THE TIME IS NOW:
GROW WITH UNIVISION

The rising influence of U.S. Hispanics is a huge business opportunity, and the effectiveness of engaging this group in-language has never been more important. A new Nielsen study of CPG brands shows that those NOT active in Spanish-language see 39% lower return on ad spend vs. those that are. If you want to unlock your growth potential with Hispanics, now is the time. As America’s Hispanic Superbrand, Univision can help. Find out how.

Source: Custom Nielsen Study – Commissioned by third party

Monday May 24, 2021

Today’s Finales
CBS: “All Rise” at 9p
CW: “Black Lightning” at 9p
Fox: “9-1-1”at 8p, “9-1-1: Lone Star” at 9p
NBC: “Debris” at 10p
TLC: “Return to Amish” at 9p, “Unexpected” at 10p

IN THE NEWS

Allen Media Group is suing McDonald’s for $10 billion. The lawsuit accuses McDonald’s of intentionally discriminating against Entertainment Studios and Weather Group by using a tiered advertising structure “creating separate and unequal tracks for Black-owned media companies to earn advertising revenue. McDonald’s has created a discriminatory environment that is separate but not equal,” said Allen Media Group. Added Byron Allen, Founder/Chairman/CEO of Allen Media Group, “This is about economic inclusion of African American-owned businesses in the US. economy. McDonald’s takes billions from African American consumers and gives almost nothing back.” McDonald’s was slapped with the lawsuit the same day it announced it has “doubled down” on its relationships with diverse-owned partners, including increasing its spend with diverse-owned media from 4 percent to 10 percent, and with Black-owned media from 2 percent to 5 percent of total national advertising over the next four years.

CNN did not take kindly to the news that the Trump administration Justice Department secretly obtained the 2017 phone records of Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr. “CNN strongly condemns the secret collection of any aspect of a journalist’s correspondence, which is clearly protected by the First Amendment,” said CNN President Jeff Zucker. “We are asking for an immediate meeting with the Justice Department for an explanation.”

CNN also took issue with comments made by senior political correspondent Rick Santorum at last month’s Young American conference. “We birthed a nation. From nothing. There was nothing here. Yes, we have Native Americans, but there isn’t much Native American culture in American culture,” Santorum said – comments that drew condemnation, including an on-air apology to viewers by CNN’s Don Lemon. HuffPost was first to report that Santorum is out as a CNN contributor.

Santorum isn’t the only one leaving a cable news net, but Jedediah Bila’s exit as co-host of Fox News’ “Fox & Friends Weekend” is less dramatic. “We have mutually and amicably parted ways with Jedediah Bila and wish her all the best,” said FNC. Bila offered a thank you “to the Fox News reporters, anchors, contributors, and producers who have been an absolute pleasure to work with these last few years.”

The Tokyo Olympics can take place “whether there is a state of emergency of not,” said John Coates, a VP of the International Olympics Committee. The Games are slated to start July 23, but Tokyo is currently in a state of emergency due to rising cases of Covid-19. While other officials have said a final decision will be made at the end of June, according to Coates all the health measures being taken satisfy recommendations by the World Heath Organization and other scientific advice.

Advertising for video streaming services rose 43% from January 21 through May 21 year-over-year, according to EDO Ad EnGage, totalling $729.8 million. Discovery+, launched in January, topped the chart with estimated ad value of $284.1 million, most of which went to Discovery linear networks.

Can’t have enough “Friends”: TBS launched the “Best of Friends Awards,” hosted by “Schitt’s Creek” star Sarah Levy. Fans can vote for their favorite moments from the series in categories like Best Celebrity Cameo, Best Musical Moment, Best Romantic Moment; winners will be announced during a livestream on TBS’ YouTube, Twitter and Facebook on Wednesday, May 26 at 8:30p, with a special guest appearance from a “Friends” fan favorite.

Supply is skyrocketing as consumers embrace streaming, while viewership on linear TV is at an all-time high. Discover the benefits behind single-market buying and learn how to make them work for you in New York Interconnect’s 12-page report.

www.cynopsis.com/resource-center

Texas has passed a bill that would make it illegal for law enforcement agencies to authorize reality shows to film officers on duty, reports the The New York Times. The bill is named after Javier Ambler II, who died in 2019 after officers in Williamson County, TX forcibly arrested him in front of a “Live PD” camera crew.

YouTube Originals Kids and Families picked up season two of “Super Sema.” The African animated series, produced by a female-led team including actress Lupita Nyong’o, features a young superhero girl.

