Wednesday January 24, 2024

IN THE NEWS

Netflix has wrestled WWE’s “Monday Night RAW away from cable, with a multi-year deal kicking off in January 2025. The agreement also includes WWE shows and specials outside the US, as well as live events like WrestleMania, WWE documentaries, and original series, whose domestic rights are held by Peacock. “This deal is transformative,” said Mark Shapiro, COO and President of TKO, formed with the merger of WWE and UFC. “It marries the can’t-miss WWE product with Netflix’s extraordinary global reach and locks in significant and predictable economics for many years. Our partnership fundamentally alters and strengthens the media landscape, dramatically expands the reach of WWE, and brings weekly live appointment viewing to Netflix.” NBCU currently holds rights to “RAW,” which will air on USA Network until October, and has a five-year deal for “SmackDown.”

The “Say Yes to the Prom Tour” will return for a 12th year, starting February 5-6 in Atlanta. The Warner Bros. Discovery initiative, in partnership with Macys, will provide 1,500 students with one-on-one styling sessions with Monte Durham of TLC’s “Say Yes to the Dress: Atlanta,” and WBD employees in New York, Atlanta, and LA will help them develop a unique prom look.

9 Story Media Group has entered into a co-development agreement with Trustbridge Entertainment on best-selling children’s books from Candlewick Press: an animated programs based on the book series Judy Moody, and holiday picture book Dasher: How a Brave Little Doe Changed Christmas Forever. 9 Story and Trustbridge will co-develop and co-produce the properties with animation by 9 Story’s studio Brown Bag Films.

Fremantle is acquiring a minority stake in BOLDPRINT Studios, the newly formed production company from former Channel 4 Head of Entertainment Phil Harris. Former Twofour Head of Entertainment, Lou Hutchinson, has been appointed the fledgling company’s Creative Director. Both execs worked at Thames under Fremantle UK CEO Amelia Brown. “Our company blueprint will be built on creating bold, scalable global formats; an ambition which aligns perfectly with Fremantle’s global distribution plans,” said Harris.

Telemundo is launching an international open casting call in February across the US, Mexico, and Colombia, seeking new talent for its scripted series production studio. “We are pleased to offer actors an opportunity to get in front of our casting division as we look to fill roles for several of our future scripted productions, including our soon-to-be announced upcoming production at Telemundo Center in Miami,” said Ronald Day, President, Entertainment and Content for Telemundo.

The Weather Channel and Discovery Canada have greenlit “Rocky Mountain Wreckers,” a docuseries following four family-owned heavy wrecking businesses. Great Pacific Media is producing.

What happened to Sofia Coppola’s adaptation of Edith Wharton’s Custom of the Country, abandoned by Apple TV+ in 2021 after over a year in development? “They pulled our funding,” Coppola told the New Yorker. “It’s a real drag. I thought they had endless resources.” In addition to the expense of the five-episode project, Apple execs – “mostly dudes” – found the main character, social climber Undine Spragg, “unlikeable. But so is Tony Soprano!”, noted Coppola. Apple did move forward with Wharton adaptation “The Buccaneers,” renewed for season two.

Colin Firth (“The King’s Speech”) will star in Peacock and Sky limited series “Lockerbie.” The five-part co-production between Carnival Films and Sky Studios follows the true story of a man and his wife who pursued justice after the loss of their daughter when Pan Am Flight 103 exploded in 1988.

NEW & RETURNING SERIES

“When Calls the Heart” – Hallmark Channel’s longest-running series – is back for season 11 on Sunday, April 7 at 9p. Season 10 delivered the #1 most-watched entertainment cable program every Sunday among Women 18+.

“Conspiracy: The Octopus Murders” drops on Netflix on Wednesday, February 28 The docuseries explores the death of journalist Danny Casolaro, whose family and colleagues believe may have been killed as a result of his investigation into a secret organization.

Food Network’s “Tournament of Champions” returns for season five on Sunday, February 18 at 8, with 32 chefs competing in the bracket-style culinary competition.

Six-part drama “Far North” premieres Thursday, February 15 on Sundance Now and AMC+. The drama tells the (mostly) true story of an inept gang who got half a billion dollars’ worth of meth to New Zealand shores, and nearly to market.

Second seasons of “Squid Game,” “Empress” and “The Diplomat,” along with season three of “Bridgerton,” will debut this year on Netflix. “Looking ahead, despite last year’s strikes pushing back the launch of some titles, we have a big, bold slate for 2024,” said the company in its letter to investors.

STREAMING

That Netflix letter also reported an additional 13 million subscribers in 4Q23, to hit 260.3 million globally. That’s versus the 8-9 million projected by analysts. The company’s 12% year-over-year revenue growth “reflects the benefits of paid sharing, our recent price changes and the strength of our underlying business driven by a strong slate,” said Netflix.

