A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE FROM A+E NETWORKS

INCLUSION ISN’T TRULY INCLUSION
IF IT COMES WITH AN EXPIRATION DATE
The A55+ audience is 95 million strong
and represents 40% of annual consumer spending.

That’s too big to be ignored…
… and a lot of reasons to break out of traditional demos

UNLOCK YOUR TOTAL AUDIENCE POTENTIAL
THE HISTORY CHANNEL | A&E | LIFETIME | LMN | FYI | VICE ON TV
(source)

Today’s Premieres
Discovery: Deadliest Catch at 8p
HGTV: Unsellable Houses at 9p
Netflix: Hard Cell; The Creature Cases
PBS: Rise of the Nazis: Dictators at War at 9p

Today’s Finales
ABC: Abbott Elementary at 9p
NBC: The Thing About Pam at 10p
PBS: Benjamin Franklin at 8p

IN THE NEWS

Horizon Media introduced a new analytics tool, eMbrace, to help bring cultural equity to communications and media planning. The platform, which recalibrates population-based, survey/panel outputs for a more equitable emphasis of Asian, Black, and Hispanic insights, is aimed at helping advertisers develop more inclusive strategies to better engage diverse audiences. eMbrace analyses will also enable media planning strategies to more equitably allocate investments and partnerships across minority-owned and minority-targeted media. The software and data solution is powered by Nielsen.

Out of home advertising revenue increased 16.7% in 2021 versus the year prior, accounting for $7.1 billion, according to the Out of Home Advertising Association of America. Digital OOH is leading the overall growth, with a 22.7% jump compared to 2020. Fourth quarter total OOH revenue increased 37.4%while DOOH grew 49%. In 2021, all top ten industry product categories increased and eight grew double digits, including Local Services & Amusements, Retail, Media & Advertising, Insurance & Real Estate, Restaurants, Government Politics and Organizations, Financial, and Automotive Dealers and Services.

The WindAcre Partnership raised its stake in Nielsen from 9.6% to 18.9%, acquiring 33.4 million shares of the measurement company on April 6, 7 and 8. WindAcre, which objects to Nielsen’s plan to be acquired for $16 billion on the grounds it undervalues the company, said in an April 5 SEC filing that it will “take steps to attempt to block the transaction.”

In conjunction with the tonight’s season one finale of ABC’s “Abbott Elementary,” Warner Bros. Television is launching a “Think Outside The (Lunch) Box” campaign to benefit Feeding America and raise awareness about food insecurity. As part of the deal, WBTV is donating 150,000 meals to Feeding America. The campaign runs through April 15. WBTV has also partnered with influencer chefs Eitan Bernath and Ahmad Alzahabi, who will create lunchbox meals and discuss the impact of food insecurity with their followers across Instagram and TikTok.

ESPORTS & GAMING BRAND ACTIVATION
2022 VIRTUAL CONFERENCE

Wednesday, May 4th , 10:00am ET

This by-invitation-only event is for brands or agencies activating or looking to activate in the highly engaged 18–35-year-old fanbase.

REQUEST A FREE PASS

PRODUCTION & DEVELOPMENT

“Based On a True Story” landed a straight-to-series order from Peacock. The comedic thriller, exploring Americans’ obsession with true crime, will be written and exec produced by Craig Rosenberg, who will also serve as showrunner. Jason Bateman (“Ozark”) will EP via his Aggregate Films alongside Michael Costigan. UCP is producing.

Peacock is also developing “Casper,” a live-action horror/adventure series that reimagines the friendly ghost tale as a coming-of-age story set in a high school. UCP and DreamWorks Animation are producing.

Move over, Rudolph – CBS has ordered three new holiday movies. “When Christmas Was Young,” executive produced by Sheryl Crow, follows a music manager in need of a hit for his last remaining client; Amanda Kloot will star in and executive produce “Fit for Christmas,” about a Christmas-obsessed fitness instructor; and “Must Love Christmas” focuses on romance novelist who falls for a childhood crush.

