 IN THE NEWS |
FAST channels are going to have to serve up more live content if they want to survive. So says Amagi in its 15th Global FAST Report. Takeaways include:
· 67% of US viewers prefer watching live events on free and paid streaming platforms.
· 47% of viewers say a free live event would encourage them to sign up for a trial of a paid streaming service.
· 70% watch live content daily or weekly.
“Live content is becoming a defining feature of FAST, not just in sports but across genres that benefit from real-time engagement,” said Srinivasan KA, Director & President – Global Business of Amagi. “What we’re seeing now is a shift in how audiences consume free streaming – they’re not just browsing channels but tuning in for moments that matter. As the FAST ecosystem matures, platforms and content providers can build more dynamic, event-driven programming strategies that are aimed at driving loyalty and monetization.” |
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| About 2500-3000 positions will be eliminated at Paramount starting in November, reports Deadline, with managers expected to submit lists of dismissals to HR between September and October. The company is looking to identify at least $2 billion in cost efficiencies.
Calling national security and privacy concerns related to TikTok “highly overrated,” President Trump said he will keep extending the deadline for a sale of the video-sharing platform, a move he has made three times so far. Congress passed a bill in April 2024 that was to have banned TikTok in January 2025 unless Chinese-owned ByteDance divested its stake. |
 The curtain has fallen on “Dexter: Original Sin.” Despite Showtime announcing a season two renewal in April, the prequel series won’t move forward. According to Variety, Paramount’s new senior leadership has opted to shift focus toward a possible second season of franchise counterpart “Dexter: Resurrection,” starring Michael C. Hall.
The National Association of Broadcasters has called for a repeal of the FCC’s TV ownership rule, which restricts companies from owning television stations that reach more than 39% of US households. The cap “prevents local stations from achieving the scale needed to compete with global tech and streaming giants like Google/YouTube, Amazon, Meta and Netflix – none of which face similar restrictions,” said the NAB. FCC head Brendan Carr has endorsed reforming the rule.
Under the current ownership cap rule, Nextstar’s $6.2 billion deal to acquire rival Tegna would not be allowed, which is fine by Newsmax. Appearing on “American Agenda” last week, Newsmax analyst Tom Basile noted that Nexstar owns NewsNation, which features liberal media personalities like Chris Cuomo. “That’s fine,” he said, “but if they control that much of the broadcast market, how will conservative outlets compete?”.
Newsmax also offered insight last week into its decision to settle the defamation lawsuit filed by Dominion Voting Systems for $67 million. The network maintained that its coverage of claims about the 2020 election was within professional journalistic standards but argued that a fair trial could not take place in Delaware. “If you’re a media company you can’t domicile in Delaware. The risk is too high,” said Newsmax CEO Christopher Ruddy. “The Judges there make up their own rules and play favorites. This is not just a left-right issue, but an issue about the plaintiff firms have cornered the market on the judges and the courts.” Ruddy’s advice? “If you’re in Delaware, move out as soon as possible.”
Draggan Mihailovich has been named Executive Editor CBS newsmagazine “60 Minutes.” Mihailovich has spent 27 years as a producer for “60 Minutes” and “60 Minutes II,” where he has earned seven Emmys and three Edward R. Murrow Awards. He succeeds Tanya Simon, who was promoted to Executive Producer last month, after the departure of Bill Owens. |
 Netflix’s “Happy Gilmore 2” set a Nielsen streaming record, with 2.89 billion minutes viewed the week of July 21 – and that’s with a premiere date of July 25. It’s Nielsen’s biggest single week viewing number ever for a film.
Roku remained at the top of the heap in the connected TV device market in 2Q25, with a 37% share of the US market, according to Pixalate data. Amazon Fire TV came in second (17%), followed by Samsung Smart TV (12%), Apple (12%), and LG (7%). |
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| NEW & RETURNING SERIES |
| Season eight of “Cold Justice” kicks off Saturday, September 13 at 8p on Oxygen. The true crime series, following investigators as they revisit unsolved cases, has led to 28 convictions.
MGM+ has renewed “The Institute,” based on the best-selling Stephen King novel, for a second eight-episode second season. The MGM+ Studios thriller horror series comes from executive producer King with director and executive producer Jack Bender (“Lost”) and executive producer and writer Benjamin Cavell (“Justified”).
RFD-TV’s FarmHER + RanchHER is back for season seven on Thursday, September 4 at 8:30p. The series spotlights women leading the charge in farming and ranching. |
Today’s Premieres
Acorn TV: The Sommerdahl Murders
Prime Video: Upload |
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| COMING UP |
| Tubi has acquired stand-up comedy special “Rel Talk,” from Lil Rel Howery (“Get Out”). The show will premiere on the platform on Friday, September 5. |
| SPORTS REPORT |
| TNT Sports’ announced an expansive programming lineup for its inaugural year of Big 12 coverage, including live games, studio shows, and magazine shows across TNT, truTV, HBO Max and Bleacher Report. Live game coverage for the network will kick off with the Arizona Wildcats hosting the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors on Saturday, August 30 at 10:30p on TNT, truTV and HBO Max. Pregame coverage begins at 10p. Play-by-play voice J.B. Long and analyst Mike Golic, Jr. will call the action along with Allie LaForce reporting from the sidelines.
FS1’s daily afternoon debate show “First Things First” is expanding to three hours, starting today. Danny Parkins joins the program for the third hour alongside Eric Mangini and Greg Jennings. |
| RATINGS |
| The week of August 4, Food Network’s “The Great Food Truck Race” posted a 0.52 P25-54 / 0.64 W25-54 Live+3 rating, up +21% and +56%, respectively, versus the week prior. |
| EXECUTIVE MOVES |
| A. Smith & Co. Productions has promoted Tim Dix to VP, Development. Dix has served as Director of Development and Programming since 2023.
Javier Morgado has been named VP of Content at Tegna. Morgado was previously an executive producer at CNN. |
| IN MEMORIAM |
| Actor Jerry Adler died August 23. He was 96. Adler, also a Broadway director and stage manager, didn’t turn to acting until the early ‘90s. He was best known for his role as Hesh Rabkin on “The Sopranos.” |
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This Day in History
1910 – Yellow Cab was founded.
Answer to Our Last Trivia Question
Who hosted the 2015 airing of “Mary Poppins” on “The Wonderful World of Disney”? Dick Van Dyke. Kudos to: Rick Dascher-Kenneshaw State University/Atlanta; Rachel Buchanan-NBCUniversal/NYC; Jennifer Kramer-Cigna/Whippany, NJ; Martha Voyer-LWD/NYC; Barb Throm-Throm Media/St. Louis, MO; Larry Hutchings/Nipoma, CA; Susan Nessanbaum-Goldberg-M and S Entertainment/LA: Tom Moore-Kalt Productions/LA; Justin Pierce-JP Consulting Group/LA
Today’s Trivia Question
In which sitcom did the lead actress leave after season four, but return for the show’s sixth and final season? (Email smsloane17@gmail.com with your answer and be sure to include your name, company, city and time zone. Limit of four answers per time zone.) |
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
RIGHTS AND CLEARANCE SPECIALIST (FREELANCE) >>
HEARST MEDIA PRODUCTION GROUP/GLENDALE, CA: Spearhead rights management for all contracts, including but not limited to network, distribution, acquisitions, production partner, sponsorship, and talent agreements, maintaining a system that streamlines the process of identifying terms, rights, avails, participations, holdbacks, and territories. Input rights information into our software. Full info HERE
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 5 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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