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Today’s Finales
Freeform: Good Trouble at 9p
HGTV: Fixer to Fabulous at 8p

IN THE NEWS

Apple was hit with a $2 billion fine by the European Union for violating antitrust rules. “Apple’s conduct, which lasted for almost ten years, may have led many iOS users to pay significantly higher prices for music streaming subscriptions,” said the European Commission. Spotify, which filed a complaint in 2019 about Apple’s restrictions on payment options and 30% fees, reacted with a statement saying the decision “marks an important moment in the fight for a more open internet for consumers. The European Commission (EC) has made its conclusion clear: Apple’s behaviour limiting communications to consumers is unlawful.” Apple said it plans to appeal a decision it claims was reached despite the failure to uncover “any credible evidence of consumer harm.”

Comscore has expanded its measurement coverage of YouTube to include YouTube Shorts and In-Feed inventory. The increased reporting capability, leveraging Google’s Ads Data Hub for Measurement Partners, is aimed at giving advertisers a holistic view of impressions, reach, and unique audiences across all YouTube inventory.

The joint venture sports streaming service in the works from Disney, Fox Corp. and Warner Bros. Discovery is expected to hit five million subscribers in its first five years, said Fox CEO Lachlan Murdoch at the Morgan Stanley Technology, Media and Telcom Conference. “Some of the talk around this being in the teens or 20 million subscribers, we don’t think that’s the case,” said Murdoch. “We think around the five million subscriber mark, the decimal will settle after about five years.”

Another exec at the Morgan Stanley event responding to industry speculation was Altice USA CEO Dennis Mathew. Reacting to a report that Charter Communications is considering a takeover of Altice USA, Mathew said, “There’s three things I want to say. One, we’re a controlled company. Two, I don’t speculate on what other companies may or not be doing. Three, my focus is to drive maximum positive impact for our teammates, our customers and communities we serve by accelerating this transformation.”

Activist investor Trian Fund Management released a white paper with proposals to “restore the magic” to Disney that include new streaming and licensing strategies. “We love Disney and believe it is one of the most advantaged diversified media companies with brands, assets and loyalty that enable it to delight consumers and perform for shareholders,” said a statement from the company. “However, we believe Disney has lost its way in the past decade, making strategic and operational missteps that have resulted in deteriorating financial performance and poor absolute and relative stock returns, costing shareholders billions.” Trian has nominated co-founder Nelson Peltz and former Disney CFO Jay Rasulo to stand for election to the board at Disney’s annual meeting in April.

CBS ordered a second season of “Tracker.” The drama, which made its debut after the Super Bowl, has delivered 30 million multiplatform viewers.

Also coming back is “Crime Scene Kitchen,” renewed for a third season by FOX. The baking mystery competition will return during the 2024-25 with Joel McHale back as host and executive producer.

In one of our most competitive years yet, the 2024 Finalists for the Cynopsis Sports Media Awards have been chosen! Congratulations to all of these fantastic nominees. We can’t wait to announce the winners LIVE and in-person on April 11th at The Lighthouse, Pier 61 in NYC. Join us for this year’s festivities!

VIEW FULL LIST

Frequent game show contestant Patton Oswalt (“The Goldbergs”) has been bumped up to host for “The 1%,” a game show format headed to Prime Video. Fox has taken the second window for the show, produced by BBC Studios Productions in Los Angeles and Magnum Media.

The HISTORY® Channel is expanding its partnership with LeBron James and Maverick Carter’s The SpringHill Company. The first project, “Triumph: Jesse Owens and the Berlin Olympics” (w/t), a two-hour documentary narrated by Don Cheadle (“Carry On”), will showcase Jesse Owens’ triumph over Nazi Germany during the 1936 Berlin Olympics. Also in development is doc “Jim Thorpe” (w/t), about the legendary Olympian. A third documentary will be announced at a later date. The first two documentaries are produced by UNINTERRUPTED, the athlete empowerment brand within The SpringHill Company, and Cinemation Studios in association with GroupM Motion Entertainment on “Triumph: Jesse Owens and the Berlin Olympics” and INE Entertainment, Five All in the Fifth, and GroupM Motion Entertainment on “Jim Thorpe.”

