AT THE UPFRONTS
At its Upfront event at the PlayStation Theater in New York City, cinema advertising expert Screenvision Media unveiled its “10 Pack” offering, a package giving advertisers access to blockbuster films along with an advanced targeting tool, Cintel. Through Cintel, brands will have the ability to target advertising based on behavioral and psycholgraphic data, in addition to movie genre and demographics. Screenvision Media also announced industry-first targeted content packages, which enable brands to target their content within the company’s Front & Center Preshow, and more precisely program a brand’s content before a targeted set of movies.
“There’s no question that we are at an inflection point in media,” said John Partilla, the company’s CEO. “Advertisers are looking for memorable impressions that create impact.”
Results of Screenvision Media’s Connected Cinema case study were shared, which highlighted the extended reach among moviegoing audiences and subsequent incremental consumer engagement. And charter participation in a research study aimed at further unlocking the power of memorable impressions within the moviegoing experience was opened up to Upfront advertisers during the presentation.
“We already see that there is accelerated impact on key KPI’s when cinema is paired with TV,” said John McCauley, Chief Strategic Development Officer, “and we look forward to working with advertisers as we undergo this exploration.”
Oxygen Media is expanding its crime programming slate with eight new greenlights, two new series in development and the acquisition of Dateline: Secrets Uncovered. New crime offerings include projects from NBCUniversal’s Wilshire Studios, NBC News’ Peacock Productions, BuzzFeed Motion Pictures and EPs Dick Wolf, Ice-T, Soledad O’Brien and Nancy Grace.
“This new slate has a great mix of high stakes real time crime investigation and innovative formats that allows viewers to stay engaged from beginning to end with immersive storytelling,” said Rod Aissa, EVP, Original Programming and Development. “It’s a real differentiator in our programming, and we’re thrilled to be working with some of the sharpest talent and producers in the genre.”
What Happened to… Jessica Chambers? (wt) dives into the mysterious death of the Mississippi teen who was doused with gasoline and set on fire in 2014. Mysteries and Scandals, hosted by Soledad O’Brien, investigates Hollywood’s most intriguing criminals, murders and cases of corruption.
Hosted by NBC News’ Craig Melvin, Dateline: Secrets Uncovered (wt) incorporates the classic elements of drama and great storytelling with high stakes, suspense and resolution. Each episode features chilling tales directly from those most affected and involved, including investigators tasked with cracking the case and the families confronting tragedy.
Retried is in development. It follows a group of legal experts led by Nancy Grace, as they reassess an adjudicated murder case to see if they can uncover new information that could lead to a retrial.
NBC Universal Telemundo Enterprises unveiled its 2017-2018 slate, featuring 850 hours of new formats and multiplatform content. Programming includes the return of La Reina del Sur and five new mini-series. Among them are one based on the life of music icon Luis Miguel and another about the death of Mexican-American singer Selena Quintanilla.
“Telemundo continues to drive growth in Hispanic media with original content that resonates with today’s Hispanic in the U.S.,” said Cesar Conde, Chairman, NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises and NBCUniversal International Group. “Latinos are evolving and they are influencing out economy and mainstream culture more than ever. Telemundo has evolved with them by offering innovative entertainment, news and sports, fulfilling their growing appetite for quality programming in Spanish across all platforms.”
On the digital front, Telemundo presented the first-ever virtual reality experience for the 2018 FIFA World Cup and Double Accion 52, as well as its first digital bilingual reality show, the first-ever Hispanic Snapchat show and two multiplatform content collaborations with BuzzFeed. Universo, Telemundo Enterprises’ entertainment cable channel, will bring back hit celeb-realities, including The Riveras, and signature series, including The Walking Dead en Espanol.
For the first time ever, Telemundo will present the Spanish language broadcast of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia, next season.
In the confusing world of emerging advertising, where there’s smoke, there’s not always fire. Dave Morgan, CEO and founder of Simulmedia, tackles the big questions surrounding streaming video, AI, programmatic and more in the latest Cynsiders.
