A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE FROM SCRIPPS NETWORKS

SCRIPPS NETWORKS
THE LEADER IN FREE TV

The ONLY Entertainment Portfolio to Show YOY Growth!
A25-54 +3%, A18-49 +5%, P2+ +12%

ION, Bounce, Grit, Laff, ION Mystery,
Newsy, Court TV, TrueReal, and Defy TV
For more, visit SCRIPPS NETWORKS
Source: Nielsen Media Research, C3, STD YoY: 9/27/21-1/30/22 vs 9/28/20-1/31/21, Total Day, English language entertainment networks only, excluding kids/news/sports programming

Today’s Premieres
The Africa Channel: Traffic! at 9p
discovery+: Serving the Hamptons
Food Network: Chef Boot Camp at 10p
HBO Max: Queen Stars; Tokyo Vice; Close Enough; Trinity of the Shadows
Magnolia: Barnwood Builders at 9p
Netflix: Senzo: Murder of a Soccer Star
Paramount+: Ghislaine – Partner in Crime
Shudder: Cursed Films
World Channel: Sapelo at 8p

Today’s Finale
INSP: Into the Wild Frontier at 8p

IN THE NEWS

Ann Sarnoff, Chair and CEO of WarnerMedia Studios and Networks Group, will be leaving her role with the close of WarnerMedia’s merger with Discovery Inc. In a memo to employees touting their contributions to the company’s success, Sarnoff said, “I have truly loved being in this role. It has been an honor and a privilege to work with you, and I will be rooting for you all and for Warner Bros. Discovery to continue to reach great heights for many, many years to come!”.

Sarnoff will have company heading to the exit. Also leaving are WarnerMedia’s Andy Forsell, EVP and GM of HBO Max; CFO Jennifer Biry; EVP of Communications Christy Haubegger; Chief Human Resources Officer Jim Cummings; EVP Chief Revenue Officer Tony Goncalves; EVP General Counsel Jim Meza; and Chief Technology Officer Richard Tom. News of the departures came the day after WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar informed employees his last day would be Friday.

Total time spent streaming rose 18% from February 2021 to February 2022, to 169.4 billion minutes, according to Nielsen’s “State of Play” report. While 72% of Americans agreed with the statement, “I love my user experience with video streaming services,” about half said the increasing number of choices leave them feeling overwhelmed.

March 2022 ad spend is projected to stabilize at $7.6 billion, similar to last March, reports Standard Media Index. Ad spend in digital media grew 30% year-over-year, found SMI, with March’s Digital uptick projected to counteract linear TV fallout.

Apple TV+ is picking a up second season of cult hit “Severance,” the workplace thriller from creator and writer Dan Erickson and director and executive producer Ben Stiller. “It’s really exciting to see the response from people who are loving the show — and the level of fan engagement,” said Stiller. “It has been a long road bringing ‘Severance’ to television. I first read Dan’s pilot over five years ago. It has always been a multi season story, and I’m really happy we get to continue it.…Praise Keir!”. The season one finale airs tomorrow, April 8.

Charter Communications is expanding its carriage of AspireTV, Impact Network, REVOLT TV, The Africa Channel, TV One, Black News Channel, and CLEO TV, to include all customers on the company’s Spectrum TV Select video tier. The rollout is expected to be complete by the end of June. “Charter is committed to delivering programming that reflects the diverse interests of our customers, and these networks offer a wide variety of African American-themed news, lifestyle, entertainment and inspirational content,” said Tom Montemagno, EVP of Programming Acquisition for Charter. “By including these channels on Spectrum TV Select we will significantly increase the networks’ potential audience while providing millions of our TV customers with even more choice, entertainment and value – at no extra cost.”

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PRODUCTION & DEVELOPMENT

AMC Networks can’t quit Bob Odenkirk (“Breaking Bad,” “Better Call Saul”). The company has fast-tracked a new project for the actor with partners Sony Pictures’ Television TriStar TV and Gran Via. Aaron Zelman and Paul Lieberstein, who are adapting “Straight Man” from the novel of the same name by author Richard Russo, would serve as co-showrunners. Zelman, Lieberstein, Odenkirk, Peter Farrelly, who is on board to direct, Richard Russo, Naomi Odenkirk and Marc Provissiero are executive producers. “Bob Odenkirk is just as good as it gets. We feel so fortunate to be developing a new show that would keep him at AMC,” said Dan McDermott, President of Entertainment and AMC Studios for AMC Networks.

