 IN THE NEWS |
| Fox has set its summer premiere dates, starting with the season five premiere of “LEGO Masters” on Monday, May 19 at 8p. Wednesday, May 21 brings the season 15 debut of “MasterChef: Dynamic Duos” at 8p, followed by the series starter of “Gordon Ramsay’s Secret Service” at 9p. Season two of “The 1% Club” launches Tuesday, June 10 at 8p, paired with new reality competition “The Snake” at 9p.
Total viewership for season three of “Yellowjackets” was up 3% versus season two, with the finale drawing 3 million global viewers over seven days on Paramount+ with Showtime. That’s up +19% compared to last season’s finale and up + 54% compared to the season two finale on streaming alone.
“We are not winning in the marketplace in a way that is commensurate with the strength of the network and connectivity products.” So said Comcast President Mike Cavanaugh during his company’s 1Q25 earnings call, which revealed the loss of 183,000 residential broadband customers, to 29.2 million. Two primary causes for the loss were identified: price transparency and predictability, and the level of ease of doing business with Comcast. “The good news is that both are fixable and we are already underway with execution plans to address these challenges,” said Cavanagh. |
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| CABLEFAX ANNOUNCEMENT
The Cablefax 100
Presented by Cablefax, Cynopsis’ sister brand
This is The 100: The best of the best. The visionaries. The power players. The leaders defining what’s next.
The 2025 Cablefax 100 honors the most influential executives across media, cable, and broadband—those driving innovation, shaping strategy, and setting the industry standard. Cablefax’s biggest and most respected issue of the year is now live, now fully mobile-friendly and packed with insights, impact, and inspiration.
VIEW THE 100 |
| PRODUCTION & DEVELOPMENT |
| AMC Networks’ upcoming Silicon Valley-set comedic drama “The Audacity” has officially begun production in Vancouver. Added to the cast are Thailey Roberge (“Reginald the Vampire”) and Ava Marie Telek (“Happy Face”). Randall Park (“Fresh Off The Boat”) guest stars as the qualm-free CFO of a data mining operation.
The Revolt digital entertainment platform has been folded into new creator-powered media company Offscript Worldwide, along with 440 Artists, creative agency Six Zeros, and creative collective Rebel House. Offscript Worldwide is headed by CEO Detavio Samuels, who remains CEO of Revolt.
Nickelodeon ordered second and third seasons of animated series “Rock Paper Scissors.” Season two is slated to premiere this fall. |
| NEW & RETURNING SERIES |
| Season three of reboot “Criminal Minds: Evolution” (season 18 in the series franchise) premieres Thursday, May 8 on Paramount+, with episodes dropping weekly through July 10.
New TLC series “90 Day: Hunt for Love” launches Monday, May 26 at 8p. The dating show follows singles looking for love, as “jealousy bubbles up faster than the hot tub jets.”
Oxygen’s “Unknown Serial Killers of America” premieres Sunday, May 18 at 7p. Crimes explored over the six-episode season include a case involving multiple unidentified bodies found in a barrel that are linked to a predator of women and children.
HGTV’s “Down Home Fab” returns for season three on Tuesday, May 27 at 8p. Last time around, the renovation series attracted 7.3 million viewers. |
Saturday’s Premiere
HGTV: Vacation House Rules at 8p
Sunday’s Premieres
Bravo: Bravo’s Love Hotel at 9p
CNN: Eva Longoria: Searching for Spain at 9p; My Happy Place at 10p
Food Network: Last Chef Standing at 8p
ID: Evil Lives Here: The Killer Speaks at 10p
MSNBC: David Frost Vs at 9p |
| SCREENSHIFT
Introducing ScreenShift
Where Streaming Meets Strategy
Formerly known as the BIG TV Summit, ScreenShift Is the new destination for leaders navigating the convergence of streaming, linear, and digital video.
This isn’t just another conference, it’s a high-touch, brand-first experience built for decision-makers who want to turn disruption into opportunity.
– Covers the full media-meets-marketing-meets-tech spectrum
– Designed for brands and agencies, not just tech vendors
– Focused on AI, data, and the evolution of consumer behavior
– Built for action—think workshops, case studies, and strategic conversations
The future of consumer engagement starts here.
