Tonight’s Finale:
truTV: Tirdy Works at 10p

IN THE NEWS

Nonstop: Downloads of Disney+ shot up 74 percent in the US and 47 percent globally from July 3-5, as the film premiere of Hamilton burst onto the screen. The app was downloaded 513,323 times globally and 266,084 times in the US during the three days, according to research firm Apptopia. Even more telling, the numbers reflect only mobile downloads via Apple and Android app stores, so viewership on connected devices or smart-TVs is not counted. Additionally, the worldwide figures exclude India and Japan, where Disney+ is packaged with pre-existing apps.

Speaking of Disney, Colin Kaepernick has joined the Mouse House in an overall first-look production deal to encompass scripted and unscripted stories that explore race, social injustice and the quest for equity. The deal, which Disney said will provide a new platform to showcase the work of Black and Brown directors and producers, extends across all Walt Disney platforms including Walt Disney Television, ESPN, Hulu, Pixar and ESPN’s The Undefeated. First up is a docuseries produced by ESPN Films, chronicling Kaepernick’s life.

“Posting jobs to Cynopsis ensures we are reaching the right audience – those already in and those who wish to be in the media business. My clients always ask, ‘Are we in Cynopsis?’” – Bob D., VP, HR – A+E Networks. To save time and find the right person for your open positions, email [email protected].

Wheel of Fortune is providing some good fortune this summer. Each weeknight from July 13-August 14, the Sony Pictures Television show will give away $1,000 to a viewer and donate an additional $1,000 to a food bank in the winner’s hometown as part of its “$1K A Day Summer Giveaway” activation.

ViacomCBS and DISH renewed their multiyear carriage agreement to continue delivering the ViacomCBS portfolio to DISH and Sling TV customers.

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Matt Reeves – The Batman director and co-creator of Felicity – signed an exclusive, multiyear overall deal with Warner Bros. He’ll develop new television programming for all platforms via his 6th & Idaho production company, to be produced in association with Warner Bros. Television, Warner Horizon Scripted Television, Warner Bros. Animation or Blue Ribbon Content, depending on the platform.

Are you a Judy or a Jen? Dead to Me will return for a third and final season now that Netflix has formed a creative partnership with creator Liz Feldman. Series stars Christina Applegate, Linda Cardellini and James Marsden.

Also at Netflix, new series Voices of Fire heads to Pharrell Williams’ hometown of Hampton Roads, VA, to follow community leaders as they attempt to build one of the world’s most inspiring gospel choirs. Slated to premiere later this year, series features Williams’ uncle, Bishop Ezekiel Williams, and a team of gospel leaders.

Season one of WE tv’s Mama June: From Not to Hot remains one of cable’s top reality shows, but this year the show faced big challenges. Adam Reed, CEO of Thinkfactory Media, tells Cynopsis how producers (mostly) threw out the playbook in the face of the twin crises of the pandemic and the addiction and legal problems of its troubled star. Read about it in Cynsiders.

Apple struck a multiyear deal with The Maurice Sendak Foundation, the organization that oversees the works of the Where the Wild Things Are creator. Apple will develop and produce new shows and specials based on Sendak’s work, bolstering the kids coffers of its Apple TV+ library.

ABC purchased an untitled half-hour family comedy about parents in LA raising a non-binary, gender-fluid child. From Kapital Entertainment and 20th Century Fox TV, project was penned by Chad Gervich based on personal experience, with Perfect Harmony creator/exec producer Lesley Wake Webster supervising.

Stan Lee Universe, a joint venture that will assume worldwide media rights to all of Lee’s post-Marvel IP, debuts as a new entity between Genius Brands International and Stan Lee’s POW! Entertainment. Genius will develop 5-10 properties a year based on 100 original Lee creations including Black Fury, Tomorrow Men and Virus, and will serve as the managing and controlling partner of the joint venture.

Stargirl landed a second season at The CW, and with the renewal streaming rights, head from DC Universe to the network’s digital platforms for all exclusive in-season airings. Stargirl debuted on DCU on May 18 and on CW on May 19.

NEW & RETURNING SERIES

Two new premieres on tap for Apple TV+ this Friday, July 10. Little Voice and Greatness Code. Described as a love letter to the diverse musicality of NY and featuring original music by Sara Bareilles, Little Voice follows a performer struggling to fulfill her dreams while navigating rejection, love and complicated family issues. Greatness Code is a short-form seven-ep unscripted series that spotlights untold stories from athletes including LeBron James, Tom Brady, and Alex Morgan.

Kevin Hart is angling for action hero status in Die Hart, his new Quibi series premiering Monday, July 20. The 10-episode short-form series finds Hart playing a version of himself who’s attempting to sidestep his usual “comedic sidekick” role by going to action star school. John Travolta and Nathalie Emmanuel co-star.

