| MLB and FOX Sports dish out the MLB at Field of Dreams Presented by GEICO event this week, an homage to the famed movie and featuring the White Sox and Yankees squaring off at 7p on Thursday, with pregame coverage beginning at 6p from Iowa. After being postponed in 2020, the game will take place at a temporary field built near the property used in the Field of Dreams film and marks the first major league baseball game in Iowa. Joe Buck and John Smoltz will call the game, with Ken Rosenthal and Tom Verducci on board as reporters. Members of the “Field of Dreams” cast will also be on hand, while Sox and Yankees players will share their thoughts on the film.
Cynopsis asked Brad Zager, EVP, Head of Production & Operations, Executive Producer at FOX Sports about preparing production for the game, the legacy of the movie and what fans can expect to see this week.
Zager on producing the game: There really is nothing better than being able to start with a blank canvas, and that is what we’ve been able to do with the MLB Field of Dreams game. At this point, most events have a blueprint, so when we first heard about this opportunity, I think everyone at FOX got excited about the opportunity to bring what we do best and to explore new possibilities with our partners at MLB in this iconic setting.
On what fans can expect to see: I hope viewers get a real sense of the setting and the uniqueness of this event. One thing we have stressed is to make sure we don’t overthink or overproduce this and get in the way of this special night. We have an amazing opportunity on Thursday and Pete Macheska (Producer) and Matt Gangl (Director) will find that right balance throughout the game.
On what inspired him from the movie: For me, it was remembering that Field of Dreams, at its core, is about the love of baseball and the generational connection the game provides. It’s a movie that takes me back to when I was a kid playing catch, going to Tigers games with my dad and just talking about baseball like nothing else in the world mattered during the summer. I can’t wait to see those families in the crowd Thursday night knowing they are watching something special and not thinking about anything besides what an amazing memory this is going to be for them.
On challenges: The fun of being able to start from scratch on this event also comes with the fact that you don’t know what you don’t know until you get there, and that is what will keep all of us up at night next week, making sure we didn’t miss anything. But we have an amazing team of Production, Operations and Graphics people that have been working nonstop to make sure we are covered.
On unique venues: FOX Sports has done events from some unique locations in the past, including supporting our U.S. military with shows from West Point (2019), Fort Benning (2018, 2014), Naval Station Norfolk (2017), Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam (2015), Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan (2009) and the USS Harry S. Truman in the Mediterranean Sea (2000), and believe me, our imaginations continuously run wild with ideas. I’m always a bit biased and think right away of what we could do in Michigan since I’m from there — so a baseball game in the Big House would be cool if we could pull that off. I was lucky enough to produce the Dodgers/Red Sox preseason game at The Coliseum in 2008 so I know what an amazing setting a venue like that could be a for an MLB game.
PROGRAMMING
Saturday saw NBC deliver the final night of competition for the Tokyo Olympics, which featured the U.S. women’s basketball team winning its seventh consecutive gold medal and the U.S. women’s volleyball team capturing gold for the first time. With competition complete, the company reports that – despite the viewership dips this year – NBC’s Tokyo Olympics competition coverage delivered 11 of primetime TV’s 25 most watched shows in 2021, led by Day 2 of the Games on July 25, which averaged 19.5 million viewers.
The closing of the Olympic Games saw International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach declare the Games to be a success despite all of the difficulties surrounding the event. In these difficult times, you give the world the most precious of gifts: hope,” he stated. “For the first time since the pandemic began, the entire world came together. Sport returned to center stage. Billions of people around the globe were united by emotion, sharing moments of joy and inspiration. This gives us hope. This gives us faith in the future.”
Meanwhile, FOX Sports reports that the Steelers win over the Cowboys in the 2021 NFL Hall of Fame Game delivered 7,326,000 viewers to FOX and FOX Deportes, up 37% over the last matchup in 2019 and ranking as the most-watch NFL preseason game since 2017. On FOX alone, the game averaged 7,311,000 viewers, according to Nielsen.
Speaking of the NFL, Ed Sheeran will be performing in Florida next month as part of NFL Kickoff, according to the AP. The NFL announced that Sea Run will headline a pre-match concert on September 9th at Julian B Lane Riverfront Park in Tampa before the Buccaneers face the Cowboys. Part of the performance will be shown in pregame on NBC and NFL Network.
