09/25/23: An Agreement In Principle in Writers' Strike

Monday September 25, 2023

Today’s Premieres
Bravo: Below Deck Mediterranean at 9p
Food Network: Halloween Cookie Challenge at 10p
Fox: Kitchen Nightmares at 8p; Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test at 9p
NBC: The Voice at 8p; The Irrational at 10p
Netflix: Little Baby Bum: Music Time

Today’s Finales
FX: Breeders at 10p
Telemundo: Los 50 at 7p

IN THE NEWS

Strike Update: “An agreement in principle”. The Writers Guild of America and the AMPTP have been meeting daily since Wednesday trying to hammer out a deal to end the strike that began on May 2. “The WGA and the AMPTP met for bargaining on Saturday and will meet again on Sunday,” said the two sides in a statement late Saturday, after the studios made what they described as their “best and final offer.” By Sunday evening, the two sides had agreed to a deal. “We have reached a tentative agreement on a new 2023 MBA, which is to say an agreement in principle on all deal points, subject to drafting final contract language,” the WGA told its members in a release.

Shows and movies on Amazon Prime will include advertisements starting in early 2024. “We aim to have meaningfully fewer ads than linear TV and other streaming TV providers,” said the company, which will first roll out ads in the US, UK, Germany and Canada. An ad-free option will be available for an additional $2.99 per month for Prime members.

NBCUniversal has notified external production companies about enhanced requirements aimed at ensuring a healthy workplace environment on its reality shows. A note to the companies from Frances Berwick, Chairman, NBCUniversal Entertainment, reported by Deadline, requires mental health support for cast members after filming; alcohol training; increased visibility and communication; and confidentiality clauses that allow for the reporting of unlawful conduct. “We want to take the opportunity in collaboration with the production companies to continue to strengthen our approach,” wrote Berwick. “To that end, we have developed additional resources, policies and protocols that will further enhance the workplace environments on our third-party productions and will strengthen our oversight.”

With ABC considering postponing the premiere of the new season of “Dancing With the Stars” amid the writers’ and actors’ strikes, SAG-AFTRA issued a statement approving the participation of actors who choose to continue. “We support them in fulfilling their contractual obligations,” said the guild. “The majority of our members on ‘Dancing with the Stars’ had contractual obligations to the show prior to the strike. Many are under option agreements that require them to return to the show if the producer exercises their option which the producer has done.” The statement came after Matt Walsh (“Veep”), a WGA member, paused his participation after pressure from that union.

YouTube CEO Neal Mohan defended the platform’s decision to suspend monetization of Russell Brand’s channel after multiple women accused him of sexual assault, allegations the comedian denies. “If creators have off-platform behavior, or there’s off-platform news that could be damaging to the broader creator ecosystem, you can be suspended from our monetization program,” says Mohan in a “CBS Mornings” interview coming out today. “We endeavor to apply those rules, equally across our entire creator ecosystem.”

Peacock has rescinded its season two order for “Pitch Perfect: Bumper in Berlin,” despite the comedy’s success with viewers. Season one of the movie spinoff dropped back in November 2022, and production for a sophomore run hadn’t started before the strikes hit. With release schedules impacted and streaming strategies being reevaluated, “Bumper” joins Prime Video’s “Peripheral” and “A League of Their Own” among shows whose second seasons ended before they began.

Hulu is expected to drop a number of titles soon as their license agreements expire. Among the series to be yanked are “Arrested Development,” “Ally McBeal,” “The Bob Newhart Show,” “Hill Street Blues” and “The Practice.” Fox shows on the chopping block that got a last-minute reprieve included “MasterChef,” “Next Level Chef,” “Crime Scene Kitchen” and “Gordon Ramsay’s 24 Hours to Hell and Back,” among others.

