A Better Way to Advertise on CTV
Philo Ads makes premium CTV advertising accessible, scalable, and flexible!

Find your audience on Philo!
Featuring premium entertainment and lifestyle content from:
AMC, A&E, MTV, BET, Discovery, HGTV, TLC, Lifetime, Hallmark, Paramount, and more!

100% owned and operated.
Experience frictionless transactions, supply transparency,
no minimum spending, and hands-on service at any budget.
Learn more at ads.philo.tv

NBCUniversal will handle domestic ad sales for VERSANT, Comcast’s planned spin-off, for two Upfront cycles under NBCU’s One Platform banner. NBCU’s Chairman of Global Advertising and Partnerships, Mark Marshall will continue to manage the sales strategy and revenue for NBCUniversal and VERSANT’s key premium properties, working with Tom Winiarski, who is transitioning to VERSANT in the newly created role of EVP, Ad Sales Strategy and Monetization. Winiarski has served as NBCUniversal’s President of Platform Monetization for the last five years. “NBCUniversal first introduced One Platform to make it easy for our clients to access the premium content across our ecosystem in one place,” said Marshall. “By entering into this partnership with VERSANT, we’re maintaining that simplicity for our partners.”

Seventy percent of US adults turn to streaming as their first choice for TV and video content, while cable accounts for 16.6% of default viewing, and broadcast 4.9%. That’s according to Adtaxi’s 2025 Streaming TV Survey, which also found:
· 64.8% of US adults watch video content on smartphones or mobile devices, making it the most popular screen for streaming. Consumers now use an average of three different screens to watch content.
· The average household subscribes to 3.3 paid streaming services while also using 2.7 free, ad-supported services.
· While some viewers still hold onto traditional TV for live events like sports and news, just 7.1% of Americans report no digital consumption at all.

“The findings of our 2025 Streaming TV Survey provide essential insights for marketers as they plan their advertising strategies for the year ahead,” said Chris Loretto, EVP of Adtaxi. “With streaming the default viewing choice for the majority of Americans, successful brands must embrace both paid and free platforms to effectively reach their target audiences.”

The Golden Globes have added a new category: Best Podcast. “As the world of entertainment continues to evolve, we are excited to recognize new forms of storytelling,” said Golden Globes President Helen Hoehne. “Podcasts have emerged as a profound medium for sharing narratives and building communities across global borders and generations.”

“Rescue: HI-Surf” has been canceled by Fox after one season. The action drama’s final episode – complete with cliffhanger – aired March 31.

On October 14 in NYC, join senior-level leaders across marketing, media, and tech for a high-impact day of conversations, connections, and bold ideas shaping what’s next.

From future-focused keynotes and hands-on workshops to an AI-centric bonus webinar and an exclusive networking reception, ScreenShift is designed for the people building the future—not just watching it happen.

If you’re leading transformation in how content is created, sold, and consumed, this is your room.

Save your seat

On the unscripted front, CBS ordered “Harlen Coben’s Final Twist,” which will have Missing You author Coben “guide audiences through gripping tales of murder, high-profile crimes and life-altering surprises, each meticulously unraveled to reveal hidden truths, deceptions and lies.” Producers are Final Twist Productions, All Rise Films, Triage Entertainment and See It Now Studios.

Robert and Michelle King (“The Good Wife”) are developing “Cupertino,” a Silicon Valley-set legal drama for CBS. “The Kings are some of our most prolific and visionary creators, and not a day goes by that someone doesn’t quote a line from ‘Evil,’ ‘The Good Fight,’ ‘The Good Wife,’ or, of course, reference a recent episode from ‘Elsbeth,’” said CBS Entertainment President Amy Reisenbach. “When we read the script … it was a no-brainer that we wanted to move forward with the show as part of a year-round development strategy.”

“Dig,” a comedy from “Parks and Rec” alums Amy Poehler and Mike Schur, landed a series order from Peacock. Schur and Poehler will co-write the pilot episode and executive produce the series. Poehler is set to star.

Bravo is adding to its “Housewives” universe with “The Real Housewives of Rhode Island.” “With aspirational lives, thriving businesses and tangled family dynamics, these decade-long friendships prove that in a state this small, there’s no escaping your past… or each other,” said the network. Also on the Bravo slate are a reimagined “Ladies of London,” and spinoffs “The Valley: Persian Style” (w/t), and “Wife Swap: The Real Housewives Edition.”

