Cynopsis 03/02/26: “The Studio” Picks Up Producers Guild Award

Cynopsis
Monday March 2, 2026

   IN THE NEWS

Rob Bonta said he is speaking with fellow attorneys general about concerns surrounding Paramount Skydance’s proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery. As the AG of California, Bonta noted that the state has a vested interest in safeguarding competition, given its central role in the entertainment industry. In a Friday response to actor Mark Ruffalo – who urged state attorneys general to “circle up” to examine the merger’s potential impact – Bonta said the California Department of Justice has an open investigation into the deal, and intends a “vigorous” review.

Delays in closing the transaction would be costly for Paramount. The company faces a $0.25-per-share “ticking fee” for each quarter after September 30 that the deal remains unfinished, along with a $7 billion breakup fee if regulators ultimately block the agreement. Still, analysts at Raymond James wrote Friday that although a Paramount–WBD tie-up would not be a “cakewalk,” the regulatory hurdles appear “meaningfully easier” than they would have been for Netflix. Morningstar analysts echoed that view, saying the Paramount deal stands a “higher likelihood of prompt regulatory approval.”

Seventy percent of CTV advertisers expect to increase their CTV spending, with an average rise of 17%, according to a the 2026 CTV/OTT Advertiser Survey released by Advertiser Perceptions and Premion. Additional findings include:
· Spend increases are driven by the ability to reach highly engaged, opt-in audiences (44%) and combine TV’s branding power with digital precision (40%).
· Four in five advertisers say combining linear TV and CTV/Streaming TV has a greater impact on brand awareness, reach, ROI and ad recall.
· Among those increasing CTV/OTT ad spend in 2026, 25% of that funding is coming from overall ad budget growth, with the remainder reallocated from other channels — including linear TV, digital display, paid search and social media.
· Integrated or hybrid teams now control 55% of CTV/Streaming TV budgets, reflecting a structural shift in how video investments are managed.
· 97% of respondents agree advertising on premium video content improves ROI performance goals.

“CTV has proven its ability to drive real business outcomes at scale,” said Tim Fagan, SVP, Chief Revenue Officer, TEGNA. “Advertisers are doubling down because CTV consistently delivers what matters most: engaged audiences, measurable performance and full-funnel impact.”

Top television winners at the PGA Awards included the producers of HBO Max drama “The Pitt” and Apple TV comedy “The Studio.” Netflix’s “Adolescence” picked up the trophy for limited series, and CBS’ “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” nabbed the variety/talk show prize.

The big winner at the NAACP Image Awards was ABC’s “Abbott Elementary,” which won for outstanding comedy as well as actresses Quinta Brunson and Janelle James.

CONVERGENT TV WORLD 2026

4 Days Until Convergent TV World

In just four days, senior leaders from Amazon Ads, Netflix, YouTube, Disney, Roku, Citi, Bayer, Horizon, dentsu, and more take the stage in NYC.

Streaming economics. Sports monetization. Measurement credibility. AI-driven buying. Fewer spectators. More operators. More real conversations.

If convergent TV touches your budget or revenue, this is the room.

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   NEW & RETURNING SERIES

For sneak peeks, go to Cynopsis Trailer Park.

The fifth and final season of Starz drama “Power Book III: Raising Kanan” kicks off Friday, June 12. “Power Book III: Raising Kanan” is the second spinoff in the “Power” franchise

Today’s Premieres
Acorn TV: Murdoch Mysteries
Disney Jr.: BeddyByes at 6p
HGTV: Bachelor Mansion Takeover at 8p; Wild Vacation Rentals at 10p
Netflix: Gabby’s Dollhouse
Prime Video: Tribunal Justice; Siren’s Kiss

   PRODUCTION

Paul Wesley (“The Vampire Diaries”) is set to join the season three cast of Apple TV’s “The Buccaneers.” Wesley will play the role of Frank, a mysterious but charming stranger who turns Nan and Mrs. St. George’s world upside down.