AMC Networks also can’t get enough of “Orphan Black,” placing an order for “Orphan Black: Echoes.” Produced and distributed globally by Boat Rocker, the company behind the original series, “Orphan Black: Echoes” will have a 10-episode first season. Anna Fishko (“Pieces of Her,” “Fear the Walking Dead”) is creator, writer, showrunner and executive producer with John Fawcett, the co-creator of the original as director and executive producer. David Fortier and Ivan Schneeberg, executive producers from Boat Rocker on the original Orphan Black series, return as executive producers on the new series. Katie O’Connell Marsh, Nick Nantell, and Kerry Appleyard will also executive produce for Boat Rocker.

Netflix has ordered comedy series “Unstable,” starring Rob Lowe (“9-1-1: Lone Star”) and his son, John Owen Lowe, who appeared with his father in “Grinder” and “Holiday in the Wild.” The series, co-created by the Lowes and Victor Fresco (“Santa Clarita Diet”), stars the younger Lowe as a socially challenged son who goes to work for his eccentric father at a biotech research company.

James Wan’s Atomic Monster is expanding its content slate to unscripted through a new partnership with Truly Original (“Ink Master,” “Would I Lie to You?”). The companies have multiple projects already in development across numerous genres. “I love watching reality TV because, when done right, it can be unfiltered and raw,” said says producer Ingrid Bisu. “James (Wan) and I are so excited to work with the folks at Truly to turn some of our original concepts into series.”

Apple TV+ has renewed “Make or Break” for a second season, ahead of the April 29 season one debut of the surfing docuseries. Box to Box films is producing.

HGTV has picked up “The Nate & Jeremiah Home Project” for season two. The design docuseries, which attracted 13.4 million viewers during its freshman season, is slated to premiere its next run in spring 2023.

Also greenlit for a second season is puppet show “Donkey Hodie,” from Fred Rogers Productions and Spiffy Pictures. The social-emotional learning series on PBS Kids is aimed at children 3-5.

The upcoming third season three of Netflix’s “Locke & Key” will be the series’ last – which suits executive producers/showrunners Carltom Cuse and Meredith Averill just fine. “Once we began working on the series, we felt three seasons was the ideal length to bring the story of the Locke family and their Keyhouse adventures to a satisfying conclusion,” said Cuse and Averill. “As storytellers, we are grateful that we had the opportunity to tell our version of Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez’s incredible story exactly the way we wanted. We’re keeping the magical keys, though, for our own personal use.”

NEW & RETURNING SERIES

The sixth and final season of TNT family crime drama “Animal Kingdom” premieres Sunday, June 19 at 9p with back-to-back episodes. The series ranked as a top 10 cable drama of 2021.

“The Lincoln Lawyer” premieres Friday, May 13 on Netflix. The David E. Kelley series is based on the novels by Michael Connelly, about a lawyer who runs his legal practice from the back of his Lincoln Town Car.

Discovery adds to its Wildlife Conservation Patrol Programming with “Louisiana Law,” premiering Saturday, April 9 at 8p.

Discovery+ docuseries “Fight or Flight” follows human rights advocate Somy Ali as she helps victims of sex trafficking and domestic abuse. The first three episodes will be available to stream beginning Thursday, May 26.

Fox Nation history series “Kelsey Grammer’s Historic Battles for America” premieres Sunday, May 1. “I am excited this show will provide the opportunity to share a historical look into some of the most important battles fought through American history, to remember those who fought them, and how they shaped our country,” said the host and “Frasier” star.

COMING UP

“The Daily Show” special “Jordan Klepper Fingers the Globe – Hungary for Democracy” premieres Thursday, April 21 at 11:30p on Comedy Central. The special documents Klepper’s journey to Hungary to find out why the Hungarian right-wing government has become American conservatives’ obsession.

