Today’s Premieres
Acorn TV: The Brokenwood Mysteries
Amazon: The Terminal List
BET+: Carl Weber’s The Black Hamptons
Crackle: Funny Girls
Motortrend+: Top Gear America
PBS: Washington Week at 8p; Firing Line with Margaret Hoover at 8:30p
Public Television: Camp T

Today’s Finale
Shudder: The Last Drive-in with Joe Bob Briggs at 9p

Saturday’s Finales
BBCA: The Making of Dynasties at 8p
OWN: Love & Marriage: Huntsville at 8p; The Nightcap with Carlos King at 10p
Travel: Portals to Hell at 10p

Sunday’s Premieres
Ovation: Fred Dinenage Murder Casebook Files at 8a; Murder Maps at 10a
Showtime: We Hunt Together at 7:30p
Vice: High Stakes Poker at 12a

Sunday’s Finales
NGC: Wild Fish at 10p
PBS: Endeavor on Masterpiece at 9p
Showtime: The Man Who Fell to Earth at 10p

IN THE NEWS

NBCUniversal wrapped up upfronts exceeding last year’s ad revenue high. On Thursday, the company confirmed that this year’s talks resulted in the highest-grossing upfront since Comcast’s acquisition of NBC Universal with revenue exceeding $7 billion. The company garnered its highest digital and streaming intake to date, gaining almost 20% year-over-year, and Peacock doubled its upfront revenue to more than $1 billion.

Discovery+ is flying high. The streamer and American Airlines have struck a deal that will have discovery+ and Magnolia Network content on American’s inflight entertainment system starting today, July 1. “This partnership with American Airlines allows us to deliver on our promise to provide access to discovery+ originals and Magnolia series to our global consumers across markets and platforms,” said Elliot Wagner, SVP, Program Sales, Warner Bros. Discovery. “There is nothing more global than airline travel, and we are thrilled to enhance customers’ inflight experience with content that will not only entertain, but also inspire their travel plans.”

The 65th annual New York Emmy Awards nominations were revealed on Thursday with News 12 scoring 80 noms. Telemundo’s WNJU placed second with 53 nominations, while Univision’s WXTY snagged 52. Spectrum News NY1 and MSG Networks tied for fourth with 45 noms each, one ahead of WNBC News’ 44. Winners will be announced at a ceremony in October, date and venue to come, and be livestreamed on the New York Emmys website.

Meanwhile, JB Smoove and Melissa Fumero will share the Primetime Emmy nominations on Tuesday, July 12. Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Chairman and CEO, Frank Scherma, will join the duo, in a livestream at Emmys.com.

YouTube creator and influencer Logan Paul has signed a multi-year deal with WWE. Paul shared the news on social media on Thursday. Paul previously appeared on “WWE Smackdown” and “WrestleMania.”

Nexstar Media Group is reportedly inching closer to a deal to acquire majority control over The CW. According to the Wall Street Journal, Nexstar would acquire 75% of the network currently co-owned by Warner Bros. Discovery and Paramount Global, both of which would retain a 12.5% stake.

Lifetime is expanding its partnership with Jamesallen.com for season 15 of “Married at First Sight.” Episodic integrations of the diamond jewelry ecommerce retailer will be featured on the show’s Wednesday, July 6 premiere and throughout new episodes on Lifetime and social platforms.

PBS KIDS is set to unveil a new logo for the first time in two decades. Debuting on July 19, it features a bright, updated color palette and array of people and environments.

Google has expanded its “What to Watch” universe. EW’s daily podcast and weekly video series now has a monthly companion on Google TV. Debuting on Thursday, “What to Watch on Google TV” is a short-form guide available via Smart TVs that offers viewers recommendations from the vast number of programs streaming on the platform.

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PRODUCTION & DEVELOPMENT

HGTV has greenlit its first African-based series. “Renovation Wild” will chronicle safari camp owners Grant and Lynsey Cummings and their children as they take on the challenges of remodeling dilapidated lodges on their remote Zambia property. The series is slated to premiere in summer 2023.

“Modern Family” alumna Sarah Hyland has been tapped to host Peacock’s “Love Island USA.” The adaptation of the global hit phenomenon will debut July 19 with six episodes dropping every week.

Let them eat cake… and lots of it. A+E Networks and celebrity baker, Buddy Valastro (“Cake Boss”), have struck a multi-platform creative partnership. The pact includes more than 60 hours of original programming, including the development of new series and holiday specials produce by A+E’s factual division, Six West Media, in association with Cakehouse Media. Additionally, Valastro and his family will star in an upcoming Lifetime Holiday Movie. Valastro will serve as an executive producer on all projects.

