 IN THE NEWS |
| Paramount Skydance has extended the deadline for its hostile takeover bid for Warner Bros. Discovery – WBD shareholders now have until February 20 to sell their shares to Paramount for $30 each. The previous deadline was January 21. Responded WBD, “Once again, Paramount continues to make the same offer our Board has repeatedly and unanimously rejected in favor of a superior merger agreement with Netflix.”
Netflix Co-CEO Ted Sarandos and Warner Bros. Chief Strategy Officer Bruce Campbell will testify before a Senate subcommittee next month to field questions about the WBD merger deal, reports Bloomberg. Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), chairman of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights, has previously expressed doubts about the merger, writing on X after the it was announced, “Buckle up for an intense antitrust hearing in the Senate.”
A rebranded Sundance Now is shifting focus from scripted series to independent films. With more than 1,000 hours of programming, the streamer “seeks to capture the spirit of the local arthouse, with a focus on new discoveries of the moment,” said AMC Networks. The announcement was made on Thursday, the kick-off to the Sundance Film Festival.
Adoption of FAST channels has increased dramatically in recent years, with 57% of households that were streaming only ad-free in 2020 now watching FAST content, according to a study from Roku and Horizon Futures Group. Based on Roku’s proprietary viewership data alongside surveys of 1,500 streamers, the study found:
• Viewers perceive paid VOD and FAST platforms as equally effective at delivering themed content collections and channels.
• 64% of US Roku households stream FAST across a variety of ad-supported channels.
• Viewership on FAST does not differ from the rest of the streaming landscape. Across both FAST and VOD on the Roku Channel, most time spent is with professionally produced content. |
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| Hudson Williams and Connor Storie, stars of HBO Max’s hit hockey drama “Heated Rivalry,” will serve as official torchbearers for the Winter Olympics in Milan. “They brought the heat. Now they’re carrying the torch,” reads a post from HBO Max, which will stream the Games in Europe.
There will be plenty of familiar faces on CBS for the 2026-27 broadcast season. In addition to the four shows that were already renewed (“Boston Blue,” “Sheriff Country,” “FBI” and “Ghosts”), the network expanded its early pickups with “Tracker,” “George & Mandy’s First Marriage,” “Matlock,” “Elsbeth,” “Fire Country,” all three “NCIS” procedurals, “Survivor” and “Amazing Race.” Still in limbo are “Watson” and “DMV.”
ABC’s “American Idol” is undergoing some major format changes for upcoming season 24. Viewers will be able to vote via social media, reports Deadline, and the reality competition is moving from Hollywood to Nashville. Hollywood Week has been replaced with three episodes filmed in Hawai’i, where “industry tastemakers,” not the show’s judges, will select the top 20 contestants. And the new season launches Monday, January 26, instead of the traditional Sunday launch. |
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| CONVERGENT TV WORLD 2026
Building the Next Generation of Women Leaders
Mentorship is everywhere. Momentum is not.
This Convergent TV World town hall brings together industry leaders to unpack how advocacy, peer networks, and intentional leadership turn support into measurable career growth—for individuals and organizations alike.
REGISTER NOW |
| NEW & RETURNING SERIES |
| British comedy “Can You Keep a Secret?” premieres Thursday, February 12 on Paramount+. The series follows a grandmother who fakes her husband’s death for the insurance money.
Season four of Bravo’s “Southern Hospitality” kicks off Wednesday, March 4 at 9p. The reality show follows the lives of a group of friends living and working together in Charleston, SC.
“Invincible” also has a season four return date in March. The next run of the adult animated series hits Prime Video on Wednesday, March 18.
Canadian comedy “Shoresy” returns for season five on Saturday, February 21, with all six episodes dropping on Hulu. The “Letterkenny” spinoff about a Senior hockey team was also renewed for a sixth run.
Telemundo franchise “El Señor de los Cielos” (The Lord of the Skies) will return for a tenth season featuring Rafael Amaya. “Rafael Amaya’s return as Aurelio Casillas is a powerful moment for this franchise,” said Javier Pons, Chief Content Officer & Head of Telemundo Studios. “Reaching a tenth season is an extraordinary achievement and having Rafa lead this chapter allows us to honor the legacy that made ‘El Señor de los Cielos’ a global phenomenon.” The season is slated to begin production later this year.
Four-part docuseries “Balance: A Perimenopausal Journey” launches as a TVOD title on Friday, January 30 across major digital platforms. |
Today’s Premieres
HBO: Real Time With Bill Maher at 10p
Netflix: Blind Sherlock
Saturday’s Premieres
BBC America: Kingdom
CNN: Have I Got News for You at 9p
Sunday’s Premiere
Fox: Memory of a Killer at 10p |
| PRODUCTION |
| Season two of the HBO Original series “Rage,” created and directed by Félix Sabroso, will consist of eight 30-minute episodes. Jose María Caro and David Ocaña are the executive producers for HBO Max, and Santi Botello and Félix Sabroso are the executive producers for Producciones Mandarina. The first season, which premiered last July, has been the most-watched series on the platform in Spain since 2021. |
| CYNOPSIS SPORTS AWARDS
Defining the Future of Sports Engagement
From breakthrough platforms to bold marketing strategies, the Sports Awards spotlight the people and ideas reshaping the fan experience. If you’re moving sports forward, this is your stage.
Entries are now open for 2026!
