PRODUCTION & DEVELOPMENT
AMC greenlit an original episodic anthology drama created by writer Will Bridges (Black Mirror, Stranger Things) and Brett Goldstein (Superbob, Adult Life Skills), set 15 years from now, about the cost of finding true love. Bridges and Goldstein will exec produce with Jolyon Symonds through Fearless Minds. The Untitled Bridges/Goldstein Project, produced by AMC Studios, will consist of six, hour-long episodes, and is slated for a 2020 debut on AMC. “This is AMC’s first foray into non-serialized story-telling, and we’re trying to do so in the boldest way possible,” said David Madden, President of Programming for AMC Networks and AMC Studios. “The show explores how technological innovation can impact the most delicate matters of the heart, and each episode will turn personal life choices into high-stakes drama.”
Karen Gist (Star) has joined new ABC comedy mixed-ish as exec producer. The black-ish prequel focuses on Rainbow Johnson’ds experience growing up in a mixed race family.
UPFRONTS UPDATE
The CW announced a new fall line-up with scripted series in every time period across its six-night schedule. Fourteen series are returning, while new shows include superhero series Batwoman, mystery drama Nancy Drew, and Riverdale spin-off Katy Keene, a midseason entry. Only four timeslots will house the same shows they did last fall, however, with a slate that includes two DC superhero pairings: Supergirl and Batwoman on Sundays, and The Flash and Arrow on Tuesdays. “As the original multiplatform network, combining our linear broadcast and our best in class ad-supported digital services with our ability to harness social like no one else, The CW’s distinct brand and programming strategy perfectly positions this network to grow and thrive in the current media landscape,” said net President Mark Pedowitz. Fall season will again launch in October, with premiere dates to be announced later. The iHeartRadio Music Festival will return to kick off the season with a two-night telecast.
Not picked up by CW was Glamorous, from Damon Wayans Jr. and his Two Shakes Entertainment. The comedy, centered on a gender-conforming recent high school graduate working at a cosmetics company, “needs some retooling so we can try to move forward with it,” said Pedowitz during a press call.
Who had the most memorable lines at the Upfronts? Take the Cynopsis quiz!
Azteca America enters the Upfront with a slate of returning shows, as well as new shows for the 2019-2020 season including reality game show La Fortaleza, esports magazine-style Game Center, and tattoo docu-series Ritual. An upcoming refresh of the brand will launch with the new tagline, “Azteca Uno, Todo Somos Uno” (We are All United as One), reflecting the network’s relationship with the U.S. Hispanic audience and the 57 million-plus strong Latinos with a $1.3 trillion dollar buying power. AztecaMás, Azteca America’s OTT platform, will expand from a smart TV app into an authenticated app for mobile users. “I am excited with our Azteca America broadcast network programming line-up, which combines the quality and consistency of returning series the audience has grown to know and love, and our approach to attracting a new audience with innovative shows, formats and technology platforms,” said Craig E. Geller, EVP, HC2 Network.
Have you viewed our Network Resource Guides? They detail programming, advertising offerings and more. Good info to have now that it’s time to make deals: http://www.cynopsis.com/upfronts
NEW & RETURNING SERIES
Season three of psychological thriller anthology series Slasher: Solstice, created by Aaron Martin, is set to premiere on Netflix Thursday, May 23 – and there’s a twist. “This season, I am excited that in addition to telling a gripping horror story, based on true crime cases, we were able to grapple with some important issues including anti-immigration bias and bullying,” said Martin. Slasher: Solstice is the third of the series to air on Netflix, following Slasher: The Executioner, and Slasher: Guilty Party.
Stormchaser Josh Mongerman explores hurricanes and their impact on Hurricane Man, premiering on Science Channel Tuesday, June 18 at 10p.
Comedy Central scripted series South Side, set in a working class neighborhood on the South Side of Chicago, premieres Wednesday, July 24 at 10:30p. Aspirational comedy is written by and stars Bashir Salahuddin (Glow) and Diallo Riddle (Marlon).
Giada De Laurentiis shares recipes from Capri when Giada in Italy returns to Food Network Sunday, June 16 at 11:30a.
Disenchantment Part Two debuts on Netflix Friday, September 20. Adult animated comedy series comes from Matt Groening (The Simpsons).
COMING UP
ABC is airing a two-hour special on the late Farrah Fawcett on Thursday, May 23 at 8p. This Is Farrah Fawcett looks at the Charlie’s Angels star’s personal life and career via rare footage and interviews with castmates, confidantes and doctors.
In memory of Tim Conway, who died May 14 at age 85, getTV will air four episodes of Married with Children featuring the beloved Carol Burnett Show regular, on Sunday, May 19 beginning at midnight.
Discovery’s Diesel Brothers go live for a two-hour finale on Monday, May 27 at 8p. In honor of the military and their families, Monster Jump Live will feature high-stakes stunts and entertainment.