“Glamorous” scored a 10-episode order from Netflix. The show had been ordered to pilot by The CW in 2019 and retains the creative team of Jordan Nardino as writer and executive producer, with Damon Wayans Jr. and Kameron Tarlow also exec producing. Miss Benny (“Fuller House”) remains onboard as the central character, a non-conforming queer man. The studio is CBS Studios.

Cineflix Media is partnering with showrunner, director, and producer Adrienne Mitchell (“Coroner”) and her newly launched production company BentFrame Film & TV. The partnership gives Cineflix Media the first option to co-produce original content developed by Mitchell, while providing BentFrame with access to development support from Cineflix Studios. In addition, Cineflix Rights will retain exclusive first-look rights to distribute the shingle’s content internationally.

Invention Studios has inked a first-look deal with Fremantle covering TV, new media and podcasts. Nicholas Weinstock launched Invention in 2021. “Nicky embodies the independent spirit we champion at Fremantle,” said Fremantle President of Scripted Programming Dante Di Loreto.

Filming for TV One’s Marvin Sapp biopic is underway. Chaz Lamar Shepherd (“Marvel’s Luke Cage”) stars as gospel music artist and pastor Sapp. Also starring is Ambre Anderson (“Power Book II”). The film is scheduled to premiere August 21.

Casting notes: Lucien Laviscount has been upped to series regular for season three of Netflix’s “Emily in Paris.”…Walker Scobell (“The Adam Project”) landed the title role in Disney+ live action series “Percy Jackson and the Olympians,” based on the book series by Rick Riordan…Jill Hennessy (“Crossing Jordan”) will star opposite Michael Chiklis in Fox crime anthology drama “Accused.”

NEW & RETURNING SERIES

Was King George III really mad? That’s the sort of question that will be explored in “Lucy Worsley Investigates,” premiering Sunday, May 15 at 8p on PBS (check local listings).

Couples get the verdict on whether or not to stay together in WE tv’s new reality series, “Commit or Quit with Judge Lynn Toler,” premiering Thursday, May 12 at 10p.

“We Own This City,” chronicling the rise and fall of the Baltimore Police Department’s Gun Trace Task Force, premieres Monday, April 25 at 9p on HBO.

Season three of Apple TV+ space drama “For All Mankind” launches Friday, June 10. The new season of the alternate-reality series moves into the early ‘90s with a high-octane race to a new planetary frontier: Mars.

The first two episodes of international conspiracy thriller “Hidden Assets” premieres Monday, April 18 on Acorn TV. The series is a spinoff of Acorn TV original “Acceptable Risk.”

COMING UP

“Today” hosts Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb will lead a cast of NBC News hosts including Al Roker, Craig Melvin, and Jenna Bush Hager in a performance of “Murder in Studio One” on Wednesday, April 27 at NYC’s Minetta Lane Theater (proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to Boys and Girls Clubs of America). Audible and NBC News will record and release the show as a podcast.

“The Batman” drops on HBO Max Saturday, April 18 at 8p. The blockbuster will also air on HBO on Saturday, April 23 at 8p.

NABiQ session tips to win during NAB Show: Teams of industry professionals (who’ve never met before) will work together closely in a fast-paced collaborative sprint to create prototypes for real-word challenges during daily NABiQ workshops. To be one of the prize-winning teams, get inspired during the rest of the show to use industry insights at NABiQ. It’s important to listen and build on each others’ ideas, work collaboratively, and always focus on the end user. During the pitch, underline the challenge you’re focusing on, how your solution works, who it will benefit as well as the direct and indirect impact of the idea. Give each other constructive feedback during the networking session to improve your projects. Good luck!

TECH TALK

Canoe Ventures and GAC Media are expanding their partnership to explore ways for Canoe to technically support GAC Media in their advertising initiatives around addressable TV, FAST channels and across their media portfolio. The initiatives build on the partnership between Canoe and GAC Media supporting revenue optimization of the company’s linear channels. “Implementing national addressability within our trusted, family-friendly programming will help further differentiate Great American Channels and ultimately drive ROI and positive outcomes for our partners,” said Paul Brennan, SVP, Advertising and Digital Sales at GAC Media.

