Today’s Premieres
HBO: We Are Who We Are at 10p
ID: Killer Carnies at 10p

Despite fears about brand safety and suitability, there are significant benefits for brands to advertise within news content, according to a study from Interactive Advertising Bureau and Magid Research. Findings show that advertising within news is more than just safe for brands, it can increase business results. The study found:
– Consumer trust in brands advertising within news increases because of associations with preferred news sources.
– In addition to increased trust, brands that advertise within news are also more likely to see increases in consumer perception or other positive attributes.
– Consumers are more likely to consider making a purchase after being exposed to a brand’s advertisement within their preferred news sources.
“Not only is supporting the news critically important and the right thing to do, it is the smart thing for brands as they look to grow their business. News is brand safe, increases brand trust, and drives business results,” said David Cohen, CEO of IAB. “Consumers trust brands more when they run adjacent to news, especially breaking news. There is a News Trust Halo for brands that shouldn’t be ignored.”

Fox will not renew soapy drama Filthy Rich or AI thriller NeXt for second seasons. Both shows, averaging 0.5.3 among A18-49, will finish their 10-episode runs.

Twitter suspended US Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Mark Morgan for a post it said violated the company’s “hateful conduct” policy. Morgan had posted about the Mexican border wall, “Every mile helps us stop gang members, murderers, sexual predators, and drugs from entering our country. It’s a fact, wall’s work.” Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf objected to the suspension, telling Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, “Your censorship poses a threat to our security.”

Comedian Dave Chappelle will host the sixth consecutive Saturday Night Live episode, on November 7. The last time Chappelle hosted NBC’s sketch show was the weekend Donald Trump became president.

While TV station ad revenue was down for pandemic-ravaged 2Q20 versus the year prior, the increase in retransmission consent fees “more than made up for it,” according to a Pew Research Center analysis based on second quarter revenue for Sinclair, Tegna, Nexstar, Gray and Scripps. Across the five operators, retrans fees were up by 37% for for quarter, for a total $87.3 million in median revenue, more than enough to cover the median ad revenue decline of 24% to $67.9 million.

Charter Communications announced 3Q20 revenue up 5%, as adoption of high-speed internet service increased during the pandemic. Net income jumped to $814 million, from $387 million in 3Q19, with an additional 494,000 residential customers, versus net adds of 351,000 the year prior. CEO Tom Rutledge, whose contract was set to expire at the end of the year, has signed on through 2024.

There was good third quarter revenue news for WWE, despite live events tanking from $23.2 million in the year-ago quarter to $700,000, thanks to the pandemic. With gains including content rights fees for TV programming, advertising and sponosorship and streaming subscription revenue, overall revenue for the quarter grew 19%, to $221.6 million.

UK’s Sky History canceled reality series “The Chop: Britain’s Top Woodworker” after an investigation into contestant Darren Lumsden tattoos concluded “could be connected to far-right ideologies.” Said Big Wheel Film & Television, which produced the show for Sky History, run by A+E Networks US and Sky, “Big Wheel Film & Television co-operated fully with the independent investigation put in place by A+E, and shared details of relevant processes, discussions and exchanges, along with supporting evidence and documentation.” Lumsden claimed his tattoo of the number 88, a white supremacist code for Heil Hitler, was in memory of the year his father died, but MailOnline found his father, who reported, “I’m alive and kicking.”

Hallmark Channel Radio is back for the holidays on SiriusXM, in conjunction with Hallmark Channel’s annual “Countdown to Christmas” programming event. Voiced by Candace Cameron Bure, Hallmark Channel Radio will feature hosted holiday playlist countdowns from a network favorites including Lacey Chabert, Sarah Drew, Tyler Hynes, Danica McKellar, Tamera Mowry-Housley, Holly Robinson Peete, and more.

With Election Day tomorrow (don’t forget to vote), we thought we’d spotlight a few Best of the Best Award categories. Cynopsis is looking for the Best “Get out the Vote” Programming, Best “Get out the Vote” Campaign, and Best “Get out the Vote” Partnership. Enter before the 11/19 deadline!

SESSION SPOTLIGHT – TV’s Future is in our Hands: Change the Narrative
TV is reinventing itself as a powerful cross-platform medium. We have the opportunity to protect ad spend & attract advertisers back to TV – all while ensuring it’s a “win-win-win” for sellers, buyers + viewers alike. Join TVSquared’s Jo Kinsella & VAB’s Danielle DeLauro to unpack how the industry is working to foster innovation, usage & change the long-standing narrative around TV.
Join us at 2:55pm on 11/18

REGISTER NOW

Fox gave a 14-episode order for a remake of the BBC comedy “This Country,” a co-prodcution between Lionsgate, BBC Studios, Fox Entertainment and Feigco Entertainment. Jenny Bicks (“Sex and the City”) is wrting, with Paul Feig (“Bridesmaids”) in the director’s chair.

