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| Wednesday February 4, 2026 |
 IN THE NEWS |
 Disney’s closely watched succession race has crossed the finish line, with Josh D’Amaro, Disney Experiences Chairman, named CEO. His appointment is effective March 18, at which point Bob Iger will step down from the role, serving as a senior advisor until his contract expires at the end of the year. Disney Entertainment Co-Chairman Dana Walden, who was also in the running for the CEO spot, will rise to the newly created position of President and Chief Creative Officer. “Josh D’Amaro is an exceptional leader and the right person to become our next CEO,” said Iger, “He has an instinctive appreciation of the Disney brand, and a deep understanding of what resonates with our audiences, paired with the rigor and attention to detail required to deliver some of our most ambitious projects.” Of Walden, Iger said, “Given that creativity is at the heart of everything Disney does, she is a wonderful choice to serve in this new leadership role.”
Kelly Clarkson is stepping away from her syndicated talk show after seven seasons. In a post shared on social media, Clarkson, whose ex-husband passed away in August, said that leaving the daily schedule will allow her to focus on her children, calling it “necessary and right for this next chapter in our lives.” She will continue serving as a judge on “The Voice,” while her talk show runs through the rest of the current season with guest hosts.
Sherri Shepherd’s daytime talker, “Sherri,” is also on the way out – the show has been canceled after four seasons. “This decision is driven by the evolving daytime television landscape and does not reflect on the strength of the show,” said Debmar-Mercury Co-Presidents Ira Bernstein and Mort Marcus in a statement. And this might not be the end of the road. “We believe in this show and in Sherri and intend to explore alternatives for it on other platforms,” said the Debmar execs. Season four will continue to air through the 2025-26 season.
Fubo and ESPN announced a reseller and marketing partnership designed to broaden the reach and distribution of Fubo’s services. Under the agreement, Fubo Sports, which includes ESPN Unlimited along with FOX and CBS programming, will be available for purchase through ESPN’s commerce flow. ESPN will also feature Fubo across its digital platforms. Fubo reported closing its fiscal quarter with 6.2 million subscribers.
Broadcast TV NFL telecasts, led by late-Sunday afternoon timeslot, continue to be the most watched NFL games throughout the season, notes VAB report, What’s the Spread? Examining Key Stats on Audience Growth From the 2025 NFL Season, but Thursday night streaming games had a higher rate of co-viewing than primetime broadcast TV games. Additional findings include:
• Live NFL games are watched in real-time.
• Divisional matchups increase viewership by double-digits.
• Primetime NFL games deliver high-value audiences in key buying demos across multiscreen TV platforms.
• Out-of-home viewership contributes double-digit lifts in total audience, especially among the P18-34 demographic. |
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| “The NFL continues to deliver outsized, real-time impact, with audiences up year-over-year across all three signature primetime series, reinforcing live football as one of Premium Video’s strongest drivers of reach and engagement,” said Jason Wiese, EVP, Strategic Insights & Measurement, VAB.
Nielsen is kicking off a co-viewing pilot program during the Super Bowl, using wearable devices to more accurately capture shared viewing. The devices capture audio from television programs, enabling passive measurement of shared viewing without requiring individuals to manually log into the system. The initial results from the pilot program will be released a few weeks after the delivery of Nielsen final Big Data + Panel ratings.
The Coalition for Innovative Media Measurement (CIMM) announced the companies selected for membership under its 2026 Startup Program, a learning, partnership-development and networking initiative designed for early-stage companies building product solutions aligned with CIMM’s core mission. Companies include Aqxle, BranchLab, DAIVID, Simantea, Vuer, and Wantent. |
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| CONVERGENT TV AWARDS
Finalists Announced for 2026
The Convergent TV Awards honor the people, teams, and platforms shaping what’s next. Join us in New York City on March 5 as we celebrate the finalists and unveil the winners live during the Convergent TV Awards Celebration, held on the opening night of Convergent TV World.
VIEW FINALISTS & JOIN US IN NYC |
| NEW & RETURNING SERIES |
| E! has greenlit “The Golden Life” (w/t), a new reality show featuring stars originally from Bravo’s “The Real Housewives of New York City.” Countess Luann de Lesseps, Jill Zarin, Ramona Singer, Kelly Bensimon and Sonja Morgan reunite in Palm Beach for the series Produced by Blink49 Studios.
Darkly comedic thriller “Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed” debuts Wednesday, May 20 on Apple TV. Tatiana Maslany (“Orphan Black”) and Jake Johnson (“New Girl”) star. The announcement was made at Apple TV’s 2026 press day on Tuesday, where the premiere date for the first two episodes of television adaptation of Lucky was also shared: Wednesday, July 15.
Netflix’s “A Man on the Inside,” starring Ted Danson, has been renewed for season three. The comedy’s second season dropped November 20. And the streamer’s YA series “Finding Her Edge” – a Netflix English TV Top 10 series since its release – got the go-ahead for a second season.