CYNOPSIS SPORTS AWARDS

Sports Innovation Belongs on This Stage

Content. Platforms. Marketing. Technology. The Sports Awards celebrate the ideas and teams changing how fans experience the game.

Entries must be submitted by March 13th.
Don’t miss your shot — enter now.

VIEW CATEGORIES & ENTER NOW

   COMING UP

“Hamnet” starts its streaming run on Peacock on Friday, March 6. The Academy Award-nominated film opened in theaters on November 26.

“Full Speed: The Daytona 500,” moving from Netflix to Prime Video, kicks off Thursday, March 5 in its new home. The feature doc follows Tyler Reddick as he claims his first Daytona crown.

   SPORTS REPORT

DAZN reported strong international growth for the NFL Game Pass. Subscriptions rose +24% year-over-year, and subscriptions to the Ultimate Tier, which unlocks premium features, grew more than 300 percent. And Super Bowl LX drove significant global interest, with international fans streaming more than 125 million minutes across DAZN’s 200+ markets.

   RATINGS

The premiere of “Survivor 50” averaged 5.06 million viewers, giving CBS its most-watched Wednesday night since the “Survivor” finale in 2022.

Newsmax reports it drew more than 4 million viewers for its live coverage of the State of the Union address. The Newsmax channel accounted for 2.8 million of the audience, according to Nielsen, while an additional 1.3 million streaming viewers watched coverage on digital platform Newsmax2.

   EXECUTIVE MOVES

Sol Doten has been promoted to Executive Vice President, Marketing & Strategy, at Ovation TV.

Focus 360 has appointed Karen Henderson as Senior Vice President of Sales. Henderson was previously Director of New Business Development at Huntington Billboards.

This Day in History
1955 – Fifteen-year-old Claudette Colvin was arrested for refusing to give up her seat on a segregated bus in Montgomery, Alabama.

Answer to Our Last Trivia Question
The title of which 1950s sitcom was changed when it went into syndication? There were two: 1953-57’s “Private Secretary” was changed to “Susie,” and reruns of “The Phil Silvers Show” (1955-59) were later called “Sergeant Bilko” or “Bilko.” Kudos to: Gerry Bixenspan-TV Marketing Inc./NYC; Ron Simon-Paley Center for Media/NYC

Today’s Trivia Question
Which TV movies, one about child pornography, and the other a Hallmark Hall of Fame film about an attorney who moves to his childhood home in Maine, had the same name? (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.)

Cynopsis Team

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Editorial Director
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Stephanie Cronk
Brand Director, Convergent TV World, Top Women Network
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Dave Colford
SVP, Media
dcolford@accessintel.com

 

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Kelly Mahoney
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Kerry Smith
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PRINT TRAFFICKER AND TECHNICAL COORDINATOR >>
FILM FEST DC/WASHINGTON, DC: Coordinate direct communication between print sources and the festival to ensure the on-time inbound and outbound delivery of all film materials and work with venue staff to deliver and test each film and KDM. Request and collect KDMs for all encrypted DCPs and maintain a spreadsheet that contains all the aspects of the film. Full info HERE

MANAGER, MEMBER ENGAGEMENT AND ANALYTICS >>
TELEVISION ACADEMY/NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA:
Lead the execution of initiatives such as the Peer Circle program and Your Voice Matters, reviewing data to enhance program participation and ensure metrics are achieved; collaborate with the Senior Director of Engagement and Retention and stakeholders across marketing to manage delivery and optimization of the Member Benefits Perks newsletter. Full info HERE

BROADCAST ENGINEER >>
HIGH POINT UNIVERSITY/HIGH POINT, NC: Ensure high-quality production environments and provide technical leadership to faculty, staff, and students in live and recorded productions and play a role in supporting the school’s mission to provide industry-standard production experiences for students and will have opportunities to contribute to the development of emerging media technologies. More info HERE

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
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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
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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
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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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