Season seven of the National Women’s Hockey League is locked and loaded with the league revealing its full 2021-22 regular-season schedule. A total of 60 games will be played across a 19-week period with all six teams competing 20 times including 10 home and 10 away contests balanced evenly with four games against each opponent with play starting Nov. 6. “A new era of the NWHL is less than 100 days away and we couldn’t be more excited,” said NWHL Commissioner Tyler Tumminia. “We look forward to building on the momentum generated during a historic Season 6 where our athletes showcased their skills before record-setting broadcast audiences and displayed their resiliency throughout challenging circumstances. But most importantly, Season 7 will be special because we get to share it with our passionate fans who will be back to cheer us on.”
Maxx Sports TV announced an alliance with Undisputed Pro Wrestling to become the new exclusive broadcaster for the UPW. The platform will broadcast bi-weekly, daytime UPW events starting August 22, in addition to interviews with fighters and their family members regarding the wrestling events.
|
 |
New Trends, New Categories
The 9th Annual Cynopsis Digital Model D Awards and the It List reflects the evolution of the industry in this year’s categories. Put your best work on the map by winning a Model D or It List award…but you can’t win if you don’t enter.
START YOUR ENTRY |
|
| SPONSORSHIP & PROMOTION
America250, the nationwide commemoration of America’s 250th anniversary in 2026 led by the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission, is partnering with the NFL for the America250 Awards – a multiyear awards program that “celebrates Americans who exemplify the intangible qualities of the American spirit.” “The NFL is proud to partner with America250 to help shed light on those who have selflessly given back to their communities and beyond,” said Brendon Plack, senior vice president, public policy and government affairs, NFL. “As we celebrate our country’s 250th anniversary, we hope the stories of these award winners will inspire others to create positive change for centuries to come.”
The NBA Foundation announced 22 new grants totaling $6 million to help create employment opportunities, further career advancement and drive greater economic empowerment for Black youth. The grant recipients were named as part of the NBA Foundation’s third grant round on the one-year anniversary of its incorporation on Aug. 6, 2020. In its first year, the NBA Foundation has awarded 40 grants, inclusive of those announced today, totaling $11 million to nonprofit organizations.
CBS unleashed its new promotion for the upcoming NFL season on the network in September. Anchored by a remix of the classic song “See You in September” from the popular DJ and EDM/Dance music producer Jauz , the promotional videos showcase players “going through the rigors of training camp as they prepare for the upcoming season and features new and returning star players including Patrick Mahomes, Baker Mayfield, Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen, Joe Burrow, Justin Herbert, Trevor Lawrence, Cam Newton, Julio Jones, Tom Brady and more.”
DIGITAL, DATA & TECH
DraftKings struck an agreement with Genius Sports to access and leverage the company’s official sportsbook data, content and fan engagement solutions, with access to Genius’ official data and live video feeds from over 170,000 events per year. The deal will see DraftKings push BetBuilder, Genius Sports and Sportcast’s automated single-game parlay solution for the North American major leagues, and use Genius’ data-driven advertising technology for customer acquisition and retention.
SportsEngine formed a partnership with National Collegiate Rugby to serve as its official provider of technology solutions to serve NCR’s membership. SportsEngine’s member management solution will be launched this month in conjunction with the return of the rugby season in September. “We’re excited to form a partnership with SportsEngine to help improve how National Collegiate Rugby connects with our leagues across the country,” stated Jeremy Treece, National Collegiate Rugby CEO. “Expanding our tech capabilities was a much needed next step in the growth of our organization and we’re eager to share the SportsEngine HQ solution with our members.”
ESPORTS
With Delta spiking, Riot announced that all matches for the 2021 LCS Championship will now be held at the LCS Arena in Los Angeles instead of at the Prudential Center this year, noting “We scheduled the LCS Championship as a road show with fans and made the decision to move forward based on the very promising roll-out of the COVID-19 vaccine in the Spring. However, over the past month, we’ve been closely monitoring the ongoing surge of COVID-19 cases across the United States. Given the current state of affairs, we cannot in good conscience conduct a massive fan event at this time.”
