Today’s Premieres
A&E: Witness for Murder: Digital Evidence at 9p; Women on Death Row at 10p
Apple TV+: Eva the Owlet
BBC America: The Wild Sides at 8p
CBS: Secret Celebrity Renovation at 8p
Netflix: The Big Nailed It Baking Challenge; The Hunt for Veerappan; Fatal Seduction
Prime Video: The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart
The Roku Channel: The Marriage Pact

Friday’s Finale
HGTV: 100 Day Dream Home at 9p

Saturday’s Premieres
ABC: Ms. Marvel at 8p
BBC America: The Wild Sides at 8p
Bounce: Johnson at 8p
CW: Great Chocolate Showdown at 8p; Recipe for Disaster at 9p

Sunday’s Premieres
Food Network: Worst Cooks in America at 8p
HBO: Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty at 9p
ID: Evil Lives Here at 9p
Showtime: The Chi at 9p
Univision: Veo Como Cantas at 8p
Up: Heartland at 7p

Sunday’s Finales
CNN: See it Loud: The History of Black Television at 9p
HGTV: Barbie’s Dreamhouse Challenge at 8p
PBS: Ridley at 9; Grantchester on Masterpiece at 10p

IN THE NEWS

Warner Bros. Discovery posted significantly better-than-expected free cash flow of $1.7 billion for the second quarter, but revenue just missed analysts’ expectations at $10.358 billion. While streaming subscribers dropped by 1.8 million, to 95.8 million, WBD reported $2.73 billion for its DTC unit, up 37% from last year, and licensing revenues of $410 million, up from $132 in 2Q22. The company projects streaming will be profitable by the end of the year. Revenue stayed flat in networks at $5.6 billion. “The important work we are doing to transform our businesses for the future continues to drive our strong financial performance as demonstrated by meaningful improvements to our balance sheet and our now increased synergy target of more than $5 billion,” said CEO David Zaslav.

And what about “Barbie”? WBD’s smash film will hit Max this fall, said Zaslav during the company’s earnings call. Also on the way are sports and news. “They’re differentiators. They’re compelling,” noted Zaslav. “They make these platforms come alive. If you’re on an SVOD platform and something is going on in the world and you can see it, it makes that platform really alive. So, you will hear from us on that. Soon.”

Fox attorneys responded to a petition brought by the Media and Democracy Project that seeks a hearing on the license renewal of Philadelphia’s WTXF-TV, on the basis that Fox “lacks the character” to remain a licensee. “As explained by [FCC] Chairwoman [Jessica] Rosenworcel a few years ago, the government making editorial decisions about content in the course of a broadcast license renewal proceeding ‘would be an affront to our First Amendment tradition,’” wrote the lawyers. The Media and Democracy Project argues Fox used “intentional news distortion” to amplify false election claims.

Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis has accepted California Governor Gavin Newsom’s challenge to debate. Asked by Fox News host Sean Hannity if he would take Newsom up on his offer, outlined in a letter last week, DeSantis told Hannity, “I’m game. Let’s get it done. Just tell me when and where.” Newsom said the focus of the debate would be “the impact of representation at the state level.”

Prime Video has renewed “The Summer I Turned Pretty” for season three. “This charming, deeply heartfelt series has shown the breadth of our customer base, appealing to a young, diverse set of viewers,” said Vernon Sanders, Head of Television at Amazon and MGM Studios. Jenny Han will return as showrunner alongside Sarah Kucserka.

A federal judge has ruled that CBS News senior correspondent Catherine Herridge must participate in a deposition about the identity of a confidential source or sources she used in 2017 while at Fox News. The order resulted from a lawsuit filed by scientist Yanping Chen alleging federal authorities improperly leaked information about her. “The Court recognizes both the vital importance of a free press and the critical role that confidential sources play in the work of investigative journalists like Herridge,” wrote Judge Christopher Cooper of the US District Court for the District of Columbia. “But applying the binding case law of this Circuit, the Court concludes that Chen’s need for the requested evidence overcomes Herridge’s qualified First Amendment privilege in this case.”

