Today’s Premieres
Apple TV+: See
Magnolia: Diary of an Old Home; Rental Redo
Netflix: Partner Track; Drive Hard: The Maloof Way; Ludik

Saturday’s Premiere
HGTV: Help! I Wrecked My House at 9p

Saturday’s Finale
BBC America: Africa’s Wild Year at 8p

Sunday’s Premieres
HLN: How It Really Happened with Jesse L. Martin at 9p
Magnolia: Baked in Tradition
PBS: The Boleyns: A Scandalous Family at 8p; Guilt on Masterpiece at 9p
TLC: 90 Day Fiance: Happily Ever After? at 8p

Sunday’s Finales
Epix: My Life as a Rolling Stone at 9p
TLC: I Love a Mama’s Boy at 10p

IN THE NEWS

“Problematic news consumption” has been linked to poor mental and physical health. In a study published by Health Communication, scholars said, “What may have begun as an effort to monitor disconcerting events and remain apprised of potential threats develops over time into a maladaptive relationship with the news.” Being a news junkie isn’t the issue, they clarify. “It is not the amount of news that one consumes that is problematic so much as the nature in which it is consumed,” notes the report. Problematic behavior includes “attempting to alleviate feelings of threat by consuming more news, experiencing a loss of control over consumption of the news and experiencing diminished time for and attention to other aspects of one’s life.”

Is Homer Simpson the best weapon against fake news? Researchers from Google found that showing people short animated videos on how to identify misinformation helped inoculate them against manipulative language, scapegoating and more manipulation techniques. Groups that were shown “pre-bunking” – versus “de-bunking” – videos, some using characters from “The Simpsons,” “South Park” and “Family Guy,” were more likely than others to identify videos that contained untrustworthy content.

Video length matters, according to a study from OMD Worldwide, Yahoo and Amplified Intelligence, “Attention in Context,” that explores the dynamics of slower-scroll, highly immersive environments for driving attention in mobile advertising. Active attention decreases as video length increases, with 30-second videos delivering only 1.2 seconds of active attention, while 15-second spots yielded 3.3 seconds. Other key findings include:
· Surrounding content can play a role in driving higher attention. Looking at the role of context, Yahoo’s sports and finance content delivered the greatest level of attention for both category endemic and non-endemic Interscroller ads.
· Attention can be garnered at any time. The study found that there is no “golden hour” or day for active attention, which the study showed to be consistent across all dayparts and days of the week.
· Attention increases with age but ad length and format still matter. Attention levels increase with age, with Gen Z showing significantly lower levels of both active and passive attention than Boomers. Format preferences also vary by age, with Boomers responding best to Interscroller ads, and Gen Xers leaning into video.
· Gender is not a differentiator, as revealed by consistent levels of active and passive attention between those respondents who identify as either male or female. Active attention (average 1.6 seconds) and passive attention (average 9.1) was identical for both groups.
“This study shows just how nuanced consumer attention really is,” said Elizabeth Herbst-Brady, Head of Global Revenue & Client Solutions at Yahoo. “The sweet spot is in combining the right formats in the right environment and context relevant to each audience. With this research, we’re understanding more about consumers as behavior evolves, and are able to deliver more engaging experiences.”

Don’t blame new showrunner David Graziano for Kelli Giddish’s exit from “Law & Order: SVU” after 12 seasons. “You might take a moment to entertain the idea that things are more complex than they appear in a world of emojis and tweets,” Graziano wrote on Giddish’s Instagram page, addressing fans upset by her departure. “All I’ll say is Kelli has handled this with the most incredibly classy comportment. She is, without a doubt, one of the finest industry professionals I’ve come across in my 24 years of writing for television. I’m saddened by her looming exit. It’ll be my lucky day if I ever get to write for her again.”

In an open letter on Twitter, “Batgirl” actress Ivory Aquino – whose Alysia Yeoh would have been the first major trans character in a DC Comics film – asked Warner Bros. Discovery President and CEO David Zaslav to reconsider shelving the superhero movie. “We’ve been fortunate to have such amazing supporters since the beginning, from Glasgow where we filmed and from all over the world,” wrote Aquino. “Now, more people know about our labor of love and are eager to see the movie. I do hope you get to read this letter. Consider releasing ‘Batgirl.’ She’s always been an underdog and has nowhere to go but up.”