Learn More about ScreenShift |
| COMING UP |
| NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” will wind down its 50th season with Walton Goggins (“The White Lotus”) as host on May 10, and Scarlett Johansson on May 17. Musical guests will be Arcade Fire and Bad Bunny, respectively. |
 “The Thursday Murder Club” premieres Thursday, August 28 on Netflix. The film, starring Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan and Ben Kingsley, is adapted from the bestseller by Richard Osman.
It’s a date: Next year’s Golden Globes awards ceremony is set to air live Sunday, January 11 at 8p on CBS. Nominations will be announced December 8.
Concert film “Usher: Rendezvous in Paris” streams exclusively on BET+ starting Thursday, May 8. “I’m happy to be partnering with BET+ to bring the celebration of my 30-year career to you, the fans, to enjoy from the comfort of your homes,” said Usher.
Paramount+ and MTV Documentary Films announced the acquisition of “The Children of October 7,” a documentary featuring social media activist Montana Tucker slated to debut with a linear premiere on MTV on Thursday, April 24 commercial-free at 9pm.
Candace Cameron Bure, Paul Greene, and Natasha Bure star in “Timeless Tidings of Joy,” a 1945-set Great American Media Christmas film set for the holiday season. |
| TECH |
| Ad platform MGID is partnering with Integral Ad Science to enhance ad measurement and optimization and campaign performance measurement for its advertisers, a collaboration that replaces the discontinued Oracle Moat. IAS’s advanced technology will integrate MGID’s platform, offering advertisers real-time insights into the quality, viewability, and suitability of their ads. “With Oracle exiting the ad tech space, it was crucial for us to partner with a company that shares our commitment to transparency, quality, and performance,” said Sergii Denysenko, CEO of MGID. “IAS’s cutting-edge technology gives our advertisers continued confidence in the integrity of their campaigns while providing precise insights to optimize results and protect brand integrity.”
AdOmni and LiveRamp have launched a cross-media measurement solution that brings performance-level targeting and attribution to CTV, OLV, and DOOH. LiveRamp’s clean room tech and AdOmni’s Smart Video Everywhere platform combine to give advertisers real-time, deduplicated reporting across screens. “Marketers deserve better than guesswork,” said Jonathan Gudai, CEO of AdOmni. “This partnership delivers what they’ve long been asking for – real accountability for video and DOOH.”
LG Ad Solutions and AdGood announced a strategic partnership to make premium CTV advertising more accessible to nonprofits by leveraging unsold streaming inventory. The partnership is “a huge moment for the streaming industry,” said Kris Johns, CEO of AdGood. “By donating their premium inventory, LG Ad Solutions is setting the standard for how CTV can be a force for social good. This is about more than just advertising – it’s about empowering nonprofits, elevating awareness in local and national markets, and making a real difference.”
DoubleVerify has partnered with the Internet Watch Foundation, which combats the spread of Child Sexual Abuse Material. “The fight against illegal and harmful content online requires not just talk, but ongoing, collective action,” said Mark Zagorski, CEO of DoubleVerify. “By working together across advertisers, adtech platforms, publishers, law enforcement, and third-party experts, we can make a meaningful impact in keeping digital advertising safe, responsible, and free from the monetization of harmful content.”
Samsung Ads debuted a new interactive advertising format, Creative Canvas, offering brands an interactive suite of solutions empowering delivery of action-based creative experiences and measuring impact in real-time. The creative suite includes QR enabled ads and vertical video, with plans for SMS, Email, and Store Locator functionality in the future. “Interactive ads are an important way to create meaningful, immersive experiences that empower consumers to easily engage with brands just as deeply as they do with content,” said Michael Scott, Vice President & Head of Ad Sales and Operations at Samsung Ads.
Music video network Vevo has launched a new suite of data-driven products. With Vevo Evolve, marketers can plan, measure, and activate advertising campaigns on all Vevo inventory, including mobile, desktop, and CTV. “The continued growth of a converged digital video and TV media market shows no signs of stopping,” said Rob Christensen, EVP, Global Sales, Vevo. “In time for this 2025-2026 Upfront season, we’re making it easier for advertisers to manage their spend across our premium music video inventory at scale.”
