 IN THE NEWS |
| Paramount Skydance confirmed in an SEC filing that it has brought in the sovereign wealth funds of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Abu Dhabi as investors to support its proposed $111 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery. The company described the equity syndication agreement as “an important milestone” in the transaction, noting that bringing in the new investors broadens its shareholder base, could open the door to strategic and commercial partnerships, and adds long-term value through the warrants included in the deal. The investors will hold non-voting shares, while the Ellison family and RedBird will remain the largest equity holders in Paramount Skydance.
Queen Latifah is set to host the “52nd American Music Awards” on Monday, May 25 – 30 years after her “AMAs” hosting debut. “I am so excited to return to the American Music Awards stage to host this year,” said Latifah. “It’s been an incredible year for music and there is no better place to celebrate than in Vegas.”
Nominations for the 47th Annual News & Documentary Emmy Awards were announced by The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS). The awards will be presented in two ceremonies: News categories on Wednesday, May 27, and documentary categories on Thursday, May 28.
Sony Pictures Entertainment has started layoffs. According to CEO Ravi Ahuja, the cuts are focused more on strategy that cost-cutting. “We need to operate with greater focus, speed, and alignment to strengthen our differentiated capabilities,” wrote Ahuja in a memo to staff. “To support our growth, we are aligning our organization with where the business is going – not where it has been. That requires changes to how we are structured and where we invest.” The number of cuts, which are expected to impact television, film and corporate divisions and take place over several months, is estimated to be a few hundred. Among early casualties are John Zaccario, who is transitioning out of his role as President of Game Show Network later this summer, and Colin Davis, EVP Comedy Development at Sony Pictures Television Studios. |
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| CYNOPSIS SPORTS AWARDS
Honoring Excellence in Sports Media & Fan Engagement
NBCUniversal has been named 2026 Sports Media Property of the Year, recognized for delivering powerful, multi-platform sports experiences at scale.
Join us on June 4 in New York City as we celebrate the innovators shaping what’s next in sports.
REGISTER NOW |
| NEW & RETURNING SERIES |
| “Jep & Jess: Beyond the Bayou” has started production, as Great American Media continues its expansion into premium unscripted programming. Starring two influential and faith-driven voices, Jep Robertson and Jessica Robertson, the new Original Lifestyle Series follows the couple as they build out not only neighborhoods, but a Comanche Moon Ranch community. “Great American Media’s has become one of the most beloved viewing destinations in just five short years – a credit to our unwavering commitment to quality and purpose-driven storytelling – building a trusted brand and one of the industry’s fastest-growing libraries,” said Kaitlyn Haubrich, Chief Brand Officer & Chief of Staff, Great American Media. “This strength and momentum allows us to invest in new genres of storytelling while staying true to the values that define us.”
Hulu’s “Not Suitable for Work” kicks off with three episodes on Tuesday, June 2. The comedy from Mindy Kaling (“Never Have I Ever”) follows five work-obsessed twenty-somethings.
The series premiere of AMC’s tech-driven drama “Audacity” will be simulcast exclusively on Samsung TV Network, on Sunday, April 12 at 9p.
Season three of “One Piece,” titled “One Piece: The Battle of Alabasta” – will arrive in 2027. Netflix says the chapter will focus on the Straw Hats as they face a brewing civil war and a powerful warlord to save Vivi’s kingdom.
Apple TV’s sci-fi series “Dark Matter” returns for season two on Friday, August 28, with new episodes dropping weekly through October 30.
Spinoff “In the City,” following former “Summer House” roomies as they transition from partying to adult life, makes its debut Tuesday, May 19 at 9p on Bravo. The premiere follows the season 10 finale of “Summer House.”
Another spinoff, “Chopped Castaways” premieres Tuesday, May 12 at 9p on Food Network. The “Chopped” extension strands 12 elite chefs on a remote island, where survival skills are as critical as culinary talent.
MED.TV has two series debuting in June: “Into the Med,” exploring Mediterranean culture, and culinary series “Mediterranean Kitchen.” Both are produced by Malta-based Med Media Services.
“Divorced Sistas” kicks off the second half of its freshman season with two episodes on Wednesday, April 15 on Paramount+. The Tyler Perry drama follows five friends as they deal with life and relationship drama.
The season 22 premiere of “Studio C,” featuring guest star Rainn Wilson (“The Office”), airs Thursday April 9 at 9:30p on BYUtv. |
Today’s Premieres
BET: Love & Hip Hop: Miami at 8p
Fox: The Floor at 8p
Hulu: The Testaments
Netflix: Trust Me: The False Prophet
Prime Video: The Boys |
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| RENEWALS |
| Fox drama “Memory of a Killer,” starring Patrick Dempsey and Michael Imperioli, has been renewed for a second season. The series premiere ranks as broadcast’s highest-rated drama telecast this season and FOX’s most-streamed series to date.
Paramount+ has ordered a second global season of “Canada Shore.” In its first go-round, the reality series drove more Canadian subscriptions than any other title. |
| PRODUCTION |
| Netflix has opened a new office in Buenos Aires, and announced a new slate of series and films. “Argentina has become a key player in our regional strategy thanks to its audiovisual heritage, creative prowess and ability to tell local stories whose significance and impact make them universal,” said Francisco Ramos, Netflix VP of Content for Latin America. Earlier this year, the streamer opened offices in Mexico City and Brazil.