DarkZero Esports is checking into the brand-new Resorts World Las Vegas. That team will bring its athletes, partners, and ‘industry leaders’ to the resort while the Resorts World Las Vegas’s logo will be seen on the left sleeve of the team’s Rainbow Six: Siege and VALORANT team jerseys. DarkZero’s homepage, as well as the social media channels of the organisation and its players, will also integrate resort branding.
More major brands continue to hit pause on activation in Overwatch League, following parent company Activision Blizzard’s recent harassment and discrimination lawsuit and allegations. State Farm and Coca-Cola became two of the latest brands reported to be reevaluating its partnerships, according The Washington Post with State Farm declaring that it was “re-evaluating our limited marketing relationship with the Overwatch League”, while also requesting that no advertisements run during Overwatch matches over the weekend. Other brands who also appear to have withdrawn, according to various reports, include T-Mobile (which also paused its Call of Duty League activation), IBM and Kellogg’s.
The Los Angeles Chargers reached a deal for a partnership with Esports Entertainment Group, which now becomes the Chargers’ official esports tournament platform providers. Meanwhile, the Chargers receive an equity stake in Esports Entertainment and co-branded events through the Esports Gaming League.
|
|
| Cynopsis’ That Big TV Virtual Conference
SESSION SPOTLIGHT: Succeeding in Today’s Personalized Connected TV Landscape
In a world where IP is the new primetime, streaming & CTV platforms need to progressively advance/enhance their ability to personalize the experience of the viewer in order to succeed in this inundated landscape.
Join thought leaders from Vevo, Beachfront, Triplelift & Zype on September 23, as they share insights on programming strategies, and customization tools designed to deliver a bespoke viewer journey.
REGISTER NOW |
|
ON THIS DAY in
1936: Jesse Owens becomes the first American to win four Olympic gold medals.
IN THE KNOW
Which city was home to the John F Kennedy Stadium, demolished in 1992? (Email [email protected] with your answer and be sure to include your name, company and city).
Answer to Our Last Sports Trivia Question
Newly inducted Pro Football Hall of Famer Tom Flores won a Super as a player for which team? Answer: Kansas City Chiefs. Kudos: John Ferlazzo/London; Denis Barry-CBS/NY; MIchael Ritz-Lenox Advisors/NY; Synda Kollman-Charter Marketing Group/Boca Raton; Louis Lewow-FITE/Atlanta; Andy Pittman-TAMU/College Station; Jason Brist-Outdoor Sportsman Group/Chicago; Bill Robertson-USHL/Bloomington; Tom Moore-Kalt Productions/LA; Joe Keaney/Burbank
|
|
EVP, HR & ADMINISTRATION
CROWN MEDIA FAMILY NETWORKS
STUDIO CITY, CA
Key strategic advisor to the Exec Leadership Team, and has oversight for all HR, D&I and Admin Policies and Programs for the business. BA Degree in a related field, Entertainment or Media experience, and 20 yrs. HR experience with 10 yrs. in an HR leadership capacity required. An advanced degree & experience leading admin services highly desirable. Full info HERE (8/21)
INVENTORY ANALYST >>
TENNIS CHANNEL/NYC, NY: Work with the inventory and sales teams to help maximize the use of Commercial Inventory. Identify premium program opportunities and create packages to monetize high rated inventory and generate and distribute inventory reports. Bachelor’s degree or 2+ years of Network ad sales or media buying experience and proficient in Microsoft Excel required. Full info HERE (8/20)
TRAFFIC COORDINATOR >>
REELZ/NYC OR ALBUQUERQUE, NM: Manages the Program Log construction editing process, copy instructions & the playlist delivery to Master Control. Work w/Advertising Sales department to assist in placing of spots and create detailed reports. Demonstrated ability to work independently, with a high degree of accuracy & accountability required. Wide Orbit Network experience a plus. Full info HERE (8/20)
MARKETING MANAGER >>
SPECTRUM NETWORKS NY1/NYC, NY: Create integrated marketing plans for the region and execute based on the plans. Identify, develop and manage all aspects of sponsorships, community events, talent appearances and other community involvement and outreach. 5-7 years marketing experience required and familiarity with News and Politics preferred. Full info HERE (8/19)
DIGITAL MARKETING MANAGER >>