TikTok’s net ad revenue will jump to $5.96 billion this year, up from $2.1 billion in 2021, according to eMarketer. That will give the platform a 2.4% share of the projected US digital ad market.

Infillion announced the launch of AttnX, an advertising product built for CTV, desktop, and mobile that secures consumers’ opt-in interest before the ad experience begins. AttnX is the first of several products to be unveiled under the company’s new brand name, Infillion, launched in February as the result of Gimbal’s acquisition of adtech CTV pioneer true[X] from Disney in late 2020.

STREAMING

Yahoo has teamed with Cross Screen Media, specializing in optimized local TV and CTV ad planning and measurement, to enable more strategic planning, efficiency and measurement for advertisers ahead of 2022 midterm campaigns. Yahoo will also be Cross Screen Media’s first programmatic partner to utilize the company’s new measurement solution, ScreenImpact.

CNN+ launched on Roku, the top CTV platform, on Monday, giving the fledgling streamer a sweet distribution bump. Still to come are deals with Google, Samsung, Sony and Microsoft.

Apple TV+ announced the debut of Apple Original podcast “Run, Bambi, Run,” releasing the first two episodes of the eight-part series. Hosted by Vanessa Grigoriadis (“Chameleon: The Hollywood Con Queen”), “Run, Bambi, Run” investigates the real-life story of Laurie “Bambi” Bembenek, a Milwaukee police officer who was dubiously convicted of killing her new husband’s ex-wife, before braving a daring escape.

UPFRONT CALENDAR

Just-formed media behemoth Warner Bros. Discovery will host its first Upfront event on Wednesday, May 18 at The Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden. Pre-merger, WarnerMedia had that spot reserved; Discovery’s May 17 event has been canceled, as the new presentation will showcase Warner Bros. Discovery’s combined portfolio of content, brands, franchises and talent.

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 26: Disney Storyteller’s Showcase (virtual); FETV (Empire State Building, NYC)
May 2-6: IAB NewFronts
May 2: NBCUniversal/Peacock NewFront
May 3: Samsung Ads at 9a (Samsung 837, NYC), Roku at 11:30a (Caldwell Factory, NYC)
May 5: Canela Media at 1p (virtual) and CincoDeFront at 5:30p (NYC)
May 16: NBCUniversal (Radio City Music Hall, NYC); Telemundo (Ziegfeld Theater, NYC); Fox (Skylight, NYC)
May 17: Disney (Basketball City at Pier 36, NYC); YouTube Brandcast at 8p; Univision (Javits Center in NYC)
May 18: Paramount (Carnegie Hall, NYC); Warner Bros. Discovery (Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden, NYC)
May 19: The CW (New York City Center Theater, NYC)

GOING GLOBAL

Digital brand Chefclub has struck an agreement with Pluto TV in the US and Latin America to bring cookery content to Pluto TV in Spanish and English. Pluto TV has started with the launch of Chefclub Kids content in the US.

All3Media International and co-production partners ARD Degeto (Germany), Masterpiece (USA), ITV (UK) and NPO (Holland) have renewed Company Pictures’ detective drama “Van der Valk” for a third season.

Boat Rocker’s “The Next Step” has been commissioned for season 8 by CBBC, with a pre-sale from Corus Entertainment for Canadian rights.

Banijay Germany has entered into a partnership with influence.vision. The deal offers the producer influence.vision’s technology, platform and content creator expertise.

“Good Game Asia,” launched by Yup.gg, will air in English on WarnerTV with Korean, Traditonal/Simplified Chinese, Thai, Bahasa and Vietnamese subtitles available on asia.gg, starting June 10.

Media Ranch inked a deal to distribute South Africa’s Trace Studios formats, among them “2 Weddings & A Superstar” and “Ultimate Braai Master.”

Canada’s Sinking Ship Entertainment’ “Dino Dana” will soon be available in China. Bomanbridge Media has licensed seasons one and two to Chinese streaming platform Youku. The series will be available for streaming later this year.