It’s that time again! Call for Submissions: Cynopsis is producing our annual Holiday Programming Guide, which comes out on November 1 and will be sent to all Cynopsis subscribers. If your network has holiday programming airing from November 1 through January 1, please send your listing to [email protected] and [email protected] no later October 16 with the subject line: Holiday Guide. To be included, programs must be listed by date, title of program, and start times, in the following format: “Thursday, November 19: Network Name: My One Christmas Wish at 9a, Paper Angels at 11a, 12 Days of Giving at 1p”. Holiday-related programs only! A confirmation email will be sent following each submission (if you don’t receive a confirmation email, please resubmit).

The outstanding docuseries winner at the 2023 CrimeCon Clue Awards was A&E’s “Secrets of the Chippendales Murders.” Taking home the award for episodic series was Oxygen’s “9-1-1 Crisis Center.”

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COMING UP

Two-hour documentary special “The Matthew Shepard Story: An American Hate Crime,” honoring Matthew Shepard’s life and legacy ahead of the 25th anniversary of his passing, premieres Monday, October 9 at 9p.

The Paramount+ Peak Screaming collection is back, with a Halloween-themed lineup of over 400 horror movies, series and episodes. The stunt includes the debut of “Bargain,” a South Korean dystopian thriller series, on Thursday, October 5 along with the release of “Monster High 2,” and the premiere of horror film “Pet Sematary” Bloodlines” on Friday, October 6.

“Homecoming,” a film directed and produced by Julianna Brannum and executive produced by Ken Burns, will premiere Wednesday, October 18 on PBS.org and Friday, November 24 on PBS’s YouTube channel. The film extends the story of Burn’s’ upcoming film, “The American Buffalo.”

Generation Iron will debut its latest original documentary, “Bradley Martyn: The Influencer,” chronicling the life of the YouTube fitness star, this November on streaming platforms, including Amazon, Google Play and Apple TV.

SPORTS UPDATE

Usher is playing the halftime show at Super Bowl LVIII, February 11 in Las Vegas. Usher previously played at the game as a guest during the Black-Eyes Peas performance in 2011.

Former Anaheim Ducks forward Nic Kerdiles died September 23 from injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident. He was 29. “An Irvine native, Nic became the first player from Orange County to play for the Ducks in 2017. Our thoughts and deepest sympathies go out to his family and loved ones,” said a statement from the Ducks. Kerdiles had at one time been engaged to reality TV star Savannah Chrisley.

GOING GLOBAL

SimpelZodiak, part of Banijay Benelux, has been commissioned by Prime Video to produce “Good Luck Guys: Overleven Zonder Filter,” the sixth territory to adapt the format originally created by Banijay Productions France.

Warner Bros. Discovery announced plans to expand Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden, a UK film and television studio, with the addition of 10 new sound stages and an additional 400,000 square feet of production and support space. Groundbreaking on the project, which will grow the production capacity at WBSL by more than 50%, will begin in the second quarter of 2024 and is expected to be completed in 2027. The expanded WBSL will become a primary production hub for DC Studios.

Cynopsis Top Women in Media Awards

A Season for Celebration

We’re having a party at The Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers!
On October 11, Cynopsis honors the Top Women in Media. Less than 10 tables remain for purchase – reserve your seat today.

PURCHASE A TICKET HERE

RATINGS

“Thursday Night Football” on Prime Video averaged 13.92 million viewers on Thursday night, up +26% over last year’s comparable “TNF” game. Through two games, “TNF” is averaging 14.48 million viewers according to Nielsen, an increase of +21% vs. last season’s two-game average on Prime Video, and +71% over the first two games of the 2021 schedule, which were presented on NFL Network.

TLC’S ‘Sister Wives” reached a season high and was TLC’s highest rated telecast of the year, earning a 2.50 Live+3 rating among W25-54 on Sunday, September 17. On the same night, preceding “Sister Wives,” “90 Day Fiancé: Before The 90 Days” also reached a season high with all key demos and earned a 1.91 Live+3 rating with W25-54.

