| A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE FROM TEQBLAZE |
 IN THE NEWS |
| The Walt Disney Co. is suing Sling TV for including Disney’s networks without permission in new short-term “passes” that offer access to its full channel bundle for as little as $4.99 a day. Disney claims Sling violated their license agreement by launching these mini-bundles without consultation, potentially disrupting traditional pay-TV contracts that typically require month-long commitments.
NPR announced that starting September 29, Scott Detrow will become a full-time weekday host of “All Things Considered,” while continuing as host of NPR’s daily news podcast Consider This. Detrow has served as weekend host of “All Things Considered” since May 2023, covering major stories such as the attempted assassination of President Trump—a report that earned an Edward R. Murrow Award.
Automotive national TV ad spends fell 24.7% year-over-year in July to $69.9 million, with impressions down 21.5%, per iSpot.tv. Year-to-date, spending is down 1.8% and impressions have dropped 15.8%. Top spenders included Kia, Subaru, Lexus, Volkswagen and Genesis. Sports accounted for a third of ad spend, led by MLB and “SportsCenter,” while lifestyle and news shows also drew investment. Hyundai, Kia, Jeep and Genesis had the most-seen ads, while Subaru and Lexus led in likeability with dog-themed spots. Lexus and GMC ranked highest for ads driving purchase intent.
AdRoll has announced a major brand transformation, unifying its offerings under a single name to streamline its market presence and solidify its leadership in advertising technology. As part of the shift, RollWorks will become AdRoll ABM, forming one connected platform powered by AI. The new structure delivers two clear solutions: AdRoll for multi-channel advertising and AdRoll ABM for B2B account-based marketing. Alongside the rebrand, AdRoll introduced its AI Assistant to help marketers create campaigns faster, improve performance, and simplify reporting.
Ahead of the release of Season 3’s eighth episode of “The Summer I Turned Pretty,” Prime Video issued a public reminder to fans to tone down online behavior. In a statement shared via the show’s official TikTok account, Amazon expressed disappointment over recent bullying and even death threats aimed at cast members, including Gavin Casalegno. The platform emphasized that while the story is fictional, the actors are real people. With just three episodes left in the series, tensions in the fanbase have escalated, prompting the streamer to once again urge respectful engagement as the finale approaches. |
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| CYNOPSIS SCREENSHIFT
ScreenShift, On Your Schedule
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| DISTRIBUTION |
| Sinclair’s AMP Media has announced a major expansion of its hit true crime digital vertical, “Criminally Obsessed,” with several new original series debuting across video and social platforms. The new slate includes “People Are Crazy,” hosted by Erik Hamlet; “The Mysterious Disappearance Of,” led by Autumn Calica; and “Dead Silence,” a chilling investigation into the suspicious 2013 death of Casey Pitzer. “These new series are just the beginning,” said Nick James, VP of Social Media at Sinclair, promising true crime fans even more access. |
 COZI TV has acquired the digital broadcast rights to the acclaimed sitcom “George Lopez.” The Emmy Award-winning series will debut on COZI TV with a special 16-hour Labor Day marathon on Monday, September 1, starting at 8a ET. Beginning Tuesday, September 2, the show will air regularly from 10p to 12a ET and 2p to 4p ET as part of COZI’s comedy lineup, which includes “The King of Queens,” “Frasier,” and “Married… With Children.”
Pluto TV is teaming up with CBS for its largest full-season preview campaign to date. Beginning in September, viewers can stream full recent seasons of six CBS originals for free including “Matlock”, “Watson,” “NCIS: Origins,” “Elsbeth” (Season 2), “Fire Country” (Season 3) and “Ghosts” (Season 4). It’s the first time Pluto TV will offer full seasons of multiple CBS shows at once, expanding on its usual “Latest Episodes” feature that provides the four most recent episodes post-broadcast. |
| PRODUCTION |
| The upcoming “Yellowstone” spinoff “Y: Marshals” has finalized its main cast, adding “Yellowstone” alums Gil Birmingham (“Thomas Rainwater”), Brecken Merrill (“Tate”) and Mo Brings Plenty (“Mo”) alongside lead Luke Grimes, who reprises his role as Kayce Dutton. New series regulars include Arielle Kebbel, Ash Santos and Tatanka Means, with Brett Cullen joining in a recurring role. The series follows Kayce as he joins an elite U.S. Marshals unit, merging his cowboy roots and Navy SEAL training to deliver justice in Montana. |
 Steve Pemberton will play villainous media mogul Rupert Murdoch in drama series “The Hack”, from ITV and Stan about the phone-hacking scandal that brought down Murdoch’s News of the World.
Prime Video and Warner Bros. Television are developing a limited series based on the Karen Read trial, with Elizabeth Banks set to star and executive produce. Inspired by the Karen podcast from Wondery and Law & Crime, the show explores the high-profile case that divided the nation after a Boston police officer was found dead in the snow. David E. Kelley will serve as an executive producer of the series.