Freeform has picked up “The Watchful Eye” from Ryan Seacrest Productions. Created by Julie Durk (“Grace and Frankie”), who also serves as consultant, the series follows Elena Santos, a young woman with a complicated past, maneuvering her way into the working as a live-in nanny for an affluent Manhattan family.

STARZPLAY has begun production on “Yellow” (working title), its first Spanish language project with The Immigrant to be filmed in produced in Mexico. The dramedy centers on two female fugitives who steal a stick-shift taxi to escape the authorities. Realizing the car is not automatic, they’re forced to kidnap Richie, the taxi driver, a suicidal ex-Formula 1 racer.

Strong Studios and The Cartel have begun production on “Safehaven” in Winnipeg Canada. The supernatural thriller series was created by James Seale (“30 Below,” “Throttle”), who will serve as showrunner. It tells the story of a high school comic artist who must uncover the truth after horrifying visions come to life from her creations.

Amazon Studios has landed buddy comedy pitch package “Foreign Relations.” Kat Coiro is directing a star vehicle for Nick Jonas and Glen Powell (“Top Gun: Maverick”). Charlie Kesslering (“Turned On”) will write the script.

Paramount+ has ordered “School Spirits” (wt), starring Peyton List (“Cobra Kai”). The YA drama is based on Nate and Megan Trinrud and Maria Nguyen’s upcoming graphic novel and centers on a teen stuck in the afterlife, who decides to investigate her mysterious disappearance alongside a group of other students stuck in limbo at their high school.

Casting Notes: “CSI” fan favorite Wallace Langham is boarding the second season of HBO’s “Perry Mason”… “Future Island” frontman Samuel T. Herring will make his acting debut in the upcoming Apple TV+ drama “The Changeling”… S. Epatha Merkerson and Judith Light will star in an episode of Peacock’s “Poker Face”… Natasha Behnam has been tapped as a lead opposite Melissa Benoist in HBO Max’s “The Girls on the Bus”… Former “American Idol” finalist Anoop Desai will tackle a major recurring role in the fourth season of FX comedy “What We Do in the Shadows,” reports Deadline.

NEW & RETURNING SERIES

“Lost Ollie” debuts Saturday, August 24 on Netflix. The limited series, featuring voiceovers by Mary J. Blige, Jonathan Groff and Tim Blake Nelson, and starring Gina Rodriguez and Jake Johnson as momma and daddy, centers on a lost toy who searches to reunite with the boy who lost him.

HGTV launches “Flip to A Million” on Monday, August 1 at 9p. The real estate experiment series features two couples, both successful house flippers in their respective markets, setting out to prove that it’s possible to start out with almost nothing reap a fortune.

Ree Drummond (“The Pioneer Woman”) celebrates crafty cooking and smart shopping in “Big Bad Budget Battle.” The competition series features three talented cooks with a knack for transforming every day affordable ingredients into mouthwatering meals. The series bows Tuesday, August 9 at 10p on Food Network.

COMING UP

“Blue Bloods” is joining the UPtv lineup. The network will start airing the first seven seasons of the series, beginning with a marathon during its “Red, White & Blue Bloods” July 4 celebration on Monday at 5p.

MagellanTV debuts “Killer Asteroid: Defending Earth” on Thursday, June 30. The documentary investigates the history of and probability of a asteroid collision with Earth and the pursuit of technological developments designed to defend our planet.

STREAMING

SCREAMBOX has teamed with Bloody Disgusting to acquire North American rights to “Terrifier 2.” The slasher will open in theaters nationwide on Halloween before streaming exclusively on SCREAMBOX.

Allen Media Group’s free streaming platform Local Now has teamed with NatureStream.tv, a US-based broadcaster of scenic nature films. Through the partnership, Local Now has added NatureStream.TV to its lineup of FAST channels dedicated toward relaxation.

Corner Gas has launched a FAST Channel on Amazon Freevee in the US. It features all 151 episodes of the Canadian comedy.

ViX+, TelevisaUnivision’s premium SVOD tier, debuts in the US and Latin America on July 21. Available at launch will be series “Maria Felix, La Dona,” “La Mujer del Diablo” and “Me Vecino El Cartel.” Included in the mix will be live soccer matches and coverage in the US and Mexico of world’s top leagues and tournaments.

Comcast’s Xfinity Stream app is now available on Apple TV. It allows customers to enjoy their Xfinity TV subscription without the need for a set top box.

TECH TALK

Rogers & Cowan PMK and Mediabrands have launched UpstreamPOP. The technology platform provides solutions for agency clients looking for brand integration opportunities and partnerships with content creators and media platforms across the entertainment ecosystem. UpstreamPOP will utilize Mediabrands’ audience intelligence with R&CPMK’s expertise and relationships with studios, networks, producers, directors and showrunners throughout the entertainment industry.

