| A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE FROM PREMION |
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| Wednesday September 10, 2025 |
 IN THE NEWS |
| Warner Bros. Discovery has filed a breach of contract against Sling TV, alleging Sling TV’s short-term, no subscription packages, introduced late last month, violate their licensing agreement. The passes “fundamentally disrupt this industry-standard model by allowing customers to purchase access to the most sought-after programming, such as major sports events, essentially a la carte for a fraction of the cost that the consumer would have had to pay to watch the event on a pay-per-view basis,” argues WBD. Like a similar lawsuit filed by Disney, WBD seeks unspecified damages and an order to block further short-term package offerings.
TelevisaUnivision is alerting its viewers that YouTube TV plans to remove Univision from its basic $83/month offering and move it to a Spanish-language package at an added cost. The notice comes amid ongoing distribution negotiations. “We have been working with TelevisaUnivision to reach an agreement that allows us to continue carrying their content on YouTube TV,” said YouTube on X. |
 “Law & Order” just got its own FAST channel. ’Law & Order’ fans are using every type of media today and it makes sense for the series to be available wherever they want to watch it,” said creator and executive producer Dick Wolf. “Our hope is that a new generation of viewers will discover ‘Law & Order,’ and the fan base will continue to grow as we enter our 25th season.” Seasons 5-10 are available now; additional seasons will be added later this year.
US ad revenue – excluding political advertising – rose 10.3% in 2Q25, according to Madison and Wall estimates. While digital advertising was up 15.8%, total TV dipped 1.7%. “Six of the past seven quarters have featured annual underlying advertising growth of around 10%, which is a remarkable feat for a low-ish inflation economy, considering the economy only grew in a range of 4% to 6% in nominal terms during that period,” wrote Brian Wieser, Principal, Madison and Wall.
NBCUniversal staffers will soon be spending more time at their desks. Beginning January 6, employees will be required to work in the office four days a week. In a memo, COO Adam Miller emphasized that in-person collaboration “sparks innovation, promotes creativity, and builds stronger connections.” Those who do not wish to comply with the mandate may be eligible for “a voluntary exit assistance package” if they are VP level or below, added Miller. NBCU’s move follows Paramount’s five-day-a-week requirement announced last week. |
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| NEW & RETURNING SERIES |
| Season two of “Baylen Out Loud” premieres Tuesday, October 7 at 9p. The series follows a young woman living with Tourette Syndrome.
Telemundo reality show competition “La Isla: Desafío Extremo” returns Tuesday, October 7 at 7p. Contenders this go-round include six celebrities, six reality TV stars, and six contestants from diverse nationalities and backgrounds.
South African crime thriller “Donkerbos,” following an ostracized detective searching for a serial killer, premieres Tuesday, October 7 on MHz Choice. |
Today’s Premieres
BET: The Hospital at 11p
BritBox: The Hardacres
Food Network: Big Burger Battle at 10p
Hulu: Tempest
MUBI: Mussolini: Son of the Century
Netflix: aka Charlie Sheen; The Dead Girls; Love Is Blind: Brazil
PBS: Big Cats 247 at 8p; Secret Planet with Guinaz Kah at 10p
Prime Video: The Girlfriend |
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| PRODUCTION |
| Netflix has ordered detective series “Black Mirror” from creator Charlie Booker. The four-parter stars Paddy Considine, Georgina Campbell and Lena Headey. “I’m beyond thrilled to be saying these words for the press release,” Brooker told Netflix’s Tudum. “I’ve dreamt of providing a quote ever since I was a young foetus, and now here I am doing it. I’d pinch myself, but like all of us, I’m terrified that if I do that, I might wake up and discover 2025 has all been a magical dream. Please watch my show. I am begging you.”
Great American Media has greenlit four additional episodes for season one of “Crossroad Springs,” to make a 10-episode run. In addition, the series title song – written by stars Jonathan Soddard and Jillian Cardarelli, as well as songwriter Ryan Sorestad – is now available on Apple Music and Spotify. |
 Ryan Seacrest will continue his run as host of “American Idol,” signing on for the singing competition’s 24th season (and ninth on ABC). He joins returning judges Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie and Carrie Underwood.
