Cynopsis 01/14/26: Anheuser-Busch Is Set to Score

Cynopsis
Wednesday January 14, 2026

   IN THE NEWS

Trevor Noah will return for a sixth and, it appears, final time hosting the Grammy Awards. Noah will also serve as executive producer for the event, which is moving to ABC from CBS, its broadcast home since 1973, next year. “I am beyond thrilled to welcome Trevor Noah back to host the Grammys for his sixth, and sadly, final time,” said Grammys EP Ben Winston. “He’s been the most phenomenal host of the show. He’s so smart, so funny, and such a true fan of the artists and music. His impact on the show has been truly spectacular, and we can’t wait to do it together one last time.” The Grammys air live on Sunday, February 1 at 8p.

The trailer for Ryan Murphy horror drama “The Beauty,” set to premiere Wednesday, January 21 at 9p on FX and Hulu, drew nearly 190 million views in its first seven days – a record for FX. The series, starring Ashton Kutcher as a tech billionaire who has secretly created a deadly miracle drug, launches with its first three episodes, with new installments rolling out weekly.

Prime Video remains the streaming service with the highest percentage of ad tier usage, though the number has dropped from 88% to 82% over the past year, according to research from Digital 1. Netflix saw the highest growth in ad tier accounts, jumping from 26% to 40%.

Anheuser-Busch, official beer sponsor for the NFL for over 20 years, is set to score will new commercials for Michelob Ultra, Budweiser and Bud Light during the broadcast of Super Bowl LX on February 8. What to expect? “As one of the most prolific advertisers in Super Bowl history, our new spots will provide fans with the first look at what they can expect throughout this extraordinary year as our portfolio of brands show up to celebrate unparalleled events including the World Cup, the Winter Olympics, America’s 250th birthday and Budweiser’s 150th anniversary,” said Kyle Norrington, Chief Commercial Officer at Anheuser-Busch.

HBO Max launched in Italy, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, Israel, and Greece on Tuesday. “It is exciting to kick off the New Year by expanding into some of the biggest economies in the world, as we continue to deliver HBO Max to new viewers,” said JB Perrette, CEO and President of Global Streaming & Games at WBD. “Next up is the launch of HBO Max in the UK and Ireland in late March, which will complete HBO Max’s rollout across Europe.”

Listen up: NewsNation anchor Chris Cuomo is joining the lineup on SiriusXM’s P.O.T.U.S. channel on Tuesday, January 20 at 7a as host of “Cuomo Mornings.” Expected guests in the show’s first days include James Carville, Bob Costas, Mark Cuban, former Senator Joe Manchin, Gov. Wes Moore, and Sen. Rand Paul. An earlier SiriusXM podcast, “Let’s Get After It With Chris Cuomo,” ran from 2018 until late 2021, when Cuomo was let go from CNN.

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   NEW & RETURNING SERIES

For sneak peeks, go to Cynopsis Trailer Park.

“The Great American Road Rally: Celebrity Edition” launches Wednesday, May 13 at 9p on The CW. It’s not just about the vehiclesthe series features ten celebrity-driven autos, each aligned with a charitable cause, embarking on a cross-country journey to raise awareness, drive fundraising, and activate local communities. Ian Ziering (“Beverly Hills, 90210”) hosts.

A new season of TLC’s “Unexpected” premieres Monday, February 16 at 9p. The reality show follows teen couples navigating pregnancy and parenthood.

“Vanished,” starring Kaley Cuoco (“The Flight Attendant”) and Sam Claflin (“The Hunger Games”) as a couple caught in a web of intrigue on a trip to France, premieres Sunday, February 1 at 9p on MGM+.

Chicago-based Central City Productions is marking its 55th anniversary this year with an expanded slate of programming that includes “Living the Dream,” a Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration set to debut in January and February that showcases stories and achievements from diverse communities.

