Today’s Premieres
Acorn TV: Anne
AMC: Kevin Can F**k Himself at 9p
Food Network: Bobby and Sophie on the Coast at 9p
TV One: Fatal Attraction at 9p; ATL Homicide at 10p

Today’s Finale
National Geographic: Running Wild with Bear Grylls: The Challenge at 9p

IN THE NEWS

The latest round of post-merger layoffs at Warner Bros. Discovery includes OWN execs Jennifer Giddens, head of marketing; Karen Grant-Selma, SVP of business and legal affairs; and MaryBeth Cunin, head of programming. Nicole Nichols has exited her role as EVP of communications and strategy but remains onboard with Harpo Studios and Oprah Winfrey.

Over at WBD’s CNN, CEO Chris Licht held an editorial call on Friday to address the decision to cancel “Reliable Sources,” and acknowledged more changes are to come. “There will be moves you may not agree with or understand,” he told staffers, but said media reports about CNN’s plans are incorrect assumptions. As for “Reliable Sources,” Licht said the show’s Oliver Darcy “will be working on a reimagined ‘Reliable Sources’ newsletter. We will be expanding. We hope to relaunch in the next few weeks.”

Paramount Global inked a $1.5 billion deal to keep US media rights for Union of European Football Association games until 2030. “UEFA has been a key driver for Paramount+ since our launch and we are thrilled to extend this successful partnership showcasing even more world-class soccer through the 2029-30 season, building on the incredible momentum we have created the past two years,” said CBS Sports Chairman Sean McManus. “UEFA is a perfect example of our differentiated strategy presenting marquee properties to drive and strengthen both our streaming and traditional linear businesses. This multiplatform approach allows us to leverage the power of Paramount Global to reach the broadest possible audience and elevate and grow the reach of UEFA in the United States.”

Over the first seven months of 2022, travel industry national TV ad spend was up 130% year-over-year, while TV ad impressions jumped 61% according to a new report from iSpot. Key findings include:
· Choice Hotels was the most-seen TV advertiser through July, accounting for 7.19% of ad impressions despite the brand airing zero spots from January 1, 2021-April 19, 2022.
· Travel brands targeted big TV tentpoles for advertising, with live sports accounting for five of the top six programs by share of impressions (led by the NBA at 1.44%).
· Travel websites accounted for 38.2% of all travel TV ad impressions, as the most-seen category within the travel industry.
· Cruise line TV ad impressions jumped 506% year-over-year, led by Royal Caribbean, which accounts for about a quarter of the category’s impressions.

The SAG-AFTRA National Board overwhelmingly to approve an agreement on new exclusivity terms with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television. Key points include: a “conflict-free window” of at least three months during each season, in which performers may accept a permitted appearance on another show or network without first confirming availability and potential scheduling; an increase in the exclusivity money breaks from $15,000 per week or per episode for half-hour programs and $20,000 per week or per episode for one hour or longer programs to $65,000 per week or per episode for half-hour programs and $70,000 per week or per hour for one hour or longer programs; expansion in permitted appearances for series regulars; and a strict limitation on the permissible reasons for which a series producer may stop a series regular from accepting an appearance on another program.

Big winners at the African America Film Critics Association’s 4th Annual AAFCA Awards included ABC’s “Abbott Elementary” for Best Comedy and the show’s Quinta Brunson for Breakout Star; Netflix’s “Ozark” for Best Drama; and Peacock’s “Bel-Air” for Best New Show.

STREAMING

The first 12 seasons of “Criminal Minds” are back on Netflix. The police procedural, which aired on CBS from 2005-2020 and was a big hit for the streamer, was pulled June 30 when its licensing agreement expired. All 15 seasons can be found on Hulu, as well Paramount+, which will be home to an upcoming 10-episode revival of the show. Also back on Netflix are “Reign” and “The Originals.”

Nearly 200 episodes of “Sesame Street” have been removed from HBO Max. All episodes from seasons 39 through 52, the latest season, remain, but of the earlier seasons, only episodes from seasons one, five and seven are on the platform. HBO is “committed to continuing to bring ‘Sesame Street’ into families’ homes,” said a statement from the network. “‘Sesame Street’ is and has always been an important part of television culture and a crown jewel of our preschool offering.” The “Sesame Street” Twitter account reassured viewers everything’s A-OK. “Your friends on Sesame Street will always be here when you need them,” it said. “Visit the neighborhood any day of the week with full episodes on our YouTube channel.”