The third Installment of animated anthology Infinity Train will premiere exclusively on HBO Max this summer. The streamer offered a first look at key art for the third book of the series, produced by Cartoon Network Studios. Books 1 and 2 of the mystery adventure series are available now on HBO Max.

COMING UP

Shark Tank star Barbara Corcoran will join Fox Business Network’s Neil Cavuto for a one-hour FBN broadcast Thursday, July 9th at 1p about the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the housing market and real estate industry.

Pucker up. The Kissing Booth 2 heads to Netflix Friday, July 24. The movie sequel, from director Vince Marcello, based on the books by Beth Reekles, features characters Elle Evans and Noah Flynn navigating a long-distance relationship, Elle’s college choices, and her friendship with a charismatic new classmate.

Lifetime’s Ripped from the Headlines summer slate launches with new movies inspired by books from true crime author Ann Rule. Sleeping with Danger, which debuts Saturday, August 1 and A Murder to Remember, premiering Sunday, August 2, will be followed by companion doc special Elizabeth Smart: Finding Justice hosted by kidnapping survivor and advocate Elizabeth Smart. Also upcoming in the activation is new special Jodi Arias: Cellmate Secrets, and the documentary Surviving Jeffrey Epstein, as a two-night event.

KIDS NEWS

Nickelodeon series All That reunites Jamie Lynn Spears with fellow Zoey 101 cast mates including Paul Butcher, Sean Flynn and Kristin Herrera in a new version of fan-fave sketch Thelma Stump airing Saturday, July 11, at 9p.

Netflix and Hasbro, in partnership with Rooster Teeth, dropped the final trailer for the first chapter in the Transformers: War for Cybertron trilogy, premiering on Netflix Thursday, July 30. Part one, Seige, is rooted in the final hours of the civil war between the Autobots and Decepticons that’s torn apart their home planet of Cybertron.

TECH TALK

Audible and DC will present the first-ever audio production of Neil Gaiman’s acclaimed book series The Sandman. Gaiman will co-exec produce the project, helmed by Dirk Maggs. James McAvoy (It, X-Men: First Class) plays the title role.

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Ovation TV is offering interview series Arts Engines with Aaron Dworkin for free on the Ovation NOW app and its web site. Weekly series highlights the perspectives of thought leaders who are having significant impact in the field of the arts. Currently 10 eps are available, with six additional episodes to roll out weekly.

London producer/distributor The Story Lab acquired worldwide rights to French cooking format All Together at the Table from French media company StoryPlus. Each episode will feature chefs hosting interactive cooking classes from their home kitchens. Before going live, they’ll unveil the menu and ingredients via their own – and the broadcaster’s – socials.

OTT publishing platform Future Today is expanding its offering on the HappyKids.tv app with new titles from Mattel, Corus and 9 Story Distribution International. Says David DiLorenzo, EVP of Kids & Family at Future Today, “With HappyKids already prominent on Roku and other streaming platforms, our viewership during these changing times has increased exponentially.” For more, go to the Cynopsis Upfronts Navigator.

Having tackled the Marvel Universe, Brie Larson is on to her next galactical adventure: YouTube. Over the weekend, Larson launched a YT channel, which she says will be a platform for personal expression. First video features the actress asking some of her favorite YouTubers’ advice on how to record and share pics.

STREAMING SCOOP

Cinedigm’s pivot from the cinema equipment to the streaming business shone some light on the company’s Q4 financials. Although still in the red, the company, which has amassed a portfolio of 16 streaming services including CONtv and Docurama, reported total Q4 revenue of $39.3 million, a 27 percent dip YOY. Its streaming unit however, where adjusted EBITDA was $700,000 in the period, saw a $3.5 million swing into profitability. The streaming portfolio collectively reached 13.2 million monthly ad-supported viewers by May 31, nearly triple the level of last year, Cinedigm said.

GOING GLOBAL

U.K. broadcasters BBC, ITV and Sky are working with Equity, the actors’ union, to draft guidance around Covid-19 testing and standards for close contact among actors. Enhanced guidelines reportedly will be annexed to the film and TV production guidelines released by the British Film Council and British Film Institute May 31.

Animation studio Aardman inked a deal with China’s Tencent, which will air its Shaun The Sheep series on its video platform. Series airs in other global territories on Netflix, which isn’t available in China.

True crime network Law&Crime is expanding across the Caribbean with launches on Cable Bahamas (REV) and Logic in the Grand Caymans and upcoming launches on One Communications in Bermuda and Viya in the US Virgin Islands.

Red Arrow Studios’ CPL Productions scored a new three-season deal with the UK’s Sky to produce A League of Their Own. Sky also re-upped comedy panel show There’s Something About Movies hosted by Alan Carr, produced by CPL Productions and Motion Content Group. Filming on both series is set to start this month… in other Red Arrow news, Vienna Blood got a season 2 recommission by ORF (Austria) and ZDF (Germany).

