Tonight’s Finale
USA: Dirty John at 10p

IN THE NEWS

CBS is stepping up its efforts for diversity, committing 25% of its script development dollars to projects from creators, writers and producers who are Black, Indigenous and people of color beginning with the 2021-22 development season. Writers’ rooms must be staffed with a minium of 40% BIPOC, a number that ratchets up to 50% the following season. “While steady progress has been made in recent years both in front of and behind the camera, change needs to happen faster, especially with creators and leadership roles on the shows,” said George Cheeks, President and CEO for the CBS Entertainment Group. “As a network with ambitions to be a unifier and an agent of change at this important time, these new initiatives will help accelerate efforts to broaden our storytelling and make CBS programming even more diverse and inclusive.”

The mandate for faster change comes from the top, with CBS parent ViacomCBS merging the diversity and inclusion teams from Viacom and CBS. “Diversity and inclusion efforts have been a priority on both sides, creatively and corporately, and together we’re building on those accomplishments, doubling down in our work toward making inclusion, equity and belonging cornerstones of our culture and business,” said Marva Smalls, ViacomCBS Global Head of Inclusion.

CNN is expanding is expanding its coverage of race, with Delano Massey leading the news beat, along with new positions for editors and writers. “This team will build on what so many do already on CNN and will provide the needed structure to cover this beat with more focus and force,” said Jeff Zucker, Chairman, WarnerMedia News and Sports, in a memo to employees. The network is also increasing its commitment to reporting on policing in American, with Pervaiz Shallwani overseeing the effort.

Mediaocean is acquiring 4C Insights, a marketing tech firm specializing in audience data and planning on streaming video and social media. “The COVID crisis will be remembered as a tipping point in the digital disruption of many industries including advertising,” said Mediaocean CEO Bill Wise. “Mediaocean and 4C together will lead the evolution of modern omnichannel advertising by addressing the needs of global marketers and agencies – transparency, neutrality, intelligence and accountability.” Mediaocean is paying over $150 million in cash and equity in the deal, which will make Lance Neuhauser President of Mediaocean; 4C founder Alok Choudhary will become Chief Scientist at Mediaocean, a role he currently holds at 4C.

After Wells Fargo instructed employees to refrain from using TikTok, and the Democratic and Republican national committees warned staffs about using the social media aop, TikTok issued a statement. “We are fully committed to protecting our users’ privacy and security,” said the company, facing scrutiny over privacy issues. “We welcome a dialogue with anyone who has questions about TikTok so that we can ease concerns they may have.” Chinese company ByteDance owns the app, which has been downloaded 165 million times in the US.

TEGNA’s Justice Network will relaunch on July 27 as True Crime Network. “True Crime Network capitalizes on the rapid growth of several distinct segments of media and entertainment: over-the-air television viewing, on-demand and binge streaming, podcasting and the true crime genre,” said Brian Weiss, President and GM, TEGNA’s entertainment multicast networks. “Our audience has spoken passionately about their desire to binge true crime mystery content.”

The E.W. Scripps Company inked a deal with SiriusXM to sell podcast platform Stitcher for $325 million. Scripps acquired podcast marketing company Midroll in 2015 for $55 million, then combined it with Stitcher, which it purchased in 2016 for $4.5 million.

In more E.W. Scripps news, Nexstar Media Group has transferred its option to purchase Scripps’ New York CW affiliate WPIX to Mission Broadcasting, and Mission has exercised its option to purchase the station. The option price is $75 million plus accrued interest. Scripps purchased WPIX as part of its acquisition of eight television stations in seven markets from Nexstar; the stations were being divested in connection with Nexstar’s acquisition of Tribune Media in September 2019.

Brad Schwartz, former President of Pop TV, has left his job as Chief Content Officer at Amazon’s Audible after just one month. According to Bloomberg, the move comes after Audible employees learned of a 2018 sexual harassment lawsuit filed against Pop Media Group. Schwartz was not named as a defendant, but was described as having been aware of inappropriate behavior and not acting on it.