Canceling the release of “Batgirl” was one belt-tightening measure at Warner Bros. Discovery post-merger. Layoffs are another, with Variety reporting 29 people in Europe are expected to lose their jobs over the next 15 months, as HBO Max shifts its programming model. Execs exiting the company include Jonathan Young, VP Original Programming and Production for EMEA; Christian Wikander, VP and Commissioning Editor of Original Programming, Nordics; and Annelies Sitvast, Head of Unscripted Original Production.

Warner Bros. Discovery has also delayed the theatrical releases of two DC Extended Universe franchise films, spreading out the cost of pricey marketing campaigns. The release of “Shazam! Fury of the Gods” has moved from December 21 to March 17, 2023, and” Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” will debut December 25, 2023 instead of March 17.

NBCUniversal Local, Greater Good Charities, The Animal Rescue Site and Hill’s Pet Nutrition are partnering on a second pet airlift as part of NBC and Telemundo stations’ 2022 Clear The Shelters pet adoption and donation campaign on August 30. The flight will transport more than 140 at-risk dogs and cats from overcrowded shelters.

2022 Esports Tempest Awards

You can’t win if you don’t enter!

Winning a Tempest award means increased visibility among some of the most influential esports brands, team/leagues, and agencies attending Tempest and the Esports Business Summit. Don’t miss your chance to be recognized as the best, in front of the best. Entries close THIS Friday, August 26th!

WIN NOW

PRODUCTION & DEVELOPMENT

Paramount Media Networks inked an overall deal renewal between MTV Entertainment Studios and Angela Bassett and Courtney B. Vance’s Bassett Vance Productions. The partnership is a result of Paramount’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Initiative. “Angela and Courtney have masterfully brought to the forefront events from our history in order to tell exhilarating and dramatic stories that resonate with global audiences,” said Nina L. Diaz, President of Content and Chief Creative Officer, Paramount Media Networks & MTV Entertainment Studios. “It’s a privilege to continue our fruitful creative relationship.” In the works are drama “Heist 88,” and an upcoming four-part event series based on The Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921.

Writer/producer JJ Bailey signed an overall deal with Universal Television, calling for him to develop and produce projects across platforms. His first series under the deal, crime procedural “The Hunting Party,” is in development with Jake Coburn (“The Endgame”) for NBC.

Nickelodeon renewed “Danger Force” for season three. Season two ranked as the #1 live-action program on cable among kids 6-11, while also ranking #1 in its Thursday premiere time slot.

Disney+ ordered “Rivals,” an eight-part series based on the novel by Jilly Cooper. The drama is set in the cutthroat world of independent television in the UK, circa 1986.

Another series based on a novel, “The Perfect Couple,” was ordered by Netflix. Based on Elin Hilderbrand’s book, the limited series created by Jenna Lamia (“My Best Friend’s Exorcism”) is part of 21 Laps Entertainment’s overall deal with Netflix.

Three’s a trend: Ewan McGregor (“Halston”) will star in and serve as executive producer on Showtime’s upcoming limited series “A Gentleman in Moscow,” an adaptation of Amor Towles’ bestselling novel. The series is produced by eOne in association with VIS, the international studio division of Paramount Global, and is set to begin production later this year and debut in 2023.

Steve Blackman has extended his overall deal with Netflix. Blackman will write and produce new series and other projects under his Irish Cowboy production banner. In the works are sci-fi series “Horizon Zero Dawn” and ISS drama “Orbital,” as well as a fourth and final season of just-renewed “The Umbrella Academy.”

Acorn TV original “Mrs Sidhu Investigate” has begun production in the UK. Produced by Monumental Television and Absolutely Productions, the mystery series, based on the BBC Radio 4 series of the same name, is slated to debut in 2023.

ID greenlit season 25 of “On the Case with Paula Zahn.” The season debuts Sunday, September 4, with the true crime show’s 350th episode.

Joe Pesci (“Goodfellas”) will star in Peacock comedy series “Bupkis,” as the grandfather of Pete Davidson’s character. The series is written, stars and is executive produced by Davidson. Pesci will star alongside previously announced Edie Falco, who will play Davidson’s mom. This is Pesci’s first television series.

