| Cynopsis will not publish Monday, in observance of President’s Day. |
 IN THE NEWS |
| Democratic senators sent a letter to FCC Chairman Brendan Carr accusing him of weaponizing the agency, one example being the investigation into CBS over its editing of a “60 Minutes” interview with Kamala Harris. Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA), Sen. Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM) and Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) called the move “nothing more than a fishing expedition, creating a veneer of government legitimacy for a pressure campaign against independent journalism.” The FCC’s decision to open investigations into PBS and NPR over their underwriting practices was also cited as an intimidation tactic.
Roku reported revenue of $1.2 billion for 4Q24, the first quarter the company cracked $1 billion. Streaming hours on The Roku Channel were up 82% year-over-year, reaching 145 million US households.
Noting the complexity of understanding the ages of its users, Google said it will begin testing a machine learning-based age estimation model. “This model helps us estimate whether a user is over or under 18 so that we can apply protections to help provide more age-appropriate experiences,” said the company in a blog post that also described new features like School Time, parent-approved contacts, Android tap to pay for supervised kids, and more.
Simply speaking: MVPDs including Comcast Advertising, Cox, DirecTV Advertising, Dish Media, Optimum Media, Spectrum Reach and Verizon Fios, along with Ampersand and the VAB, announced unified guidance on Multiscreen TV Advertising Terminology. The goal: align the media industry around the various delivery types of TV advertising. Based on research with Advertiser Perceptions, and in coordination with the VAB, recommendations include:
· When referring to video content delivered via an internet connection, use the term streaming.
· When referring to content delivered via wired cable, telco, satellite or over-the-air distribution (versus internet), use the term traditional TV. (Note: As MVPDs transition to IP-based infrastructures, some or all of the ads within a viewer’s “traditional TV” experience may be dynamically delivered.)
· When referring to multiple TV/streaming endpoints, use the term multiscreen TV.
“As TV proliferates across screens, everyone agrees that we need to simplify the buying and selling experience,” said Jason Wiese, EVP, Strategic Insights & Measurement, VAB. “While some areas of complexity are more difficult to resolve than others, one relatively easy fix is to make sure everyone is speaking the same language. By partnering together across companies to define how we’re talking about multiscreen TV, we can clear up inconsistencies and confusion and bring greater clarity to our increasingly complex industry.”
Prime Video has released a new and improved app for Apple TV devices, with improvements aimed at making the app faster and easier to navigate with features specific to the device. Users will find an improved in-app search function, voice search, sound effects, new accessibility features and better app animations. The app is available on Apple TV HD, 4K, and Gen 1, 2, and 3 devices. |
 In a study that will come as no surprise to execs at Hallmark Channel, UPtv or FETV, there is a growing call for authentic, uplifting content that offers a respite from the divisiveness dominating social media and news platforms. That’s according to a study from website Upworthy and Alter Agents, “The Power of Uplifting Content.” Key findings include:
· 76% of respondents report seeking out “feel-good” content now more than ever.
· 82% are likely to share heartwarming content, increasing organic reach and brand advocacy.
· 86% say they are more likely to purchase from brands that make them feel positively.
“As negativity saturates digital spaces, consumers are clearly telling us they want something different,” said Devora Rogers, Chief Strategy Officer at Alter Agents. “Brands have a real opportunity to cut through the noise by delivering uplifting content that resonates emotionally and drives engagement and loyalty.”
Speaking of, Great American Family is launching “Faith & Family Sundays,” featuring 30 consecutive Sunday nights of new episodes from the network’s series offering faith and family storytelling. The stunt leads up to Great American Christmas 2025.
Elon Musk’s X agreed to pay about $10 million to settle a lawsuit brought against it by President Trump back when it was called Twitter, according to the Wall Street Journal. Trump’s account was suspended from the platform after the January 6, 2021 attack at the Capitol, on the grounds his inflammatory rhetoric could lead to more violence. Musk reinstated Trump’s account after he acquired the company in 2022.