Today’s Premieres
ABC: Dirty Talk: When Daytime Talk Shows Ruled TV at 9p
Apple TV: Hijack
Netflix: The Queen of Flow; Taskaree: The Smuggler’s Web
Peacock: Love Island All Stars

   TECH

Apple and Google have entered into a multi-year collaboration that calls for the next generation of Apple Foundation Models to be based on Google’s Gemini models and cloud technology. “After careful evaluation, we determined that Google’s technology provides the most capable foundation for Apple Foundation Models and we’re excited about the innovative new experiences it will unlock for our users,” said Apple in a statement. Apple Intelligence will continue to run on Apple devices and Private Cloud Compute, while maintaining Apple’s privacy standards.

Apple also unveiled its Creator Studio, a collection of apps for video editing, music making, creative imaging, and visual productivity aimed at empowering creators with studio-grade capabilities while protecting their privacy. The Apple Creator Studio will be available in the App Store starting January 28 for r$12.99/month.

America’s Test Kitchen has launched direct and programmatic advertising opportunities across its footprint of FAST channels. ATK’s FAST network is available on platforms including Roku, Samsung TV Plus, LG Channels, Vizio WatchFree+, Pluto TV, and Xumo Play.

Screenverse has been named the exclusive programmatic partner for Macerich’s shopping center network. The partnership brings programmatic activation to 345 digital displays, including large-format spectaculars and newly expanded mall-based placements reaching more than 270 million annual visits.

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   PRODUCTION

Apple TV will be home to a docuseries about tennis legend Andre Agassi. Filmmaker Chris Smith is set to direct the project, produced by Smith’s Library Films, and executive produced by Stacy Smith and Justin Gimelstob.

ITV America has partnered with the team behind “UpDating to adapt the live comedic dating show and YouTube hit for TV and streaming audiences. Created by comedian-producers Brandon Berman and Harrison Forman, each live “UpDating” event sees multiple singles embark on blindfolded blind dates, onstage and in front of a live audience. The new TV format, developed in partnership by Berman, Forman and the ITV America Nashville team, led by Executive Producer Adam Reed, will be closely based on the live experience.

Blink49 Studios has acquired Lighthearted Entertainment (“Ready to Love,” “Are You The One?”). The deal includes Lighthearted’s active productions, extensive content library, and projects currently in development. “This acquisition marks an important step in expanding our formats business and broadening the scope of what we can deliver to buyers worldwide,” said John Morayniss, CEO, Blink49 Studios. “With Lighthearted’s creative leadership and approach to building scalable unscripted IP, Blink49 is well positioned to accelerate growth across high-demand genres.”

Among the Stars Entertainment is developing a supernatural horror series built around serialized mythology and character-driven escalation. A completed pilot script, detailed world bible, and multi-season roadmap are in place, with the project entering its packaging phase.

Anna Ouyang Moench (“Severance”) has joined season two of Prime Video’s “Severance” as showrunner. Moench succeeds series co-creator Francesca Sloane, whose plans to return were scuttled when the second season was put on hold as her deal with Amazon MGM concluded.

   SPORTS ROUNDUP

Major League Volleyball is partnering with LTN to power live video production and distribution for its 2026 50-match broadcast slate across major national networks, streaming services and local stations. MLV will harness a range of LTN production and transport services, leveraging a multi-camera setup and remote transmission technologies while enabling fully centralized production from LTN’s Kansas City technical operations center.

ESPN will deliver expanded on-site coverage of the 2026 Australian Open, including every match from all 15 courts across ESPN networks and platforms. With Melbourne 16 hours ahead of the US, day matches will be presented on ESPN networks in primetime and local night session matches will begin at 3a. The Open runs from January 17 to February 1.

Swerve TV, operator of FAST channels Swerve Combat and Swerve Sports, dedicated to women’s sports, announced the close of its $2.5M Series A financing round, led by Scott Galloway, co-founder of Prof G Media. Swerve TV said the new capital will be used to expand live event programming, launch additional channels, deepen distribution with tier-one FAST platforms, and grow its third-party FAST channel services for leagues and media brands.

NBC Sports will be the first to use viztrick AiDi, developed by Nippon TV. The real-time AI solution delivers player tracking, face tagging, object recognition, 2.5D telestration, auto-score graphics, and motion data analytics, without internet connectivity. “We were looking for the right tool for streaming live sports that would automatically crop athletes to a 9:16 aspect ratio with auto tracking,” said Tim Canary, SVP of Engineering, NBC Sports. “AiDi is that tool. AiDi uniquely provides real-time processing with minimal delay, which is key for live sports content.”