Peacock will offer both the theatrical version and an extended cut of Universal’s “Jurassic World’s Dominion” starting September 2. The extended cut features 14 extra minutes, including a different opening, more action and more dinosaurs.

2022 THAT BIG TV CONFERENCE

Early Bird Rate Deadline: August 24

Keep some money in your pocket by registering today for this year’s That Big TV Conference! This event continues to add top name speakers to ensure you make the most out of your 2-day conference.

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PRODUCTION & DEVELOPMENT

HBO has renewed “The Rehearsal,” from Nathan Fielder, for a second season. In the comedy series, Fielder allows ordinary people to prepare for life’s biggest moments by “rehearsing” them in simulations of his own design.

Also coming back for a sophomore run is OutTV’s “Gogo For The Gold.” The series features a cast of dancers competing challenges to find the ultimate S.T.U.D. (Super-Talented Underwear Dancer).

A sequel to David E. Kelley’s “Ally McBeal” is in early development at ABC, reports Deadline. The legal dramedy from Karen Grist (“Our Kind of People”) would follow a young Black woman who joins the law firm. The show ended a five-season run on Fox in 2002.

Casting notes: Elijah Wood (“The Lord of the Rings”) has joined the season two cast of Showtime’s “Yellowjackets” in a guest arc as a Citizen Detective….Steven Pasquale (“Rescue Me”) will play the male lead in ABC drama “Avalon” opposite Neve Campbell.

NEW & RETURNING SERIES

Season two of “NFL: Icons” kicks off September 10 at 10p on Epix. Athletes featured this year include Walter Payton, Troy Aikman, Jimmy Johnson, and Cris Carter.

A rebooted “Disappeared” returns to ID on Wednesday, September 7 at 10p. The missing-persons series first aired from 2009-13 and in again 2016, returning in 2021 as a podcast.

SPORTS

Just ahead of the new college football season, ESPN signed former Florida and Mississippi State head coach Dan Mullen as a college football studio analyst, contributing every Saturday on ESPN2 in addition to ESPN studio wraps on Thursday and Friday nights. He joins anchor Kevin Connors and analyst Sam Acho. Elsewhere, SportsCenter anchor Matt Barrie enters his fourth season as host of ESPN’s Saturday college football studio coverage, joining analysts Joey Galloway and Jesse Palmer, who ESPN just signed to a multi-year contract extension. Barrie will also call ESPN Thursday night games this season with Louis Riddick and Harry Lyles Jr. Kevin Negandhi and Booger McFarland will team up for their third straight season in studio together, wrapping up Saturday action on ABC. Wendi Nix is back this fall as host of College Football Live, joined by a rotation of college football analysts.

Around the dial, FOX Sports’ Big Noon Saturday finds Gus Johnson, Joel Klatt and Jenny Taft returning for the sixth consecutive year, while Big Noon Kickoff returns with its original cast, Rob Stone, Brady Quinn, Reggie Bush, Matt Leinart and Urban Meyer. In addition, Jason Benetti teams with Brock Huard, with reporter Allison Williams for select games this season. Other pairings include: Tim Brando/Spencer Tillman; Noah Eagle/Mark Helfrich; Alex Faust/Petros Papadakis; and Devin Gardner/Eric Collins.

The 2022 Little League Softball World Series scored as ESPN’s most-watched since it expanded coverage of the tournament in 2017, according to Nielsen. The slate averaged 294,000 viewers across ESPN and ESPN2, up 19% over last year. The Little League Softball World Series Semifinal Game on August 14 between Hewitt, Texas and Chesterfield, Virginia was the tournament’s most-watched telecast since 2018. It averaged 537,000 viewers. Additionally, viewership for the Little League Baseball World Series regional games averaged 558,000 viewers across ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU, up from 552,000 viewers in 2021.

Streaming digital platform, HBCU GO locked in nationwide clearance for their 2022-23 sports season as part of the new carriage deal with CBS owned-and-operated duopoly stations. Key television markets include: New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Dallas, Atlanta, San Francisco, Boston, Seattle, Tampa, Detroit, Miami, and Pittsburgh. With this new carriage deal, HBCU GO is currently in 60 percent of U.S. television households and 70 percent of African-American households.