A reboot of “Baywatch” landed a script plus penalty commitment from Fox. The updated lifeguard series is a co-production between Fox Entertainment and Fremantle; Lara Olsen will write and serve as showrunner. The original was canceled in 1990 after one season on NBC, but continued in syndication, becoming a global hit, until 2001.

Studio 100 Media is rebranding to Studio 100 International. “The transition to Studio 100 International marks a significant milestone in our journey and reflects our ambitions to consolidate the company’s position among the leading players in the media industry,” said CEO Martin Krieger.

Keltie Knight has been elevated to co-host of “E! News.” “After over a decade of covering the entertainment beat and interviewing actors, musicians and artists I admire, I’m deeply honored to take on this new role and host the show alongside my dear friend and best in the business talent, Justin Sylvester,” said Knight.

South Shore and Bone Soup landed a commission to produce a new series hosted by Tom Kerridge for ITV1, ITVX, STV and STV Player. “Tom Kerridge Cooks Britain” has the Michelin-starred chef embarking on a road trip in a remodeled 1950’s food truck. Made in partnership with Marks & Spencer, the show will feature producers who supply M&S.

Sinclair Inc. is partnering with Reading Is Fundamental to launch Sinclair Cares: Supporting Children’s Literacy. The nationwide campaign, seeing to create awareness around children’s literacy challenges and help get books into the hands of children across through a virtual book drive, will run throughout March, National Reading Month.

Austin Stowell (“Catch-22”) landed the lead in CBS prequel “NCIS: Origins,” playing a younger version of the character Mark Harmon plays on the mother ship. Harmon will narrate and exec produce the new series, slated for the 2024-25 season.

NEW & RETURNING SERIES

“Homicide: New York,” a five-part true-crime docuseries from Dick Wolf’s Wolf Entertainment and Dan Cutforth and Jane Lipsitz’s Alfred Street Industries, drops on Netflix on Wednesday, March 20. Wolf’s “Homicide: Los Angeles” will arrive later this year.

Jamie Foxx will make his return as host and executive producer of interactive music game show “Beat Shazam” alongside his daughter, Corinne Foxx, who will return as co-host and deejay. Season seven launches Tuesday, May 28 at 8p on Fox. Nick Cannon stepped in to guest host the show last year after Foxx suffered a medical emergency.

“Vanderpump Rules” star Lisa Vanderpump will join Gordon Ramsay on season two of FOX’s “Gordon Ramsay’s Food Stars,” premiering Wednesday, May 22 at 9p. The two reality stars will face off as they each select food and beverage industry entrepreneurs to join their teams and then put them through real-world challenges.

Additional series on FOX’s summer slate include “I Can See Your Voice” and “Don’t Forget The Lyrics,” returning Thursday, May 16; “The Quiz With Balls,” premiering Tuesday, May 28; “MasterChef,” back Wednesday, May 29; and “Name That Tune,” resuming Monday, June 3.

“Highway Patrol” joins FETV’s programming lineup on Monday, April 1 at 7a. To celebrate the launch of the show, FETV will conduct a Watch & Win Trivia Contest during telecasts of Highway Patrol the week of April 8. Episodes of the 1955-59 series were based on police cases from highway patrol divisions around the country.

The three-part “Peppa Pig Wedding Special” featuring Orlando Bloom and Katy Perry will air March 25-28 at 9a as part of Nickelodeon’s “Peppa Pig Wedding Week.” The new season ten episodes help mark the animated character’s 20th anniversary.

TECH

Electric Entertainment is currently filming the third season of Prime Video’s “Leverage: Redemption” with the new V-RAPTOR X camera from RED Digital Cinema. In 2008, the first season of “Leverage” was shot on the RED One Camera. All four seasons of the series continued with the RED One Camera and Season five was shot using the RED Epic. The V-RAPTOR X is the world’s first large format global shutter camera containing a new DSMC3 system with RED Global Vision, a global shutter sensor and suite of tools for unprecedented flexibility and dynamic range.

