 IN THE NEWS |
| New research from Hub’s “TV Advertising: Fact vs. Fiction” survey shows viewers seeing strong value in streaming TV, as the most cost-effective entertainment choice among consumers. But there’s a flag on the play, The rise in consumers who are “very concerned” about the economy and determined to be vigilant about their spending rose significantly from November 2024 to the recent results in May 2025. More US consumers are “keeping an eye on streaming video price increases,” with nearly nine in 10 agreeing that these increases are coming more often than in the past. “Ad Intolerants” are now more willing to trade dollars for ads, and YouTube (free) leads the perceived “best overall value,” followed by OTA, YouTube Premium and FAST. Hub reports that as a result, many consumers are considering canceling subscriptions or switching to lower cost ad-supported offerings but still consider such services a good value, especially in comparison to other entertainment alternatives – other than vacations – and will spend less on theme parks and restaurants instead.
Perfect potential combo? Streaming from the beach house. Net net? “Streaming video is more resistant to consumers’ cost-cutting than other entertainment, but providers should be cautious about price increases.” |
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Cynopsis Top Women in Media
Call for Judges
Help us crown the changemakers. We’re looking for experienced industry leaders to join our 2025 judging panel for the Top Women in Media Awards. If you know talent when you see it, let’s talk.
APPLY NOW |
| PRODUCTION & DEVELOPMENT |
 Production on the HBO Original “Harry Potter” TV series, by showrunner Francesca Gardiner, has started at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden, UK with a debut planned on HBO/HBO Max for 2027. Pictured here, a first look at Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter, who was selected from 30,000 actors.
Paging Dr. Phil! Dr. Phil McGraw, author, and host of 21 seasons of “Dr. Phil,” announced the creation of ENVOY Media Co. content production and distribution company focused on news, entertainment programming, and immersive viewer experiences via traditional and emerging technologies. An interactive app will encourage citizen journalism shared from users’ communities, an on-air linear channel, scheduled to launch nationally later this month, will include such IP as original content developed by comedian/talk show host Steve Harvey along with his previous series “Steve.”
Cross platform creator, “Bachelorette,” and podcaster, Gabby Windey, has been named as host of new reality dating series “Love Overboard,” set to debut in 2026 on Hulu in the US and Disney+ internationally. Producing is Alex Cooper of “Call Her Daddy” podcast fame.
A six-episode series starring Robin Wright and Olivia Cooke, based on Michelle Frances’ novel, “The Girlfriend,” will be available to stream on Prime Video beginning Wednesday, September 10. |
| NEW & RETURNING SHOWS |
| Just when you thought it was safe to go back in water, there’s more “Shark Tank”: the multi-Emmy® Award-winning business-themed unscripted series returns to ABC and Hulu Wednesdays this fall with more (Mr.) Wonderful tycoons and Guest Sharks throughout the season that will include bold faced businesspeople ranging from Magnolia’s Chip and Joanna Gaines to “GMA’s” Michael Strahan.
Sean Hannity will host an all-new four-episode season of his historical drama series for FOX Nation, “Wanted: Dead or Alive,” starting Wednesday, July 16, with new episodes released weekly that tackle stories of the infamous John Dillinger, Bonnie and Clyde, Baby Face Nelson, and Ma Barker.
Not to be beaten, Fox also upped the ante on game shows, announcing that “99 to Beat” will offer a prize pot of $1 million. It premieres Wednesday, September 24 after the season 4 premiere of Rob Lowe-hosted gamer, “The Floor.”
In more funny business: Chuck Lorre is helping elevate the comedy of Leanne Morgan from stage to small screen, and adding to the “Netflix is a Joke” franchise, via the upcoming Netflix sitcom “Leanne” (from Warner Bros. TV), premiering Monday, July 21.
You need to know that ABC News is debuting its first daily news show on Monday, July 21 on Disney+, with each episode available on demand for 24 hours after the 6a daily premiere. “What you Need to Know” will be anchored by James Longman and Rachel Scott.