The way viewers consume media is evolving, ushering in a whole new paradigm. Cynopsis has released a new report with New York Interconnect focused on what TV means today for advertisers & media buyers. It’s quick, 6-page read – we hope you’ll enjoy it! Read it here.

For the 9th year in a row, we’ll celebrate the work of the most talented producers, hosts, sponsors and executives in the sports industry, saluting the initiatives that drove audiences and turned sports viewers into fans. Crossing the spectrum of television, radio, and online platforms, we’re looking forward to spotlighting this incredible industry. Join us on Wednesday, August 12th at 2PM ET for this virtual awards gala.

VIEW FINALISTS

Idris Elba (Luther) inked a first-look deal with Apple TV+ to produce global series and features via his Green Door Pictures. Elba founded Green Door in 2013 to champion inclusion, representation and diversity.

Amazon Studios ordered season three of Hanna, centered on a woman on the run from a sinister government agency. Season two launched July 3.

CBS soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful will start airing new episodes on Monday, July 20. The daytimer was the first US broadcast series to return to production on stage after the pandemic hit.

Dick Wolf is teaming with Tom Thayer and The Pacific’s Robert Schenkkan and Bruce C. McKenna on period drama American Babylon, about the creation of Las Vegas, reports Deadline. The pitch for the show, from Wolf Entertaiment and Universal Television, will be lobbed to premium cable networks and streaming services.

Anton (The Night House), in collaboration with producers Sherry Marsh (Vikings) and Julie Gardner of Bad Wolf America (A Discovery of Witches), has optioned the rights to The Red Lotus, the thriller from bestselling author Chris Bohjalian, to develop into a drama series. Kate Brooke (A Discovery of Witches) is attached as the showrunner.

Darren Star comedy series Emily in Paris has been picked up by Netflix. The MTV Studios-produced series had gotten a green light from Paramount Network, and its first season was produced before the health crisis, but the series was up for grabs when Paramount tilted to more male-oriented programming with the success of Yellowstone. “MTV Studios and I couldn’t hope for a more perfect home for Emily In Paris than Netflix,” said Star. “With their international reach, we are excited to share Emily with audiences around the world.”

NBCUniversal bought the script for Our House from Ian Deitchman and Kristin Robinson, co-executive producers of Suits. Universal TV and Anonymous Content will produce the series, focused on three families and one house.

Disney+ ordered Star Wars: The Bad Batch from Lucasfilm. The animated spin-off, following clones first introduced in The Clone Wars, is slated to premiere in 2021.

AMC Networks streaming service UMC renewed four original series: Craig Ross Jr.’s Monogamy and A House Divided for third seasons, and Double Cross and Stuck With You for sophomore runs.

ADVERTISING

As advertisers resume spending for the rest of the year, they’ll have smaller budgets (down 12% in 3Q and 7.5% in 4Q versus the same periods last year), and higher expectations, according to the latest Advertiser Perceptions survey. “Perhaps the greatest impact of COVID-19 on media is the way it will be bought and sold,” said Lauren Fisher, VP, Business Intelligence at Advertiser Perceptions. “Everyone now operates in a faster-moving marketplace, and that means two things. First, advertisers need more insights into changing consumer appetites and connection opportunities. Second, they need the ability to change plans and buys more often.” Additionally, two-thirds of advertisers that had committed to the Olympics indicated they will reinvest the dollars in the second half, with 17% reinvesting in other sports that resume; 10% in news content; 9% in paid social; 8% in lifestyle content; 8% in paid search; 5% in entertainment content; and 5% in other opportunities.

Brands that had a consistent TV presence during 1Q20 saw an average 23% lift in website engagement, while brands that did not averaged a decline of 20%, according to data from Comcast Cable’s Effectv and TVSquared. Pandemic-relevant creative offered a boost once COVID-19 hit, indicated the research – brands that ran coronavirus-related creative had an average lift of 37%, versus a 13% for those that did not.

Josh Chasin, Chief Measurability Officer, VideoAmp, has won the Advertising Research Foundation’s Erwin Ephron Demystification Award, and Greg Lyons, CMO, PepsiCo, is the first recipient of the ARF’s Great Mind Awards Chief Marketing Officer award. Chasin and Lyons will be honored during a special virtual event on August 13.