More casting notes: Jeffrey Morgan (“The Walking Dead”) will guest on season 4 of Prime Video’s “The Boys.”…Charles Babalola (“The Outlaws”) will star as Shaka in Showtime’s upcoming series “King Shaka,” an epic drama centered around one man’s personal journey from stigmatized childhood to legendary king….Barbie Ferreira will not rejoin HBO’s “Euphoria” for season three. “After four years of getting to embody the most special and enigmatic character Kat, I’m having to say a very teary-eyed goodbye,” posted the actress on Instagram.

NEW & RETURNING SERIES

Season seven of “How It Really Happened with Jesse L. Martin” kicks off Sunday, August 28 at 9p with “Law & Order” star Martin taking over hosting duties from Hill Harper. “We are so excited to have Jesse join the HLN Original Series crime family,” said Nancy Duffy, SVP, Program Development at CNN. “He brings his gravitas and passion to telling the stories behind these incredibly dramatic historical events and true crime mysteries.”

“America’s Funniest Home Videos” kicks off season 33 on Sunday, October 2, and is doubling the weekly prize money for the new season. In addition, a live studio audience has returned for the first time in two seasons.

“Out of Office,” an ensemble comedy about the blurred lines between working from home and private life, premieres Monday, September 15 at 8p on Comedy Central.

This takes the cake: In the new Food Network series “Outchef’d,” confident home cooks think they are arriving for an audition only to find they are actually heading into a head-to-head competition against a world-class chef. The series kicks off with back-to-back episodes on Tuesday, September 27 at 10p.

Season two of Apple TV+’s “The Problem with Jon Stewart” premieres Friday, October 7. Episodes will debut weekly.

BET+ crime drama “That Family Business,” focused on a seemingly upstanding family that actually controls much of the East Coast underworld, kicks off season four on September 1.

COMING UP

Eminem and Snoop Dogg will transform the “VMAs” stage for a first of its kind performance of nominated song “From the D 2 The LBC,” inspired by the world of the Otherside metaverse, via a partnership with Yuga Labs. It’s Eminem’s first “VMA” performance in 12 years, and Snoop Dogg’s first in 17. The 2022 “VMAs” air live from Prudential Center on Sunday, August 28 at 8p.

The first line-up of stars who will be performing at the “2022 Billboard Latin Music Awards” includes Camilo, Carlos Vives, CNCO, Eslabon Armado, Grupo Firme, Maluma, Pablo López, Pepe Aguilar and Tini. The show airs Thursday, September 29 at 7p on Telemundo.

Jennifer Aniston, Jimmy Kimmel, Amy Poehler and Octavia Spencer are set to celebrate television Norman Lear on ABC tribute special “Norman Lear: 100 Years of Music and Laughter,” airing Thursday, September 22 at 9p.

MeTV is offering its first “Svengoolie’s Halloween BOOnanza,” a month-long celebration. Featured programming includes a one-hour primetime special celebrating Svengoolie, a Svengoolie movie showcase every Saturday night, a new season of the Svengoolie companion series “Sventoonie.”

Original comedy film “Las Vocales,” centered on a single mom whose son receives a scholarship to a prestigious school, premieres August 31 on ViX+.

STREAMING

Distributor Roadside Attractions inked a multi-year deal giving Hulu post-theatrical Pay1 window rights to upcoming Roadside films.

Cinedigm struck a distribution deal that adds The Bob Ross Channel, Comedy Dynamics and Dove Channel to FuboTV’s base plan, Fubo Pro, with The Elvis Presley Channel and RetroCrush joining the Fubo Extra package.

TECH TALK

National CineMedia has struck a new partnership with iSpot to enhance its analytics and measurement. iSpot will be providing its real time ad verification feed to NCM for use across their ecosystem of ad offerings, including the movie screen, app, digital and OOH. The iSpot partnership is an extension of NCMx, NCM’s data intelligence platform that gives brand advertisers a complete view of the moviegoing consumer before, during and after going to the movies.

