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| Tuesday September 16, 2025 |
 IN THE NEWS |
| The Trump administration says it has secured a deal with China to keep TikTok operating in the US. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed that a framework agreement is in place, and President Trump posted that a deal was reached with a “’certain’ company that young people in our Country very much wanted to save.” TikTok parent ByteDance faced a September 17 deadline (its fourth) to sell at least part of its US business.
Streaming content drives 55.8% of total TV time for Hispanic viewers, versus 46% for the rest of the US, according to a new Nielsen report. Hispanic audiences also outpaced general US viewership of streaming services YouTube, Netflix and Disney. But despite the shift to streaming, broadcast and cable remain a cultural touchpoint for Hispanic audiences, driven more by storytelling, shared experiences and variety shows, noted the report. General drama makes up the largest share of Hispanics’ time with broadcast programming, and 18% of all Hispanics’ time spent with broadcast is spent with sports or sports adjacent content. “Brands that want to succeed in this environment must understand that Hispanic audiences are not waiting to be represented. They are building their own platforms, amplifying their culture, and demanding authenticity,” said Stacie de Armas, SVP, Inclusive Insights at Nielsen. “Marketers must engage Hispanics authentically to take advantage of one of the most powerful and influential audiences in America today.” |
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More viewers start their viewing sessions on an SVOD platform than anywhere else, according to Hub’s annual “Decode the Default” survey. Findings include:
– 32% of viewers say they start watching by turning on live TV – from pay TV operator, live streaming from a virtual MVPD, or live broadcast networks from an antenna. But 40% default to a paid SVOD service, and another 17% start watching on a free streaming service (usually YouTube.
– 56% of viewers under 35 default to a paid streaming service and another 22% start watching on a free streaming platform. Only 15% default to watching live TV.
– 19% of respondents say that Netflix is their starting point for TV – almost twice as many as default to YouTube (11%), and 4x the next highest paid streaming service (Hulu, at 5%). But the numbers also show the collective investment in competing streamers is eroding Netflix’s lead.
“This year’s findings underscore how crowded and competitive the TV ecosystem has become,” said Jon Giegengack, Founder and Principal at Hub and one of the study authors. “Netflix is the dominant streaming platform and now offers something for everyone: scripted and unscripted TV, original movies, live events and now sports. But this opens an opportunity for the legion of smaller, more specialized services that focus on super-serving specific audiences.”
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 Actor and cookbook author Stanley Tucci, host of TV’s “Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy” and “Tucci in Italy,” has been tapped to help cover the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Games. “Exploring Italy through its people and cuisine has been my passion. But this time, I’ll have a guest with me – the world,” said Tucci. “I’m thrilled to return to northern Italy as the Olympic Games welcome the world to its doorstep.” NBC Olympics executive producer Molly Solomon said bringing Tucci on board was a no-brainer. “When we began planning for Milan, Stanley immediately came to mind,” she noted. “America loves all things Italian, and with his hit shows and bestselling books, he’s become the go-to voice on Italian culture in the U.S.” |
| Jessica Kartalija has joined NewsNation as a national correspondent. Kartalija previously served as a reporter at WPVI-TV in Philadelphia. |
| CYNOPSIS SCREENSHIFT
The Future is FAST.
Ad-supported streaming has moved from background filler to premium platform. Hear from Eli Zang, VP, Head of Sales at Xumo, and top execs at ScreenShift, Oct. 14 in NYC. Don’t miss out—fall pricing ends 9/26.
REGISTER NOW |
| NEW & RETURNING SERIES |
| Beginning on September 22, Acorn TV’s An Autumn to Die For event will feature an array of programming including premieres of new series “Murder Before Evensong” (September 29), as well as second seasons of “The Light in the Hall” (October 23), “The Gone” and “Black Snow” (November 3), and “Scrublands” (November 10). |
Today’s Premieres
ABC: Dancing With the Stars at 8p
Bravo: The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City at 8p
Discovery: Built in the Bronx at 10p
Fox Nation: 50 Ways to Catch a Killer
HGTV: 100 Day Dream Home at 8p
Hulu: A Shop for Killers
Nat Geo: Top Gun: The Next Generation at 9p
Peacock: Love Island Games |
| CABLEFAX MOST POWERFUL WOMEN
Time’s Almost Up.
Nominations for Cablefax’s Most Powerful Women close TOMORROW. Act now to recognize the women changing the game—you won’t get another chance.