VIEW CATEGORIES & ENTER NOW |
| SPORTS ROUNDUP |
| FOX Nation has expanded its partnership with Real American Freestyle (RAF) with a new long-term agreement to remain the exclusive broadcast partner for the freestyle wrestling league. FOX Nation will exclusively stream all upcoming RAF matches. The combat sports league has been a top subscription driver for FOX Nation, with the most recent event earlier this month drawing the highest day of acquisitions for the platform in over a year. |
| COMING UP |
| Food Network has joined celebrity chef cruise Chefs Making Waves, providing programming and experiences onboard. The cruise, hosted by Food Network star Bobby Flay, sets sail November 6-11. |
| RATINGS |
| ESPN’s 2026 Divisional Round telecast on Sunday delivered 38 million viewers, making the Texans-Patriots matchup the most-watched event in ESPN history. The game also ranks as Disney’s most-watched sporting event outside of the Super Bowl across nearly three decades of live sports coverage.
Peacock’s “Love Island USA” was the most-watched streaming original show in 2025, according to Luminate Data, with 18 billion minutes streamed for its seventh season. It was the first time a non-Netflix series topped the Luminate chart. First seasons of HBO Max’s “The Pitt” (13 billion) and Paramount+’s “Landman” (11.4 billion) were next, followed by season five of Netflix’s “Stranger Things” (11.2 billion), and second seasons of Netflix’s “Wednesday” (9.3 billion) “The Night Agent” (9.2 billion).
The audience for the season two finale of “Landman” was the largest ever for a Paramount+ original series finale. The episode delivered 14. Million global views in its first two days, up 70% from the season one finale.
HBO’s “Game of Thrones” spinoff “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” premiered to a healthy 6.7 million US cross-platform viewers in its first three days.
HGTV’s “Home Town” delivered a .51 Live+3 rating among Adults 25-54 on Sunday, marking the best performance for the series since March 2024.
The 2025 AKC National Championship delivered its most-watched performance since moving to ABC and ESPN2 six years ago, averaging 1.36 million total viewers. The event experienced double-digit increases across Men, Women, and Adults 25-54 compared to both the 2024 and 2023 broadcasts. |
| EXECUTIVE MOVES |
| Dan Korn is stepping down from his role as Vice President of Programming at Hearst Networks in March but will remain with the company in a creative capacity. Diana Carter, Commissioning Editor and Head of Talent at Hearst, will be promoted to Director of Originals and Talent.
Rare TV has appointed Matt Cole as Creative Director. Cole spent almost a decade as Executive Producer and Creative Director at Keo Films. |
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Friday Fun Fact
In the last 4000 years, no new animals have been domesticated.
This Day in History
1997 – Madeleine Albright became the first female secretary of state.
Answer to Our Last Trivia Question
Which two members of the “Saturday Night Live” Five-Timers club achieved the distinction in less than four years? Buck Henry and Steve Martin. Kudos to: Phyllis McQuillan-MSG Networks/NYC; Charles Conner-KOKI Fox23/Tulsa; Susan Nessanbaum-Goldberg-M and S Entertainment/LA; Tom Moore-Kalt Productions/LA
Today’s Trivia Question
Which 1977 miniseries was remade in 2016? (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.) |
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF THE PRACTICE, MULTI-EPISODE TELEVISION PRODUCING >>
BOSTON UNIVERSITY – COLLEGE OF COMMUNICATION/BOSTON, MA: Develope, produce, and manage scripted and unscripted multi-episodic series for linear television and/or streaming. Qualified applicants will be distinguished multi-platform practitioners with a significant body of “boots on the ground” work in the TV and streaming industry. The position will require in-class instruction and on-set exercises. Full info HERE
PROFESSOR OF THE PRACTICE: STUDIO AND/OR FIELD DIRECTING; MULTIPLE CAMERAS >>
BOSTON UNIVERSITY – COLLEGE OF COMMUNICATION/BOSTON, MA: We seek a colleague with a significant body of practical work in television directing using multiple cameras for linear television and/or streaming platforms. Familiarity with visual effects and AI-supported tools is considered a plus. This position includes teaching directing of scripted and/or unscripted content using multiple cameras at many levels. Full info HERE
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF THE PRACTICE: VERTICAL FILMMAKING/CONTENT CREATOR >>
BOSTON UNIVERSITY – COLLEGE OF COMMUNICATION/BOSTON, MA: We seek a colleague with a professional track record in the creation and development of original short-form content aimed at promoting, activating, and motivating young people through social activism, experimentation, entertainment, brand building, and audience engagement across today’s leading content platforms and social media ecosystems. More info HERE
SALES MANAGER – AP AD INSIGHTS HUB >>
ADVERTISER PERCEPTIONS/NEW YORK, NY: Drive direct sales of the platform offering, focusing heavily on new client acquisition. Reporting to and working closely with the GM of the Ad Insights Hub, this individual contributor will partner cross-functionally with Sales, Business Intelligence, Operations, and Client Services teams to build awareness and engagement with new clients. Full info HERE
SALES DIRECTOR – OMG
MOONBUG ENTERTAINMENT
NEW YORK, NY
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 >>
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 >>
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 >>
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
SALES LEAD – AGENCY PARTNERSHIPS
UPWAVE
NEW YORK, NY
Build and manage relationships with our agency partners – mostly targeting media buyers and planners – and help them see the value of adding Upwave measurement to The Trade Desk campaigns. You will both leverage your existing network and open new doors to achieve aggressive but achievable sales targets. Full info HERE |
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