A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE FROM WARNER BROS. DISCOVERY

UNLOCK THE #1 HOME FOR VIEWERS
ACROSS BROADCAST & CABLE

WBD delivered a higher share of A 25-54 viewing in 3Q than
any other ownership group: 28% Cable | 20% All of TV

Driven by top-rated shows, WBD reached 240M Monthly Total Viewers and posted 8 of the top 15 cable networks in both Total Day & Prime (A 25-54), including:
TLC | FOOD | HGTV | TBS | DISCOVERY | ID | ADULT SWIM | CNN

Warner Bros. Discovery: Dream bold here

Today’s Premieres
CW: FBoy Island at 8p
Comedy Central: The Daily Show at 11p
Discovery: Contraband: Seized at the Border at 9p
ID: Fear Thy Neighbor at 9
Netflix: Oggy Oggy
PBS: The American Buffalo at 8p
TV One: Fatal Attraction at 9p

IN THE NEWS

“Why are you walking away from the table? To what end do you hope that that will accomplish anything?” asked SAG-AFTRA president Fran Drescher, in an interview with the AP about the breakdown in negotiations last week between the striking actors’ union and AMPTP representatives. “I’ve never really dealt with this kind of affront, of indignation and a need to get their own way. I think that they’re very used to getting their own way. I think that the idea that we want to go into a pocket to compensate for the lack of income that we cannot get for our working members in a streaming model is just so repugnant to them.” So the strike will go on. “I think that they think we’re going to cower, but that’s never going to happen,” said Drescher. “This is a crossroads and we must stay on course.”

The actors’ union has the support of the Writers Guild of America West, Writers Guild of America East, Directors Guild of America, International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, American Federation of Musicians, Teamsters, and Hollywood Basic Crafts. “Each day a fair contract addressing actors’ unique priorities is delayed is another day working professionals across our industry suffer unnecessarily. At this point, it should be clear to the studios and the AMPTP that more is needed than proposals which merely replicate the terms negotiated with other unions,” said a joint statement from the organizations. “We collectively demand the AMPTP resumes negotiations in good faith immediately, make meaningful moves at the negotiating table with SAG-AFTRA to address performers’ specific needs, and make the fair deal they deserve.”

Microsoft has closed its massive $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard. Bumps in the road included the FTC’s failed attempt to secure a preliminary injunction against the deal, and gaming rival Sony’s objections. Sony signed a deal with Microsoft to keep Call of Duty on its PlayStation console for another ten years, but the FTC hasn’t thrown in the towel. “We remain focused on the federal appeal process despite Microsoft and Activision closing their deal in advance of a scheduled December appeals court hearing,” said an FTC spokesperson. “Microsoft and Activision’s new agreement with Ubisoft presents a whole new facet to the merger that will affect American consumers, which the FTC will assess as part of its ongoing administrative proceeding. The FTC continues to believe this deal is a threat to competition.”

Comcast and Disney have enlisted investment banks to appraise Hulu. This comes ahead of the date – November 1 – when both companies can trigger an option that will start a sale process in which Disney acquires Comcast’s one-third stake in the streamer. If the banks’ valuations are within 10% of each other, Hulu will be valued at the average of the two prices. If they are not within 10% of each other, a third bank would be hired, and that valuation averaged with the assessment closest to it. A 2019 agreement between Disney and Comcast established the conditions under which a fair valuation would be determined.

To celebrate the 100th anniversary The Walt Disney Company, Disney has collaborated with TikTok for a four-week activation that enables fans on the platform to watch Disney videos, create videos with Disney music and effects, play Disney trivia games and more. “With over 240 billion views across Disney’s portfolio of brands and experiences, TikTok has become a go-to destination for Disney fans to create, engage and connect around their favorite Disney films, shows, characters and experiences, so we’re thrilled to partner with them as we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the company,” said Asad Ayez Chief Brand Officer of The Walt Disney Company.

Apple TV+ canceled “The Afterparty” after two seasons. The murder mystery/comedy series was produced by TriStar TV and Sony Pictures Television, which plans to shop the show to other platforms.

LAST CHANCE! 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] by EOD today 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).

2023 Tempest Esports & Gaming Awards

One week until…

Attendees take their seats at the Tempest Awards on Oct. 23. Hosted by NBA 2K League’s very own Christina Granville, the ceremony at HyperX Arena in Las Vegas will feature gaming’s best in class. Tickets are going fast…

I’LL BE THERE

PRODUCTION & DEVELOPMENT

Ken Jeong (“The Masked Singer”) is developing a talk show with Debmar-Mercury. Jim Biederman (“The Kids in the Hall”) is serving as showrunner, writer and director and is exec producing alongside Jeong. “Audiences connect with Ken on many levels – not only because is he so talented, entertaining and unapologetically hilarious but their sense that he is sincere, compassionate, fearless, friendly, just genuinely nice – all essential ingredients that make for long-term success as a talk show host,” said Debmar-Mercury Co-Presidents Mort Marcus and Ira Bernstein. “He is also a talent capable of conquering any time period with his mix of comedy, Hollywood celebrity friends and ability to bring viewers.”