Writer and comedian Michael Montemayor (“Tangled”) has sold an original feature pitch to Netflix with Berlanti/Schechter Films producing. “Court Date” is a romantic comedy about two young lawyers on opposite sides of a legal case who fall in love.
Go Button Media landed a commission from ZDF Studios for an eight-hour factual series, “Shadows & Dust: Lost History.” In addition to reuniting the partners behind “Into the Universe: The Secrets of the Cosmos Uncovered,” the series once again brings Canadian broadcaster Super Channel on board as the domestic partner. ZDF Studios will handle global distribution for the series outside Canada. |
| TECH |
| IAB Tech Lab announced that PMG has integrated Alli, its proprietary operating system, with Tech Lab’s AAMP Buyer Agent architecture and Agent Registry, industry standards that define how AI-driven software agents operate and interoperate. “Agents only create value when they can work together across platforms, partners, and workflows,” said Anthony Katsur, CEO of IAB Tech Lab. “The fastest path to agentic adoption is to build on existing open standards rather than reinventing the foundation. PMG is showing how that approach can bring agentic advertising into live media environments today.”
Amazon is being sued by content creators who allege that the company violated the Digital Millennium Copyright Act by circumventing digital locks on their YouTube videos to scrape them to train the generative artificial intelligence system Nova Reel. “Rather than seek permission or pay a fair price for the audiovisual content hosted on YouTube, defendant harvested content creators’ protected and copyrighted videos for commercial use and at scale without consent or compensation to the content creators,” wrote YouTube channel operator Ted Entertainment, golf video creator Matt Fisher, and Golfholics in a class-action complaint.
Creator, meet C-suite. OOH advertising platform Stic announced that comedy creator and TikTok personality Adam W. has joined the company as Chief Digital Officer (CDO). “Adam joins Stic as a cultural force, having built one of the world’s largest comedy audiences by understanding exactly what captures attention and why,” said Adam Cohen, CEO of Stic. “As advertising shifts toward authenticity and measurable impact, we wanted someone who lives at the center of culture and knows how to turn ideas into movements.” |
| SPORTS REPORT |
| ESPN is going places – ESPN on Disney+ is rolling out across Europe and in select Asia-Pacific territories. Programming will vary by region at launch.
Veteran play-by-play announcer Tim Brando is extending his deal with Fox Sports, reports Front Office Sports. The Hall of Famer will call college football and basketball games for Fox and FS1.
Nashville Predators and Scripps Sports have struck a landmark multi-year media rights agreement that brings free, over-the-air access to the Predators’ National Hockey League games to fans across Middle Tennessee and beyond, beginning with the 2026–27 NHL season. This new deal allows The EW Scripps Company to produce and distribute all local preseason, regular season, and first-round playoff Predators games that are not allocated exclusively to national broadcasts.
FloSports struck a five-year exclusive media rights partnership with Major Series Lacrosse (MSL) and the Ontario Lacrosse Association (OLA). The agreement represents FloSports’ first investment in box lacrosse. |
| COMING UP |
| The Alliance for Women in Media Foundation is partnering again with Hallmark Media to offer the Make Her Mark Student Scholarship. The recipient will be awarded at the 2026 Gracies Luncheon in NYC on June 16 and participate in a mentorship experience with Make Her Mark founder and Hallmark actor, Ashley Williams.
“Return to the Moon,” following the Artemis II mission from launch to splashdown, premieres Wednesday, April 15 at 9p on PBS (check local listings).
Documentary “We Are Jeni,” following the story of a woman who created more than 2500 identities to confront a lifetime of abuse from her father, premieres Thursday, May 7 at 9p on ID. |
| EXECUTIVE MOVES |
| Madhive has appointed Peter Jones as SVP of Strategic Sales. Most recently, Jones served as Vice President of Revenue at Premion.
Yogita Puri has joined Blink49 as EVP, Head of Business & Legal Affairs. Puri joins from Fifth Season, where she oversaw international TV production and distribution. |
This Day in History
1990 – “Twin Peaks” premiered.
Answer to Our Last Trivia Question
In the TV movie “A Walton Wedding” (1995), which two characters are getting married? John-boy and Janet Gilchrist. Kudos to: Rosemary Cunningham-MeTV/Chicago; Tom Moore-Kalt Productions/LA; Susan Nessanbaum-Goldberg-M and S Entertainment/LA; Justin Pierce-JP Consulting Group/LA; Phyllis McQuillan-MSG Networks/NYC
Today’s Trivia Question
In what year did season three of “Twin Peaks” premiere? (Email your answer to trivia@cynopsis.com and be sure to include your name, company, city and time zone – a limit of four answers per time zone.) |
EXECUTIVE >>
TBS INTERNATIONAL/LOS ANGELES, CA: Draft, review, and negotiate a broad range of entertainment and media agreements, with a primary focus on unscripted television, format licensing, and intellectual property distribution. Handle development, production, and co-production agreements, including situations where TBS is designated as the production entity providing production services. More info HERE
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
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
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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