The local broadcasting industry is at an inflection point thanks to rapid changes in viewing behavior, shifts in underlying technologies and content distribution strategies, and the proliferation of new measurement, data, and identity solutions, notes Jon Watts, Managing Director of CIMM, in a new report from CIMM and TVB. The report points to six areas where innovation is paving the way for improved advertising effectiveness for local TV and video businesses:
· Measurement: The use of cross-platform campaign measurement tools and advanced capabilities like Automatic Content Recognition (ACR) help local advertisers garner a comprehensive view of media consumption across all platforms.
· Attribution: Multi-screen attribution capabilities allow advertisers to link their local TV campaigns to offline customer actions, providing a clear picture of the return on ad spend.
· Cross-Platform Digital Campaigns: With real time cross-platform campaign metrics, local advertisers can leverage a unified view of performance across both linear and digital platforms – enabling greater optimization and effectiveness across multiple channels.
· Data Integration and Audience Insights: By shifting focus from traditional demographics to the integration of diverse data sources, local advertisers can target consumers with actionable audience insights and enhanced precision.
· Content Delivery and Engagement: A data-driven approach to TV across linear, addressable, and streaming powers highly effective targeting across advertising campaigns.
· Operational Efficiency: Best practices like streamlining data reporting for swift analysis and providing local ad sales teams with instant, high-quality marketing content improve workflow efficiency, strategic decision making, and overall business productivity.
“As the local TV and video marketplace progresses, it’s imperative that we understand what propels advancements, the emerging innovations, and the roles that industry stakeholders play in this transformation,” said Watts. “Our study highlights several creative and measurement innovators in the local video advertising space who are pushing the boundaries of traditional strategies to meet the growing demand for more precise targeting, addressability, measurement, and accountability, and deeper audience engagement.” Case studies from 16 innovators in the marketplace include: AdImpact, Ampersand, Comcast Effectv, Comscore, Consumer Orbit, Dentsu, Gray Media, HyphaMetrics, Madhive, Magid’s AD.VANTAGE AI, Nexstar Media Group, New York Interconnect, Run3TV, Spectrum Reach, Tunnl and Who’s Watching TV.
A recent survey found half of promotes stereotypes. In GumGum’s “Digital Advertising Pulse Check,” when asked, “Have you ever been targeted by an ad that pigeonholed you into a stereotype in a way that felt offensive?” 49% of respondents said yes. Among them, 31% said the ads seemed “clueless rather than malicious,” and 18% felt the ad “completely missed the mark.” Twenty-four percent said this happened “once or twice, but it didn’t bother me much,” and 27% noted their ads were “always appropriately tailored.”
CBS News: Anne Hsu has been bumped up from senior broadcast producer to executive producer of “Face the Nation” with Margaret Brennan, and Mary Hager has been elevated to senior executive producer in addition to serving as executive editor for politics. In front of the camera, Major Garrett has been named the full-time anchor of “America Decides” on the CBS News 24/7 streaming network, while continuing as CBS News chief Washington correspondent, and Robert Costa is national correspondent for “CBS News Sunday Morning” and chief Washington analyst.
Titan OS has partnered with All3Media International to launch three new single-IP channels: cooking show “Great British Menu,” renovation show “Homes Under the Hammer,” and lifestyle/reality channel “So…Real.” Titan OS’s channel lineup is currently accessible on Philips smart TVs powered by its operating system and on selected Sony’s Android TVs, where it offers a curated selection of high-quality channels. |
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| The FAXIES 2025
Honoring Excellence in Media & Marketing
The FAXIES 2025 are here to recognize the most innovative minds in PR, marketing, and communications across the cable, broadband, and media industry. This is your chance to showcase groundbreaking campaigns, outstanding teams, and visionary leaders shaping the future of media.
NEW FOR 2025!