Governor Gavin Newsom has announced 22 new TV projects approved through California’s newly expanded Film and Television Tax Credit Program. This marks the first round of credits since the program’s July expansion, which more than doubled available funding and led to a nearly 400% surge in applications. The selected projects are expected to generate $1.1 billion in spending across the state. The lineup includes 15 new series, five renewals, and two relocating productions, like Tom Segura’s “Bad Thoughts,” moving from Texas. New titles include a Hulu drama from “This Is Us” creator Dan Fogelman, a new HBO series from Larry David, and CBS Studios’ “NCIS: Origins” and “S.W.A.T. EXILES.” |
| NEW & RETURNING SERIES |
| “Password”, the Jimmy Fallon and Keke Palmer-hosted game show, has been renewed by NBC for a third season. “We’re taking it to another level this season,” said Fallon and Palmer, adding, “It’s the only show where you get to lock eyes with a total stranger and think, ‘OK, based on absolutely nothing, we’re going to bet that you understand that when one of us says ‘fluffy,’ we mean ‘pillow.’”
John Malkovich has been added as a series regular to the season 2 cast of “Bad Monkey” on Apple TV+. The show, which stars Vince Vaughn — also an executive producer — will welcome Malkovich as Spencer, the head of a South Florida criminal organization.
Netflix has set October 3 as the premiere date for “Monster: The Ed Gein Story,” the third chapter in Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan’s true crime anthology. Charlie Hunnam takes on the role of the notorious serial killer at the center of the series.
The second season of The Weather Channel’s hit documentary series, “TIMBER TITANS,” premieres Sunday, September 7, at 8p/7c. Filmed in the wilderness of British Columbia, this series follows logging crews as they face extreme weather, dangerous terrain and high-stakes challenges to responsibly harvest timber.
Season 10 of Bravo’s “Below Deck Mediterranean” premieres on Monday, September 29 at 8p ET/PT. Set in Barcelona, Spain, the series welcomes back Capt. Sandy Yawn and Chief Stew Aesha Scott and their crew.
Hearst Media Production Group is launching a new series, “Lucky Dog: Down Under”, premiering October 4 on CBS. Hosted by Emmy-winning animal trainer Brandon McMillan, the show follows Australian shelter dogs as they move from rescue to loving homes. Airing on weekend mornings as part of CBS WKND, it joins the Lucky Dog franchise, which has rescued over 200 dogs since 2013 and earned multiple awards.
The second season of “Great Kills,” the dark comedy/mockumentary-style series starring Eric Roberts, Bai Ling and Cathy Moriarty, will be released on Tuesday, September 2. All episodes will be available on Tubi on Monday, September 1, and Roku and FAWSOME on September 2.
This season of New York’s News 12 “Revealed” takes viewers on a journey through the Tri-state’s iconic landmarks and hidden treasures, uncovering the history, legends and cultural impact of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. Each episode shares the stories that have shaped the region. The new season premieres Wednesday, September 3 at 9:30p ET, with encore airings Fridays at 8:30p ET. |
Today’s Premieres
A&E Family Lockup, 10p
AMC+: Kidnapped: The Chloe Ayling Story
Hulu: Imported
Netflix: Barbie Mysteries; My Life With the Walter Boys |
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| TECH |
| YouTube is expanding its “Hype” feature to 39 countries, including the U.S., U.K., Japan, and India, to spotlight emerging creators with under 500,000 subscribers. Users can hype up to three videos per week using a button next to “Like,” helping videos earn points and appear on a leaderboard in the Explore tab. Creators with fewer subs get bonus points, and features include hype badges, a new Home feed filter and monthly fan rewards. YouTube is also testing paid hypes in Brazil and Turkey, hinting at a possible new revenue stream.
Gracenote, Nielsen’s content data division, has expanded its Data Hub to include insights on nearly 1,850 active FAST channels, reflecting a 14% rise since Q1 and 76% since 2023. The Q3 2025 update offers visibility into 645,000+ SVOD and 197,000 FAST programs, enabling deeper comparisons across streaming models. FAST channels now feature mostly recent content, with 80% produced in the last 15 years. SVOD platforms saw 9.8% content growth last quarter, led by Amazon and Paramount+, with sports driving gains. Backed by data from 80+ countries, the Hub helps guide smarter content, licensing, and media strategy decisions. |
 Samsung Ads’ latest State of CTV Report reveals that Connected TV now accounts for 74% of viewing on Samsung Smart TVs, with 69% of that spent on ad-supported content. Smart TVs are increasingly used for more than entertainment — 83% of users, especially Gen Z and Millennials, engage in activities like fitness, shopping, and social video. While this offers rich behavioral data for advertisers, churn remains high, with 90% of users leaving streaming services within a year. Samsung Ads urges marketers to view CTV as a full-funnel performance channel, backed by insights from 77 million active U.S. devices. On the screen side, Samsung also announced a new integration of Microsoft Copilot with its 2025 lineup of AI-powered TVs and Smart Monitors.