The Roku Channel and Telemundo struck deals to continue airing the Miss Universe pageant. “We’re very excited to be moving forward with The Roku Channel and Telemundo for the next few years,” said Amy Emmerich, CEO of the Miss Universe Organization. “To me, this is a legacy brand that people should be watching for what we’re going to do next, not what we’ve done in the past. The women we work with, and the fans who make up our core audience, are an exceptionally tuned-in crowd.”

STRIKE UPDATES

Fifty-six percent of respondents to a survey from Cint have been following news related to the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, and 62% of respondents stand with the writers and actors. Additional findings included:
· 40% of respondents believe AI will fully replace writers and actors in Hollywood.
· 39% of US consumers say the strike is not having an impact on their viewing behaviors.
· 29% of respondents say they will continue to watch new releases until it is said that that is crossing the picket line.
· 17% of respondents will not watch new releases until the strike is over.

The New York City council has unanimously passed resolutions in support of the striking writers and actors. Resolution 694 called for the AMPTP “to engage in good faith negotiations that will result in a fair contract for all Writers Guild of America members”; and in Resolution 729, the council expressed “unwavering support of striking SAG-AFTRA members in their pursuit of a fair and just contract.”

The season two premiere of Max’s “Rap Sh!t” has been postponed from August 10 until Thursday, November 9 due to the strikes. The Issa Rae comedy follows estranged high school friends who reunite to form a rap group.

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PRODUCTION & DEVELOPMENT

Lionsgate has acquired eOne’s TV and film operations from Hasbro in a deal expected to close by year’s end. Price tag: about $500 million. “This sale fully aligns with our strategy, and we are pleased to bring the process to a successful close,” said Hasbro CEO Chris Cocks. “Lionsgate’s management team is experienced in entertainment and adept at driving value, and we’re glad to have found such a good home for our eOne film & TV business. We look forward to partnering with them, especially on a movie adaptation of Monopoly.”

Two members of the eOne team won’t be along for the ride – Steve Bertram, President, Film & TV, and Michael Lombardo, President, Global Television, are leaving the company. “With the business transitioning to a new owner, the time is right for me to move on. I will stay with the company for a short period to help kick off the transition process,” wrote Bertram in a memo to staff. “This has been an incredible ride.”

Alex Baskin, who formerly led Evolution Media, has launched his own production company 32 Flavors (ha!), where he’ll serve as CEO. Baskin will develop LA-based 32 Flavors into a full-scale production company that will build upon his expertise in the unscripted space while also expanding into scripted television, films and podcasts.

Crayon company Crayola is launching Crayola Studios, dedicated to creating multiple genre content for kids and families that leverages color as an intrinsic element of the story. The first project to be announced is “The Alien Adventures of Finn Caspian,” a co-development with MIMO Studios.

Mortal Media, the LA-based film and television production company helmed by Blake Griffin and Ryan Kalil, has led an investment round for animation studio Swaybox Studios. Mortal Media also joins Swaybox’s advisory board, and Griffin and Kalil have put an untitled live-action/animation hybrid project in development with the company.

NEW & RETURNING SERIES

CBS announced fall premiere dates for a season chock full of unscripted series thanks to the writers’ and actors’ strikes. New reality show “Buddy Games,” hosted by Josh Duhamel, debuts Thursday, September 14 at 9p. “48 Hours” is back for season 26 on Saturday, September 16 at 9p, and season 56 of “60 Minutes” premieres Sunday, September 17 at 7:30p, followed by the broadcast premiere of Paramount’s “Yellowstone” at 8:30p. The season 45 premiere of “Survivor” airs Wednesday, September 27 at 8p, followed by the season 35 launch of “The Amazing Race” at 9:30p. “Loteria Loca,” based on the Latin game show “Loteria,” launches Monday, October 2 at 9p, and a remake of Israeli format “Raid the Cage” arrives Friday, October 13 at 9p. “Ghosts” – the UK version – arrives Thursday, November 16 at 9p with two back-to-back episodes.