CBS Atlanta is opening a state-of-the-art AR and VR local newsroom on Monday, September 15. Journalist Jobina Fortson-Evans has been named anchor of the Chicago newscast. “To be the first anchor in the region to deliver local news through a fully immersive AR/VR experience is both thrilling and humbling. This technology allows us to engage viewers in new ways – making the news more accessible, more visual and more impactful than ever before,” said Fortson-Evans.
“That Thrifting Show,” hosted and executive produced by “Good Morning America” contributor and vintage design expert Lara Spencer, has been ordered by Hulu and Netflix. The design competition will debut in 2026.
“Southern Charm” star Craig Conover has teamed with Media Trifecta to launch Plaid Horse Productions, focused on reality series. Jerry Casselano, Co-Founder & CEO of Conover’s Sewing Down South, will serve as president of the new venture.
Right-wing news network Real America’s Voice announced the opening of its new digs in Washington, DC. The 3,700-square-foot studio is equipped with cutting-edge broadcast technology, highlighted by a 30-foot LED video wall.
The scripted division of Harry King Television is developing a new animated television series as part of its upcoming “True Sherlock” franchise, based on Nicholas Sercombe’s original book series The Unexpurgated Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. “Animated Sherlock” (w/t) will be aimed at an adult audience.
NEP Group audiovisual companies Creative Technology Group and Sweetwater have launched CT Film & Entertainment, a new division operating under the Creative Technology brand. The move unites NEP Sweetwater’s creative leadership and industry expertise with Creative Technology’s international platform. “This is the world we have been wanting to compete in,” said Ron Drews, President of NEP Sweetwater. “With so many productions going international, this gives us the opportunity to provide the same level of service in Ireland, Dubai, China, Holland – and far beyond – as we do here in the United States.” |
| COMING UP |
| Among the presenters for Sunday’s Primetime Emmys ceremony on CBS will be “The Late Show” host Stephen Colbert, whose show was recently canceled by the network; “Gilmore Girls” stars Lauren Graham and Alexis Bledel, whose show debuted 25 years ago; Sidney Sweeney, star of “Euphoria” and that American Eagle ad; .and “Wednesday” stars Catherine Zeta-Jones and Jenna Ortega.
The Paley Center for Media will showcase an exhibit celebrating “The Office” and its new offshoot, “The Paper.” Created in partnership with Universal Television, the exhibit will be on view from Friday, September 19, through Sunday, November 16, at The Paley Museum in Midtown Manhattan. |
| DISTRIBUTION |
| MeTV is now available on Sling TV. Subscribers to Sling Blue, Sling Orange and the new Sling Select packages will have MeTV as part of their subscription at no additional cost.
The Verdon Fosse Legacy and RWS Global have formed a partnership to bring performances inspired by Bob Fosse and Gwen Verdon to a global audience. The relationship will leverage the catalog of work created by the Broadway legends combined with RWS Global’s international production expertise and global footprint. Holland America Line is kicking off the partnership with a live musical and multimedia tribute. |
| TECH |
| Magnite has acquired streamr.ai, a platform specializing in AI tools that make CTV advertising accessible to SMBs. Magnite will offer streamr.ai’s technology to its partners working with SMBs, including agencies, retail media networks, publishers operating buyer marketplaces, and DSPs. “The CTV advertising opportunity for small businesses is enormous, but it’s been bottlenecked by complexity and high costs,” said Michael Barrett, CEO of Magnite. “streamr.ai’s technology uses AI to accelerate this transition for SMBs, making tasks like CTV creative generation and campaign setup much easier.” streamr.ai co-founders, CEO Jonathan Moffie and CTO Frank Turano will join Magnite. |
| SPORTS REPORT |
 Paramount+ is enhancing its live viewing experience with the launch of a new Multiview feature. The feature, which will allow fans to watch multiple matches simultaneously without compromising performance or stream quality, debuts with UEFA matches starting on September 16.
