 IN THE NEWS |
| CTV ad spend is climbing, but confidence isn’t keeping pace. According to Gracenote’s Context Is King report, marketers are prioritizing brand-building objectives in their CTV campaigns but often rely on targeting tactics better suited for narrow audience segments. That misalignment is limiting reach and effectiveness and may explain why nearly a third (32%) of media professionals surveyed said they don’t consider CTV a very effective channel. The report also found familiarity with contextual advertising remains low. |
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| “CTV has not delivered the scale and premium reach that marketers expect of the largest screen in the house largely based on the use of narrow targeting tactics,” said Jake Richardson, VP of Partnerships at Gracenote. “By taking better advantage of contextual targeting capabilities with their CTV campaigns, they have new opportunities to drive both return on ads spend and the scale they’ve been looking for.”
YouTube TV is “stripping millions of Hispanic viewers of the Spanish-language news, sports, and entertainment they rely on every day,” said TelevisaUnivision in a statement after Univision was yanked from the platform over a carriage dispute. YouTube TV maintains TelevisaUnivision’s “current demands aren’t supported by their performance on YouTube TV over the last four years, and despite our best efforts, we’ve been unable to reach a deal.”
Hours before its own carriage deal was set to expire, NBCUniversal negotiated a short-term extension with YouTube TV while the companies work to hammer out a new agreement. So “Sunday Night Football” is safe – for now. |
 Apple TV+ will be the streaming home for all things Peanuts until 2030. An expanded partnership with WildBrain, Peanuts Worldwide and Lee Mendelson Film Productions includes the classic Peanuts library, as well as plans for more new original Peanuts series and specials.
Brands failing to authentically engage with Black consumers risk missing out on opportunities for growth in relevance, trust, and revenue, according to Urban One study, Influence to Impact: Black Culture’s Role in Brand Growth. Insights include:
· 51% of Gen Z and Millennial US consumers are more trusting of brands and products when Black consumers are accommodated for.
· 80%+ of Gen Z and Millennials state they personally benefit when Black culture is well-represented, and 1 in 2 say they trust brands more when Black consumers are recognized.
· 76% of US consumers see Black culture as an aspirational source of personal positive influence, leading them to be more trusting of brands, ability to discover new products, and experiment with new and exciting trends.
YouTube is cited 200x more than any other video platform by ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google’s AI products, according to data from BrightEdge. Among competitors, Vimeo registered 0.1% of the searches and TikTok had 0.1%. Video content from Dailymotion and Twitch was even lower at 0%, according to numbers collected from May 2024-September 2025. Queries most likely to trigger YouTube citations were tutorials (finance, software, medical “how-to” content) and pricing, deal hunting, product demos, and reviews; less so were career advice, strategy, abstract concepts, or pure informational queries.
The upcoming season of Showtime drama “The Chi” will be its last. “After much reflection, we have made the decision to end The Chi with season 8,” said series creator Lena Waithe. “I know, for the sake of our story and our characters, it’s the right thing. I am committed to delivering a final season that our Chi family deserves.”
“Wheel of Fortune” had its biggest winner ever on Tuesday, when Christina Derevjanik won a $1,035,155 cash prize. In between screaming and jumping up and down, Derevjanik told host Ryan Seacrest, “I can pay off my student loans.” |
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| CYNOPSIS SCREENSHIFT
Streaming. AI. Shoppable TV. Colliding Now.
It’s not one big shift—it’s a thousand happening at once. Streaming is the default. AI is reshaping creative. Retail media is rewriting TV. And audiences? They’re buyers, fans, and co-creators.
On Oct. 14 in NYC, ScreenShift brings the leaders shaping these changes to the stage—from AI strategy and shoppable streaming to media buying, podcasts, and beyond.
Don’t just watch the change—be in the room where the playbook gets written. Reserve your pass today.
Learn more and register |
| PRODUCTION |
 Paramount+ has ordered a third season of Taylor Sheridan’s “Lioness.” The espionage thriller stars Zoe Saldaña and Nicole Kidman, who also serves as executive producer.
Great American Media has renewed “When Hope Calls: Brookfield” for a third season. The next chapter in the “When Calls the Heart” spinoff is slated to premiere in 2026. “This series embodies the heart, hope, and values that resonate so strongly with audiences and define our brand,” said Bill Abbott, President & CEO, Great American Media. |
| NEW & RETURNING SERIES |
| A new season of ID’s “Mother May I Murder” debuts Tuesday, October 14 at 9p. Out of the gate is an episode following the case of a shooter who kills a young mom in her own home.
