Tuesday January 30, 2024

IN THE NEWS

Nearly twice as many of Gen Z consumers use a smartphone to watch video in a typical week as they use a traditional MVPD set top box (88% versus 48%), according to Hub’s annual “Video Redefined” survey. Results indicate that unlike their older counterparts, Gen Z devotes as much time to gaming (23%), social media (14%), and non-premium video (19%) as they do to traditional TV and films (17%). “This presents one more challenge to legacy media companies as they navigate the future of the video ecosystem,” said Mark Loughney, Senior Consultant for Hub. “It would be futile for them to try to claw back time from non-traditional platforms, so instead media companies should look to social media as opportunities to reach Gen Z with premium content.”

On a similar note, twenty-five percent of American consumers polled for “The US Media Morph: 2024 Trend Report,” a study by YouGov, say TV is their primary news source – down from 31% in 2019. Those relying on social media rose from 12% to 18%, and it was the top source for those under 34. Streaming/on-demand TV was found to be the fastest growing ad medium in terms of consumer attention, rising from 8% in 2019 to 12% in 2023. “When it comes to media consumption, Americans are definitely changing channels – and the new favorite channels are streaming video and social,” said Ryan Gmerek, VP at YouGov America. “Americans who are 55 or older are now the heaviest live TV viewers, although they are increasingly turning to streaming and social for entertainment and news too.”

X is opening an office in Austin aimed at stopping the spread of child sexual exploitation material. The “Trust and Safety center of excellence” will have 100 full-time content moderators, who will also enforce restrictions on hate speech and violent posts. “As an entirely new company, X has strengthened its policies and enforcement to tackle CSE,” said the company in a blog post. “We are now taking action on users that distribute this content and also taking immediate action on the networks of users who engage with this horrible content.”

Apple TV+’s “Ted Lasso” was the most-watched streaming original in 2023, with 16.9 billion minutes across 24 episodes, reports Nielsen. USA Network’s 2011-19 legal drama “Suits” was the most-watched title overall, with 57.7 billion minutes.

CNN has added three on-air correspondents, who will continue as part of a group of rotating panelists on “The Chris Wallace Show” as well as appear across the network. On board are Joan Coaston, opinion writer at The New Yorker; Lulu Garcia-Navarro, from The New York Times Magazine; and Reiham Salam, President of the Manhattan Institute.

National CineMedia struck a new five-year exclusive agreement with Santikos Theaters, one of the largest affiliates on the NCM platform. “This renewed alliance is a testament to our shared vision on the future of cinema and our belief in the power of the big screen to deliver the most engaging entertainment and deliver meaningful incremental revenue,” shared Jennifer Lupo, VP, Affiliate Partnerships at NCM.

Paramount Global has sold out ad inventory tied to its kids-and-family version of the Super Bowl on Nickelodeon, reports Variety. While most Super Bowl spots will air across CBS, Nick and Paramount+, those deemed inappropriate for kids (beer, R-rated movies) will be replaced by different spots.

Allen Media Group has set Wednesday, April 24 as the date for its second annual AMG Upfront, from noon-2p at Avra Rockefeller Center. “The continued steady growth and expansion of Allen Media Group is phenomenal,” said Byron Allen, founder/chairman/CEO of Allen Media Group. “Our strong portfolio and innovative advertising solutions deliver immense value to our clients, and we are incredibly excited to showcase our unparalleled programming, events and technology to advertisers.”

Nominees for Outstanding Drama Series for the 55th Annual NAACP Image Awards include Peacock’s “Bel-Air,” Hulu’s “Black Cake,” NBC’s “Found,” Netflix’s “Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story”; and FX’s “Snowfall.” Up for Comedy Series are ABC’s “Abbott Elementary,” Prime Video’s “Harlem,” Netflix’s “Survival of the Thickest,” CBS’ “The Neighborhood,” and Hulu’s “UnPrisoned.” The ceremony airs Saturday, March 16 at 8p on CBS; for a complete list of nominees, go here.

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FilmRise greenlit season two of “Killers: Caught on Camera.” “Season 1 performed very well for us in the global market and we are excited to take the second season out to our international buyers,” said Ben Barrett, Global Head of Content Financing & Partnerships, Unscripted, Blue Ant Studios.

Also renewed for a second season is newsmagazine “America in Black,” featured on BET, Paramount+ and CBS News Streaming Network. Hopping aboard this go-round are BET News anchor Ed Gordon, “CBS Mornings” host Vladimir Duthiers and special correspondent Soledad O’Brien.

Cream Productions is partnering with investigative journalist Carolyn Ossorio for “Imperfect Witness,” a four-part docuseries on serial murderer Gary Ridgway, aka the Green River Killer. Ossorio created and hosted the true crime podcast “The Shadow Girls.”