NOMINATE NOW |
| PRODUCTION |
| Banijay Asia is rolling out “genre-bending” format, “Race to Space Thailand.” Conceptualized by Banijay Asia and SERA (Space Exploration & Research Agency), and produced by Deepak Dhar’s CreAsia Studio, for TrueVisions NOW, the show aims to send the first Thai citizen into space. |
| COMING UP |
 Feeling blue? You’ll have company on Paramount+, where Paramount Animation’s “Smurfs” drops today. The film was released in theaters in July. |
 Just in time for Halloween: “The Munsters” will join FETV’s lineup starting Monday, September 29 at 2p. From October 6-10, the network will host a Watch & Win Trivia Contest, as well as an all-day “Munsters Mash” marathon on Friday, October 31. As with all series on FETV, “The Munsters” will air in its original, uncut format. |
| TECH |
| Comcast’s Xfinity Rewards members can claim their early access code to play the Call of Duty® Black Ops 7 Open Beta during an October 2-5 window. Or wait until November like everyone else. “This collaboration with Call of Duty underscores our dedication to delivering premium experiences to our customers,” said Mark Cruz, Senior Director of Brand Partnerships for Xfinity. “Since launching this partnership in 2018, we’ve given away more than 1.5 million early access codes, driving significant engagement and excitement with the Call of Duty community.”
Mutinex, provider of mix modeling solutions, announced the North American launch of its Open Source MMM Validation Framework. First deployed across Australia and the APAC region, the Apache 2.0-licensed toolkit, “responds to the marketers’ mandate for clarity, control, and accountability as the means to success by giving them a reliable compass to navigate their highest-stakes decisions,” said Mutinex founder and CEO Hen Innis. “With access to our framework, brands can now interrogate any MMM – vendor or in-house – with objectivity and full transparency.” |
| SPORTS REPORT |
| ESPN has re-signed NFL analysts Herm Edwards, Jeff Saturday, Andrew “Hawk” Hawkins and Jason McCourty to new multi-year agreements. Each of the four will continue to appear on ‘Get Up,” “First Take,” “NFL Live” and “SportsCenter.” |
| DISTRIBUTION |
| Warner Bros. International Television Production has secured international distribution rights to TF1 French format “The Final Circle.” The primetime quiz show puts contestants under pressure to prove “not just what they know, but the full power of their brain.”
WAPA Media announced a strategic partnership with WIPR, the broadcast television channel for the Puerto Rican Corporation for Public Broadcasting, to distribute cultural and entertainment content from Puerto Rico to Puerto Ricans living in the continental US through its FAST channel WAPA+. The first project will be morning show “Un Buen Día.” |
| RATINGS |
| The Emmy Awards ceremony on CBS and Paramount+ was seen by more than 7.42 million viewers, a four-year viewership high since it last aired on CBS in 2021, and up +8% from its 2024 airing.
Thursday’s NFL season-opener between the Commanders and Packers set an all-time high mark for the most-watched regular-season TNF on Prime game, with an average audience of 17.76 million viewers. The previous TNF high was 17.29 million, set last December. |
| EXECUTIVE MOVES |
| VideoAmp has appointed Jon Steinlauf, former US Advertising Sales Chief at Warner Bros. Discovery, to its Board of Directors. Steinlauf was instrumental in launching Stream X, a major initiative powered by VideoAmp.
Nicolas Holst-Roy has joined Just For Laughs Distribution as International Sales Manager. Holst-Roy was most recently part of the sales team at Montreal’s KO Distribution (KO Group).
Paul Zwillenberg has been named Global CEO of Kantar, effective January 2026. Zwillenberg joins from Accenture, where he was Vice Chair Reinvention, and Global Leader of Media and Entertainment Strategy.
Katrina Arnold has joined Disney Advertising as SVP of Communications. Arnold had been at Disney’s ESPN for over 23 years. |
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This Day in History
1869 – Golf’s first hole-in-one was recorded, by Tom Morris at Prestwick’s 8th hole in Scotland.
Answer to Our Last Trivia Question
On “The Office” (2005-13), what kind of car did Dwight drive? A Pontiac Trans Am. Kudos to: JT Ward-Tubi/Chicago; David Garber-Loyola Marymount University/Playa Vista, CA; Susan Nessanbaum-Goldberg-M and S Entertainment/LA; Tom Moore-Kalt Productions/LA; Peter Marullo-Rewatchable/Beverly, MA; Cristin-DeVries-Microsoft/NYC; Ray Mendelsohn-FanDuel Sports Network/Cincinnati; Eric Dunesky-Crossmedia/NYC; Gerry Bixenspan-TV Marketing Inc./NYC
Today’s Trivia Question
How many remakes of the original “The Fugitive” (1963-67) TV series aired? (Email eb@mossappeal.com with your answer and be sure to include your name, company, city and time zone. Limit of four answers per time zone.) |
NATIONAL SALES MANAGER>>
HEARST MEDIA PRODUCTION GROUP/CHARLOTTE, NC:
Oversee daily sales pipeline operations focused on national sponsorships, integrations, and branded content tied to unscripted programming. Manage and coach the Business Development team, drive outbound activity, shape proposals and pricing, and lead CRM strategy, reporting, and optimizations via Salesforce. Full info HERE
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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