The NFL, the NFL Players Association and Dapper Labs announced that NFL All Day – the exclusive digital video highlight NFT platform – is officially open. Fans can buy, own and trade officially licensed digital video highlight NFTs (non-fungible tokens) called ‘Moments’ featuring the greatest and most sought-after NFL plays throughout the season and in NFL history.

The San Francisco 49ers inked a deal with Grupo Fórmula to allow the Mexican radio staple to broadcast all 49ers games on Radio Fórmula. The largest radio group in Mexico, Grupo Fórmula has also selected the 49ers as its only NFL partner for the launch of its new concept for sports news: Formula Deportes.

COMING UP

ID “People Magazine Investigates” special “The Truth About Pam” premieres Monday, August 29 at 9p, covering the true crime story that inspired NBC’s campy limited series, “The Thing About Pam.”

Dove Cameron, MTV PUSH artist Saucy Santana and Yung Gravy are set to perform during the 2022 “VMAs” Pre-Show on Sunday, August 28 at 6:30p. The 90-minute event will feature coverage from Tate McRae, who joins as a special celebrity correspondent. Murda Beatz will be the Kraft Singles House DJ.

The Television Academy will hold its first DEI summit on December 1, offering DEI professionals an opportunity to “meet, network, share ideas and collaborate to work towards a more inclusive and equitable industry, increasing the visibility, equity and power for those marginalized and underrepresented,” said the Academy.

2022 Esports Tempest Awards

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RATINGS

Broadcast Nielsen Ratings for Thursday, August 18
Show, P2+ 000s, (A18-49)
ABC: Press Your Luck 3.43 (0.5), Generation Gap 2.85 (0.4), The Con 1.91 (0.3)
CBS: Young Sheldon 3.26 (0.3), Ghosts 2.63 (0.3), Big Brother 3.41 (0.7)
CW: Bump 0.29 (0.0), Who’s Line Is It Anyway 0.30 (0.0), Great Chocolate Showdown 0.36 (0.0)
FOX: MasterChef 1.03 (0.2), Welcome to Flatch 0.54 (0.2), Welcome to Flatch 0.54 (0.1)
NBC: Law & Order 2.26 (0.2), Law & Order: SVU 2.65 (0.2), Law & Order: Organized Crime 1.95 (0.2)
Telemundo: Top Chef VIP 0.98 (0.3), Amor Valiente 0.86 (0.2), Infiel: Historia de un Engaño 0.85 (0.2)
Univision: La Mexicana y el Güero 1.02 (0.3), La Herencia, Un Legado de Amor 1.38 (0.4), Mujer de Nadie 0.99 (0.3)
Source: Nielsen live + same day time period averages

EXECUTIVE MOVES

Ryan Kandro is joining CNN as SVP of Content Strategy. Kandro, who succeeded CNN CEO Chris Licht as executive producer of “The Late Show,” also exec produced “CBS This Morning.”

Lindsay Shookus, a producer and head of talent for NBC’s “Saturday Night Live,” has decided to leave the show. “After 20 seasons at ‘Saturday Night Live’ (and 415 live shows – I counted!), I have decided to trade in the wild late night life and move on from the show,” she wrote on Instagram.

AGC Studios has hired Aghi Koh on an initial consulting basis to spearhead the company’s move into family and young adult entertainment across film and television. Koh has been a creative executive at DreamWorks TV Animation, Nickelodeon, and Universal Studios Kids and Family.

This Day in History
1901 – Cadillac Motor Company was founded.

Answer to Our Last Trivia Question
What was Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ first series regular role post-“Seinfeld”? The title role in “Watching Ellie” (2002-03). Kudos to: John Ferlazzo/London; Sandy Spiegel/Chicago; Aaron Paquette-AccelerateSG/Fort Worth, TX; Andrew Goldman-Grooveee/NYC; Annette Scherr/Jacksonville, FL; John Kukla-KDFW/Dallas; Gerry Bixenspan-TVMarketing Inc./NYC; Andy Pittman-TAMU/College Station, TX; Synda Kollman-Charter Marketing Group/Boca Raton, FL; Colleen McGovern-Kantar Media/NYC; David Westberg-SAG-AFTRA Credit Union/Burbank; Lorrie Shilling/El Segundo, CA; Tom Moore-Kalt Production/LA

Today’s Trivia Question
Which pay TV series also aired for one season on Fox during its ‘90s run? (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