Tonight’s Finales
ABC: A Million Little Things at 10p
Fox: Outmatched at 8:30p, Deputy at 9p
USA: The Sinner at 10p

IN THE NEWS

Sixty percent of households would cancel pay-TV subscriptions before they’d cancel broadband service, according to research from Parks Associates. “Consumers with OTT subscriptions are shifting away from internet bundles, with this group much more likely to have standalone internet service than non-subscribers,” said Steve Nason, Director of Research, Parks Associates. “This finding indicates providers need to adjust their bundling strategies, to include more OTT video services as options.” As it stands, fewer than one-fifth of subscribers receive an OTT service bundled with their broadband package.

There is very little expectation among consumers that brands should stop advertising during the COVID-19 pandemic, according a global study from Kantar about consumer attitudes and media habits, with only 8% of respondents identifying it as a priority for brands. While advertisers may consider going dark during the crisis, Kantar warns that a six-month absence from TV will result in an estimated 39% reduction in total brand communication awareness. For those that do continue advertising, a clear majority of consumers expect advertising to make a positive contribution to society, including: Talking about how the brand is helpful in the new everyday life (77%); informing about their efforts to face the situation (75%); and offering a reassuring tone (70%). Two “don’ts” are exploiting the situation to promote the brand (75%) and using a humorous tone (40%).

CBS’s The Late Show returns with original episodes on Monday, March 30. “I’m staying home and so is everybody who works for me, but thanks to some amazing work by my staff and the CBS Broadcasting folks, we will be back on Monday with new Late Shows,” shared Stephen Colbert on Twitter.

Prominent virologist Dr. Ian Lipkin revealed he tested positive for the coronavirus. Dr. Lipkin, the medical advisor on pandemic movie Contagion and a frequent TV guest, revealed on Fox Business Network that he has the disease – and, “it’s miserable.”

An episode of NBC’s New Amsterdam the centered on a deadly flu epidemic, scheduled to air April 7, has been pulled. “The world needs a lot less fiction now, and a lot more facts,” the medical drama’s creator and showrunner, David Schulner, told Deadline.

DoubleVerify, the software platform for digital media measurement, announced a partnership with the Ad Council, in collaboration with the White House, US Department of Health and Human Services and Centers for Disease Control, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. DV will leverage its media authentication technology to extend the reach and impact of coronavirus response messaging being developed by the Ad Council. It joins Amazon, Apple, Facebook, Google, Pinterest, Snapchat, TikTok, Twitter, and Verizon Media, among others, in offering a combination of donated media, technology, content, and services.

The Tony Awards, scheduled to air Sunday, June 7 on CBS, have been postponed due to COVID-19. CBS, the Broadway League and the American Theater Wing will announce a new date “once Broadway opens up again.”

Comcast is helping fill the time for sudden stay-at-homes, by making the on demand catalogs from Showtime, Epix, CuriosityStream, History Vault, Grokker Yoga Fitness & Wellbeing, The Reading Corner and DogTV available for its Xfinity X1 and Flex customers. “This is an unprecedented time and we want to be there for our customers to help make the time they’re spending at home easier with free previews from our network, studio and streaming partners,” said Rebecca Heap, SVP of Video & Entertainment at Comcast.

Newsmax and Hotwire Communications announced a new distribution deal to deliver Newsmax TV to Hotwire’s markets throughout the Southeast. The cable news net is now available in SD on Channel 121 and in HD on Channel 540 via Hotwire’s Digital Access package.

“The Cynopsis Sports Awards continue to recognize the passionate stories coming from both behind and in-front of the camera. We are honored to continue that tradition and thank the industry for their continued support of the event.”

– Chris Pursell | CYNOPSIS Director of Content

VIEW FINALISTS HERE

Netflix gave a series order to Angry Birds: Summer Madness, based on the characters in the Rovio Entertainment video game series that also hatched two films. “Angry Birds are about to smash the small screen and we are thrilled to be making the journey with Netflix as our global partner,” said Ed Galton, CCO & Managing Director, Cake.

NEW & RETURNING SERIES

New Discovery series Legends of the Wild makes its debut Wednesday, April 1 at 10p. Wilderness experts use their skills to document, discover and solve mysteries of the natural world.

Verizon is launching Pay it Forward Live, a weekly 30-minute entertainment series to support small businesses through the COVID-19 crisis. Verizon will donate $2.5 million to Local Initiatives Support Corporation, and as consumers engage in the events, will unlock an additional $2.5 million in funds, for a potential $5 million total. Dave Matthews kicks off the series tonight at 8p on Twitter @Verizon and Yahoo Entertainment.

Crime drama Hightown drops on Starz on Sunday, May 17 in the US and Canada, and on streaming service Starzplay across Europe and Latin America. Series set in Cape Cod follows a woman’s journey to sobriety, intertwined with a murder investigation.