PRODUCTION & DEVELOPMENT
Twentieth Century Fox Television inked a deal with Gordon Ramsay and his Studio Ramsay to syndicate a U.S. version of his hit ITV show Culinary Genius. A three-week test run begins airing on Fox stations beginning August 7, Monday through Friday.
A+E Networks and Herrick Entertainment have teamed on American Beauty Star. The competition series, hosted by supermodel Adriana Lima and airing on Lifetime, features 12 celebrity stylists and salon professionals.
NBC issued a 22-episode, fifth season pickup to Blacklist. No official decision has been made on spinoff Blacklist: Redemption. The net also renewed Tina Fey’s Great News for a second season.
Starz renewed American Gods for a second season. The series just bowed April 30.
Syfy announced three additions to its original programming slate. Series pickups include Superman prequel Krypton, and Happy!, a graphic novel adaptation starring Christopher Meloni. In addition, Syfy and Universal Cable Productions have teamed on a project based on author George R. R. Martin’s novella, Nightflyers.
Showtime ordered half-hour comedy SMILF from Frankie Shaw, based on her Sundance Film Festival Jury Award-winning short film of the same name. Set in Boston, series takes an honest look at a 20-something from Southie. Shaw will star, write, produce and direct the semi-autobiographical project.
Adult Swim greenlit The Jellies! The cartoon, which series centers on a family of jellyfish, including their 16-year-old human son, bows this summer.
Production has started on Disney Channel’s Zombies. The music and dance filled series is set for a 2018 premiere as part of the Disney Channel Original Movie franchise.
ITV Studios America and Circle of Confusion partnered to launch Circle of Confusion Television Studios. The new TV studio label will source, develop and produce premium scripted programming.
NEW & RETURNING SERIES
CNBC reality series The Profit returns with eight all-new episodes on Tuesday, June 6 at 10p. Marcus Lemonis is back to help save and grow struggling small businesses across the country.
E! set a premiere date for Life of Kylie. The Kylie Jenner reality series bows Thursday, July 6 at 10p.
COMING UP
Jennifer Nettles performs her signature hits for a great cause in Jennifer Nettles Live – Band Against Cancer. Special airs Sunday, May 28 at 8p on AXS TV.
Johnny Mathis credits Nancy Reagan with saving his life and opens up about racism in an interview with CBS Sunday Morning on May 14 at 9a.
El Rey Network celebrates Mother’s Day with a full day of martial arts heroines in the first annual “Kickass Kung-Fu Mama Marathon,” Sunday, May 14 at 11a.
CASTING
Angela Lewis will star in FX series Snowfall as a tough-as-nails drug addict. Drama bows Wednesday, July 5 at 10p.
Andre Holland (Moonlight) nabbed the lead in upcoming Hulu psychological-horror drama Castle Rock. He’ll portray a death row attorney.
Ana de la Reguera (Narcos) was cast as the lead opposite Billy Bob Thornton in season 2 of Amazon’s Goliath.
DIGITAL DATA
Netflix greenlit its second French series, Osmosis. The sci-fi drama is set in near-future Paris and centers on a dating app that delivers a perfect match with 100% accuracy.
Audience Networks’ Mr. Mercedes bows Wednesday, August 9. The new original series is based on the Stephen King book of the same title.
GOING GLOBAL
Small World IFT announced the latest international adaptation of reality format Grandpas Over Flowers, also known as NBC hit Better Late Than Never. A new local version is going into production for Turkey’s Show TV.
A+E Networks UK’s History channel commissioned Barcroft Media to create Forged in Britain short films.
Acorn TV released its 2017 slate with 14 new and returning series. Included are Evelyn Waugh’s BBC One comedy, Decline and Fall, Aussie medical drama, The Heart Guy, ITV thriller Loch Ness, and the return of 19-2, A Place to Call Home, George Gently and Doc Martin.