ION will serve as the domestic linear broadcast partner for this year’s Athlos NYC, a women’s track and field event returning to NYC’s Icahn Stadium on October 10. Athlos NYC’s broadcast on ION will include a pre-show, “Icons on ION,” before the official event broadcast begins at 7p. ION is also committed to airing the Athlos League in a multi-year deal.
FloSports struck new agreements with Gallagher PREM Rugby, United Rugby Championship (URC), and Top 14 that bring more than 1,000 matches to the platform throughout the year and the debut of an a new original live show, “FloRugby’s Athlete’s Lounge.”
Technology and sports content company Minute Media has acquired VideoVerse’s Magnifi, an AI-driven SaaS technology platform that enables content owners and rights holders to automatically detect key moments, create highlights in real time, and distribute short-form video content efficiently. Minute Media plans to deploy a fully integrated creation, distribution, and monetization solution. |
| RATINGS |
| Season one of TLC spinoff “90 Day: Hunt for Love” drew 11.6 million viewers across linear and streaming platforms. The series currently ranks as the #2 freshman series on cable in 2025 to date among P/W25-54, following TLC’s “Baylen Out Loud.”
Baylor’s double overtime win over SMU on Saturday was The CW’s most-watched college football game in nearly two years, delivering over one million total viewers, with a peak audience of 2.045 million.
The “MTV Music Awards,” moved from cable to CBS this year, hit a six-year viewership high of 5.5 million Live+SD viewers, according to Nielsen, up 42% from last year. |
| EXECUTIVE MOVES |
| Justin Dini, Chief Communications Officer at Paramount, is leaving the company in the wake of its merger with Skydance. He joined then-Viacom in 2017. “Over the past eight years we’ve been through a lot together – rebrands and restructures, mergers and acquisitions, a pandemic, the occasional lawsuit, and more than a few pivots and peaks,” wrote Dini in a memo to staff. “The one constant that has defined my time at this company through it all has been the quality of the people I’ve had the opportunity to work with: the very best in the business, who bring equal measures of humanity, generosity, expertise, and commitment.”
Steven Miller, currently Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of Warby Parker, has been appointed Chief Financial Officer of Monumental Sports & Entertainment, effective October 2. |
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This Day in History
1984 – Alex Trebek debuted as host of “Jeopardy!”.
Answer to Our Last Trivia Question
Who was the first female cast member of “Saturday Night Live” to be upped from feature player to full cast member in her first season? Amy Poehler. Kudos to: Gerry Bixenspan-TV Marketing Inc./NYC; Tom Moore-Kalt Productions/LA.
Today’s Trivia Question
In what year were cigarette commercials banned on television? (Email trivia@cynopsis.com with your answer and be sure to include your name, company, city and time zone. Limit of four answers per time zone.) |
MANAGER, CONSUMER INSIGHTS & BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE>>
SESAME WORKSHOP/NEW YORK, NY:
Support the Research & Insights team in understanding the behaviors, motivations, and needs of children, educators, and caregivers—especially as they interact with TV shows, digital content and experiences. This role will help execute research initiatives that inform content strategy, digital product development, marketing, and audience engagement. Full info HERE
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER >>
NTD/WASHINGTON, DC:
Pitch story ideas and write scripts/segment outlines as well as research guests and interview topics. Book guests and coordinate interviews. Help with logistics and sometimes field production. Support shoots and ensure production runs smoothly. Review footage and work with editors to shape final episodes. Write headlines, teasers, and social posts. Full info HERE
INTEGRATED MEDIA PLANNER >>
VLADIMIR JONES/DENVER, CO:
Responsible for preparing and implementing client media plans of all types for existing and prospective clients. This includes audience identification, research, development, presentation and purchasing of media plans & buys as well as an expert at understanding emerging trends and best practices across the omni-channel media world. Full info HERE
MOTION DESIGNER (FREELANCE) >>
LONG STORY SHORT/WASHINGTON, DC: Collaborate closely with our creative team to develop high-quality motion graphics for a variety of projects. Deliverables could include lower thirds, kinetic text, full-screen visuals, logo animations, infographic animations, bumper/intro sequences, social media graphics, and event or presentation graphics. Full info HERE
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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