BrightLine has introduced a new offering, DynamicAI, an AI learning engine designed to optimize the performance of engageable CTV ads in real time. Powered by real-time engagement data, the DynamicAI engine continuously re-sequences product combinations, keeping the best-performing items front and center throughout the campaign. “We already know interactive ads prove their value, as they deliver nearly 40% lift in brand recall. DynamicAI is our latest step in taking performance to the next level to better understand and engage with audiences,” said Rob Aksman, President and Co-Founder of BrightLine. “In an industry where AI is often more of a buzzword than a proven tool, we are focused on delivering real, meaningful outcomes.”
Adtech platform Nexxen announced the launch of nexAI, a suite of AI-powered agents and features integrated across its end-to-end platform that takes a transparent approach to planning and activation. “Our clients are continuing to lean into data and technology to navigate the fragmented media landscape, and nexAI meets this evolving need,” said Karim Rayes, Chief Product Officer at Nexxen. “By integrating AI across our unified platform – and leveraging our existing data to inform these capabilities – we’re not just adding features; we’re fundamentally transforming the way campaigns are run and inventory is monetized.”
StreetMetrics, provider of OOH advertising measurement solutions, and OOH data and technology platform Accretive have partnered to create a unified planning and analytics solution. “This partnership enables us to create a single source of truth across all facets of OOH media planning, performance, and attribution,” said Drew Jackson, CEO of StreetMetrics. “By combining our advanced platform capabilities with Accretive’s robust audience and outcome data, we’re not only improving campaign planning but also unlocking new revenue opportunities for media owners and increasing accountability for agencies and advertisers.”
Elf Labs is partnering with CompaxDigital in a $3.5 million deal to launch Elf Mobile, a nationwide wireless service powered by T-Mobile’s 5G network. Built around Elf Labs’ IP portfolio, which includes Cinderella, Snow White, and Pinocchio, the platform blends unlimited wireless access with immersive, family-friendly content across streaming, AR/VR, games, and more. |
| DISTRIBUTION |
| Allen Media Group announced the launch of all 223 US Markets within the Local Now FAST Channel on VIZIO WatchFree+. “The launch of Local Now on VIZIO’s WatchFree+ strengthens our commitment to delivering hyperlocal news and entertainment at no cost to viewers making it more accessible and convenient than ever before,” said Byron Allen, Founder/Chairman/CEO of Allen Media Group. |
| EXCUTIVE MOVES |
| Sharon Vuong has been named Head of Unscripted at NBC. Vuong has been interim head since January, following the exit of Corie Henson.
PMG has appointed Chad Stoller as Global Head of Media. Most recently, Stoller served as Global Innovation Officer at UM. |
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This Day in History
1999 – The Hubble Telescope was placed into operation.
Answer to Our Last Trivia Question
Which series was based on Stephen King novel The Colorado Kid? “Haven” (2010-15). Kudos to: Jesse Demastrie-GMMB/Washington, DC; Rick Dascher-Haberdaschery Creative/Atlanta; C.J. Bottitta-Big Picture Productions/Apex, NC; Holli Sarner-Playfly Sports/NYC; Wendy Holmes/Denver; Lorrie Shilling/El Segundo, CA; Justin Pierce-JP Consulting Group/LA; David Garber-Loyola Marymount University/Playa Vista, CA; Ken DuBow-DuBow Media Distribution/LA; Rosemary Cunningham-MeTV/Chicago
Today’s Trivia Question
What was the name of Peter’s double, stabbed by Catherine, on “The Great” (2020-23)? (Email your answer to trivia@cynopsis.com and be sure to include your name, company, city and time zone. Unofficial rules: a limit of four answers per time zone.) |
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
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE DIRECT RESPONSE >>
OPPORTUNITY MEDIA/NY(REMOTE/HYBRID): Seeking an energetic achiever with excellent written & organizational skills for role to assist in growing revenue for dynamic Direct Response Team: required: BA Degree, Min 2 yrs DR Experience. Wide Orbit Exp a +. 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
DIGITAL MEDIA PLANNER/BUYER >>
BEACON MEDIA GROUP/ LYNDHURST, NJ: Management of paid social media campaigns, strong written & verbal communication skills, knowledge of various targeting methodologies, and basic understanding of traditional media. Familiarity with media planning and buying software. Proficient in website analytics tools. Experience in pixel implementation and conversion tracking. Full info HERE
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 |
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