Timed to NYC’s WorldPride event in June, the Paley Center will host a PaleyLive program, Living Out Loud in Late Night: Celebrating 10 Years of Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen on June 20 at 7p, with screenings honoring the LGBTQ+ community.
MEASUREMENT
Local Nielsen Media Impact, a solution that provides local media planning and cross-channel optimization across Local TV and Radio, is expanding to include 19 additional markets. Local NMI enables agencies, advertisers, and media sellers to plan media for advance audience segments in 44 DMAs (inclusive of all 48 PPM metros) representing 25 Local People Meter and now 19 TV Set Meter markets. These 19 new markets will be available to clients beginning next week. “The addition of more markets to Local Nielsen Media Impact gives greater levels of precision to buyers and sellers looking to plan and execute more efficient media transactions in local markets,” said Jay Nielsen, SVP, Product Leadership, Nielsen.
ADVERTISING
The Network Advertising Initiative revised its code of conduct to prohibit ad-tech companies from sending behaviorally targeted ads to anyone under 16. Previously, the minimum age was 13. The new code also requires members to obtain consumers’ opt-in consent before collecting or using sensitive data like health information or precise location data for ad targeting, delivery and reporting.
TECH TALK
AT&T launched a beta version of its DirecTV Now streaming TV app on Magic Leap’s augmented reality headset. “Simply gaze at a spatial screen you wish to focus on and the audio from that screen plays while all other audio from the other screens is automatically muted,” said AT&T. Users can watch up to four live streams at once; resizable screens can hover in the air or be fixed on a wall. AT&T, an investor in Magic Leap, plans to show the app in flagship retail stores.
Competitors Microsoft and Sony are putting down the gloves to partner on cloud-based gaming services. “The two companies will explore joint development of future cloud solutions in Microsoft Azure to support their respective game and content-streaming services,” said Microsoft. The companies will also work together on semiconductors and artificial intelligence.
Core Twitter features including native support for GIFs, polls and emoji are on their way to TweetDeck, as well as support for threads and image tagging. After polling users on what functionality they would most like to see added, TweetDeck announced, “You’re in luck! As of today we’re testing a new way of Tweeting.”
EXPERIENTIAL
Nickelodeon is headed to the ATL for an immersive slime-tastic experience, running Saturday, June 15 through September. “We are excited to bring Slime City to Atlanta to offer this brand-new way for kids and families to interact with our signature slime through a dynamic space for a fun-filled summer,” said Sharon Cohen, EVP, The Nick Experience.
DIGITAL DATA
IFC Films has launched a subscription-based streaming service, available exclusively on Amazon Prime Video channels for $5.99/month. IFC Films Unlimited will feature films from the IFC Films, IFC Midnight and Sundance Select catalogues, as well as documentaries as varied as The Thin Blue Line and Joan Rivers: Piece of Work. “Bringing together a broad collection of films that span our many labels and genres, IFC Films Unlimited will be a general entertainment destination for specialty film fans,” said Lisa Schwartz, IFC Films Co-President.
Demand generation platform JumpCrew, which integrates sales and marketing to accelerate new customer acquisition, has completed a Series B funding round of $7.2 million. Co-led by Nashville Capital Network and Hinsdale Capital, the raised capital will fuel product innovation, talent recruitment and additional acquisitions in 2019. This latest funding round builds on JumpCrew’s prior funding of $8.7M. “JumpCrew has demonstrated a great ability to use technology to maximize growth,” said Sid Chambless, Managing Partner at NCN Partners Fund. “This is a rapidly growing business that is both disrupting and transforming the digital media and publishing space.”
TikTok was the most downloaded app in in the Apple App Store in 1Q19 – with over 33 million downloads – for the fifth consecutive quarter, according to Sensor Tower. This despite a slap on the wrist (and $5.7 million fine) from the FTC that prompted TikTok to restrict its use by kids under 13. Also making the top five were YouTube, Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger.
GOING GLOBAL
A+E Networks and Korea’s JTBC signed a strategic formats representation agreement calling for A+E Networks to exclusively represent the format rights to key programs from JTBC’s library catalogue as well as upcoming lineup.…Viasat World greenlit 1939live, a new online platform to mark the 80th anniversary 8of the invasion of Poland by Nazi Germany.…Cineflix Rights sold Season 1 of its drama series Marcella to France’s Polar+ channel, part of the Canal+ group….UK-based Orange Smarty closed a string of sales with broadcasters including DR Denmark, SVT Sweden, VRT Belgium, KRO-NCRV Netherlands, and Ceska Televize Czech Republic….Channel 5 announced a new special, Britain’s Ticket Wars, from Plimsoll Productions. Special is a spinoff of Plimsoll’s cult hit Britain’s Parking Hell.…Stringr, the premium video marketplace for custom video content, announced its launch into the UK. Through the expansion, UK-based broadcasters, publishers and brands can source, edit and publish custom footage from 80,000+ videographers.
CASTING
With the cancellation of Fox’s Proven Innocent, Riley Smith is available take the lead role opposite Kennedy McMann in CW’s Nancy Drew.