The Pickleball Slam and Ares Management Corporation announced a title sponsorship for the annual pickleball franchise event. The Ares Pickleball Slam will take place on April 15 and air on ESPN at 7p.

   DISTRIBUTION

Crave original series “Narco Mennonites” is set to launch in Canada on Friday, January 16, the first step in a broader global rollout being led by Last Word Entertainment. The show tells the true story of the Mennonite family that quietly transformed a rural Canadian town into the epicentre of a North American drug empire.

   COMING UP

Great American Media Original Movie “Blessings in Disguise” will premiere this Easter season on Great American Pure Flix, Great American Family, and GFAM+. The film follows a driven New York fashion designer who returns to her hometown, where she reconnects with her first love. “This film is a strong example of the kind of storytelling we prioritize at Great American Media,” said Kaitlyn Haubrich, Chief Brand Officer, Great American Media. “’Blessings in Disguise’ is about faith lived out through family, community, and everyday grace.”

Polish HBO Original doc “33 Photos From the Ghetto” debuts Tuesday, January 27 at 9p on HBO. The film tells the story of the only known photos taken from inside the Warsaw Ghetto during the April 1943 uprising and its repression that were not taken by German forces.

FETV is offering a Valentine’s Day marathon, “Love at First Fright,” featuring romantic misadventures from “The Munsters” marrieds Herman and Lily and other classic sitcom couples.

   RATINGS

“His & Hers” debuted as the most-watched English-language show on Netflix the week of January 5 with 19.9 million views. Limited series “Run Away” followed with 15.6 million views its second week out, up from 12.7 million the week before.

   EXECUTIVE MOVES

Zachary Klein has been named COO of Banijay Americas studios Bunim/Murray Productions and 51 Minds Entertainment. Klein has served as COO for 51 Minds Entertainment since 2023.

Streaming guide JustWatch is stepping into the digital content licensing arena with the appointment of Quentin Carbonell to the newly created role of SVP, Global Content Acquisitions and Strategy. Carbonell was formerly HBO Max’s Head of Streaming and Content Marketing Planning for EMEA.

The E.W. Scripps Company has appointed Madhavi Tadikonda as Senior Director of Network Sales. Most recently, Tadikonda served as executive director and head of investment at EssenceMediacom.

This Day in History
1943 – Montreal Canadiens’ Alex Smart became the first NHL rookie to score a hat trick in his first NHL game.

Answer to Our Last Trivia Question
Who played Rafael, the biological father of Jane’s child, on “Jane the Virgin” (2014-19)? Justin Baldoni. Kudos to: Justin Pierce-JP Consulting Group/LA; Natalie Collat- “FBI”/NYC; Gerry Bixenspan-TV Marketing Group/NYC; Tom Moore-Kalt Productions/LA; Erin Bowles-American Public Television/Boston; Susan Nessanbaum-Goldberg-M and S Entertainment/LA

Today’s Trivia Question
Which show was the first regularly scheduled half-hour television sitcom? (Email trivia@cynopsis.com 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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SALES DIRECTOR – OMG
MOONBUG ENTERTAINMENT
LOS ANGELES, CA

Deliver and exceed sales revenue targets as well as build, manage and grow a strategic account list with a focus on Omnicom agencies and their clients directly, within the northeast. Ability to navigate holding company structure and negotiate strategic partnerships with key stakeholders (ratecards, preferred programmatic deals, content deals, etc.). More info HERE

DIRECTOR OF PERFORMANCE MARKETING >>
ATHLETE TO ATHLETE/SANTA MONICA, CA: Lead the performance marketing team across Meta Ads and new paid digital channels (TikTok, YouTube, Google, etc.) as well as build and execute a roadmap for channel expansion and profitable scale. Develop and run structured testing frameworks. Partner with Creative Strategist on ad briefs, testing priorities, and creative feedback loops. Full info HERE

SENIOR MANAGER, TRAFFIC >>
INSP, LLC./CHARLOTTE, SC: Oversee the Traffic staff and manage and monitor the day-to-day operations. Responsible for the prompt and accurate execution of broadcast logs for three networks. The manager assumes a leadership role within our Network Operations and consistently looks to streamline processes and increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of the Traffic department. Full info HERE