COMING UP

NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises has launched Decisión 2024, its election year multiplatform news and civic engagement initiative across Telemundo’s network, local stations, digital platforms and national and local partners. “By leveraging all areas of our company working closely with Noticias Telemundo, we plan to inform and motivate all eligible Latinos to participate in this important civic duty,” said Luis Fernandez, Chairman of NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises.

Performers at the 2024 iHeartRadio Music Awards will include Justin Timberlake, Green Day, TLC, Jelly Roll, Lainey Wilson, Tate McRae, and more during a ceremony airing Monday, April 1 at 10p on Fox.

Paramount+ in Canada documentary “500 Days in the Wild” will premiere Friday, March 15. The film follows Dianne Whelan as she tracks her adventure as the first person to travel the 24,000 km on the Trans Canada Trail.

“A Thousand Pines,” a documentary following a season of Oaxacan tree planters traveling the US, explores the hidden world of guest workers regrowing America’s forests. The co-presentation of Independent Lens and Latino Public Broadcasting’s VOCES premieres on PBS on Monday, April 1 at 10p.

SPORTS ROUNDUP

ESPN reporter Chris Mortensen died March 3. He was 72. “Mort was widely respected as an industry pioneer and universally beloved as a supportive, hard-working teammate,” said ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro in a statement. “He covered the NFL with extraordinary skill and passion, and was at the top of his field for decades. He will truly be missed by colleagues and fans.”

Gray Television has partnered with local broadcasters to expand the coverage of Cleveland Cavaliers basketball in the region. Gray, which will air a package of five Cavaliel games on two Ohio stations this season, has made deals with Nexstar Media Group, Cox Media Group and Tegna to put the games on additional stations in Ohio.

Major League Rugby inked a deal with Goldfinch to produce a multi-year series following the sport’s growth and development in the US. Season one of “Stars, Stripes and Scrums: The American Rugby Journey” (w/t) is underway and will focus on the Chicago Hounds team.

Recently retired tennis stars John Isner and CoCo Vandewegh are joining Tennis Channel’s on-air team at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, CA, March 6-19. The two players will offer match commentary during coverage of the tournament, as well as the Miami Open, taking place March 17-31.

GolfPass, NBC Sports Next’s digital membership and video streaming platform, is bringing back its Women’s History Month social campaign, “Celebrating Women in Golf” this month. Now in its fourth year, the campaign was created to showcase the range of women steering the sport.

GOING GLOBAL

Nippon TV will head to MIPTV with new scripted formats: “Trespassers,” a dramedy about three women who break into a luxury apartment, and drama mystery “Alice in Wonderful Kitchen,” following a cook that is on the spectrum.

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RATINGS

Five episodes into season two, Hallmark Channel’s “The Way Home” has consistently ranked among the top two most-watched entertainment cable programs of the day and week among Women 18+. To date, the series has reached 4.4 million Unduplicated Total Viewers.

EXECUTIVE MOVES

Jeff Lucas has been named Chief Revenue Officer at Tubi. Lucas replaces Mark Rotblat, who remains with Fox Corp. to focus on adRise. Most recently, Lucas was CRO at Firework.

OOH media agency Talon has elevated SVP, Client Strategy at Talon US, Enza Chiodi, to US Chief Client Officer. Laura Colona is joining the company as SVP, Marketing, North America. Most recently Colona served as the Commercial Marketing Officer at the OAAA.

ShowSeeker has hired Joni Claerbout as VP of Sales and Client Engagement. Most recently, Claerbout served as Director of Sales for Cox Media leading the Florida, Georgia and Alabama markets.

Answer to Our Last Trivia Question
Who played Warner’s (Giovanni Ribisi) father on “Dads” (2013-14)? Martin Mull. Kudos to: Gerry Bixenspan-TV Marketing Inc./NYC; Dan Whitford-WTTW/Chicago; Tom Moore-Kalt Productions/LA; David Westberg-SAG-AFTRA Credit Union/Burbank; Susan Nessanbaum-Goldberg-M and S Entertainment/LA

Today’s Trivia Question
No Googling Week: What was the second series to spin off from “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” (1970-77)? (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.)