Spectrum Originals and AMC Networks announced the pickup of “Beacon 23.” The psychological thriller/romance focuses on two people trapped in a lighthouse at the end of the known universe. Co-commissioned by Spectrum Originals and AMC Networks, and co-produced by Spectrum Originals and Platform One Media, the series comes from creator Zak Penn (“The Avengers”) and is based on the book of the same name by bestselling author Hugh Howey. After a nine-month exclusive run on Spectrum, the series will be an AMC original with a second window across AMC Networks platforms.

The Black List and Google Assistant are partnering for the Storytelling Fellowship, to provide financial and creative support to five writers in the development and execution of a new film script or TV pilot that offers perspectives from underrepresented communities. The selected scribes will each receive $20,000 to support themselves for six months to draft their work, with a screenwriting mentor.

NEW & RETURNING SERIES

VICE Media Group has launched “Source Material,” a multimedia project from VICE World News available on VICE News YouTube. Produced entirely from user-generated content, the series follows stories, from war zones to wildfires, directly from the recordings of those who lived it. “VICE News is famous for our boots-on-the-ground reporting,” said Jesse Angelo, President, Global News and Entertainment, VICE Media Group. “Cellphone videos, live streams, CCTV, dash-cams, and user-generated content are increasingly part of how we consume the news, and this documentary series shows a new way to tell stories in a world where almost everything is captured on camera.”

Viewers will have a shot at sampling Showtime’s upcoming comedy series “Moonbase 8” for free online, beginning at midnight on Sunday, November 8. The series officially premieres on Showtime on Sunday, November 8 at 11p.

Explorer Josh Gates welcomes Matthew McConaughey for the season premiere of Discovery talk show Josh Gates Tonight, on Wednesday, November 11 at 8p. A new season of Expedition X, hosted by Gates and featuring investigators tackling bizarre mysteries, follows at 9p.

UK comedy “I Hate Suzie,” centered on a star on the wane whose life is upended when her phone is hacked, makes its US debut on HBO Max on Thursday, November 19.

HGTV has tapped experts to serve as rotating judges to evaluate renovated spaces in season two of “Rock the Block,” premiering in March 2021. Among those on hand will be Tarek El Moussaand his fiancée, Heather Rae Young; Page Turner; Egypt Sherrod and her husband, Mike Jackson; and Tamara Day and Mike Pyle.

New ID series “The Crimes That Changed Us,” comparing how notorious cases were viewed then versus now, debuts Wednesday, November 11 at 10p. Also premiering on the true crime net next month are season two of “Til Death Do Us Part” on Monday, November 9 at 10p, and season three of “The Murder Tapes” on Wednesday, November 18 at 9p.

All ten episodes of season two of zombie thriller “Dead of Night” drop on Snapchat’s Discover page on Friday, November 13.

Check out who made the cut for this year’s Cynopsis Digital Awards being held virtually on December 1st! View the Digital Model D Finalists, Adtech Finalists, “It List” Honorees and Woman in Tech Honoree and register (for free) to see who wins on 12/1.

COMING UP

ABC is tapping the feel-good Disney Family Singalong franchise for a new special, “The Disney Holiday Singalong,” airing Monday, November 30 at 8p. Also on the way: a Disney Parks Christmas Day special.

HBO’s Transhood, a film following the lives of four young people growing up transgender in Kansas City, debuts Thursday, November 12 at 9p.

The Pasadena Tournament of Roses canceled its annual Rose Parade last summer because of the pandemic, but it’s back on, reimagined as a TV special including musical entertainment, memorable past floats, marching band performances and more. The New Year’s Day special, which will benefit Feeding America, will air on ABC, NBC, Hallmark Channel, Univision, KTLA and RFD-TV at 8a.

STREAMING SCOOP

HBO Max picked up five shows from Comedy Central. In a nonexclusive streaming deal, HBO Max adds Chappelle’s Show, Inside Amy Schumer, Key & Peele, Nathan for You, and the original Reno 911! to its offerings.

OML on Revry, a online channel focused on women in the LGBTQ community, has launched with a pandemic-set romantic comedy and a drama. “I’m overjoyed to offer a free, living and breathing space for queer female stories to be seen across the world,” said Revry co-founder LaShawn McGhee. The channel is part of queer-focused digital platform Revry.