SPECTRUM NETWORKS NY1/NYC, NY: Work with regional teams to manage marketing campaigns from requirements gathering through post campaign analysis & documentation of learnings. Manage agencies (creative and media). Leverage best practices in digital marketing space, consistently using learnings to elevate campaign strategies & performance. 4-6 years Marketing experience required. Full info HERE (8/19)
LOCAL AD SALES ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE >>
ALTICE USA/OAKLAND, NJ: Meet with local businesses & key decision makers to determine their needs. Develop & recommend advertising strategies utilizing our suite of media & online solutions. Manage client accounts—from proposal to production to campaign activation & collections. Proven track record of closing sales & ability to build and maintain a strong sales funnel req. Full info HERE (8/19)
COORDINATOR, SOCIAL MEDIA CONTENT
GAME SHOW NETWORK
SANTA MONICA, CA
1+ yrs. w/social media content editing exp. is a plus, communicating, scheduling, curating content, engaging, community and implementation coordination, creating weekly social media status reports, asst w/content strategy calendar, source clips, writing copy, scheduling, team player w/strong attention to detail and strong time management. Full info HERE (8/19)
ACCOUNT MANAGER >>
BLOOMBERG MEDIA/MIAMI FL: Digitally savvy business sales person to help drive the growth of Bloomberg Media Distribution. Seeking an Account Manager who can leverage our broad portfolio of multi-platform media assets and create new opportunities with key accounts while driving new revenue streams through licensing, syndication, business development & strategic partnerships. Full info HERE (8/19)
VICE PRESIDENT & GENERAL MANAGER >>
NEXSTAR/MEMPHIS, TN: Min of five years of experience as a successful General Manager for a commercial broadcast station. Significant sales management experience in leading and driving revenue growth in broadcast and digital. Special emphasis on New Local Direct revenue growth, including self-created non-traditional revenue success and sports and community sponsorships. Full info HERE (8/19)
SALES MANAGER – MUSIC, US
MIRRIAD
NYC, NY
Build outstanding sales pitches and build equity with all external stakeholders to drive incoming briefs and pitches. Own all North & South America’s music responses and liaise internally to bring the best commercial propositions to market. Align on corporate messaging and own activation and launch. 5+ yrs of working in a business development req. Full info HERE (8/18)
MEDIA MANAGER >>
GAC MEDIA/FORT WORTH TX: Perform the processing and management of media assets in a results-driven environment and create and archive edit projects for the edit team. Accountable for MAM and S3 ingest activity and tracking, as well as ingest activity that may occur outside GAC Media’s MAM & S3 storages. Bachelor’s degree required or relevant work experience. Full info HERE (8/18)
COORDINATOR, LINEAR AND MULTI-PLATFORM SCHEDULING >>
GAC MEDIA/FORT WORTH TX: Responsible for episodic scheduling of specific series, implement multi-platform scheduling on VOD and primary scheduler for GAC Family and GAC Living. Wide Orbit (scheduling software), including air schedules, revisions, formats, piece number creation, etc. Bachelor’s degree in communications, film, television, or related field preferred. Full info HERE (8/18)
VICE PRESIDENT OF BRAND PARTNERSHIPS >>
EDO/NY/CHICAGO/LA: Drive sales to new clients and engage with leaders at Fortune 500 brands to understand their needs and our value. Develop a targeted list of prospect accounts, and maintain a solid pipeline of meeting and proposal activity. 7+ yrs of sales experience within the adtech, marketing, data/analytics, and/or advertising research industries required. Full info HERE (8/17)
CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER >>
FANDOM/NYC or LOS ANGELES: Build our external brand through securing press coverage in the B2B space. Daily pitching and regular cadence of secured press coverage in B2B space and develop and maintain a comprehensive database of industry conferences and awards. 6+ years in a communications function at a global entertainment company required. Full info HERE (8/17)
SALES ASSISTANT
UPtv
NYC, NY
Maintain agency accounts including upfront and scatter order entry, inventory moves, and product allocations and Electronic Data Interchange, flowcharts, change notices, handling program changes, booking billboards for marketing sponsorships. (B.A.) in Communication or equivalent; Prior internship experience in sales and/or media industry a plus. Full info HERE (8/17)
PR & MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER >>