Peacock will strut new shows starting with the September premiere of “The Paper,” with the crew behind “The Office” now focused on a show about reviving a Midwest newspaper, followed by “Devil in Disguise” in time for Halloween, about John Wayne Gacy, and “All Her Fault” with Sarah Snook and Dakota Fanning premiering in November. |
| COMING UP |
| At “The 2025 ESPYS Presented by Capital One,” airing Wednesday, July 16, 8p on ABC, former WNBA player Diana Taurasi and former USWNT player Alex Morgan will be honored with the Icon Award. Commemorating the past year in sports, The ESPYS will be broadcast live from Los Angeles with a red carpet special streaming at 7p on ESPN+. Presenters will include Simone Biles, Lindsey Vonn, Flau’jae Johnson, Angela Bassett, Billie Jean King and more. The event, hosted by Shane Gillis, helps raise funds for the V Foundation for Cancer Research. |
| TECH |
| Westinghouse picked Xumo to help consumers pick content. A new line of TVs including Xumo, the streaming platform joint venture of Comcast and Charter Communications, are now available in the US on Amazon.com and Walmart.com, with plans to expand to additional retailers in the future. The Westinghouse Xumo TVs are available in 4K UHD (43” and 50”) and 2K HD (24” to 43”) models, designed to enhance content discoverability and simplify the streaming experience. Additional larger 4K models will become available later this year.
Moonvalley, an artificial intelligence research firm specializing in AI video models and tools trained exclusively on licensed content, has announced a new $84 million funding round, to expand ethical AI video tools and scale to meet studio demand for legally compliant AI video solutions. The investment was led by General Catalyst, with strategic participation from Creative Artists Agency (CAA), CoreWeave, and Comcast Ventures. |
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Cynopsis & Cablefax Cable & Broadband Standouts
Drumroll, please…
The next round of Cynopsis’ Standouts is almost here!
We’re getting ready to spotlight the rising stars in cable & broadband who made waves in Q2.
Nominations open TOMORROW July 16.
Start thinking about your standout.
LEARN MORE |
| SPORTS REPORT |
| The Allen Media Group’s free-streaming digital sports platform HBCU GO covering the nation’s 107 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) kicks off its 2025 football season schedule with 26 matchups across 13 weeks, featuring powerhouse games from the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA), Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC), and Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC). The season stars August 30 with a showdown between Hampton and Jackson State. And, in another nod to cross-pro, HBCU GO will also debut “1st and Goal”, a football sports podcast collab with four influential YouTubers in the HBCU sports space. |
| RATINGS |
| No Blues for BBC Studios: Kids’ favorite “Bluey” retained its top of the US streaming rankings so far in 2025. Nielsen reports the series had 25B+ minutes of viewing January to June, keeping pace with its last year’s total of 55.62 billion minutes, keeping Bluey in the tops of Nielsen’s streaming ratings for 143 straight weeks, dating back to October 2022. |
| EXECUTIVE MOVES |
| BBC Studios has named Dion Vlachos as SVP of Consumer Products, North America. Vlachos, who most recently served as EVP, Consumer Products & Experiences for Paramount Global, will oversee new business and brand growth for properties like “Doctor Who” and the top streaming title for kids (see above), “Bluey,” reports to Suzy Raia.
Mediaocean announced executive promotions of Drew Kane, now Chief Product Officer and Stephanie Dorman has been named Chief Operating Officer for their omnichannel advertising platform, Prisma. Both report to Ramsey McGrory, recently appointed as President of Prisma.
Mary Duffy adds to her role and title for CNBC, now Vice President & Senior Executive Producer of Strategic Initiatives and Talent Development.
Scott Blair joins out-of-home (OOH) agency Billups as Head of Client Development, North America. |
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This Day in History
In 1799 French Captain Pierre Bouchard found the Rosetta Stone in Egypt, which later enabled scholars to decipher ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs, which AI could have interpreted in 10 minutes flat. Just sayin’.
Answer to Our Last Trivia Question
Which channel launched as Discovery Travel & Living Network? Destination America.
Today’s Trivia Question
Which television series won the first Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series? (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.) |
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 >>
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
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
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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