Cleeng has launched Cleeng Pro, the first direct-to-consumer subscription management platform that can be set up in under 60 minutes and is free for up to 10,000 subscribers. Designed for creators, agencies, and businesses with little technical expertise, Cleeng Pro offers enterprise-grade subscription management, analytics and payment orchestration without hidden fees. The platform aims to simplify the launch and scaling of digital subscriptions, for rapid testing and growth in today’s digital economy.
Herring Networks, Inc. announced that its two flagship channels, One America News and A Wealth of Entertainment, will join YouTube TV’s base package in Q4 2025, expanding content options for subscribers nationwide. Viewers will gain access to OAN’s 16 hours of live, breaking news coverage each weekday and AWE’s lineup of travel, lifestyle and family entertainment programming. |
| SPORTS REPORT |
| TNT Sports kicks off its inaugural season of Big 12 football with Arizona hosting Hawaii on Saturday, August 30, at 10:30p. ET, airing across TNT, truTV, and HBO Max. Pregame coverage begins at 10p with analysts Champ Bailey, Takeo Spikes and Victor Cruz, alongside host Adam Lefkoe. Leading into the game, “XII Uncovered,” premieres at 9:30 p.m., offering an all-access look at Arizona football. The weekly preview show “Inside the 12” debuts Thursday, August 28, at 7p on truTV and HBO Max. Additional coverage and original content will be featured across Bleacher Report’s platforms. TNT Sports will also broadcast two First Round College Football Playoff games later this year.
ESPN and The Walt Disney Company have unveiled their 2025-26 NHL regular season schedule, featuring 100 exclusive games across ABC, ESPN, ESPN+, and Hulu — all accessible via the ESPN App. The season kicks off Tuesday, October 7, with an NHL Opening Night tripleheader. “The Point,” ESPN’s NHL studio show, also returns that day at 4p ET. Fan-favorite “Frozen Frenzy” is back on Tuesday, October 28 with all 32 teams in action. In addition to the exclusive games, over 1,050 out-of-market matchups will be available through NHL Power Play on the ESPN App, offering customizable commentary and full game replays throughout the season.
TNT Sports enters its fifth season of “NHL on TNT” with its most expansive schedule yet, featuring 72 regular season games and marquee matchups throughout the 2025-26 season. Coverage begins Wednesday, October 8 at 7:30p ET. The season will include live games on Tuesday and Wednesday nights, Sunday afternoon games in spring, the annual Thanksgiving Showdown on November 28 (Rangers vs. Bruins), and the 2026 Discover NHL Winter Classic on January 2. TNT will also air the Stanley Cup Playoffs through the Conference Finals, spotlighting the league’s biggest stars and rivalries all season long.
According to new data from CivicScience, 35% of sports fans plan to subscribe to a new streaming service this fall and winter specifically to watch sports — adding to an already crowded field of subscriptions. One-third of fans already hold three or more sports streaming services, with younger viewers especially likely to stack platforms. While new subscribers skew under 45, one in five are over that age. Paramount+ and HBO Max see notable overrepresentation among heavy sports streamers, and while over half of sports-specific subscribers cancel after a season, 70% of those likely to subscribe this fall say they keep services year-round. |
| RATINGS |
| Boston Red Sox viewership on NESN has surged to its highest levels since 2021, driven by strong fan engagement during the team’s playoff push. The network saw a 46% increase in household ratings this season, with NESN 360 viewership soaring — unique viewers are up 177% and subscriptions up 111% compared to August 2024. August alone delivered six of the top 10 most-watched games in NESN 360 history, with a 6% rise in average HH ratings from July and a 24% year-over-year streaming increase. Viewership among adults 25-54 was especially strong, up 23% from July and 123% year-over-year. |
| EXECUTIVE MOVES |
| Brad Singer will assume the role of Chief Financial Officer of Warner Bros., upon completion of the company’s planned separation, which is expected to occur by mid-2026. He will report to David Zaslav, President and Chief Executive Officer of WBD and future President and Chief Executive Officer of Warner Bros. Singer will begin in this new position in October 2025 in a strategic role until the official formation of Warner Bros.
Versus has appointed Desirée Abeyta as Head of Production. She joins from Vox Creative and will work alongside Executive Producer Kathryn Henderson, who has led production since 2022, to expand Versus’ capabilities and support its growing roster of talent and original projects. |
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This Day in History
1963 — Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C., which was carried live by television stations across the country.
Answer to Our Last Trivia Question
What was the first brand to utilize a jingle on TV (back in the 1940s)? “While Wheaties was credited with the first radio jingle in 1926, PEPSI did the first TV jingle in 1939! Bulova is credited with the first full TV commercial, but a spoken slogan, in 1941.
Today’s Trivia Question
Which sitcom featured the fictional town of Hooterville? (Email smsloane17@gmail.com with your answer and be sure to include your name, company, city and 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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