronts
May 2: NBCUniversal/Peacock NewFront
May 3: Roku at 11:30a (Caldwell Factory, NYC)
May 16: NBCUniversal (Radio City Music Hall, NYC); Telemundo (Ziegfeld Theater, NYC); Fox (Skylight, NYC)
May 17: Discovery (Jazz at Lincoln Center, NYC); Disney (Basketball City at Pier 36, NYC); YouTube Brandcast at 8p; Univision (Javits Center in NYC)
May 18: Paramount (Carnegie Hall, NYC); WarnerMedia (Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden, NYC)
May 19: The CW (New York City Center Theater, NYC)

WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH

NBC Universal has launched two creative campaigns, “Women’s Herstory: The Next Chapter” and “Our Girls, the Unstoppable Women of the Future,” to run across its platforms the remainder of March. “Women’s Herstory: The Next Chapter” stars producer, equal rights advocate and host of E!’s “Live from E!” red carpet, Laverne Cox, and focuses on the need to center woman in narratives of the past, present and future. In addition, Telemundo’s latest extension of Mujeres Imparables/Unstoppable Women Initiative, Nuestras Ninas, las mujeres imparables del future/Our Girls, the Unstoppable Women of the Future, focuses on supporting girls of all ages and ensuring they have the tools they need to become dynamic women of tomorrow.

State of Consumer Engagement 2021, a study from Horowitz Research, finds that today’s women want to drive change. Almost half (45%) say it’s important for them to work for the advancement of women’s rights and to support feminist causes, specifically. Forty-five percent of women have taken negative action against a company, because its socio-political positions do not align with their own. When asked specifically how they have taken action, the survey finds that 32% of women have stopped doing business or spent less money with a company because they do not believe the brand is aligned with their socio-political viewpoints.

SPORTS MEDIA AWARDS REGISTRATION IS OPEN

Join us on April 19th as we celebrate both the finalists and winners in person at the New York Athletic Club in NYC.
Don’t miss this opportunity to network and connect with them and each other.

Interested in bringing your team?
Tables of 10 are available for purchase as well as single seats.

REGISTER NOW!

PRODUCTION & DEVELOPMENT

Renee Zellweger will headline and executive produce “Avenger Field,” a one-hour drama series being developed by Peacock from writer Felicia D. Henderson and MGM Television. The project celebrates the women and men that executed a clandestine all-female US Airforce program called the WASPS to battle Hitler from home. It’s inspired by the true story of WASPS leader Jackie Cohran and a diverse group of women who fought the system.

Judge Judy Sheindlin will continue to hold court. The IMDb TV series “Judy Justice” was picked up for a sophomore season, slated to premiere this fall. “I’m over the moon and couldn’t be happier with the Judy Justice reception in streaming,” said Sheindlin. “Amazon has been a terrific partner and I look forward to our continued collaboration.”

In other renewal news, “Never Have I Ever” is returning for a fourth and final season on Netflix. The coming-of-age comedy from Mindy Kaling and Lang Fisher follows the life of Indian-American teen Devi (Maitreyi Ramakrishnan). Season 3 premieres this summer, with Season 4 to start production in 2023.

Netflix reality series “Love Is Blind” has already completed its third season, reports Variety. It was filmed back to back with Season 2, which was recently released. and took place in Dallas. It will air in the next year.

AMC Networks greenlit a six-episode season of “The Driver” for 2023. The drama, starring Giancarlo Esposito (“Breaking Bad,” “Better Call Saul”), is produced by AMC Studios in association with A+E Studios and Thruline Entertainment. Sunu Gonera (“Class of 09”) and Danny Brocklehurst (“The Stranger”) created the series based on a U.K. format by Brocklehurst and Jim Poyser. It centers on a taxi driver (Esposito) whose life is turned upside down when he picks up a New Orleans-based Zimbabwean gangster who exploits undocumented immigrants.

WarnerMedia Kids & Family and Sesame Workshop announced the next phase of their content partnership. “Sesame Street Mecha Builders” is set to debut on HBO Max and Cartoon Network in May. Other animated series and specials, including the newly greenlit miniseries “Charlotte’s Web,” upcoming preschool shows “Bea’s Block” and a “Sesame Street” themed reimagining of “The Nutcracker,” are also set to debut in 2022, with other projects already in the works.

Norman Lear and Brent Miller have joined Mind Riot Entertainment’s “Gamergate” as executive producers. The series follows journalist, game developer and computer programmer Brianna Wu’s experience as a critic and target of the 2014 harassment campaign.