NEW & RETURNING SERIES

HBO Max acquired Ravi Patel’s Pursuit of Happiness from WarnerMedia sib CNN. The four-part buddy comedy docu-series, now an HBO Max Original, premieres on the streamer Thursday, August 27.

Kidz Bop is launching a new Kidz Bop Workshop today, July 14, in partnership with fruit and yogurt brand GoGo squeeZ. The virtual interactive experience on the Kidz Bop YouTube channel teaches kids and families Kidz Bop dancing, singing and performance techniques.

COMING UP

The joys and pains of childbirth are explored in one-hour special The Baby Factory: Alabama, premiering on Lifetime tomorrow, July 15 at 10p. Why delve into a topic so far afield from current crises? “At a difficult time, this special focuses on the most uplifting and optimistic of human experiences,” Truly Original Executive Producer Glenda Hersh tells Cynopsis. “We had fantastic subjects to document at Baptist East in Montgomery, including the super-hero team of labor and delivery doctors, nurses and staff, as well as incredible patients and their families. The show serves as a reminder that, even in the midst of overwhelming challenges, a new life can bring joy and hope.”

Add the PRSA Icon 2020 conference to events going virtual. The forum for public relations pros will now take place October 26-29 onscreen, instead of in person in Nashville.

Awesomeness Films announced a virtual concert event, To All The Music, marking the vinyl release of the To All The Boys: P.S. I Still Love You original soundtrack, premiering on Saturday, July 18, at 8p on AwesomenessTV’s YouTube channel. Lana Condor, star of Netflix film To All the Music, hosts.

Comcast’s Xfinity is offering a free virtual camp, Camp Tonsafun, featuring activities Xfinity customers and families can enjoy at home. Jade Catta-Preta, the new host of E!’s The Soup, is the Director of Camp Tonsafun. The series of video lessons and activities launch weekly, with activities ranging from how to animate a Minion, to building a home obstacle course.

STREAMING SCOOP

NBC’s Today is launching a 24/7 service, Today All Day, on Peacock and Today.com starting tomorrow, July 15. The service will include original video and broadcast content, and feature the morning show’s personalities.

Carl Jackson Media Broadcasting announced the launch CJC and TheGrid on DistroTV. CJC is a family friendly network, and TheGrid is a general entertainment network that focuses on black and brown cultural diversity.

Future Today is expanding its offering on Happy Kids with the addition of the Super Simple Songs content library. As part of the deal, Future Today will also be launching a branded Super Simple Songs channel on a number of streaming devices including Roku and Amazon Fire TV.

GOING GLOBAL

Global greenlit season 9 of Big Brother Canada, and promoted series Host Arisa Cox to Executive Producer. Big Brother Canada is produced by Insight Productions and helmed by showrunner and EP Erin Brock.

Endemol Shine France has been commissioned by M6 to produce a local version of travelling entertainment format LEGO Masters. M6 is the eighth broadcaster to order the show, following deals in the US, UK, Australia, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands.

Comedy Central International has launched Comedy Central at the Edinburgh Fringe, a digital special in association with the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, airing across Comedy Central International’s Facebook, YouTube and Instagram channels on weeknights starting on August 17. The episodes will feature stand-up routines from ten rising comedians; highlights will air in a 22-minute linear special on Comedy Central International beginning August 28 in the UK.

Red Arrow Studios International has inked a deal with Germany’s ZDF for crime thriller The Bank Hacker and season one of factual series The Weekly. Produced by De Mensen for VTM (Belgium), The Bank Hacker follows a teenager who joins a team of con men and commits a bank heist. The Weekly is a new series from the New York Times produced by the Times and Left/Right.

We’re searching for the most innovative executives in digital media who excel in digital content, marketing, advertising, social media to take their place on Cynopsis Digital’s “It List.” These are the people who shake up the status quo and are shaping digital media’s future.

NOMINATE BY AUG 11th

HGTV’s Property Brothers: Forever Home delivered its highest-rated season ever in multiple demos, including P25-54, W25-54 and M25-54. Attracting more than 23 million total viewers, it garnered a 0.67 Live+3 rating among P25-54 in its Wednesday 9p timeslot and delivered a 0.85 Live+3 rating among W25-54.