As for all the talk of consolidation in the media industry, count Netflix out. “It’s logical to expect further consolidation, particularly among companies with large and declining linear networks,” said the streamer. “We’re not interested in acquiring linear assets. Nor do we believe that further M&A among traditional entertainment companies will materially change the competitive environment given all the consolidation that has already happened over the last decade.”

rlaxx TV has partnered with TheSoul Publishing to add three channels: 5-Minute Crafts®, 123Go!, Bright Side. With a combined audience of over 1 billion followers and subscribers worldwide, these highly sought-after channels join rlaxx TV’s diverse offering. “The partnership will not only allow our millions of viewers to find their favourite shows on a new platform, but it will also allow us to further expand our audience to a host of new fans,” said Jonathan Shrank, Head of Broadcast Content Distribution, TheSoul Publishing.

SPORTS ROUNDUP

Season nine of TNT Sports live golf event series “Capital One’s The Match” will for the first time feature male and female golfers competing in a skins format. Rory McIlroy, Lexi Thompson, rising golf phenom Rose Zhang and Max Homa will play in the 12-hole event, to be held Monday, February 26 in West Palm Beach, FL.

Tennis Channel’s free second network, T2, will be home to a new series hosted by outspoken tennis star Nick Kyrgios. Set to debut Wednesday, January 24, at 7p, “Good Trouble with Nick Kyrgios” will feature a half-hour conversation with luminaries from the worlds of tennis, entertainment and more. First up: Gordon Ramsay.

Rugby League Commercial has launched a new global, direct-to-consumer streaming service, SuperLeague+. The platform is part of IMG’s long-term strategic partnership with RLC to reimagine the sport in the UK.

Lucas Oil Products has extended its long-term strategic partnership with Major League Fishing for a ninth season. The Lucas Oil brand will be featured as part of MLF’s 2024 Bass Pro Tour, General Tire Heavy Hitters and the General Tire Team Series, events to be broadcast nationally on CBS, Discovery Network and Outdoor Channel.

GOING GLOBAL

GO-N Productions has sold the latest season of preschool series “Simon Super Rabbit, currently in production with France Televisions, to SVT Sweden), RTS (Switzerland), DR (Denmark), Cartoonito (Warner Media) in Italy, HOP (Israel), VRT (Belgium), and Télé-Québec (Canada).

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CONTACT ALBERT NASSOUR

Basic Cable Top 10 for the week of January 15
P2+ AA (000)
Primetime
Fox News 2091
ESPN 2052
MSNBC 1085
HGTV 887
TBS 713
History 685
Hallmark Channel 679
TNT 623
INSP 583
CNN 542
Total Day
Fox News 1326
ESPN 970
MSNBC 745
HGTV 466
CNN 434
Hallmark Channel 400
TBS 376
INSP 352
History 344
TV Land 335
Source: Nielsen

EXECUTIVE MOVES

Netflix head of film Scott Stuber is leaving in March to form his own company. “Scott has helped lead the new paradigm of how movies are made, distributed and watched,” said Ted Sarandos, Netflix’s Co-CEO. “He attracted unbelievable creative talent to Netflix, making us a premiere film studio.”

SponsorUnited has named Arjun Nadkarni as Chief Technology Officer. Nadkarni brings experience from companies including Tudor Investments Inc, Priceline.com and Teladoc Health.

Arrow Media promoted Stephen Dost to the newly-created role of VP, Content. Dost joined the company two years ago.

LG Ad Solutions has appointed Angela Barrett as Head of Corporate Communications. Previously, she led communication efforts for GumGum and IAS.

The Garden (“Squid Game: The Challenge”) has promoted Lucie Duxbury to Head of Programmes, Spencer Kelly to Director of Factual, and brought “24 Hours in Police Custody” director Jermaine Blake on as an Executive Producer.

IN MEMORIAM

Long-time morning show anchor Charles Osgood died January 23. He was 91. Osgood hosted “Sunday Morning” from 1994-2016.

Actor Gary Graham died January 22 at age 73. Among his numerous television credits was “Alien Nation,” which spawned five TV-movies.

Answer to Our Last Trivia Question
On which sitcom did John Travolta, Mayim Bialik and Merv Griffin guest star as themselves? “Fat Actress” (2005). Kudos to: Justin Pierce-JP Consulting Group/LA; Andrew Goldman-Phanes Funding Group/NYC; Gerry Bixenspan-TV Marketing Group/NYC; Susan Nessanbaum-Goldberg-M and S Entertainment/LA; David Garber-Loyola Marymount University/Playa Vista, CA; Maggie Takei-Moore Media/Paducah, KY; Wendy Holmes/Denver; Tom Moore-Kalt Productions/LA

Today’s Trivia Question
Johnny Depp starred in a film based on which TV series? (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