Disney Junior animated preschool series “Mira, Royal Detective” will debut four extended-length specials that celebrate Bollywood music and dancing while also familiarizing young viewers with different perspectives and critical thinking. The specials will air May 2 through June 20. The series is also available on Disney+.

NABiQ Capitalize judges announced: Cynopsis Editorial Director Lynn Leahey and Executive Director of Sales Albert Nassour will be judging the NABiQ Capitalize submissions at NAB Show in Las Vegas April 24-27. How can we perceive viewers’ needs to improve reach and ROI? Choose one of the three challenges to answer in a fast-paced collaboration session – details are here.

The 74th annual Emmy Awards have been scheduled for September 12. NBC is hosting, so TV’s big night will move to Monday to accommodate “Sunday Night Football.” The Creative Arts Emmy Awards will take place September 3 and 4, with FXX airing an edited version on September 10.

TECH TALK

Roku is testing dynamic linear TV ad insertion, which will “bring the performance and accountability of digital advertising” to linear, says Roku. So far AMC, Crown Media, Discovery and Paramount have signed on for DLA. In March 2021, Roku acquired Nielsen’s Advanced Video Advertising business along with its dynamic ad insertion and automatic content recognition capabilities.

Twitter is developing an edit feature that would allow users to change their tweets after posting. While Elon Musk, who recently became Twitter’s largest shareholder, had posted a poll asking users if they wanted an edit button (yes, said 73.6% of them), Twitter said with a wink it has been working on an edit feature since last year, “and no, we didn’t’ get the idea from a poll.”

Measurement company EDO announced the closing of an $80 million strategic growth investment from Shamrock Capital, aimed at providing EDO with capital to scale its business in outcome measurement for CTV by growing its team, further enhancing its Ad EnGage Convergent TV analytics platform, and expanding its partner network of data sources. “It’s not an overstatement to say that our CEO, Kevin Krim, and the entire EDO team represent an incomparable combination and caliber of industry experience plus data science and engineering talent,” said EDO co-founder Edward Norton. “And that talent ‘alpha’ is redefining daily what brands, agencies and creators expect in terms of investment-grade insight into what precisely their marketing investments are achieving.”

Havas Group has acquired integrated digital agency Search Laboratory. Founded in 2005, Search Laboratory is a Google Marketing partner, with approximately 150 employees that support data-driven marketing campaigns across 35 countries. Search Laboratory will be integrated into Havas Media Group, reporting into the UK business as a core part of its offering alongside Havas Media, Havas Entertainment and Havas Market.

Comscore and Tremor International have struck an agreement making Comscore’s cookie-free Predictive Audiences available for activation across Tremor International’s end-to-end platform, which encompasses the Tremor Video DSP and the Unruly SSP. The partnership enables Tremor Video and Unruly’s advertising clients to leverage cookie-free pre-bid audience targeting across desktop, mobile and CTV. Advertisers within the platform will be able to reach granular behavioral audiences based on video-level contextual signals, particularly within CTV environments.

Ad platform MobileFuse has updated its CTV targeting and measurement capabilities and unveiled Fusion Video, a new CTV offering providing creative capabilities that bolster its suite of digital advertising products. “It’s now table stakes for digital marketing companies to offer some form of contextual targeting with their CTV offerings,” said Ken Harlan, founder and CEO of MobileFuse. “However, our solution excels as it includes highly granular audience targeting insights; specifically LiFTS, App Affinity, Purchase Data, Mindsets and more.”

UPFRONT CALENDAR

At its upfront event on Wednesday, AMC Networks unveiled TEAL, a product suite designed to help advertising partners access the company’s full range of digital ad products and advanced technologies. TEAL (“Technology Enabled, Audience Led”) builds on the company’s Buyers First and Viewers First strategies. “TEAL creates a central resource and home for our partners’ campaigns,” said Evan Adlman, SVP of Advanced Advertising and Digital Partnerships. “TEAL also ensures our viewers have the ultimate and most organic experience when interacting with our partners’ products and brands. Like Viewers First and Buyers First, which were new concepts when we named and first presented them, TEAL will become a primary focal point for the way we work with our partners and clients from this upfront forward.”