Apple TV+ placed an order for “The Wanted Man,” from George Kay (“Hijack”) and his Observatory Pictures and New Pictures. Hugh Laurie (“House”) stars in the action thriller as the head of a notorious crime syndicate.

Allen Media Group has renewed “Funny You Should Ask” for seasons 9 and 10. The syndicated game show is carried in more than 90% of broadcast TV markets on independent and group-owned stations.

AIM-TV’s “Raw Travel” has been renewed for season 13 in over 179 cities representing 95% of the country. The season will utilize the show’s 200-episode library from the last ten seasons. The strategy? “Our library was designed to be evergreen. Even though the world and television have changed dramatically since we first launched in 2013, it’s clear that the episodes are still resonating,” said Robert G. Rose, executive producer and host of the series. “Now that we’re moving to broadcasting the second, more recent half of our library, we are moving the older library online, which creates a symbiotic ecosystem whereby our online fans become TV viewers and vice versa.”

Hallmark Media and the Black List announced the selection of Toyi Elizabeth for the Emerging Voices Partnership. Elizabeth has accepted a WGA-minimum open script deal with Hallmark Media to write and develop a TV movie.

CBS shared a fall slate that includes a Dick Wolf drama block on Mondays from 9p-11p with “FBI” and CIA,” preceded by new comedy “DMV” at 8:30p. An “NCIS” block takes up Tuesdays from 8p-11p. And for Fridays, the network has packaged three dramas from Jerry Bruckheimer Television: “Sheriff Country,” “Fire Country” and “Boston “Blue.” “Coming off another winning season enabled us to make bold scheduling moves and fortify our strong lineup with thematically compatible programs every night of the week for strong viewer flow and to serve as a powerful launch pad for the new shows,” said Amy Reisenbach, President of CBS Entertainment.

TLC spinoff “90 Day: Hunt for Love” kicks off Monday, May 26 at 8p, followed by the premiere of companion show “Hunt for Love: Between the Sheets” at 9p.

The back half of season two of HGTV’s “Holmes Family Rescue” kicks off Wednesday, June 4 at 9p. The renovation series spotlights Mike Holmes’ mission to “make it right” for homeowners who have fallen victim to careless or dishonest contractors.

Telemundo is thinking big. Leading up to the premiere “Velvet El Nuevo Imperi” on May 19, Telemundo Station Group will deliver a series of exclusive reports providing viewers with a behind-the-scenes look at the new adaptation of “Velvet.” “This is one of the most ambitious projects that Telemundo has taken on, and having all of our Telemundo stations be part of the launch with exclusive content was a natural fit,” said Jose Cancela, President of Telemundo Station Group.

TNT Sports’ 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs coverage will continue with up to 14 Second Round games beginning with a doubleheader on Friday, May 9. First up: Game 3 of the Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Florida Panthers series at 7p on TNT, truTV and Max. John Forslund will call the action with commentary from Eddie Olczyk and Shane Hnidy.

Dubai Sports Channels has been named the official broadcaster of the Eredivisie in the MENA region through to 2028. The agreement with Dubai Media Incorporated will see the Netherlands’ professional football league return to a free-to-air broadcaster in the region.

Scripps Sports unveiled its broadcast plans for the 2025 WNBA season, where ION will offer weekly coverage for the league with 50 regular season games as part of its State Farm® WNBA Friday Night Spotlight series. The new season tips off Friday, May 16, on ION.

Norwegian Cruise Line, the Official Cruise Line of the NHL, and the NHL will make a donation (based off a $100 per goal donation during the Stanley Cup Playoffs up to $75,000) to Honor and Remember, an organization that pays tribute to military lives lost.

Goodway Group named Paul Frampton-Calero as CEO. Frampton-Calero most recently headed up the company’s independent consulting division, Overline. Jay Friedman is moving into a strategic advisory role.

The 4A’s has tapped Justin Thomas-Copeland to serve as CEO. Thomas-Copeland most recently founded and led KINDRD Global.

The WNET Group has named Randall T. Decker as Senior Director, Technology. Decker is the co-founder of ZionMason.

The ARC Representatives announced its rebrand to ARC Partners, with Ivo Fischer boarding as Partner.

Australia-based production company RIISE Productions has promoted Amy McCulloch to Global Head of Development, Film and TV.

Today’s Trivia Question
On “Bringing Up Buddy” (1960-61), who was Buddy? (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.)