The return of Food Network’s “Halloween Wars” reached 2.6 million viewers, posting a 0.65 P25-54 / 0.86 W25-54 Live+3 rating, up +12% and +8% respectively vs. the prior season and up +67% and +76% vs. prior six-weeks. Food Network ranked as the #2 cable network in Prime among P/W25-54.

EXECUTIVE MOVES

Rupert Murdoch isn’t the only one stepping down at the Fox board. Anne Dias and Jacques Nasser, who served on the board of directors since Fox became a standalone public company in 2019, will not be running again. The company is nominating two new directors: Tony Abbott, the former Prime Minister of Australia and Margaret “Peggy” L. Johnson, a former Microsoft and Qualcomm executive and CEO of Magic Leap.

Krishan Bhatia, President & Chief Business Officer at NBCUniversal, is leaving the company at the end of the year. “Krishan has been an integral leader for NBCUniversal’s Advertising and Partnerships division, making huge contributions to the growth of our business and helping shepherd our industry forward during critical times of change,” said Mark Marshall, Chairman, Global Advertising and Partnerships at NBCUniversal. “In addition, he has built an outstanding team of leaders who will continue to bring us into the future. We are so grateful for Krishan’s dedication, and wish him all the best.”

Rick Cordella has been promoted to President of NBC Sports. Cordella was most recently President of Programming at NBC Sports and Peacock Sports.

This Day in History
1789 – The US Congress proposed the Bill of Rights.

Answer to Our Last Trivia Question
On “Sesame Street” (1969-), Who is Abby Cadabby’s mother? Maggie Cadabby. Kudos to: David Garber-Loyola Marymount University/Playa Vista, CA; Tom Moore-Kalt Productions/LA; Susan Nessanbaum-Goldberg-M and S Entertainment/LA; Natasha Manners-Floy-ABC-TV/Disney/NYC; Sandy Spiegel/Chicago; Gerry Bixenspan-TV Marketing Inc./NYC; Louis Lewow-FITE/Atlanta; Barbara E. Bevel/Staten Island, NY; Ken DuBow-Access Entertainment/LA

Today’s Trivia Question
Which actress played Princess Diana in two made-for-TV movies, one in 1982 and one in 1992? (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.)

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Represent Future Today, selling an expansive portfolio of O&O CTV apps, inclusive of HappyKids, Fawesome, The LEGO Channel, FilmRise, Blippi. 5+years selling linear/streaming/OLV exp req.Biz dev position inclusive of direct, pmp/pg.Solid relationships; agency & client. Full info HERE

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Seeking an energetic achiever with excellent written & organizational skills for role to assist in growing revenue for dynamic Direct Response Team: BA Degree, Min 2 yrs DR Experience req. Wide Orbit Exp a +. Fully info HERE

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Communicate the value & brand strength of Urban One Networks to advertisers & agencies. Create compelling presentations that convey the benefits & features of our programming and the viewing audiences. Proactively keep clients informed of pertinent account and network information. Min. 4+ yrs national advertising sales or equivalent sales exp. Full info HERE

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FREEBEE
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Lead, manage, develop, and grow Ad Sales teams. Attract and retain the best talent. Work with leadership team to set, achieve, and grow revenue targets across OOH, Digital and Experiential. Instrumental in driving the team to exceed all expectations and goals. 15+ years’ experience in advertising, media, and relevant sales management roles. Full info HERE

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MONDAY SEPTEMBER 25
ABC: NFL Football, SportsCenter with Scott Van Pelt
CBS: NCIS, NCIS, NCIS, NCIS
CW: Son of a Critch, Run the Burbs, Children Ruin Everything, Whose Line is it Anyway?
FOX: Kitchen Nightmares [p], Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test [p]
NBC: The Voice [p], The Irrational [p]
PBS: Antiques Roadshow, Antiques Roadshow, POV
Telemundo: Los 50, Secretos de Sangre
Univision: Eternamente Amándonos, Tierra de Esperanza, Minas de Pasión

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