NATIONAL SALES MANAGER>>
HEARST MEDIA PRODUCTION GROUP/CHARLOTTE, NC: Oversee daily sales pipeline operations focused on national sponsorships, integrations, and branded content tied to unscripted programming. Manage and coach the Business Development team, drive outbound activity, shape proposals and pricing, and lead CRM strategy, reporting, and optimizations via Salesforce. Full info HERE

ASSOCIATE PRODUCER
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NTD/WASHINGTON, DC: Pitch story ideas and write scripts/segment outlines as well as research guests and interview topics. Book guests and coordinate interviews. Help with logistics and sometimes field production. Support shoots and ensure production runs smoothly. Review footage and work with editors to shape final episodes. Write headlines, teasers, and social posts. Full info HERE

DIRECTOR, HUMAN RESOURCES AND ADMINISTRATION
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THE JIM HENSON COMPANY/HOLLYWOOD, CA: Responsible for all HR functions and oversight of administrative and management needs. This strategic role is charged with operating from a customer service driven viewpoint that prioritizes employee satisfaction as well as enforce legally compliant policies, increase efficiency by implementing administrative and record-keeping best practices. Full info HERE

SENIOR DESIGNER >>
REELZ CHANNEL/ALBUQUERQUE, NM: Responsible for the concept, design and execution of various motion graphics projects for on-air promo and sales presentations. Will be required to design and create graphics for social media, digital and print. Must be able to follow brand guidelines and expand and change the brand look when necessary. Full info HERE

EVP, COMMERCIAL & TECHNOLOGY TRANSACTIONS, LEGAL & BUSINESS AFFAIRS
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A+E GLOBAL MEDIA/NY(HYBRID): Oversee the three major areas of commercial transactions (comprised of supporting the Distribution, Total Media Solutions and Global Content Sales divisions) and the adjacent areas supported by the attorney teams that principally support those divisions (including vendor management and privacy). Full info HERE

SR. DIRECTOR OF SALES, KSTU & KUPX >>
THE E.W. SCRIPPS COMPANY/SALT LAKE CITY: Leverage our suite of advertising solutions to unlock growth opportunities for local and national businesses. Play a role in driving the station’s revenue goals as well as serving as the home station for Utah’s new NHL team. Collaborate with our production team to create campaigns that connect our clients with their customers in meaningful ways. Full info HERE

DIGITAL MEDIA BUYER >>
FURMAN ROTH ADVERTISING/NY(HYBRID): Plan, launch, and optimize digital marketing campaigns across various paid media channels (including Display, Google products, Paid Social, CTV, and Programmatic, etc.) while managing budgets effectively. Support the execution of media plans across platforms, overseeing targeting, budget allocation, and performance tracking to drive campaign success. Full info HERE

ACCOUNT DIRECTOR; CTV BRAND PARTNERSHIPS – MID WEST/WEST COAST

FUTURE TODAY
REMOTE
Build, maintain and expand a pipeline of sales targets, contacts, and sales opportunities leveraging your relationships with a heavy focus on new business revenue. Build/nurture relationships with the investment, strategy, precision and digital agencies as well as clients. Also maintain an ongoing knowledge of the streaming media landscape. Full info HERE

DIRECTOR, AD MARKETING & SALES >>
THE SHADE ROOM/REMOTE: Develop and execute a revenue growth strategy to drive direct advertising, branded content, and sponsorship sales as well as lead the development of compelling advertising and branded content offerings tailored for TSR’s audience and cultivate and maintain strong relationships with key advertisers, media agencies, and brand partners. Full info HERE

PROFESSIONAL LECTURER OF COMMUNICATION/SPORTS BROADCASTING >>
MARIST UNIVERSITY/ POUGHKEEPSIE, NY: Teach studio and field broadcasting and new media courses in sports media and journalism as well as be able to teach a studio course on producing a newscast and help students live stream a podcast or produce short-form feature content suitable for social media streaming. Also demonstrate through their teaching, professional activity, and service. Full info HERE

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