EDO/NYC, NY: Lead public relations and create marketing materials to contribute to brand awareness and revenue growth. Design and execute PR strategies and campaigns; Write compelling and informative content to engage customers and prospects. 3+ years B2B marketing and/or public relations experience required. Full info HERE (8/16)
COORDINATOR, ACTIVATION
VELOCITY
NYC, NY
Work with Managers and Directors to develop best-in-class multiplatform marketing campaigns for Viacom’s advertisers. Actively participate in brainstorming sessions and assist on RFP responses, and conceptualizing creative ideas. Degree with 1-3 years’ exper working in entertainment, advertising or marketing required. Full info HERE (8/16)
MTV, VH1 & CMT INTEGRATED MARKETING and SOCIAL STRATEGY MANAGER
VELOCITY
NYC, NY
Activation point on RFP responses including but not limited to leading creative briefings and collaboration, vetting concepts with all necessary teams and assisting with presentation as needed. Social Strategy point across the group. 4-6 years of experience developing integrated marketing programs preferably focused on digital/social platforms
required. Full info HERE (8/16)
PRODUCTION MANAGER
VELOCITY
LOS ANGELES, CA
Support the Production team in office, on shoots and post projects. Manage and distribute call sheets, calendars, shoot schedules. Facilitate video conference calls, arrange meetings and guest lists for security. Contract routing: location agreements, guest releases, and contracts. 2 Years + production management on-set experience required. Full info HERE (8/16)
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE, SALES & BRAND PARTNERSHIPS
MIRRIAD
NYC, NY
Sell new ad product and create detailed business plans designed to achieve goals and revenue quotas. Manage the entire sales cycle and effectively present Mirriad’s advertising solution to prospective clients. Develop/maintain relationships and collaboratively work across various business groups. Great fixed salary, upside and healthcare benefits. Full info HERE (8/16)
CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
UPtv
ATLANTA, GA
Ensure that all subscriber questions and concerns are addressed within response times. Respond to, troubleshoot, and resolve customer issues submitted via multiple communication channels including in-app reviews, social media, and online contact forms. Ability to triage issues and clearly communicate solutions in a concise manner required. Full info HERE (8/15)
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE
DIRECTAVENUE
CARLSBAD, CA
Expert in campaign management making data-driven recommendations on media plans for optimal results. Responsible for presenting & selling the client on opportunities brought by the media team, working with the operations team to develop and gather data relevant to each client’s individualized needs, supervising the process to successful outcome. Full info HERE (8/15)
ACCOUNT DIRECTOR
TV ONE
NYC, NY
Achieving national advertising revenue targets through direct sales by selling the value and brand strength of the TV One and Cleo TV. Create compelling presentations and proactively keep clients informed of pertinent account and network information. Strong knowledge of the cable industry, and African-American demographics required. Full info HERE (8/15)
LOG EDITOR
TV ONE
NYC, NY
Manages the On-air Program Log construction process; the playlist delivery to Master Control and the reconciliation of such logs for TV One/Cleo TV. Work with Advertising Sales department to assist in placing of spots and create detailed reports. Demonstrated ability to work independently, with a high degree of accuracy and accountability required. Full info HERE (8/14)
MANAGER, BRAND MARKETING
CROWN MEDIA FAMILY NETWORKS
LA, CA
Crown Media is seeking an experienced marketer to join a growing team supporting linear cable networks Hallmark Channel & Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, along with its growing SVOD service, Hallmark Movies Now. This is an exciting opportunity to join a company with top-tier brands and help Crown Media maintain its position as a leader in entertainment. Full info HERE (8/14)
DIRECTOR, PRODUCTION & DEVELOPMENT
DISCOVERY INC
NYC
The Director of Production will help create & develop new original programming for HGTV, as well as manage all aspects of original commissioned productions. Looking for someone with at least 7+ years exp with either production company, network, or streaming service. Must have great unscripted programming knowledge & diverse skillset. Full info HERE (8/13)
|
|
|
