Cynopsis 02/11/26: Fox News Gets Brief

Cynopsis
Wednesday February 11, 2026

   IN THE NEWS

An estimated 124.9 million viewers watched Super Bowl LX on Sunday, February 8, according to Nielsen’s Big Data + Panel measurement. NBC’s presentation of Super Bowl LX ranks as the second most-watched Super Bowl in history, behind the 127.7 million viewers who watched Super Bowl LIX in 2025. The halftime show featuring Bad Bunny averaged 128.2 million viewers. Across the entire telecast, viewership peaked at 137.8 million viewers during the second quarter.

Paramount Skydance has upgraded the terms of its hostile takeover offer for Warner Bros. Discovery. The new offer includes a payment to WBD shareholders of 25 cents per share – about $650 million each quarter – for every quarter beyond December 31 that the proposed Paramount acquisition of WBD is not closed. Paramount also said it would pay the $2.8 billion termination fee due to Netflix, which has already struck a deal for WBD, if Paramount’s offer wins out. Warner Bros. Discovery issued a statement saying it would “carefully review and consider Paramount Skydance’s offer in accordance with the terms of WBD’s agreement with Netflix, Inc.”

Affordability has overtaken content availability as the dominant reason consumers cancel video services, according to Parks Associates report, Streaming Competition and Profitability: Pricing Models & Retention Strategies. In 2025, 30% of consumers cited cutting household expenses as the top reason for canceling a streaming service, up from 26% in 2020. Other insights include:
– 91% of US internet households subscribe to at least one SVOD service.
– The average SVOD household now maintains 5.8 subscriptions, up from 5.5 in 2021, while average spend per service continues to decline, signaling a shift toward portfolio optimization rather than expansion.
– 70% of viewers say the same ads repeat too often, making repetition the leading frustration with ad-supported streaming services.
– More than half of new streaming subscriptions are activated either through device platforms or direct-to-consumer sign-ups.

“Consumers are no longer choosing between services, they’re choosing between price points,” said Michael Goodman, Director, Entertainment Research, Parks Associates. “Platforms that treat affordability as a retention strategy, not a discount tactic, are far better positioned to manage churn in this mature market.”

“It is a mistake for conservatives to claim allegiance to free markets while endorsing consolidation that destroys competition, stifles innovation, and drives consumer prices higher,” said Newsmax CEO Chris Ruddy. Those words appeared in written testimony submitted ahead of Ruddy’s appearance on Tuesday before the Senate Commerce Committee, which is reviewing the FCC’s possibly changing the national TV ownership cap of 39%. Ruddy also contended that any change to the cap falls under Congress’s authority, not the FCC’s. “Let me be absolutely clear: the television industry is far too valuable to be handed over to a small number of conglomerates that are unaccountable to the public,” said Ruddy. “Congress set the cap. Only Congress should change it – after careful review.”

A 90-second news brief from Fox News Media will air on Fox’s owned-and-operated television stations and will be available to all Fox Affiliated Stations across the country starting on Monday, February 23. Anchored by Fox News Channel’s Bill Melugin, the report will feature national and global headlines spanning breaking news, politics, sports and entertainment.

CONVERGENT TV AWARDS

2026 Convergent TV Awards Finalists Revealed

Meet the people, teams, and platforms shaping the future of converged media. Celebrate this year’s finalists and watch the winners revealed live on March 5 in NYC at Convergent TV World.

VIEW FINALISTS & JOIN US IN NYC

   NEW & RETURNING SERIES

For sneak peeks, go to Cynopsis Trailer Park.

Ready for Pumpkin to reveal her new boo? “Mama June” is back for season eight on Friday, March 13 at 9p on We TV, as well as its new exclusive streaming home, All Reality.

“The Family Next Door” debuts Monday, February 23 on Acorn TV. The Australian mystery series is based on the novel of the same name by Sally Hepworth.

FloSPorts is launching daily series “Hockey Daily Reaction Show: Milan-Cortina presented by Fortune Tires” tomorrow, February 12. The show offers analysis, reaction, and conversation as well as live game coverage on the FloHockey 24/7 FAST Channel.

Nat Geo’s “Ghost Elephants” premieres Saturday, March 7 at 9p. The film follows a National Geographic explorer in pursuit of an animal long believed to be a myth.

Today’s Premieres
ESPN: Origin: The Story of the Basketball Africa League
Hulu: Battle of Fates; The Scream Murder: A True Teen Horror Story
Netflix: Love Is Blind; Lead Children; Kohrra
Prime Video: Cross

   TECH

iSpot announced the launch of agentic AI-powered platform iSpot SAGE. Developed with input and testing from brands such as General Motors and Airbnb, iSpot SAGE transforms big data across the broader ad ecosystem into insights, offering a holistic view of the marketplace. “iSpot brings a massive repository of what people feel about ads, what creative elements and narratives were used and where those ads were seen,” said Miles Drayton, Global Director, Marketing Intelligence, General Motors. “The development of SAGE promises to expand our potential to forge new connections, using actual intelligence, which means it’s data that we can trust.”