Fox’s animated detective series “Grimsburg” will premiere live in all time zones Sunday, January 7 following the Fox NFL doubleheader. Jon Hamm (“Ma Men”) executive produces and stars.

The voice cast for adult animated series “Hazbin Hotel,” which landed a two-season order from Prime Video last month, includes Erika Henningsen, Stephen Beatriz, Alex Brightman, Kimiko Glenn, Blake Roman, and Amir Talai.

Comedian and voice actor Kevin McDonald has joined fellow Kid in the Hall Bruce McCulloch in Lakeside Animation Studios’ adult animated series “Paralegal.” Also joining the cast is Canada’s Got Talent finalist Courtney Gilmour, and comedy troupe the Tallboyz (Tim Blair, Guled Abdi, Franco Nguyen and Vance Banzo).

Forge Entertainment has set a first look deal with “Iyanu” creator Roye Okupe, founder of YouNeek Studios and creator of the YouNeek YouNiverse. Through the deal, Lion Forge will adapt Okupe’s graphic novels for TV, film, and games and collaborate with Okupe on Lion Forge’s own original projects that Okupe may develop, write and/or direct for the studio.

COMING UP

“Archer” isn’t quite over after all. While the animated spy comedy wrapped its 14th and final season, FXX ordered a new three-part finale, it was revealed at New York Comic Con. “Archer: Into the Cold” debuts Sunday, December 17 on FX and FXX.

Two astronauts adrift in a broken-down space shuttle are at the center of Peacock film “If You Were the Last,” premiering Friday, October 20.

Cue the tension. Bravo’s two-part reunion for “The Real Housewives of New York City” kicks off Sunday, October 22 at 9p.

GOING GLOBAL

A+E Networks announced an expanded collaboration with Germany’s Seven.One Entertainment Group. The multi-year agreement gives Seven.One Entertainment Group access to additional hours from A+E’s US channels A&E, Lifetime, FYI, and The History Channel, which will be broadcast across the majority of Seven.One Entertainment Group’s portfolio of platforms.

9 Story Media Group secured a season 2 order from BBC and BYUtv for its live-action series “A Kind of Spark,” based on the book by neurodivergent author Elle McNicoll. The new season began filming last month in Northern Ireland.

EndemolShine Nederland game show “Upside Down” will air on RTL 4 and is set for international travel via Banijay. Each episode sees two celebrity teams undertake topsy turvy challenges and Q&A games.

2023 Esports & Gaming Business Summit

Incoming: EBS Brand Camps
The Brand Camps at this year’s EBS, taking place October 22-24 in Las Vegas, exhibit insight and innovation from today’s leading esports brands. Here’s a sneak peek at who will be there:
PacSun
Temptations
Aramark
Tickets are limited – buy today!

PURCHASE A TICKET NOW

RATINGS

Thursday’s Kansas City Chiefs/Denver Broncos game on Prime Video drew an audience of 13.83 million, up 57% versus last year’s comparable game. Taylor Swift was in the house, which could account for the 29% rise (to 303,000) in the female 18-24 demo versus the last four “Thursday Night Football” games.

The premiere episode of “The Continental: From the World of John Wick” was Peacock’s biggest original debut of the year. The series premiered September 22.

Hallmark Channel movie “3 Bed, 2 Bath, 1 Ghost” premiered as the #1 most-watched entertainment cable program of the day among HHs, Women and Persons 18+ and Total Viewers, reaching 3.9 million Unduplicated Total Viewers in Live+3 Nielsens.

TLC’S “Sister Wives” was the #1 primetime ad-supported cable program with P25-54 and key female demos, earning a 2.04 Live+3 rating among W25-54 on Sunday, October 8 at 10p. TLC also had the #2 primetime non-sports ad-supported cable program of the night with P25-54 and key female demos with the season premiere of “90 Day Fiancé,” which earned a 1.17 Live+3 rating among W25-54.

EXECUTIVE MOVES

Netflix appointed Sahara Bushue, who had been consulting for the streamer, as a director of unscripted series. Previously, Bushue was head of unscripted at Westbrook Studios.

Rob McEvily has joined Magellan TV as director of marketing. McEvily was previously Director, Brand & Content at Mediaocean.

IN MEMORIAM

Actress Piper Laurie died October 14. She was 91. Perhaps best known for her roles in “Carrie” and “The Hustler,” Laurie was also a nine-time Emmy nominee, winning for her role in the 1986 TV movie “Promise.”

Actor Mark Goddard died October 10. He was 87. Goddard’s numerous TV roles included Major West on “Lost in Space.”

This Day in History
1384 – Jadwiga, a woman, was crowned king of Poland.

Answer to Our Last Trivia Question
Which actress played April Stevens’ kidnapper in the final season of “Dallas” (1978-91)? Susan Lucci played Hilary Taylor. Kudos to: Andy Ehlen-Grady Britton/Portland, OR; Justin Pierce-JP Consulting/LA; David Garber-Loyola Marymount University/Playa Vista, CA; Steve Callahan-Screen Engine ASI/LA; Greg West-WATC/Atlanta; Gerry Bixenspan-TV Marketing Inc./NYC

Today’s Trivia Question
Who played Cinderella in the first televised version of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical? (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