AI Executive of the Year – Honoring a leader who is leveraging artificial intelligence to transform media and marketing.
AI Innovation Team of the Year – Recognizing a team that has embraced AI to enhance engagement, streamline workflows, or create cutting-edge campaigns.
Enter Now |
| PRODUCTION & DEVELOPMENT |
| HGTV has greenlit “Chasing the West” (w/t), starring Property Brothers Drew and Jonathan Scott. The twins, who grew up on a cattle ranch, will bring their personal experience to buyers who want a taste of adventure. The eight-episode series is set for a Summer debut.
Starz has acquired the rights to All Fours, Miranda July’s novel about a woman at a turning point in her life who embarks on a journey of self-discovery. And the author, for one, couldn’t be happier. “I’m thrilled that All Fours has found a home at Starz,” said July. “I had an electric feeling from the moment we met; it was clear we were speaking the same language. Rather than shying away from all the messy contradictions within sexuality and desire, Starz really digs into the reality of who women are and what we want, which makes it the perfect place to bring my novel to life. This is going to be wild.”
Warner Bros. International Television Production is opening a new production business in Italy. Located in Milan, the new office will be the 22nd production company in total, joining WBITVP businesses across EMEA, Australia and New Zealand. WBITVP Italy will be helmed by Managing Director Stefano Torrisi, who will also maintain his status as MD of WBITVP Spain.
UK-based Plimsoll Productions (“A Year on Planet Earth”) has been commissioned by parent company ITV to produce the six-part global event series “Extreme Planet Earth.” The show, three years in the making, will focus on the battle for wildlife survival in an era of extreme weather, wildfires and environmental upheaval.
Geoff Bell (“Top Boy”), Daniel Betts (“Fate: The Winx Saga”), Lisa Dwan (“Top Boy”), and Emily Barber (“Industry”) have joined Guy Ritchie’s new global crime series for Paramount+ in recurring roles. Production is currently underway in London.
Acorn TV and Channel 5 announced additional cast and start of production on new murder mystery drama, ”Murder Before Evensong.” Joining Matthew Lewis
are Amanda Redman (“New Tricks”); Amit Shah (“Happy Valley”); Adam James (“The Day of the Jackal”); Meghan Treadway (“One Day”); Marion Bailey (“The Crown”); Amanda Hadingue (“Kaos”); Tamzin Outhwaite (“The Wives”); Francis Magee (“Kin”); and Nina Toussaint-White (“Showtrial”). The series will debut later this year. |
 Seven.One Studios International will distribute “The Hunt” (w/t), a game of predator versus prey. Commissioned by Channel 4 in the UK, the show is being produced by CPL Productions and GroupM Motion Entertainment, based on an original idea by Redseven Entertainment. |
| NEW & RETURNING SERIES |
| Four-parter “Twitter: Breaking the Bird” (tagline: “They Started a Revolution They Couldn’t Control”) premieres Sunday, March 9 at 10p on CNN.
Docuseries “The Tides That Bind: Inside Alabama Football” premieres Wednesday, February 19 on Fox Nation. The series will spotlight the accounts of the players, coaches, and staff of the Alabama Crimson Tide for their first season following the retirement of legendary coach Nick Saban.
“Dying for Sex,” a new limited series starring Michelle Williams as a woman who receives a Stage IV cancer and decides to explore her sexual desires for the first time, debuts Friday, April 4 on Hulu.
Culinary compatriots Martha Stewart and José Andrés host and executive produce cooking competition “Yes, Chef!,” premiering Monday, April 28 on NBC.
Western drama “Ransom Canyon” kicks off Thursday, April 17 on Netflix. The series stars Josh Duhamel and Minka Kelly.
On the way to BritBox: “Douglas Is Cancelled,” centered on anchors dealing with cancel culture, arrives Thursday, March 6, and comedic procedural “Ludwig,” focused on a puzzle creator-turned-detective, premieres Thursday, March 20.