Havas has acquired a majority stake in Sweden’s Ctrl Digital, a specialist in measurement, analytics, and data activation. Ctrl Digital is joining Havas Media Network’s global technology, data, and analytics consultancy, CSA, marking its official launch in Sweden and the Nordics.

Simpli.fi announced the launch of its next-generation cross-device attribution capability, built for multi-location brands. The solution aims to provide a method to accurately measure campaign performance across a fragmented digital landscape where consumers engage with brands on multiple screens before taking action.

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   PRODUCTION

Great American Media is partnering with bestselling author Melissa Ferguson to adapt her novel, Meet Me in the Margins, and upcoming novel The Christmas Yes List, for the company’s Original Movies slate for 2026. “Meet Me in the Margins” is currently in production. GAM also announced an exclusive multi-picture agreement with romantic comedy and holiday leading lady, Merritt Patterson.

   SPORTS REPORT

Paramount+ and CBS are teaming to air “UFC 326: Holloway vs. Oliveira 2” live on Saturday, March 7, from in Las Vegas. It’s the first UFC event to appear on the broadcast network. Paramount inked a seven-year media rights agreement with TKO Group earlier this year.

Sports platform DAZN and Freestyle Chess are expanding their partnership, with DAZN delivering global broadcast coverage (excluding Norway) of the FIDE Freestyle Chess World Championship 2026. In Freestyle Chess, the pieces start in a semi-random position, which means players can’t memorize openings and must decide on their opening strategy in real-time. The International Chess Federation (FIDE) and Freestyle Chess Operations GmbH will stage the first official FIDE Freestyle Chess World Championship in Weissenhaus, Germany, February 13-15; the tournament will be free-to-view on DAZN with English commentary.

Fubo Sports Network is now available on Hulu’s Live TV subscribers in the core $89.99/month subscription plan, which also includes access to the entire Hulu and Disney+ streaming libraries and live sports on ESPN. The launch marks the first synergistic opportunity across the Fubo and Hulu + Live TV platforms following the close of the companies’ business combination.

Spectrum is jump-starting its new multi-year partnership with Spire Motorsports and 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Rookie of the Year Carson Hocevar with the 68th running of the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 15. The partnership marks a full-circle moment for Hocevar, who was sponsored by Spectrum in his early racing days. Spectrum will be showcased as primary sponsor of the No. 77 Chevy Camaro driven by Carson Hocevar for multiple NASCAR Cup Series races in 2026.

The Premier League’s 12th Premier League Mornings Live Fan Festival will be held in Tampa, Florida on April 18 and 19. The free two-day soccer event, in collaboration with NBC Sports, will give the chance to see NBC Sports’ studio team – host Rebecca Lowe and analysts Robbie Earle, Robbie Mustoe, and Tim Howard – broadcast Premier League Mornings Live from Armature Works.

   RATINGS

Season four of Netflix’s “Bridgerton” was the most-watched streaming original the week of January 30, with 2.3 billion minutes watched, according to Luminate. Season two of HBO’s “The Pitt” was second with 787.7 million minutes, followed by season four of Peacock’s “The Traitors” (714.4 million), season one of Netflix’s “His & Hers” (621.6 million) and season two of Paramount+’s “Landman” (502.6 million).

   EXECUTIVE MOVES

DAZN has appointed Dave Stratton as Executive Vice President, Marketing. Stratton most recently served as Sports Marketing Director for Sky and NOW TV.

Erica Small has been promoted to Vice President, Business & Legal Affairs at Electric Entertainment. In her new role she will be working on contracts for acquisitions, among other responsibilities.

Heather Carver has been names Chief Customer Officer at tvScientific. Previously, Carver was Chief Revenue Officer at Freestar.

Weigel Broadcasting Co. has appointed Elizabeth Tumulty as Senior Vice President of Affiliate Relations. Previously, Tumulty served as President of Affiliate Relations for CBS.

This Day in History
1963 – Julia Child’s “The French Chef” debuted on WGBH in Boston.

Answer to Our Last Trivia Question
In which series was Detective Antonio Dawson introduced? Dawson was a recurring character on “Chicago Fire” before being featured on “Chicago Justice” and then “Chicago P.D.” Kudos to: Gerry Bixenspan-TV Marketing Inc./NYC; Tom Moore-Kalt Productions/LA: Jose Rolon-Fox Television/NYC; Susan Nessanbaum-Goldberg-M and S Entertainment/LA

Today’s Trivia Question
On “Full House” (1987-1995), where did the Tanners find Comet? (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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