Season three of “Johnson” premieres on Bounce on Saturday, August 5 at 8p. The dramedy follows three friends with the same last name.

“The Chelsea Detective” returns to Acorn TV for season two on Monday, August 28. New episodes of the British crime drama will drop weekly.

Season three of British detective series “Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investigators” kicks off Saturday, September 2 at 7p on Ovation TV, followed by season four on Saturday, October 7 at 7p.

COMING UP

“Reinventing Elvis: The ’68 Comeback” premieres Tuesday, August 15 on Paramount+. The doc is told from the perspective of TV director Steve Binder, who reveals what happened behind-the-scenes at a special that reinvigorated Elvis Presley’s career.

Comedy Central’s “Office Race,” starring Joel McHale and Beck Bennett, launches Monday, September 4 at 8p. The film follows an office worker (Beck) pushed into running a marathon, who aims to outrun his fitness fanatic work rival (McHale).

Documentary “BS High” premieres Wednesday, August 23 at 9p on HBO. The film follows the story of the infamous Bishop Sycamore High School football team.

SPORTS UPDATE

Tom Brady has become a minority co-owner of British football team Birmingham City FC. What does an NFL superstar know about soccer? “I’ve got a lot to learn but I do know a few things about winning and I think they will translate pretty well,” tweeted Brady, who will become Chair of Birmingham’s Advisory board.

Fighting game tournament Evolution Championship Series announced a one-year partnership with AT&T as the official 5G and Internet Provider for the event. AT&T will help Evo provide unique broadcast enhancements for fans with original content during the event and offer in-arena promotions for those in attendance. “The goal is to make Evo an unforgettable experience, which is why making sure all competitors and spectators can stay connected and share standout moments is key,” said Mario Artesiano, Director of Sponsorships for esports and gaming for AT&T.

DAZN and Fanatics have teamed to merge Fanatics’ licensed sports products with DAZN’s global sports streaming and entertainment proposition. The long-term partnership will see the companies develop a fan experience whereby DAZN customers can purchase Fanatics products and Fanatics customers can purchase DAZN products and services from their respective accounts.

The Impact Network inked a partnership deal with the Urban Edge Network making it the official linear network home for the UEN and its HBCU+ sports and entertainment content. Impact will have access to all the HBCU+ football, basketball, volleyball and other HBCU sports as they become available.

Brightcove struck an agreement with the NHL to provide its technology and platform for the delivery of digital video content on the websites of the League and the 32 Clubs, as well as the NHL app. Brightcove’s streaming solutions are aimed at helping the NHL deliver its video to hockey fans with faster load times and fewer disruptions.

The Association of Pickleball Players announced a partnership with Lexus that makes the automaker the official vehicle of the 2023 APP Sunmed St. Louis Open. The event will be held August 9-13.

We’ll dink to that: Pickleball England has announced a record number of players are competing at the English Open powered by The APP. Taking place through August 6 at the Telford International Centre, the event will be the largest pickleball event taking place outside of North America, with 1,059 players participating.

Simplebet is teaming with the The Indoor Football League as the league’s official innovation partner. The deal is set to last for two years.

TECH TALK

Amazon reported quarterly sales of $134.4 billion, up 11% and topping analysts’ estimates. Amazon’s AWS cloud-computing business grew 12% year-over-year to $22.1 billion, and advertising saw a 22% lift to $10.68 billion. The is “continuing to see strong demand for our advertising services as the team keeps innovating for brands, including the ramp up for ‘Thursday Night Football’ [on Prime Video] with the ability for advertisers to tailor their spots by audience and create interactive experiences for consumers,” said CEO Andy Jassy.

