PRODUCTION & DEVELOPMENT
Best-selling crime novelist Harlan Coben signed a five-year exclusive overall deal with Netflix to develop 14 existing titles and future projects into English and foreign language series and films. Coben will serve as exec producer. It’s a continuation of a relationship that includes the streamer’s limited series Safe.
Dynamic Television has partnered with Australia’s Essential Media to develop and distribute Troppo. Crime drama series is based on the novel Crimson Lake by author Candice Fox.
ABC is developing fantasy drama Best Wishes, from writer-directors David Posamentier and Geoff Moore (Better Living Through Chemistry), Random Hill and ABC Studios, reports Deadline. Story centers on a pragmatic man approached by a woman claiming to be able to grant wishes.
NEW & RETURNING SERIES
ID’s Twisted Sisters, exec produced by Khloe Kardashian, arrives Monday, September 3 at 10p. Six-parter unravels crimes committed by unlikely pairs.
Netflix’s The Haunting of Hill House launches Friday, October 12. The reimagining of the 1959 novel tells the story of a group of siblings who grew up in a haunted house, forced to face the ghosts in their past as adults.
Season three of Sony Crackle original drama StartUp starts up Thursday, November 1. A sneak peek will be available on Amazon devices via the Sony Crackle app starting Monday, October 22. Mira Sorvino (Mighty Aphrodite) joins the cast in a guest starring role.
Raycom Media OTT app InvestigateTV just added a new show, Post. The media review program presented in partnership with Investigative Reporters and Editors features an IRE staff member discussing the latest investigations with host Jamie Grey.
Four-part hostage drama 54 Hours starts streaming on SundanceNow on Thursday, September 6. Story is based on a 1988 German bank robbery that went wildly wrong.
DIGITAL
YouTube yesterday started offering “digital wellbeing” features aimed at helping users “better understand their tech usage, focus on what matters most and disconnect when needed,” said the company in a blog post. Among the tools: a new watch time dashboard that lets users know how much time they’ve spent on YouTube today, yesterday and for the past seven days.
YouTube is also looking to help its creator community, offering its entire YouTube Partner Program opportunities for non-skippable ads that in the past have been reserved for select partners. The feature, offering creators more ad dollars, will roll out in a matter of days.
Apple is launching three new phones with the design of the iPhone X, with more features, sizes and price points, according to Bloomberg. New phones are expected to be introduced next month.
Uberall’s “Near Me Shopping Report” found that 69% of consumers surveyed use their smartphones in their shopping activities. 63% use them to research products, 62% to compare prices, 56% to look for deals, 54% to check out store hours and 52% to determine store locations. Drill down to millennials, and a whopping 92% rely on “near me” searches.
Independent craft brewery BrewDog got into the streaming game brand first with The Brewdog Network, an SVOD service “celebrating passionate enthusiasts with a thirst for fearless and intoxicating content.” Available on Android, iOS and online for $4.99 per month – or less than a pint of beer, the company helpfully notes – the streaming network’s lineup will be curated by BrewDog co-founders James Watt and Martin Dickie.
The Weather Channel has a new app available on iOS that offers users new data visualizations, enhanced alerts and algorithms for greater adaptation to users’ preferences. For brands, the IBM Watson Advertising update promises new storytelling options, interaction touchpoints and full-screen ad experiences.
SOCIAL GOOD
BBC America and Women’s Media Center are teaming to expand the diversity and representation of women in media. The coming months will bring initiatives to enrich, engage, and enlighten through proprietary analysis and content alliances as a way to spark change. First up: A research study that will look at how depictions of women on screen impact young women and girls, with findings to be published later this year.
COMING UP
Syndicated newsmag Extra kicks off milestone season 25 with an on-air reunion party Monday, September 10. Among the alums will be Mark McGrath, Leeza Gibbons, Libby Weaver, Dayna Devon, Samantha Harris, Jon Kelley, Tracey Edmonds, Charissa Thompson, David Rose, Wendy Walsh, Lauren Sanchez, Brad Goode, Arthel Neville and Dave Nemeth. Throughout the season, the show will celebrate with videos like pre-A list George Clooney and relative unknown Jennifer Lopez.
CBS is offering a taste its new series (including the Murphy Brown revival) with a fall preview special on Monday, September 10. Hosts include Candice Bergen (Murphy Brown), Cedric the Entertainer and Max Greenfield (The Neighborhood), Brandon Micheal Hall (God Friended Me), Jay Hernandez (Magnum P.I.), Missy Peregrym and Zeeko Zaki (FBI) and Damon Wayans Jr. and Amber Stevens West (Happy Together).
Music Choice is launching an Emerging Artist Showcase Series today, kicking off with performances by Republic Records’ Jeremy Zucker and DUCKWRTH. In addition to performing for industry insiders, the artists will each be featured on upcoming episodes of Primed, a Music Choice program that highlights up-and-comers.
Lifetime special Jordin Sparks: A Baby Story premieres Thursday, September 6 at 10p, documenting the journey of the newlywed American Idol winner as she takes on the roles of wife and mother.
The final nominees for the 52nd Annual CMA Awards will be announced today on Good Morning America. Luke Bryan, Dan + Shay and Sugarland will do the honors live from Bryan’s new restaurant/bar in Nashville; awards show airs Wednesday, November 14 at 8p on ABC.
CASTING
Lyric Ross has been upped from recurring to series regular on season three of NBC’s This Is Us. Ross joined as foster child Deja during season two…. ….Ryan Hurst (Sons of Anarchy) will recur on season nine of AMC’s The Walking Dead….Chad Michael Murray (Sun Records) will recur on season three of Fox music drama Star.
OWN’s upcoming lyrical drama David Makes Man has five new cast members: Alana Arenas (Chicago P.D.) in a series regular role, and Gillian Williams (The Girlfriend Experience), Ruben Santiago-Hudson (Billions), Elvis Nolasco (American Crime) and Randy Gonzalez (Bloodline) as recurring guest stars.
GOING GLOBAL
Asia Argento has been cut as a judge from the live portion of X Factor Italy, following allegations that she sexually abused a then-17-year-old actor. Argento admitted to paying him a $380,000 settlement, but denied a sexual encounter. Season launches September 6, with the live shows starting October 25.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Social media is the number one communication channel for millennials, according to Sprout Social, but just 15% of people believe brands are very transparent on social media. According to a new Sprout report, consumers consider a brand to lack transparency if its sites withhold information (69% of respondents), ignore customer questions (68%), ignore employee questions (58%), avoid relevant political/social issues (34%) and don’t post often (20%).
In the wake of Facebook’s data security issues, Hub Entertainment Research found 37% of social media users are not confident social media firms, and Facebook in particular, can adequately protect their information. SVOD providers and pay TV providers fared better, with 18% of consumers expressing little or no confidence.
ADVERTISING
The national ad market grew 10% year-over-year in July, factoring out revenue from the World Cup, according to Standard Media Index. Digital surged 17%, national TV grew 3%, OOH inched up 1%, radio was flat and print dropped 18%. On television, cable rose 5% and broadcast fell 1%. The amount of make good spots fell 16%, “a positive sign for the industry,” said SMI.