Ninety-percent of purported iCloud private relay traffic may be invalid, according to a study conducted by Pixalate. Key takeaways from the report include:
· iCloud Private Relay traffic appears to be associated with around 21% of the traffic purported to come from Apple Devices on both mobile and desktop Safari. However, there appear to be discrepancies in most of the traffic that are not in line with Apple’s description of the expected behavior. Almost all of such traffic appears to be invalid.
· Only around 1%-2% of traffic from purported Apple devices was detected as originating from an iCloud Private Relay IP and exhibiting the expected behavior of devices behind iCloud Private Relay, hinting at the actual adoption rate of the service.
· The cases where an iCloud Private Relay IP address is referenced is increasing. This number has doubled over the past 6 months (from about 10% to now about 20%). Most of this increase is due to the seemingly spoofed traffic, while the percentage of detected iCloud Relay traffic has remained relatively constant.

Seizing on the opportunity to engage drivers who are waiting for their electric vehicles to charge, ChargePoint Holdings, operator of EV charging stations, is partnering with digital display company Ara Labs Inc. and Destination Media Inc. to create an advertising network. ChargePoint aims to install about 1,000 screens across 10 markets in the year following the launch, expected before year’s end. Ads will appear around three- to five-minute videos.

SPORTS

FanDuel Group is prepping the launch of FanDuel TV, a broadly distributed linear cable television network, and its new OTT platform to be known as FanDuel+. Both platforms will go live in September as “the first linear/digital network dedicated to sports wagering content and delivering more live sports programming than any other network in America.” As part of the launch, FanDuel TV i9s bringing in Kay Adams. who will headline the network with a live daily morning show five days per week at 11a. In addition, the channel will feature Pat McAfee and his team at PMI Network as part of the network’s weekly block of programming. The company also reached a programming agreement with The Ringer providing FanDuel TV content from its sports and pop-culture podcasts and digital networks. As part of a licensing agreement with Sportradar, FanDuel TV and FanDuel+ will carry more than 3,000 hours of live sports including international basketball league action from the National Basketball League Australia’s professional league, the Chinese Basketball League, as well as the French and German pro leagues.

ESPN announced that the 2022 ESPN NBA preseason schedule will tip off with a doubleheader on October 6, at 7:30p with a double bill of Heats/nets and Timberwolves/Lakers. The slate concludes on October 14, when the Warriors host the Nuggets at 10p.

Disney Advertising celebrates the 20th anniversary of its longest-running sponsorship on Saturday, when ESPN’s College GameDay Built by The Home Depot launches the 2022-23 college football season. To commemorate the milestone, ESPN will televise segments of its season-opening two-hour show live from The Home Depot Store Support Center headquarters in Atlanta during one of the company’s associate appreciation events and created a GameDay-like environment with elements such as a Demo Field, a Jumbotron and other production-specific elements.

Peyton and Eli Manning star in a new “Play Football” campaign, described as a “fun and humorous initiative to promote the League’s youth program, NFL Play Football.” The campaign compares past perceptions of football with what the game is like for kids today while promoting registration for youth flag and tackle football. The campaign was created by 72andSunny Los Angeles and consists of three short films – “Conditioning,” “Sheriff” and “Respect.”

Charter announced a Facebook soccer kick contest where the winner will appear in a Spectrum commercial with Mexican National Team Captain Andrés Guardado. From now until September 12, soccer fans and fanatics can submit a video of themselves performing their freestyle trick shot. The winner’s ad will appear on Spectrum Mobile during the 2022 World Cup.

Outdoor Sportsman Group, in partnership with Michael Waddell and his brand Bone Collector, announced an extended, exclusive partnership. “We’re excited to have Michael and the Bone Collector team as an exclusive partner with our media businesses as we continue to lead the future of outdoor entertainment across all current and future platforms,” said Outdoor Sportsman Group President and CEO Matt Hutchings.

GOING GLOBAL

Synchronicity Films (“The Cry”) has been commissioned by the BBC to produce a mini-series based on Andrew O’Hagan’s novel Mayflies, a co-commission with BBC Scotland in association with All3 Media International, with support from Screen Scotland.