Prime Video hit “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” has been renewed for a third season. Production is set to start in the spring. |
Today’s Premieres
Apple TV+: Goldie
Netflix: I Am Married…But!; Melo Movie; Love Is Blind
Paramount+ With Showtime: Yellowjackets
Saturday’s Premiere
CNN: Have I Got News for You at 9p
Sunday’s Premieres
A&E: WWE LFG at 8p; WWE’s Greatest Moments at 10:30p
CBS: The Equalizer at 10p
CNN: Lockerbie: The Bombing of Pan Am 103
Court TV: Trial & Error: Why Did O.J. Win? at 8p
Fox: Family Guy at 8p; Grimsburg at 8:30p; The Great North at 9p; Krapopolisa t 9:30p
HBO: The White Lotus at 9p; Last Week With John Oliver at 11p
ID: Evil Lives Here at 9p
Oxygen: Fatal Family Feuds at 7p
TLC: 90 Day Fiance
Monday’s Premieres
Acorn TV: A Remarkable Place to Die; Best Interests
BritBox: A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story
HBO: We Beat the Dream Team at 9p
History: Thomas Jefferson at 8p
Netflix: American Murder: Gabby Petito; Gabby’s Dollhouse |
| COMING UP |
| TLC’s “Big Family, Big City” premieres Tuesday, February 25 at 10p. The special follows a conservative family of 13 who relocate from the suburbs of San Diego to Harlem, New York.
Academy Award nominated film “Sing Sing” makes its streaming debut Friday, March 21 on Max, and its linear bow the following night at 8p on HBO.
In celebration of Women’s History Month, AMC Networks is offering a collection of women-led series and films, Women Who Dare, including “Killing Eve,” “Sisters,” the film “Heathers,” and more.
INSP is airing a President’s Day stunt on Sunday, February 16. “West Wing Westerns” kicks off at 12p with the first two episodes of “Elkhorn,” followed by “Cavalry Charge” at 2p.
The 31st Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards announced corporate sponsors for this year’s show, including City National Bank, Campari, People, Audi of America, United Airlines, Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurants, Purely Sedona Artesian Spring Water, Arhaus, BjornQorn, Calm, D.S. & Durga, Dagne Dover, OSEA, Stanley 1913, and Santa Monica Brew Works. The show streams live on Netflix Sunday, February 23 at 8p. |
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| SPORTS MEDIA AWARDS
Category Spotlight: Activation at Live Event
Whose brand marketing became an event within the event? This category celebrates brands that went beyond traditional sponsorships to create immersive, buzzworthy activations at live sporting events.
From interactive fan experiences to bold, high-impact brand moments, we’re recognizing the campaigns that captured attention, sparked engagement, and elevated the live event experience.
Did your brand steal the show? Submit your entry and showcase how your activation turned a live sporting event into a marketing moment to remember!
Pricing increases February 26—don’t wait!
Enter Now to be part of the celebration! |
| SPORTS REPORT |
| MLB Network, Major League Baseball’s content platform, will be moving its entire operation and office space from Secaucus to Elmwood Park, New Jersey. Expected to be operational for the 2028 MLB season, the 207,000-square-foot commercial building will house all of the network’s production studios and offices, plus MLB’s video tape library.
The American Association of Professional Baseball and Carbliss have announced a three-year partnership that makes Carbliss the American Association’s first-ever Founding Partner and official “Ready to Drink” beverage of the League.
Fantasy sports information provider RotoWire is teaming with sports betting network VSiN on “Prop Points,” a weekday show featuring RotoWire analysts Nick Whalen and Jeff Erickson. This is the first dedicated TV show featuring the RotoWire brand.
The National Hockey League Players’ Association and NHL announced the official 4 Nations Face-Off jersey patch sponsors. Rogers (Canada), Discover (USA), and SAP (Finland and Sweden) branded jersey patches will be featured on the jerseys NHL players wear for all 4 Nations Face-Off games.