Next stop: Las Vegas for the new season o HGTV’s “Rock the Block,” slated to premiere in early 2026. Celebrities who share a passion for design will be paired with star designers in the home renovation competition.
Season seven of “The Kardashians” premieres Thursday, October 23 on Hulu.
Sir David Attenborough (“Planet Earth III”) will narrate “Kingdom,” a new history series chronicling the real-life sagas of four African animal families. The six-parter will kick off on BBC America and AMC+ in 2026.
New PBS Kids series “Super Why’s Comic Book Adventures” is slated to arrive in fall 2026, and “Phoebe & Jay” debuts Monday, February 2, 2026. Better late than never – PBS Kids noted the recent rescission in federal funding and elimination of the Department of Education’s Ready to Learn Grant, which made “Phoebe & Jay” possible, delayed its release and will continue to have ripple effects on the creation and distribution of high-quality PBS KIDS series.
FanDuel Sports Network Countdown Live” premieres Monday, October 27 at 5:30p. The one-hour live show, hosted by Stan Verrett, will air weeknights as part of the network’s expanded live programming lineup.
“An Optimist’s Guide to the Planet” returns Wednesday, October 22 for a new, six-episode season hosted by actor and climate advocate Nikolaj Coster-Waldau. |
Today’s Premieres
BBC America: The Graham Norton Show at 11p
BritBox: Karen Pirie
HBO Max: Charlotte’s Web
Netflix: Dudes; The Game: You Never Play Alone
Sundance: Wasp Woman: The Murder of a B-Movie Queen
Ho ho ho! Cynopsis is gearing up for our annual Holiday Programming Guide – dropping November 3 and delivered straight to all Cynopsis subscribers. If your network has holiday programming airing from November 3 through January 1, please send your listing to janetdilauro@gmail.com and Lynn@cynopsis.com no later than October 22 with the subject line: Holiday Guide. To be included, programs must be listed by date, title of program, and start times, in the following format: “Thursday, November 19: Network Name: My One Christmas Wish at 9a, Paper Angels at 11a, 12 Days of Giving at 1p”. Holiday-related programs only! A confirmation email will be sent following each submission (if you don’t receive a confirmation email, please resubmit). |
| TECH |
Nearly half of enterprises have yet to realize meaningful revenue growth from AI investments, with poor data quality and overtaxed infrastructures to blame, shares Ocient in its Beyond Big Data report. Additional insights gleaned from the survey of IT and data leaders managing hyperscale workloads include:
· Respondents say data quality (55%) and scalability of their existing solutions (48%) are the top barriers to unlocking AI’s full potential.
· 84% say AI initiatives have significantly increased the complexity of their data processing requirements.
· Talent remains a bottleneck, with 46% citing difficulty finding skilled staff for AI/ML workloads.
· More than 60% of leaders say data security and privacy is their biggest concern when implementing AI/ML. As a result, security and compliance are shaping shifts in data deployment strategies.
· 53% of leaders would shift their deployment strategy for enhanced security.
· 51% of leaders would shift their deployment strategy for better data sovereignty/compliance. |
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| “Today’s enterprise IT and data leaders face a critical challenge: ensuring data remains a source of opportunity rather than a vulnerability,” said John Morris, CEO of Ocient. “The latest Beyond Big Data report makes it clear that without efficient, secure, and flexible data foundations, enterprises limit their ability to turn data into AI-driven business results.”
Sell-side advertising company Magnite announced the evolution of ClearLine to unify curation and activation across the company’s omnichannel footprint. Coming soon in beta, the ClearLine update will enable buyers and curators to discover, package, and activate inventory in one platform with access to differentiated supply, unique first-party data, and content signals. Magnite also plans to integrate AI assistance and agentic workflows into ClearLine, powered in part by technology from its acquisition of streamr.ai. “The future of premium media buying lies in creating a frictionless path between advertisers and audiences,” said Mike Laband, Group SVP, US Revenue at Magnite. “This evolution of ClearLine simplifies this process by empowering advertisers with one tool to curate and activate campaigns across every screen, including streaming TV, where they can directly reach 109 million US ad-supported households.”
LiveRamp has introduced new AI capabilities to its platform, including new agentic AI solutions. LiveRamp can now connect the trillions of signals from its network to enhance AI with better data. “AI agents are only as smart as the data they can access,” said Matt Karasick, Head of Product at LiveRamp. “Our interoperability and enterprise-grade governance allow marketers to leverage any agent, anywhere, with the complete context and trusted data necessary to operate at the speed of AI.”