Shareablee Top 10 TV Shows for the week of July 6
E! News (E!) 12M, 628, 19,434, 37.5M
Hannity (Fox News) 3M, 266, 11,603, 9.2M
Today Show (NBC) 2.1M, 928, 2,285, 13.6M
Entertainment Tonight (CBSTD/syndicated) 2.1M, 535, 3,935, 8.9M
The Rachel Maddow Show (MSNBC) 1.7M, 84, 21,386, 12.8M
Fox & Friends (Fox News) 1.4M, 149, 10,028, 4.8M
Good Morning America (ABC) 1.4M, 910, 1,554, 13.9M
PBS NewsHour (PBS) 1.4M, 599, 2,356, 2.9M
The 100 (The CW) 812K, 31, 26,210, 5M
The 700 Club (CBS News) 800K, 149, 5,371, 2.7M

Shareablee Top 10 Streaming Shows for the week of July 6
Program, Platform, Total Actions, Total Content, Actions per Content, Fans & Followers
Umbrella Academy (Netflix) 2.4M, 36, 67,351, 2.1M
Red Table Talk (Facebook Watch) 1.1M, 6, 189,424, 5.2M
Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (Netflix) 892.9K,3, 297,638, 2.6M
13 Reasons Why (Netflix) 746.5K, 6, 124,418, 9.8M
Queer Eye (Netflix) 633.5K, 18, 35,196, 2.8M
Netflix is A Joke (Youtube) 451.5K, 57, 7,922, 1.9M
The Grand Tour (Amazon Prime) 329.7K, 6, 54,951, 5.6M
The Boys (Netflix) 267K, 22, 12,140, 521.3K
Alexa & Katie (Netflix) 222.5K, 4, 55,644, 41

Broadcast Nielsen Ratings for Friday, July 3
Show, P2+ 0000s, (A18-49)
ABC: Shark Tank 2.87 (0.4), 20/20 2.96 (0.4)
CBS: MacGyver 3.48 (0.3), Magnum P.I. 3.78 (0.3), Blue Bloods 3.66 (0.3)
CW: Masters of Illusion 0.73 (0.2), Masters of Illusion 0.55 (0.2), Masters of Illusion 0.55 (0.1)
FOX: WWE Friday Night Smackdown 1.90 (0.5)
NBC: The Wall 2.52 (0.3) Dateline Classic 2.90 (0.4)
Telemundo: Cennet 1.08 (0.3), Fast & Furious 0.67 (0.2)
Univision: Te Doy la Vida 1.91 (0.6), Amor Eterno 1.54 (0.4), Como Tu No Hay 1.57 (0.5)
Source: Nielsen live + same day time period averages

EXECUTIVE MOVES

Princell Hair has been named President and CEO of The Black News Channel. In 2016, Hair was upped to GM of NBC Sports Boston.

IN MEMORIAM

Actress Naya Rivera was pronounced dead on July 13, after her body was recovered from a lake in Ventura County, CA. She was 33. Rivera, best known for her role on Glee, was reported missing on July 9, when her 4-year-old son was found alone on a boat on Lake Piru.

Answer to Our Last Trivia Question
Who was the only voice actor to be in every episode of The Ren & Stimpy Show (1991-96)? Billy West. Kudos to: John Carlo-UPtv/NYC, Kevin Weist-Chocolate Cake/NJ, John Kukla-KDFW-FOX 4/Dallas, Carl Mayer-Active International/Pearl River, NY, Paul Walker-Walk and Talk Production Rentals/Burbank, Lorrie Shilling/El Segundo, CA, Richard Quan-Heat/San Francisco, Allison Weiner-MMSI/Warwick, RI, David Westberg-SAG-AFTRA/Burbank

Today’s Trivia Question
Who was the only main Sweathogs member in Welcome Back, Kotter (1974-1979) to be promoted out of the remedial class? (Email [email protected] with your answer and be sure to include your name, company, city and time zone. Unofficial rules: a limit of four.)