As part of the celebrations around the 4 Nations Face-Off international tournament, the NHL and NHLPA are holding free fan festivals in Boston (February 15, 16 and 17) and Montreal (February 15). |
| DOOH |
A few takeaways from Place Exchange’s H2 2024 Programmatic OOH Trends Report:
· The top 3 programmatic OOH advertising categories were Food/Drink, Health/Fitness, and Personal Finance, collectively growing to 42% of spend.
· The fastest-growing categories overall were Food/Drink, Tech/Computing, Style/Fashion, Personal Finance, and Health/Fitness.
· The number of unique advertisers on the platform increased by 31%.
· For the first time, Screen/TV tied Billboard for the largest asset category, with both claiming 29% of spend in H2 2024
· Outdoor (including billboards and street furniture) remained the largest venue category, with 52% of spend, followed by Retail at 15%, Transit at 11%, and Entertainment at 8%.
· Overall, the number of programmatic OOH screens increased by 25%, driven mainly by deployments at entertainment, retail, transit, and health locations.
· Video ads accounted for half of all programmatic OOH spend on video-enabled screens |
| EXECUTIVE MOVES |
| Jane Rice and Michelle Strong have been appointed Co-Presidents of Distribution at A+E, succeeding David Zagin, who is exiting his role after a career of more than 25 years. Zagin, who has led and collaborated with Rice and Strong for 15 years, will continue to serve in an advisory capacity for A+E Networks.
The CW has named Michael Perman as SVP of Sports. Most recently, Perman served as SVP, Global Media Rights at Aggregate Sports.
The Out of Home Advertising Association of America has appointed Patrick Dolan as Chief Operating Officer. Dolan is a former President and COO of the Interactive Advertising Bureau.
Mike Juhas has been promoted from SVP to Chief Customer Officer at Digital Remedy, and Tanya Couture has joined as Vice President of Product. Couture most recently served as Director of Product at Springserve. |
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This Day in History
1886 – The first trainload of oranges left LA.
Answer to Our Last Trivia Question
On “This Is Us” (2016-22), where did Randall’s biological parents meet? They rode the same bus. Kudos to: Gerry Bixenspan-TV Marketing Inc./NYC; Jim Denton-AMP/Bristol, VA; Lori James-Spectrum Reach/Fairview Heights, IL; LaKendra Kennedy-Sinclair/Baltimore; Justin Pierce-JP Consulting Group/LA; Kerri Huyck/Kennewick, WA; Lorrie Shilling/El Segundo, CA; Tom Moore-Kalt Productions/LA
Today’s Trivia Question
In which sitcom did George C. Scott play a US president? (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.) |
VICE PRESIDENT BUSINESS AFFAIRS >>
HEARST MEDIA PRODUCTION GROUP/CHARLOTTE, NC: Focus on FCC compliance, brand integrity for all current series and day-to-day business affairs for development and production. Strategize with management and outside counsel on business issues, and draft, review and execute various short-form business documents. Legal background and/or related media experience is required. 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
VICE PRESIDENT, POLITICAL SALES >>
NEXSTAR MEDIA GROUP, INC./WASHINGTON, DC: Lead the company’s political advertising revenue across its dynamic portfolio of broadcast stations. Responsible for developing sales strategies tailored to the fast-paced, high-stakes political advertising market. You will possess an understanding of the political advertising landscape, and the ability to forge strong relationships with campaigns. Full info HERE
COUNSEL, LEGAL & BUSINESS AFFAIRS >>
MLB NETWORK/SECAUCUS, NJ: Responsible for a variety of matters, including services agreements, production related agreements, talent agreements, software and other technology related agreements, licensing and programming agreements, third party rights clearances, distribution agreements, contract summaries, confidentiality, and general contract matters. Full info HERE |
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