REVOLT TV unveiled details about its new digital content initiatives, including new episodes of Maconomics, with financial guru and artist Ro$$ Mac weighing in on how the coronavirus is impacting personal finances; new episodes of Kaz + Effect exploring the virus’ disruption of the sports world; and new web series that No Sleeping in the Trophy Room, chatting with Hip Hop entrepreneurs about the pandemic’s effect on small businesses, and The Valentino Vlog featuring Guapdad 4000, both premiering this week on REVOLT platforms. On social media, REVOLT is offering a new weekly interactive broadcast on Instagram Live featuring Ivy Rivera and Low Key weighing in on the latest releases in Hip Hop and R&B.

Season four of For Love or Likes debuts on Outdoor Channel on Thursday, April 2 at 7p, followed on Saturday, April 4 by the season three launch of The Hunt for Monster Bass at 4:30p.

COMING UP

Late Late Show host James Corden will host Homefest: James Corden’s Late Late Show Special, on Monday, March 30 at 10p. Guests Will Ferrell, David Blaine, Dua Lipa, BTS, Billie Eilish with Finneas and John Legend will appear from their homes, encouraging the audience to follow guidelines from the CDC about COVID-19 control.

Another Brit, Elton John, will host Fox Presents the iHeart Living Room Concert for America, a music event aimed at offering entertainment and support during the COVID-19 crisis. Performers will include Alicia Keys, Backstreet Boys, Billie Eilish, Billie Joe Armstrong, Mariah Carey, Tim McGraw and more, from their own homes. Concert will air in the iHeartRadio Music Awards’ original broadcast timeslot, Sunday, March 29 at 9p of Fox, as well as on iHeartMedia radio stations. The benefit special will be broadcast commercial-free.

Twenty years after ABC’s Who Wants To Be A Millionaire debuted on prime time in the US, late-night host Jimmy Kimmel will oversee a special run of episodes featuring celebrity contestants playing for the charity of their choice. The anniversary event kicks off Wednesday, April 8 at 10p, with Eric Stonestreet playing for Building Hope for Autism and Will Forte playing for The Pangea Network. For the first time in US franchise, celebrities can invite a guest to help them answer questions.

STREAMING SNIPPETS

Usage levels for HBO Now since Saturday, March 14 has been the highest on the platform since summer, reported WarnerMedia, with time spent up over 40% from its four-week average. “While we’ve seen expected gains for Westworld as it launched its new season (currently our #1 series on the platform) and other recent HBO Original Series, Euphoria’s audience has also doubled over its 4-week average, with Big Little Lies, Chernobyl, Game of Thrones, and His Dark Materials all delivering gains in excess of 50%,” wrote Cheryl Idell, Chief Research Officer, WarnerMedia Entertainment & Direct -to-Consumer, in a blog post. Ebola: The Doctor’s Story had viewing over seven times greater than recent weeks.

The 2020 SXSW Film Festival was canceled, but streaming event Support the Shorts is offering select short films from the festival for free on the Mailchimp Presents platform. Over 70 shorts, including the four festival winners, are available. “We have been heartened by the outpouring of sympathy and support for our filmmakers from so many corners since the cancellation of SXSW,” said Janet Pierson, Director of Film for SXSW. “Our inboxes blew up with some variation of ‘I’m so sorry, what can we do to help?’ In the face of this unprecedented crisis, it was exciting for SXSW to be able to pass on this lucrative opportunity for all the official short film selections for SXSW 2020.”

Some Netflix subscribers in the US and Europe were unable to use the service for about an hour on Wednesday. Issues included no connection, and video streaming issues. Netflix said later in the day the problem had been fixed.

TECH TALK

Apple has sourced and is donating 10 million face masks to the medical community in the US, and millions more to the hardest-hit regions in Europe. “These people deserve our debt of gratitude for all the work they’re doing on the front lines,” said CEO Tim Cook in a video on Twitter.

Instagram introduced a new feature, Co-Watching, that lets users browse posts with friends, and view saved, liked and suggested content by tapping a photo icon in an ongoing chat. The feature, aimed at helping people socialize safely during the health crisis, will be available globally “over the coming weeks,” said Instagram.

GOING GLOBAL

UK’s Channel 4 announced shows that will serve as its “creative response” during the COVID-19 pandemic. Among the new commissions: Wedding in Lockdown, a reality show from MultiStory Media that helps a self-isolating couple celebrate their nups over the internet.

Red Arrow Studios International has inked new European deals for the crime drama Bosch. Kabel Eins has taken seasons one to three in Germany; WarnerMedia has picked up seasons four, five and the upcoming sixth season in Germany, Austria and Switzerland; while HBO Nordic has also licensed seasons one through five, in addition to season six.

PODCAST POST

FOX News Radio is launching a new weekday-evening edition of the daily podcast The FOX News Rundown dedicated to the latest developments of the coronavirus pandemic. Hosted by FNC foreign correspondent Trey Yingst, the new show, The FOX News Rundown Podcast: Global Pandemic, will debut Monday, March 30.

Today’s Trivia Question
Which 1970s series centered on a German Shepherd falsely accused of attacking its master? (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.)