Telemundo Studios announced the upcoming premiere of a reimagined vertical micro-drama adaptation of Peacock series “Armas de Mujer” (“Till Jail Do Us Part) on short-form content platform ReelShort. The mobile-first adaptation will feature 2-minute episodes, in Spanish with English closed captions and fully dubbed in English. “We’re focused on delivering our stories in formats that meet audiences where they are,” said Javier Pons, Chief Content Officer & Head of Telemundo Studios. “’Armas de Mujer’ is a natural extension of that approach, reimagined for short-form, mobile-first viewing.”
Beginning March 30, “American Idol” will stream live on Disney+, alongside its traditional broadcast on ABC. Currently in its ninth season on the network, the competition airs live on ABC and streams the next day on Hulu. So far, so good – this season’s premiere on January 26 drew 8.27 million total viewers after three days of multiplatform viewing, up +20% versus the previous season’s debut. |
Today’s Premieres
BET: House of Payne at 8p; Assisted Living at 8:30p; The Coach Vick Experience at 10p
Disney+: We Call It Imagineering |
| TECH |
| Chalice AI and PubMatic are partnering to bring agentic AI decisioning directly into live programmatic transactions. PubMatic is the first independent ad tech company to connect Model Context Protocol (MCP) with the IAB Tech Lab’s Ad Response and Transaction Framework (ARTF), showing how AI agents can operate inside real-time buying and execution. The integration runs through PubMatic’s AgenticOS and allows Chalice’s custom algorithms to operate alongside PubMatic’s native agents. “Agentic systems cannot scale in isolation,” said Adam Heimlich, CEO of Chalice AI. “Interoperability between decision layers and execution infrastructure is what turns automation into accountable performance.” |
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CONNECT WITH TALENT |
| COMING UP |
| “Outcome,” a film starring Keanu Reeves and Cameron Diaz, has a premiere date of Friday, April 10 on Apple TV. The dark comedy about a beloved Hollywood star being blackmailed by a mysterious video is directed by Jonah Hill.
Sabio’s owned-and-operated network, Creator Television, is featuring a month-long programming event celebrating Black History Month. The showcase will air during primetime. |
| SPORTS REPORT |
Women’s sports are entering the 2026 Winter Olympics with fan momentum matching or surpassing men’s events across the majority of sports, according a study from Parity and Survey Monkey. Findings reveal:
· Across the surveyed countries, women’s events are more popular than or equally as popular as men’s events in 10 of 15 sports that host both competitions.
· Women’s figure skating leads in outright popularity and boasts the largest differential, with a +15 percentage point advantage over men’s figure skating.
· Among adults who are particularly excited about the Games, 1 in 4 plan to follow more women’s events this year than in the past.
· 51% of U.S. adults say Olympic and Paralympic sponsors should invest marketing dollars equally in men and women athletes, though many believe brands have not yet followed through, with 43% saying brands are not yet spending enough on women’s sports.
“The data confirms that women’s sports aren’t a secondary category,” said Wendy Smith, Senior Manager, Research Science at SurveyMonkey. “They can be a primary engine of growth for companies looking to make genuine connections with consumers.”
The on-site talent lineup for Telemundo’s coverage of Super Bowl LX includes Adriana Monsalve and “La Mesa Caliente’s” Lindsay Casinelli, who will host five-hour pregame show “Camino al Super Bowl.” Monsalve will also anchor halftime and postgame coverage across Telemundo, Universo, and Peacock.
INDYCAR and Monumental Sports & Entertainment have teamed up to promote this summer’s Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, DC in the first-ever motor race on the National Mall and city streets, taking place August 21-23. Monumental Sports & Entertainment will serve as the Official Marketing, Sponsorships and Corporate Hospitality sales agency for the race weekend. |
| DISTRIBUTION |
| Tale Wind animation studio has signed a licensing deal with KidOO, a children’s television channel in Latin America, that covers three seasons of the studio’s animated series. Another agreement has been concluded with US-based Kids Street that covers six seasons, with content available in both English and Spanish dubbing. |
| RATINGS |
| FOX News Media delivered its best January ever on YouTube, according to Emplifi, with 466 million video views for the month, increasing its YouTube viewership 14% year-over-year. |
| EXECUTIVE MOVES |
| Mediaocean has expanded Innovid CEO Zvika Netter’s role to include Chief Innovation Officer. In this expanded position, Netter will lead cross-platform product innovation initiatives across Mediaocean’s business units. |
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This Day in History
1938 – Adolf Hitler seized control of Germany, appointing Nazis to key posts.
Answer to Our Last Trivia Question
Where did Mary first see Rhoda on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” (1970-77)? Rhoda, thinking she was going to get Mary’s new apartment, was on the terrace washing the windows. Kudos to: Eric Emeric-Paramount Global/NYC; Jackie Howell-Nextstar WCMH-TV/Columbus, OH; Rachel Buchanan-NBCUniversal/NYC; Jane Pook/Brooklyn, NY; John Kukla-KDFW Fox 4/Dallas; Tom Moore-Kalt Productions/LA; Dale Warshaw-KMSB/KTTU/Tucson
Today’s Trivia Question
How many people have served as regular hosts on “Family Feud”? (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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