TikTok has joined forces with creator music licensing platform, Track Club, as its new “sound partner.” It marks the first “Certified B-Corp” in the music licensing industry placed on TikTok’s roster.

GOING GLOBAL

Fremantle is feeding the global appetite for Jamie Oliver with a raft of new deals. “The Great Cookbook Challenge with Jamie Oliver” has been picked up by CTV Life Channel (Canada), Disney (Eastern Europe, Netherlands, MENA and Turkey), FOX Life (Greece, Malta, Cyprus) and other channels.

A&E Networks UK commissioned “Murder Detective with Graham Hill.” The new 10-part series introduces the former Surrey police senior detective, who pairs his detective methodology with forensic science and insider knowledge to crack cases.

2022 THAT BIG TV CONFERENCE

Limited Sponsorship Opportunities Remain!

For more information on sponsorship opportunities for this year’s That Big TV Conference, contact Albert Nassour.

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RATINGS

Broadcast Nielsen Ratings for Wednesday, June 29
Show, P2+ 000s, (A18-49)
ABC: The Conners 2.11 (0.3), The Goldbergs 1.30 (0.2), Abbott Elementary 1.16 (0.2), Home Economics 1.02 (0.2), Press Your Luck 1.38 (0.3)
CBS: The Price Is Right at Night 3.24 (0.3), The Price Is Right at Night 3.40 (0.4), S.W.A.T. 2.10 (0.2)
CW: The Flash 0.57 (0.1), Wellington Paranormal 0.21 (0.0), Wellington Paranormal 0.15 (0.0)
FOX: Master Chef 2.16 (0.4), So You Think You Can Dance 1.47 (0.3)
NBC: Chicago Med 2.72 (0.2), Chicago Fire 2.84 (0.3), Chicago PD 2.45 (0.3)
TELE: La Casa de los Famosos 1.16 (0.3), Amor Valiente 0.86 (0.2), Infiel: Historia de un Engano 0.88 (0.2)
UNI: La Mexicana y el Guero 1.15 (0.4), Mi Fortuna es Amerte 1.79 (0.5), Mujer de Nadie 1.18 (0.4)
Source: Nielsen, live + same day time period averages

EXECUTIVE MOVES

Maggie McLean Suniewick is set to join Twitter in the newly created role of Vice President of Partnerships. She last served as President of Distribution and Business Development at NBCUniversal.

Ashley Kline-Shapiro has been upped to Vice President, Unscripted and Slate Publicity for ABC Entertainment and Walt Disney Television Alternative.

National Geographic appointed Karen Greefield to the newly created role of Senior Vice President, Content, Diversity & Inclusion. She was previously Senior Vice President, Business Operations and Diversity & Inclusion Council Chair, National Geographic Content.

Imagine Communications has hired Diana Horowitz as Vice President, Strategic Sales, Advertising Technology. She had been Senior Vice President, Advertising Sales at fuboTV.

Habu hired two senior executives: Abbas Makhdum as Chief Marketing Officer and Jon Chua as Senior Product Manager. Makhdum was previously Head of Product Marketing, Data & AI at Oracle, while Chua was Senior Product Manager, Retail Media Networks at Epsilon.

Brett Kushner was named COO of Don’t Tell Comedy. He was previously Vice President of New Initiatives and Executive Producer for Vox Media/Group Nine Media’s Podcast Network, COO.

Hulu Originals named Kelci Parker to the newly-created role of Vice President, Animation. The move comes as the streamer continues to expand its slate of adult animated originals.

IN MEMORIAM

Sonny Barger, who occasionally appeared on “Sons of Anarchy” and was a founding member of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club, died on Wednesday of cancer. He was 83.

This Day in History
1992 – Fox Broadcasting added Wednesday night TV programming

Friday Fun Fact
Chewing gum burns about 11 calories per hour.

Answer to Our Last Trivia Question
On how many series did Estelle Getty portray the character Sophia Petrillo? Five: “The Golden Girls” (1985-92); “Empty Nest” (1993-95); “The Golden Palace” (1992-93); “Blossom”(1990-95); and “Nurses” (1991-94). Kudos to: David Prinz von Teck/Spokane, WA; Susan Nessanbaum-Goldberg-M and S Entertainment/Los Angeles, CA

Today’s Trivia Question
What did Shawn and Christian attach to a dead gangster’s body to ensure it would never be discovered on “Nip Tuck” (2003-2010)? (Email [email protected] with your answer and be sure to include your name, company, city and time zone. Unofficial rules: a limit of four per time zone.)

Cynopsis Team