Mormon wives who are swingers are the subject of “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.” The reality series is in development for Hulu at Jeff Jenkins Productions. Rob Mills, EVP, Unscripted & Alternative Entertainment at Walt Disney Television, broke the news at a Realscreen event.

BBC Arts has commissioned docuseries “Elizabeth Taylor: Rebel Superstar” (w/t). Kim Kardashian is among the executive producers, along with Kari Lia and Hamish Fergusson. The three-parter, a box set series for BBC Two and iPlayer, is being shopped by Fremantle.

Casting notes: Kayla Wallace (“When Calls The Heart”), James Jordan (“Yellowstone”), Mark Collie (“Nashville”) and Paulina Chávez (“The Expanding Universe of Ashley Garcia”) have joined the cast of Paramount+’s latest Taylor Sheridan drama, “Landman,” as series regulars. They join series star Billy Bob Thornton …. Jennifer Nettles (“The Exorcist”) will play the ex-wife of Kevin Bacon’s character in upcoming Prime Video action series “The Bondsman.”…Checking in to ABC’s “Abbott Elementary” for season three are Josh Segarra (“The Big Door Prize”), Kimia Behpoornia (“Hacks”) and Benjamin Norris (“Never Have I Ever”) in recurring roles.

NEW & RETURNING SHOWS

Season two of HGTV’s “Lil Jon Wants To Do What?” launches Monday, February 12 at 10p. The renovation series delivered over 12.7 million total viewers its first season.

NBC’s “Password” starts its sophomore season on Tuesday, March 12 at 10p. Joining hosts Jimmy Fallon and Keke Palmer will be celebrity guests Chance the Rapper, Laverne Cox, Nikki & Brie Garcia, Lauren Graham, Wiz Khalifa, Jimmy Kimmel, Johnny Knoxville, Liza Koshy, Howie Mandel, Joe Manganiello, Joel McHale, Meghan Trainor, Lindsey Vonn and Roy Wood Jr.

“Is It Cake?”, Netflix’s baking show starring “SNL’s” Mikey Day, is back for season three on Friday, March 29.

TBS is kicking off a five-city “Stupid Pet Tricks” tour on February 3. The goal: find guests for the network’s Sarah Silverman-hosted show, premiering with a sneak peek across TBS, Discovery, truTV and Animal Planet on Sunday, February 11 at 5p. New episodes will debut on TBS every Monday at 9p beginning February 12.

PBS Masterpiece has picked up buzzy UK drama “Mr Bates vs The Post Office.” The ITV four-parter dramatizes the miscarriage of justice when the Post Office blamed local branch managers for missing money, accusing hundreds of theft and fraud, when in fact the problem was caused by errors in the Post Office’s computer system. The show is averaging 13.1 million viewers per episode across the pond. “The producers of this powerful drama have reignited the public interest in the Subpostmasters’ 20-year quest for justice,” said Susanne Simpson, Masterpiece EP. “I’m incredibly proud that we will bring this story to the American audience.”

STREAMING

VIZIO and attention metrics provider Adelaide released joint research that found that FAST apps outperform Adelaide’s overall CTV attention benchmarks by 20-25%, and outperform linear TV by 35-40%. Both CTV and linear TV garner stronger-than-average attention from viewers when compared to traditional digital channels. Additionally, the report found that FAST AU benchmarks are on par with the biggest AVOD and vMVPD apps by volume. “These findings disprove the narrative of inattention or lesser value in FAST environments,” said Devin Fallon, Senior Director, Media Insights & Analytics at VIZIO. “As subscription fatigue sets in, viewers are increasingly augmenting their streaming bundles with free services, and this ensures advertisers that FAST environments can drive both upper and lower funnel ROI.”

RETAIL MEDIA

Retail media ad spend will make up over one-fifth of total US ad spending by 2027, according to Insider Intelligence’s “Social Network Ad Spending and Trends Q4 2023” report. Additional projections include:
– Social media will maintain its position as second-biggest ad channel through 2027, though not by much.
– Retail media ad spend is growing faster than either search or social.
– The battle for second may come down to which channel can grab more dollars from slower-growing or declining legacy channels (like linear TV).

SPORTS ROUNDUP

ESPN will present the 2024 Pro Bowl Games in Orlando, Florida, featuring NFL stars competing in ten made-for-television skills highlighted by a 7-on-7 Flag Football Game. “The Pro Bowl Skills Show” will air on Thursday, February 1, at 7p. On Sunday afternoon, the Pro Bowl Games will include the Flag Football Game, with four additional skills competitions intertwined within the telecast, airing on ESPN, ABC, Disney XD and ESPN+ (February 4, 3-6p). A Spanish-language edition of both days’ events will be available on ESPN Deportes.

Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment has formed a joint venture with Fuel TV to create FUEL TV branded SVOD and FAST channels. The companies will combine their respective content catalogs for for Fuel TV Surf and Fuel TV Snow, and create two new channels, Fuel TV Skate and Fuel TV Bike.

COMING UP

CNN’s “The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper” returns Sunday, February 4 at 8p with “What Whales Tell Us.” CNN’s Chief Climate Correspondent Bill Weir follows the humpback whale migratory journey from Antarctica to the coast of Colombia.

“Far Haven” makes its cable debut on INSP on Sunday, April 14 at 9p. The western drama stars a wrongfully accused man released from prison only to have to take on corrupt forces in his town.

“Kemba,” based on the true story of a sheltered college student who falls in love with a man who turns out to be a drug dealing kingpin, premieres Thursday, February 22 on BET+.

GOING GLOBAL

DeAPlaneta Entertainment has signed a deal with Moody Studios and Epic Story Media to take European (except UK) and LATAM Media, Licensing & Digital rights for animated kids’ series “Mia & Codie.”

Former ITV director William van Rest has launched JEM Media Ventures, designed to help businesses, brands and talent create ancillary income streams with IP, assets and/or unused inventory.

Sinking Ship Entertainment’s kids’ media literacy series “Media Stamped” has been greenlit by TELUS independent, a pilot feature doc and limited series program funded by Canadian telco, TELUS Communications Inc. International advocacy organization Global Citizen has partnered with SSE on the series, which is also backed by the Shaw Rocket Fund.

CNN Philippines is shutting down tomorrow, January 31, due to financial losses. A franchise holder of the CNN International brand, the organization began broadcasting in 2015.

Amuz Distribution has renewed its partnership with Casablanca Productions for two years to globally represent six comedy/dramedy series, including two new crime dramedy series, “The Clan” and “5e Rang.””

Production company Big Media has entered into a joint venture agreement with Slovakian production company Nunz NFE to program and operate the basic pay TV channel JOJ World for Slovakian media group, JOJ Group.

Tulipop Studios has been commissioned to produce Tulipop Seasons,“ three 2D animated seasonal specials, by RÚV in Iceland, NRK in Norway, SVT in Sweden, DR in Denmark and Svenska YLE in Finland.

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The NFC Championship Game on Fox drew 56,691,000 viewers, the network’s best NFC Championship Game performance since 2012, and the fourth most-watched non-Super Bowl telecast in network history.

After the game, the season three premiere of “Next Level Chef” delivered 7.2 million total viewers and a 2.1 Live + SD rating among A18-49, television’s most-watched and highest-rated unscripted series telecast since its season two post-Super Bowl LVII premiere last year. “Next Level Chef” will make its time period premiere on Thursday, February 1 at 8p.

EXECUTIVE MOVES

José Cancela has been named President of Telemundo Station Group. Cancela is the longtime leader of WKAQ/Telemundo Puerto Rico.

The Interactive Advertising Bureau named John Halley, President, Paramount Advertising, Paramount as the new Chair of the trade organization’s Board of Directors. Halley has served on the board since March 2021, most recently as the Vice Chair.

Nancy Eagle has joined Allen Media Group as SVP of Business and Legal Affairs. Eagle previously held that position at Boat Rocker Studios.

Tara Long has joined Blink49 Studios as President of Global Unscripted Television. Long previously held that position at eOne.

Roger Sherwood is joining ThinkAnalytics as SVP, Professional Services after five years in the AWS Professional Services function. Andrew Read is onboard as VP Sales, EMEA; he was most recently at 24i, where he led worldwide sales.

IN MEMORIAM

Advertising and ad agency executive Ben Jankowski died January 27. He was 63. Jankowski, who retired as Group Head of Global Media at MasterCard in in 2021, held senior roles at OMD, MPG and BBDO, after starting his career at Grey Advertising in 1982.

Answer to Our Last Trivia Question
Seth and Summer competed to get in which Ivy League university on “The O.C.” (2003-07)? Brown. Kudos to: Maggie Takei-Moore Media/Paducah, KY; John Kukla-KDFW Fox 4/Dallas; Justin Pierce-JP Consulting Group/LA; David Westberg-SAG-AFTRA Credit Union/Burbank; Susan Nessanbaum-Goldberg-M and S Entertainment/LA; Tom Moore-Kalt Productions/LA; Paige Glassman-OMD/NYC; Jim Nicoll-A4 Media/NJ; Jordan Bienstock-E.W. Scripps, Atlanta; Chad McKay-GainShare/Toronto; Gerry Bixenspan-TV Marketing Inc./NYC

Today’s Trivia Question
The Shady Rest Hotel was the setting for which sitcom? (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