Heather Hemmens (“Roswell, New Mexico”) inked a deal to star in multiple original films exclusively for Crown Media Family Networks. Hemmens previously starred in the Hallmark Channel original movie “Love, Take Two” and “Christmas in My Heart” for Hallmark Movies & Mysteries.

Hulu ordered 10-episode series “Career Opportunities in Murder and Mayhem.” Starring Mandy Patinkin and Violett Beane and written by “Stumptown” duo Mike Weiss and Heidi Cole McAdams, the project asks how do you solve a murder in a post-fact world?

Casting Notes: Nick Offerman (“Parks & Recreation,” “Pam & Tommy”) has boarded Peacock comedic thriller “The Resort”… Jay Duplass (“The Chair”), Sonny Poon Tip (“Holby City”), and Katrine De Candole (“Crow”) have joined HBO/BBC drama “Industry” as series regulars…Ernie Hudson has joined NBC’s reboot pilot of “Quantum Leap” opposite Raymond Lee… “Major Crimes” alum Michael Paul Chan has nabbed a heavily recurring role in Apple TV+ original series “Hello Tomorrow!”.

NEW & RETURNING SERIES

FX’s “Under the Banner of Heaven” bows Thursday, April 28 on Hulu. The limited series from Dustin Lance Black and starring Andrew Garfield and Daisy Edgar-Jones was inspired by the true crime bestseller by Jon Krakauer. It follows the events that led to the 1984 murder of Brenda Wright Lafferty (Edward-Jones) and her baby daughter.

“Solving for Zero” premieres Friday, April 8, followed by 10-part learning series “Solving for Zero: The Search for Climate Innovation” on Friday, April 15 on Wondrium. Leading up to Earth Day 2022, the new original documentary based on Bill Gates’ best selling book, How to Avoid a Climate Disaster, and companion educational series give viewers the latest information on the world’s largest wind-powered shipping freighter, a sustainable cement being used in the Athletes Village for the 2024 Summer Olympics, and carbon-free fusion power that could supply 20 percent of the world’s energy needs.

COMING UP

“With/In,” an anthology of films created in the homes of filmmakers and actors, is coming to VOD and DVD on Tuesday, March 15. Creators include Julianne Moore, Dan Cheadle, Rosie Perez and more, with each family revealing their own story armed with an iPhone and a basic filmmaking kit that travelled across the country throughout the pandemic.

STREAMING

NBC News Now is expanding to the UK via distribution deals with Sky and Virgin Media. The free, ad-supported streaming app has been available in 175 countries through the iOS and Android stores.

TECH TALK

Apple is making a major move in sports. Friday Night Baseball, a weekly doubleheader with live pre and postgame shows, will be available in eight countries on Apple TV+ once the regular MLB season begins. New U.S. content will include MLB Big Inning, a live show with highlights airing every weeknight throughout the season. U.S. and Canada fans will also have access to a new 24/7 livestream with MLB game replays, news and analysis, highlights and classic games in addition to on-demand programming.

Comscore and WideOrbit expanded their longstanding partnership to create the next generation of automated linear TV buying and selling. WideOrbit is introducing Comscore TV information to power automated TV transactions and audience targeting across markets and demographics. The partnership facilitates the automated buying and selling of advertising inventory from more than 1700 local stations across 210 local markets, allowing advertisers to reach a specific number of impressions in a market and/or daypart rather than make specific program buys.

GOING GLOBAL

Starzplayz commissioned “Night in Paradise,” its first German language original series. It’s based on the graphic novel of the same name by Frank Schmolke.

FINALLY: END-TO-END MEDIA WORKFLOW SOLUTIONS DEBUNKED!

Join OpenDrives & Signiant on Thursday, March 24th at 1pm ET and learn how to Empower your teams with customizable, adaptable, streamlined workflows that meet your evolving business needs! Speaking companies include Signiant, OpenDrives and Creative Mobile Solutions.

LEARN MORE

RATINGS

The first week following the Beijing Winter Olympics turned out to be ratings gold for several of the most popular syndicated shows. “Access Hollywood” (0.8 Live+SD national Nielsen, up 100% from the week before) was the most dramatic example. The daily magazine show grew its audience by an average of 627,000 Total Viewers each day, rising from sixth place to tie for third with “TMZ” (0.8, unchanged). “Inside Edition” (2.3, up 15%) and Entertainment Tonight (2.1, up 5%).