2022 SPORTS MEDIA AWARDS: NEXT TUESDAY

Seats are running out for this exciting breakfast ceremony on April 19th! Don’t miss your chance to meet and celebrate the best in class in the sports media community.

BOOK MY SEAT

RATINGS

HGTV Monday competition series “Rock the Block” averaged a 1.00 Live+3 rating among P25-54 and a 1.28 rating among W25-54, gains of 122% and 113% among P25-54 and W25-54 over the prior six weeks. In addition, the April 4 season finale broke the series’ record as the highest-rated episode, delivering a 1.23 Live+3 rating among P25-54 and a 1.60 rating among W25-54.

Food Network’s “The Julia Child Challenge” has reached more than 4.6 million P2+ viewers with the week four premiere, posting .5 P25-54 and .7 W25-54 Live+3 ratings respectively. That puts show show on track to be Food Network’s highest-rated freshman launch of the year so far among W18+.

Shareablee Top 10 Streaming Shows for the week of April 4
Program, Platform, Total Actions, Total Content, Actions per Content, Fans & Followers
Euphoria (HBO Max), 5.5m, 7, 786,274, 9.3m
Bridgerton (Netflix), 3m, 44, 68,443, 3.1m
Get Organized With The Home Edit (Netflix), 1.7m, 49, 35,358, 6.3m
Stranger Things (Netflix), 1.2m, 15, 79,750, 27m
Umbrella Academy (Netflix), 1.2m, 6, 192,436, 4.7m
The Witcher (Netflix), 424k, 4, 106,026, 2.3m
Nanatsu No Taizai (Netflix), 246k, 76, 3,241, 1.1m
The Rising of the Shield Hero (Netflix), 226k, 25, 9,028, 566k
Gilmore Girls (HBO Max), 189k, 5, 37,835, 4.6m
Netflix is a Joke (YouTube), 179k, 55, 3,246, 2.5m

Broadcast Nielsen Ratings for Friday, April 8
Show, P2+ 000s, (A18-49)
ABC: Shark Tank 3.77 (0.5), 20/20 2.21 (0.3)
CBS: Undercover Boss 3.34 (0.3), Magnum P.I. 5.31 (0.4), Blue Bloods 5.93 (0.4)
CW: Charmed 0.36 (0.1), Dynasty 0.28 (0.0)
FOX: WWE Friday Night Smackdown 2.36 (0.6)
NBC: Blacklist 3.06 (0.2), Dateline 3.48 (0.43)
Telemundo: Exatlon 0.92 (0.3), Hercai: Amor 1.20 (0.3), Pasion Gavilanes 0.67 (0.2)
Univision: Soltero Con Hijas 1.46 (0.4), Mi Fortuna es Amarte 1.53 (0.4), Madre 1.75 (0.4)
Source: Nielsen live + same day time period averages

EXECUTIVE MOVES

Patrick Van De Walle has joined GAC Media as VP of Distribution. De Walle most recently served as Sr. Director of Distribution for Crown Media Family Networks.

Dr. Seuss Enterprises has promoted Shannon Spisak to Vice President of Marketing and Communications. Spisak previously held the role of Senior Director of Marketing and Communications.

IN MEMORIAM

Production executive Francis C. La Maina died April 8. He was 82. La Maina joined Dick Clark Productions in 1966, rising to President and COO in 1986.

This Day in History
1945 – President Franklin D. Roosevelt died in office.

Answer to Our Last Trivia Question
Which sitcom aired for seven seasons, but only had a full-season order for its fifth season? “Rules of Engagement” (2007-13). Kudos to: Aaron Paquette-AccelerateSG/Fort Worth, TX; Austin Cassidy-Meridian Interactive/Wilmington, DE; Andrew Goldman-Grooveee/NYC; John Kukla-KDFW/Dallas; Tom Moore-Kalt Productions/LA

Today’s Trivia Question
In which series did Alley Mills, Barbara Babcock and John Schneider all have supporting roles? (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