AMC Networks also announced that it is building on its digital originals strategy with a new slate of shows that live alongside AMC Studios scripted series. These original series, developed, produced and sold by the company’s Content Room, will be powered by TEAL. “Our Content Room originals have been wildly successful for our audiences and our advertising partners,” said Kim Granito, EVP of the Content Room. “We are thrilled to come to this upfront with a full programming slate that utilizes our incredible talent roster and original IP in truly unique ways for our partners.”

April 12: Black Owned Media Upfront at 1p (virtual)
April 13: FETV (Empire State Building, NYC); TV One (virtual)
April 19: SeeHer SheFront (virtual)
April 25: Disney Storyteller’s Showcase
April 26: FETV (Empire State Building, NYC)
May 2-6: IAB NewFronts
May 2: NBCUniversal/Peacock NewFront
May 3: Roku at 11:30a (Caldwell Factory, NYC)
May 5: Canela Media
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)

STREAMING

FAST track: AMC Networks has six new FAST channels under development: Spanish-language AMC en Español; ALLBLK Gems, featuring ALLBLK originals; HIDIVE x ANIME, super-serving anime fans; Shorts and its Spanish-language version, Corts, offering a selection of short films; and sports-focused Overtime. “FAST has become an increasingly important and growing component of our overall commercial revenue mix, and these new channels will only further accelerate our growth and success in this dynamic environment,” said Kim Kelleher, President of Commercial Revenue and Partnerships for AMC Networks.

A selection of Discovery’s streaming TV everywhere GO apps are now available on Comcast’s XClass TV and Xfinity Flex, offering access to HGTV GO, TLC GO, Food Network GO, Discovery GO and ID GO.

Spectrum Networks has launched Spectrum News in St. Louis. The Spectrum News App serves as an accessible, reliable local news platform. Spectrum customers can download the app on iOS and Android smartphones and tablets to read, listen to or watch local news.

Allen Media Group’s The Weather Channel, Justice Central, Comedy.TV and Recipe.TV are now live on YouTube TV. In January, Allen Media Group and Google announced a multi-platform strategic partnership that included YouTube TV carriage.

CASTING

Added to the cast of Peacock’s upcoming true crime limited drama “A Friend of the Family” are Austin Stowell (“The Hating Game”), Patrick Fischler (“American Crime Story: Impeachment”), Bree Elrod (“Red Rocket”) and Philip Ettinger (“First Reformed”).

Guest stars for season two of Peacock’s “Girls5eva,” about a one-hit-wonder girl group from the 90s, include Amber Ruffin (“The Amber Ruffin Show”), Chad L. Coleman (“The Wire”), Drew and Jonathan Scott (“Property Brothers”), Grey Henson (“Mean Girls the Musical”), Heidi Gardner (“Saturday Night Live”), Hoda Kotb (“Today”), James Monroe (“Hamilton”), John Lutz (“30 Rock”), Judy Gold (“Better Things”), Mario Cantone (“Sex and the City”), Pat Battle (NBC New York), Piter Marek (“The Blacklist”) and Tim Meadows (“The Goldbergs”).

More casting notes: Katy Mixon (“American Housewife”), Christopher Gorham (“Cover Affairs”), Cree Cicchino (“And Just Like That…”), and Connor Kalopsis (“The Grinder”) will star in CBS comedy pilot “Unplanned in Akron,” from Schyler Helford (“Call Me Kat”), Picturestart and CBS Studios…Tahj Mowry (“Baby Daddy”) has joined the cast of upcoming Disney+ comedy series “The Muppets Mayhem.”…Jessica Williams (“Love of Life”) landed a lead role in Apple TV+ comedy “Shrinking.”

GOING GLOBAL

Pluto TV has launched two new channels in partnership with A+E Networks UK. Inside Crime UK and Mystery TV are the first themed channels from the broadcaster to launch on Pluto TV in the UK.

Crime thriller “Tokyo Vice” will premiere Sunday, May 15 on Starzplay in Austria, Germany, Switzerland (German-speaking), Ireland and the UK. The first two episodes will be available at launch, with new episodes airing Sundays.