Spotify will be the first audio platform to be integrated directly into WPP’s products and solutions, via a global strategic partnership enabling WPP to offer its clients early access to Spotify’s ad products and first-party intelligence. WPP will work with Spotify to deliver thought leadership and scaled training programs for its employees and clients that focus on digital audio creativity and Spotify’s ad products. WPP’s teams and clients will also have early access to Spotify’s neuro-insights research focused on audience trends and insights.

André Swanston, Co-Founder and former CEO of Tru Optik, announced the formation of Swanston Organization, to advance the mission of innovation and inclusion. “The Swanston Organization is driven by three core beliefs: There is a better way to create and scale companies, there is tremendous return to be made by investing in underrepresented entrepreneurs, and it is both a privilege and responsibility to help unlock opportunity for others,” said Swanston, Chairman and CEO.

GOING GLOBAL

WildBrain struck new deals for animated series “Carmen Sandiego,” produced by HarperCollins Productions and WildBrain’s animation studio in Vancouver. Seasons one to four of the series are headed to RTS (Switzerland), TVNZ (New Zealand), BIGI Channel (Israel), Edel Music and Entertainment (Germany), and SIC K and Txillo (Portugal).

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RATINGS

Newsmax saw an 88% percent jump in primetime ratings year over year in July, delivering an average 280,000 viewers the week of July 24, according to Nielsen. In total day, the net drew 193,000 viewers P2+.

Discovery Channel’s “Shark Week” killed it the week of Sunday, July 23. For the first time in its history, all seven nights outperformed the previous year. As the highest-rated Shark Week in three years, the primetime telecasts averaged a 0.76 Live+3 rating with A25-54, up 15% from last year, the second consecutive year of viewership growth and the largest year-over-year increase in ten years. Shark Week content reached more than 22 million total viewers across Discovery Channel, discovery+ and Max.

The US Women’s National Team’s 0-0 Group Stage draw with Portugal on Tuesday delivered 1.354 million viewers on Fox, making it the most-watched overnight telecast (3a-6a) in Fox history. The Spanish-language audience across Telemundo, Peacock, Universo and Telemundo was the largest for a non-primetime match.

EXECUTIVE MOVES

Amanda Abrams has been promoted to Executive Creative Director and Co-Lead of Team One Dallas, and Joel Dons has been elevated to Executive Director, Client Partner and Co-Lead.

Eric Mastalir has joined SponsorUnited as SVP of Brand Partnerships. Mastalir has worked with sports franchises including the Sacramento Kings, San Jose Sharks, Seattle Seahawks, and Seattle Sounders.

IN MEMORIAM

Melissa Elkas, a CNN electronic graphics operator, died August 2 after a medical emergency at the network’s NYC headquarters. “Melissa was a friend to everyone and dear friend to many,” wrote CNN’s leadership team in a memo to staff. “She was warm, caring and loved CNN and what we do more than anything else. She dedicated her life’s work to CNN, to our journalism and to supporting everything we do every day.” Elkas joined CNN in 1997.

This Day in History
1830 – Plans were laid out for the city of Chicago.

Friday Fun Fact
An ostrich’s eye is bigger than its brain.

Answer to Our Last Trivia Question
Which actress, fired from her show after the actress who originated her role decided to return, sued the production and settled for over $1 million? Donna Reed sued when Barbara Bel Geddes returned to “Dallas” (1978-91) as Miss Ellie. Kudos to: John Amato-Good Day LA/LA; Greg Stewart/LA; Tom Moore-Kalt Productions/LA; Marc Ernay-1010 WINS Radio/NYC; Jackie Howell-Nexstar/Columbus, OH; Perry Casciato-CBS News and Stations/Philadelphia; Mark Prince-dentsu/NYC; Pete Hazell-Warner Bros. Discovery/London

Today’s Trivia Question
“Dash Dolls” (2015) was a spinoff of which series? (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.)

Cynopsis Team