Group Nine brands The Dodo, Seeker and Popsugar, have signed with Creative Artists Agency, as the digital media company continues its push into original programming across broadcast, cable TV, and streaming platforms. “Our data-driven approach to development gives storytelling an edge in a very competitive market,” said Mickey Meyer, President of Group Nine Studios. “The days of just buying your best friend’s show are over if you want your network or platform to succeed.”

Casting notes: Mark O’Brien (“City on a Hill”) has joined the cast of AMC’s upcoming courtroom drama “61st Street”…Jeremy Allen White (“Shameless”) will star as a young chef in FX pilot “The Bear”…Grammy winner Jeremih will recur on Starz’ “Power Book IV: Force.”

Veteran CBS Studios showrunner Glenn Gordon Caron has left the building, his deal with the studio ended. Caron was showrunner for “Bull.” Also out is “Bull” actor Freddy Rodriguez; both exits follow a workplace investigation, the findings of which were not disclosed.

Join Cynopsis and hundreds of your peers on June 15-16 at the Measurement and Data virtual conference. You’ll learn the strategies and tools you need to leverage data into a compelling brand story, plus the virtual setting provides you with more content than you would access at the physical event. Only a few weeks left; register today!

NEW & RETURNING SERIES

“Love After Lockup” returns for season three Friday, June 18 at 8p on WE tv, following couples who try to make a go of it with their felon fiances upon their prison releases.

Three teams of flippers make waves on HGTV’s “Battle on the Beach,” launching Sunday, July 11 at 9p. Ty Pennington (“Rock the Block”), Alison Victoria (“Windy City”) and Taniya Nayak (“Restaurant Impossible”) will mentor three teams competing to impress judges Mike Holmes (“Holmes + Holmes”) and Mina Starsiak Hawk (“Good Bones”).

Nick comedy series “Danger Force” returns Saturday, June 12 at 8p, followed by the season two debut of “Tyler Perry’s Young Dylan.”

COMING UP

HBO docu-series “I’ll Be Gone in the Dark” returns with a special episode on Monday, June 21 at 10p, with new revelations about the case of Joseph James DeAngelo, aka the Golden State Killer.

GOING GLOBAL

Former BBC journalist Martin Bashir responded to an investigation into his 1995 interview with Princess Diana that concluded the interview was obtained through deceitful tactics. “Everything we did in terms of the interview was as she wanted, from when she wanted to alert the palace, to when it was broadcast, to its contents,” Bashir maintained, but said he was “deeply sorry” for the effects the bombshell segment had on the royal family.

UK’s Blink Films is producing a two-part series for ITV telling the story of conjoined twins Callie and Carter Torres. Their parents face the decision of whether to leave them together or risk putting them through surgery, which could mean losing one or both twins.

A+E Networks Global Content Sales announced format commissions in territories across the globe for shows including “Alone,” “Forged in Fire,” and “The UnXplained.”

Get answers to these questions & more during a4 Advertising’s session
on Tuesday, June 15 at 2:45pm.

REGISTER NOW

EXECUTIVE MOVES

Rebecca Marks has been named EVP, Publicity and Communications at Warner Bros.Television Group. Marks had been EVP Publicity at NBCUniversal for 17 years, and with the company since 1984.

AMC Networks has centralized its international programming group across linear and streaming, with Kristin Jones, EVP, International Programming, at the helm. The group will look for global commissions, co-productions and acquisitions.

Havas Media Group has appointed Mike Bregman as Chief Data Officer of Havas Media Group North America. Bregman was previously Global Managing Director at Accenture.

H2R Productions has hired Emilee Bickert as Manager of Development. Bickert previously worked with comedian Sammy Obeid producing his comedy content.

Answer to Our Last Trivia Question
Which future “Melrose Place” regular starred with Lucille Ball in a TV-movie? Daphne Zuniga starred in “The Stone Pillow” (1985) with Ball. Kudow to: Greg West-WATC/Atlanta; David Rubisohn-American Public Television/Boston; Marni C. Gold/Hawthorne, NJ; Benjamin Zander-MSNBC/Great Neck, NY; Susan Nessanbaum-Goldberg-M and S Entertainment/LA; Tom Moore-Kalt Productions/LA; David Westberg-SAG-AFTRA Credit Union/Burbank

Today’s Trivia Question
Who played Nikita’s father in “La Femme Nikita” (1997-2001)? (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.)