ODMedia and NEEMA Media announced the launch of Manna, a faith-based themed subscription channel available on Amazon Prime Video, exclusively in the Benelux. Amazon Prime members in the region can subscribe to the channel for ?3,99 per month.

Stellify Media has been re-commissioned by BBC One Northern Ireland for a new season of dating experiment “Beauty Queen & Single.” The format has also been commissioned for a third season on Finland’s YLE Areena.

Cross-platform reality format “The Frame,” from Armoza Formats, is traveling to the Czech Republic, with the local rights to the format being taken by Bedna Films. “The Frame” features 8 couples who have the living space in their own homes reduced to one fixed camera frame.

Abacus Media Rights scored multiple sales for “This Is Joan Collins.” The feature length documentary will be available on BritBox – US and Canada, Turner Classic Movies – US, Bell Media – French Canada, SBS – Australia, MNET – South Africa, Movistar plus+ in Spain, VRT – Belgium, Channel 8 – Israel, NTR – The Netherlands, CANAL+ Poland, HRT – Croatia, yes-DBS – Israel and is also licensed to NonStop Entertainment in Scandinavia, and The Baltics.

Banijay Rights secured a deal for new six-part limited series “Rogue Heroes,” which has been picked up by CANAL+ in France and for all CANAL+ territories around the world to broadcast in late 2022.

Live streaming audio service TuneIn has struck partnership deals with Dutch broadcasters Talpa Network/OMS and Audiohuis Amsterdam and French broadcaster AirZen to bring local music and live news coverage to the platform.

2022 SPORTS MEDIA AWARDS: THIS MONTH

Tables are running out for the breakfast ceremony on April 19th. Don’t miss your chance to celebrate the best in class including ten all star honorees, four luminaries and 34 category winners!

BOOK MY SEAT

RATINGS

Broadcast Nielsen Ratings for Tuesday, April 5
Show, P2+ 000s, (A18-49)
ABC: Judge Steve Harvey 3.48 (0.5), Abbott Elementary 2.58 (0.5), black-ish 1.88 (0.3), To Tell the Truth 2.04 (0.3)
CBS: FBI 4.82 (0.4), FBI: International 3.57 (0.4), FBI: Most Wanted 3.33 (0.3)
CW: Superman & Lois .35 (0.0), Naomi 0.26 (0.0)
FOX: The Resident 3.50 (0.4), Name That Tune 1.94 (0.3)
NBC: Young Rock 2.02 (0.3), Mr. Mayor 1.68 (0,3), This Is Us 4.37 (0.8), The Thing About Pam 3.08 (0.4)
Telemundo: Exatlon Estados Unidos 0.88 (0.2), Hercai: Amor y Venganza 1.16 (0.3), Pasion de Gavilanes 0.64 (0.2)
Univision: Soltero con Hijas 1.42 (0.5), Mi Fortuna es Amarte 1.52 (0.5), Madre 1.82 (0.5)
Source: Nielsen live + same day time period averages

EXECUTIVE MOVES

Kristina Schake has been named EVP of Global Communications at Walt Disney Company. Most recently, Schake led the nationwide Covid-19 vaccine education campaign for the Biden administration, and previously was Global Communications Director for Instagram.

Paramount Global has elevated Pam Kaufman to the role of President, Consumer Products and Experiences. In addition to leading the Consumer Products business, Kaufman will now have oversight across the Paramount global portfolio of Live Experiences.

Michael Crotty has been promoted to COO and CFO of Paramount Global Premium Group. Crotty most recently served as EVP and CFO of Showtime Networks and BET Networks.

This Day in History
1959 – Oklahoma ended the state’s Prohibition after 51 years.

Answer to Our Last Trivia Question
Which singer won one singing competition as part of a duo, then went to be runner-up in another singing competition as a solo artist? Meghan Linsey won “Can You Duet” as part of Steel Magnolia, and was later runner-up on “The Voice.” Kudos to Tom Moore-Kalt Productions/LA.

Today’s Trivia Question
Who recurred as delivery boy Frankie on “Benson” (1979-86)? (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