UPROXX announced the launch of an editorial gaming vertical, “UPROXX Edge.” Edge – an acronym for “Experiential Development for Gaming and Esports” – is aimed at casual gamers. The UPROXX editorial team will cover the cross-section of gaming, music, entertainment, sports, and culture with content that “will be a true celebration of inclusivity and creativity in esports, social media, and the larger world of gaming.”

Cinedigm has added over 240 hours of content through a partnership with Allied Vaughn Entertainment – with the aim of attracting more than just new viewers. “Allied Vaughn’s premium content will not only delight our viewers with high-quality, bingable movies and series, but it will also help attract national brand advertisers as they transition their ad budgets to streaming,” said Erick Opeka, President of Cinedigm Networks.

CASTING

John Turturro (“The Night Of”) will play an employee with dark past in Apple workplace thriller “Severance”…Rachel Keller (“Dirty John”) landed a lead role in HBO Max drama “Tokyo Vice.” She replaces Odessa Young, who had to exit due to scheduling conflicts…Claudia Doumit and Colby Minifie have been upped to series regulars for season three of Amazon’s “The Boys”…SNL alum Molly Shannon will recur on HBO limited series “The White Lotus.”

Sophie Turner (Game of Thrones) will voice Princess Charlotte in HBO Max animated series “The Prince”…Erika Alexander (“Living Single”) has joined the cast of new Starz comedy “Run the World” in a recurring role…Also set to recur is Australian actor/musican Felix Mallard, in season two of NBC’s “Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist”…Sarah Drew (“Grey’s Anatomy”) scored a season-long arc on Freeform thriller “Cruel Summer.”

GOING GLOBAL

Buccaneer Media announced a co-production agreement to develop M. G. Leonard’s “Beetle Boy” book trilogy as a live action/ CGI drama series in partnership with Framestore (“His Dark Materials,” “Mulan”). “Beetle Boy”will be written for the screen by Tom MacRae (“Everybody’s Talking About Jamie”).

Smithsonian has expanded its presence in Brazil with its launch on BluTV, channel 384. BluTV is a new operator launched to democratize access to pay-TV in Brazil.

Food Network wrapped up the month with its highest-rated October in network history in Weekend (Saturday/Sunday 7a-1p) for P25-54 (Live+3 ratings), a gain of +7% vs. last year, with Total Day Live+3 ratings for P25-54 also up +4% year-over-year, and notched its highest-rated October for M25-54 in Daytime (M-F 8a-3p), with gains largely driven by Halloween-themed episodes of fan-favorite series. 

Broadcast Nielsen Ratings for Thursday, October 29
Show, P2+ 000s, (A18-49)
ABC: Celebrity Family Feud 5.30 (0.7), Press Your Luck 3.62 (0.6), Match Game 2.93 (0.5)
CBS: Young Sheldon 3.85 (0.5), Mom 3.04 (0.4), Every Vote Counts 1.33 (0.2), Star Trek: Discovery 1.37 (0.2)
CW: Supernatural 0.91 (0.2), The Outpost 0.44 (0.1)
Fox: Fox NFL Pregame 6.93 (1.8), NFL Football 11.68 (3.4)
NBC: Superstore 2.80 (0.6), Connecting 1.15 (0.3, Dateline NBC 3.16 (0.4)
Telemundo: Domo del Dinero 0.73, Todo por mi Hija 1.37, Falsa Identidad 0.85
Univision: Medicos Linea de Vida 1.74 (0.5), Imperio de Mentiras 1.33 (0.4), Dulce Ambicion 1.13 (0.3)
Source: Nielsen live + same day time period averages

EXECUTIVE MOVE

Karen Bronzo has been promoted to Group Senior Vice President, Marketing, at Discovery, Inc., expanding her responsibilities to include oversight of brand marketing strategy and creative for Food Network in addition to her current duties as head of marketing for HGTV.

Answer to Our Last Trivia Question
Who guest hosted the 1978 Halloween-themed episode of The Muppet Show? Alice Cooper. Kudos to: Annette Scherr/Jacksonville, FL, Luke Watson-Entertaining Concepts/NYC, David Taynor-AccuWeather/State College, PA, Kevin Noonan-A+E Networks/NYC, Greg Stewart/LA, David Garber-Loyola Marymount University/Playa Vista, CA, Tom Moore-Kalt Productions/LA, Susan Nessanbaum-Goldberg-M and S Entertainment/LA

Today’s Trivia Question
On Veep (2012-19), which state’s electoral college vote made Selina Meyers’ presidential contest with Bill O’Brien a tie? (Email [email protected] with your answer and be sure to include your name, company, city and time zone. Unofficial rules: a limit of four.)