TV Time’s Shows on the Rise for the week of June 29
Warrior Nun (Netflix) – 99.9%
H (Canal+) – 98.4%
Reef Break (ABC) – 92%
Hanna (Amazon) – 90.5%
In Family (M6) – 89%
BNA: Brand New Animal (Fuji TV) – 86.4%
Super Dragon Ball Heroes (YouTube) – 82%
Deadwind (YLE) – 81.2%
Cable Girls (Netflix) – 79%
Plus belle la vie (France 3) – 75.7%
Methodology: Shows on the Rise is calculated by determining the week-over-week growth in episodes watched for a given program.

Shareablee Top 10 TV Shows for the week of June 29
Program, Network, Total Actions, Total Content, Actions per Content, Fans & Followers
E! News (E!) 9.6M, 512, 18,879, 37.5M
Hannity (Fox News) 1.9M, 165, 11,471, 9.3M
The 100 (The CW) 1.8M, 43, 42,363, 5M
Today Show (NBC) 1.6M, 828, 1,992, 13.7M
Entertainment Tonight (CBSTD/syndicated) 1.5M, 521, 2,798, 9.0M
The Rachel Maddow Show (MSNBC) 1.4M, 72, 19,373, 12.8M
Good Morning America (ABC) 1.1M, 864, 1,310, 13.9M
Fox & Friends (Fox News) 1.1M, 129, 8,702, 4.8M
Tucker Carlson Tonight (Fox News) 703K, 6, 117,147, 2.6M
PBS NewsHour (PBS) 692K, 640, 1,081, 2.9M

Shareablee Top 10 Streaming Shows for the week of June 29
Program, Platform, Total Actions, Total Content, Actions per Content, Fans & Followers
Umbrella Academy (Netflix) 2.3M, 27, 85,834, 2.1M
13 Reasons Why (Netflix) 612.6K, 1, 612,657, 9.9M
Queer Eye (Netflix) 552.8K, 19, 29,096, 2.8M
Netflix is A Joke (Youtube) 319K, 46, 6,933, 1.9M
Alexa & Katie (Netflix) 283.4K, 3, 94,494, 404K
Stranger Things (Netflix) 254.6K, 4, 63,660 , 25.9M
Ingobernable (Netflix) 238K, 18, 13,224, 598.2K
The Politician (Netflix) 146.3K, 11, 13,308, 224.4K
Trailer Park Boys (Netflix) 137.4K, 23, 5,975, 2.9M
Ozark (Netflix) 128.6K, 3, 42,883, 585.7K

Broadcast Nielsen Ratings for Friday, July 3
Show, P2+ 0000s, (A18-49)
ABC: Shark Tank 2.77 (0.4), 20/20 2.23 (0.3), 20/20 2.11 (0.3)
CBS: Dick Van Dyke Show 3.73 (0.3), Magnum P.I. 3.31 (0.3), Blue Bloods 3.44 (0.3)
CW: iHeartCountry 4th of July 0.61 (0.1), Iconic: TLC 0.33 (0.1)
FOX: WWE Friday Night Smackdown 1.80 (0.4), WWE Friday Night Smackdown 1.76 (0.4)
NBC: World of Dance 2.29 (0.3) The Wall 2.64 (0.4), Dateline NBC 3.08 (0.5)
Source: Nielsen live + same day time period averages

EXECUTIVE MOVES

WarnerMedia promoted Priya Dogra to president of WarnerMedia Entertainment Networks in EMEA and APAC. Dogra, who’s worked at WarnerMedia since 2009 and is currently EVP, strategy and corporate development, will retain that role as well.

A3 Artists Agency is re-establishing its literary division, and hired four former Paradigm agents for the department. Andy Patman and Adam Kanter will serve as co-head of television content and motion pictures, respectively, and Katt Riley and Martin To also will join the literary team.

Gwen Bethel Riley, Peleton VP of music partnerships, was bumped up to SVP/head of music. She replaces Paul DeGooyer, who’s returning to his consultancy after serving five years at the company. Riley joined Peloton last August from Disney Consumer Products & Interactive Media.

Answer to Our Last Trivia Question
Which actor/comedian made frequent appearances as Honest John on The Beverly Hillbillies (1962-1971)? Phil Silvers Kudos to: Miriam Falcon-BET/Detroit; Jon Krongard-Wonderama TV/NY; Mike May-R2 Innovative Technologies/Wellington, FL; Tom Boyd-WGN/Chicago; Beth Tallent-TallentPR/Nashville; Paul Blutter-Walk and Talk Production Rentals/Burbank; Randall Bosley-Studio Talent Group/Santa Monica; Tom Moore-Kalt Productions/LA; Sikula-San Francisco State University/SF; Richard Quan-Heat/SF; Errol Da-Re-VentureX/Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada

Today’s Trivia Question
Who played Ginger Grant in the unaired Gilligan’s Island pilot? (Email [email protected] with your answer and be sure to include your name, company, city and time zone. Unofficial rules: a limit of four.)