On the game show front “Jeopardy” (5.9, up 9%) regained the top spot from “Family Feud” (5.7, up 2%). Meanwhile, “Dr. Phil” (1.7, up 13%) tied with “Live with Kelly and Ryan” (1.7, steady) to lead the talk show pack. “Ellen DeGeneres” (0.9, up 29%) boasted the biggest week-to-week gain in the top ten, growing by an average 381,000 viewers each day tying the rapidly climbing “Kelly Clarkson” (0.9, up 13%). Court shows were ruled by “Judge Judy” (4.8, up 7%) and “Hot Bench” (1.5, up 7%).

HGTV’s “Married to Real Estate” averaged a .51 Live+3D rating among P25-54 and a .69 Live+3D among Women 25-54 during its freshman season. The series attracted 15.1 million total viewers during its eight-week run.

FOX New Channel was the top network in all of cable in total day and primetime with viewers and in the 25-54 demographic for the week of February 28. It marked FNC’s best week across the board since November 2, 2020. FNC secured 85 of the top 100 telecasts across all of cable. In primetime, FNC earned 3,557,000 viewers and 736,000 in the 25-54 demo. In total day FNC garnered 2,172,000 viewers and 456,000 in the 25-54 demo and 296,000 in 18-49.

Broadcast Nielsen Top 10 M-F Syndicated Strip Series for the week of February 21 ranked in order by HH Rtg
Jeopardy (CMV) 5.9 AA
Family Feud (CMV) 5.7 AA
Wheel of Fortune (CMV) 5.6 AA
Judge Judy (CMV) 4.8 AA
Inside Edition (CMV) 2.3 AA
The Big Bang Theory (WB) 2.1 AA
Entertainment Tonight (CMV) 2.1 AA
Live With Kelly and Ryan (DAD) 1.7 AA
The Dr. Phil Show (CMV) 1.7 AA
Hot Bench (CMV) 1.5 AA

Broadcast Nielsen Ratings for Monday, March 7
Show, P2+ 000s, (A18-49)
ABC: The Bachelor 3.44 (0.7), The Good Doctor 3.38 (0.4)
CBS: The Neighborhood 5.84 (0.6), Bob Hearts Abishola 5.60 (0.5), NCIS 7.20 (0.5), NCIS: Hawaii 5.23 (0.4)
CW: All American 0.60 (0.2), All American: Homecoming 0.42 (.01)
FOX: 911: Lone Star 4.99 (0.6), The Cleaning Lady 2.90 (0.4)
NBC: America’s Got Talent: Extreme 3.12 (0.5), The End Game 1.82 (0.2)
Telemundo: Exatlon Estados Unidos 1.04 (0.3), Hercal: Amor e Venganza 1.33 (0.4), Pasion de Gavilanes 0.81 (0.3)
Univision: Soltero con Hijas 1.58 (0.6), Mi Fortuna es Amarte 1.66 (0.5), Madre 1 .79 0.5
Source: Nielsen, live + same day time period averages

EXECUTIVE MOVES

OpenAP announced three promotions. Brittany Slattery has been upped to Chief Marketing Officer, Abbey Thomas to Chief Revenue Officer and Chris LoRusso to Chief Business Officer.

The Content Group appointed Shanon Smith as Senior Vice President of Production, while Sandra Young was named Vice President of Current Production & Partnerships. Smith was previously Vice President of Production & Operations at NBC Universal; Young had been at NBC Universal as Oxygen’s Senior Director of Current Programming & Development.

David Shinok Lee was upped to Vice President of Content of WEBTOON Entertainment. He had been Head of Content for WEBTOON.

New Metric Media hired Jeff Hersh as its first Chief Operating Officer. In addition, Bill Lundy was named Senior Vice President, Comedy.

This Day in History
1959 – The first model of the Barbie doll appeared at the American Toy Fair in New York

Answer to Our Last Trivia Question
An episode of “The Love Boat” revival “Love Boat: The Next Wave” (1998-99) revealed that which two characters in the original series had secretly been in love? Julie and Doc. Kudos to: Charles Lore/NYC; Phyllis McQuillan-MSG Networks/NYC; Louis Lenow-FITE/Atlanta, GA; Gerry Bixenspan-TV Marketing, Inc./NYC; Rosemary Cunningham-Weigel Broadcasting/Chicago, IL; Tom Moore-Kalt Productions/Los Angeles, CA; Susan Nessanbaum-Goldberg-M and S Entertainment/Los Angeles, CA;
David Westberg-SAG AFTRA Credit Union/Burbank, CA; David Garber-Loyola Marymount University, Playa Vista, CA.

Today’s Trivia Question
What was the name of the nursing home where Edith got a part-time job on “All in the Family?” (1971-1979)? (Email [email protected] with your answer and be sure to include your name, company, city and time zone. Unofficial rules: a limit of four per time zone.)

Cynopsis Team