Stark Production and WildBrain, together with Infinite Studios, have confirmed additional broadcast partners for the fourth season of their animated series “The Deep”: MBC Group’s channel MBC3 and streaming platform, Shahid (Middle East and North Africa), RTP (Portugal), NRK (Norway), TVP (Poland), YLE (Finland), and Radio Canada (Canada).

The Mongolian National Film Council will welcome production studios including Warner Bros., HBO, Discovery, Viacom, and Netflix to Mongolia September 14-19 to learn about the country’s film industry benefits and visit historic Mongolian venues.

2022 Model D + IT List Awards

We see your name in the stars!

Are you, or do you know someone who excels in digital content, marketing, advertising, social media, and or online content? We want you to enter for the Cynopsis Model D + IT List Awards! Entry price increases Friday, August 26th.

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RATINGS

Saturday night’s Hallmark Channel original movie premiere “Dating the Delaneys” was the #1 most-watched entertainment cable program of the week among Households, W18+, and Total Viewers, elevating the channel to be the #1 most-watched entertainment cable network during Total Day and Primetime in the demos. The film averaged 2.0 million Total Viewers and 210,000 W25-54. Over at sister net Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, Sunday night original movie premiere “Groundswell” became the #1 most-watched program in the Sunday 9p-11p timeslot among HHs, W18+, propelling the network to be the #3 most-watched entertainment cable network in Weekend Primetime.

Broadcast Nielsen Ratings for Wednesday, August 24
Show, P2+ 000s, (A18-49)
ABC: The Conners 2.02 (0.3), The Goldbergs 1.36 (0.2), Abbott Elementary 1.31 (0.2), Home Economics 0.98 (0.,2), Press Your Luck 1.40 (0.3)
CBS: Big Brother 3.99 (0.9), The Challenge: USA 2.10 (0.4), S.W.A.T. 1.52 (0.2)
CW: Mysteries Decoded 0.49 (0.0), Wellington Paranormal 0.23 (0.0), World’s Funniest Animals 0.20 (0.0)
FOX: MasterChef 2.33 (0.4)
NBC: America’s Got Talent 5.55 (0.6), Resort 2.29 (0.3), Chicago PD 1.45 (0.2)
Telemundo: Top Chef VIP 1.08 (0.3), Amor Valiente 0.95 (0.3), Infiel: Historia de un Engaño 1.05 (0.2)
Univision: La Mexicana y el Güero 0.98 (0.3), La Herencia 1.21 (0.3), Mujer de Nadie 1.0 (0.3)
Source: Nielsen live + same day time period averages

EXECUTIVE MOVES

Sports streaming and media company FloSports locked in two new executive appointments with the hiring of Ozge Erturk and Joe Baker. Ozge Erturk joins the company as Chief Marketing Officer while Joe Baker is added as VP, Production.

Kim Rozenfeld has joined Paramount Television Studios as SVP Current Television. Rozenfeld was most recently president of his own production company, Half Full Studios.

NASCAR announced that Julie Giese, current President of Phoenix Raceway, will transition to the same role overseeing all NASCAR operations for the NASCAR Cup Series first-ever Chicago Street Course, which will run July 1-2, 2023.

IN MEMORIAM

Actor Joe E. Tata died August 25. He was 85. Tata was best known for his role as Nat on “Beverly Hills, 90210.”

This Day in History
1971 – The NY Giants announced they were leaving the Bronx for New Jersey in 1975.

Friday Fun Fact
An “ultracrepidarian” is someone who offers an opinion on something they know nothing about.

Answer to Our Last Trivia Question
What was Rob Lowe’s first series regular role? Tony Flanagan, on “A New Kind of Family” (1979-80). Kudos to: Rev. Mark Wajda/Clermont, FL; Linda Walker-Smith-Comcast Cable/Orlando; Roger Furman-Sports Marketing Communucations/Greentown, PA; Louis Lewow-FITE/Atlanta; Paul Blutter-Walk and Talk Production Rentals/Burbank; Andy Ehlen-Grady Britton/Portland, OR; Tom Moore-Kalt Productions/LA; Susan Nessanbaum-Goldberg-M and S Entertainment/LA

Today’s Trivia Question
In which legal drama was one lead character seen eating in every conference room scene they appeared in? (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