Nexxen announced the general availability of its Curated Marketplace solution. Launched in 2024, Curated Marketplace provides data owners, publishers, curators and agencies with the ability to monetize data assets over Nexxen’s premium supply. “By combining proprietary data with premium supply – and equipping partners with the tools they need to control, optimize and measure – we’re helping them drive meaningful value at scale,” said Tom Friedmann, VP/GM, Curated Marketplace, Nexxen. |
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CABLE & BROADBAND Q2 STANDOUTS
The Visionaries Moving Media Forward
From technology breakthroughs to leadership milestones, these honorees exemplify progress across cable and broadband. Join the celebration Oct. 14 at ScreenShift in NYC.
Discover the honorees + join us.
VIEW THE LIST |
| COMING UP |
| A two-part movie event, “Eric Jerome Dickey’s Friends and Lovers,” based on Dickey’s bestselling novel, is set for November 15 and 16 on Lifetime. The film is a centerpiece of the network’s contemporary romance collection, “Love of a Lifetime.”
One hour stand-up special “Kumail Nanjiani: Night Thoughts” makes its debut Friday, December 19 on Hulu.
American rock climber Alex Honnold will attempt to become the first person to free solo one of the tallest buildings in the world, Taiwan’s Taipei 101, in Netflix special “Skyscraper Live.” The stunt “will kick off 2026 as our latest global must-watch live event,” said Brandon Riegg, Vice President of Nonfiction Series & Sports at Netflix. “Watching Alex Honnold free climb Taipei 101 will be an adrenaline inducing spectacle that you can’t look away from. Everyone will be talking about it as it happens.”
AMC, AMC+ and Sphere Entertainment Co. shared new details around their co-branded Halloween advertising platform for AMC’s FearFest and Sphere’s “Sphere of Fear.” The campaign will include branded activations that will run on the venue’s Exosphere, with drone footage airing on AMC Networks’ linear, streaming, digital and social platforms. Now in its second year, “Sphere of Fear” launches tomorrow, October 3.
AMC and AMC+ also revealed the official FearFest trailer featuring artist, musician and horror enthusiast Janelle Monáe (“Glass Onion”), the official host of FearFest. Sponsors onboard for the long-running horror and genre programming event include BACARDÍ Rum and Kraft Heinz as presenting sponsors.
The gang’s back for “Everybody Love Raymond 30th Anniversary Reunion,” airing Monday, November 24 at 8p on CBS. The special will include a tribute to the late Doris Roberts and Peter Boyle, along with interviews and outtakes. |
 Need a refresher? “Everybody Loves Raymond” joins the Me TV lineup on Monday, October 13 at 9p with back-to-back episodes. The show will also air Sundays at 10p. |
| SPORTS REPORT |
| Manchester City is collaborating with Paramount+ to make the streamer’s branding and content visible across the Club’s official digital and social media channels in the US throughout the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League campaign. Paramount+ features more than 2,000 live matches per year across men’s and women’s global football.
The Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) and The CW Network announced the 2026 PBA Tour schedule. “PBA Championship Sundays on The CW” premieres on February 22, and continues for 10 consecutive Sunday afternoons, with live coverage beginning at 4p.
Yahoo! Fantasy is partnering with the NBA to launch Yahoo Fantasy High Score, a new, simpler, season-long fantasy basketball game created in collaboration with the league. The game features smaller team rosters, simple scoring, and easy roster management to make fantasy hoops more approachable for NBA fans. |
| DISTRIBUTION |
| All in the Family: FETV (Family Entertainment Television) and FMC (Family Movie Classics) have launched on Mediacom. “Our networks deliver a carefully curated mix of timeless fan-favorite shows and beloved classic movies that appeal to the whole family,” said Cara Conte, EVP Affiliate Sales of FETV and FMC. “This partnership allows us to expand our reach and share the stories audiences love with even more viewers.”
Hearst Media Production will provide programming for a three-hour educational and informational block on TeleXitos, a national Spanish-language multicast network, on Sundays, beginning October 5 at noon. The programs will be dubbed in Spanish. And here’s the lineup: “Lucky Dog,” “The Visioneers with Zay Harding,” “Naturally, Danny Seo” and “Journey with Dylan Dreyer.”
This month, a range of cable and satellite providers will offer complimentary access to Outdoor Channel and Sportsman Channel. Major participating operators include DISH, SLING, TDS, and Armstrong, among others. In total, the free preview will extend to nearly 7 million incremental households. |
| RATINGS |
| Fox News Channel delivered 1.6 million viewers in total day for the quarter, drawing 2.5 million viewers and 243,000 among A25-54 in primetime. FNC commanded 64% of the audience in total day and 65% in weekday primetime.
In September primetime, NewsNation reports it increased its viewership by 23% (to 118,000 total viewers) and 8 percent among adults 25-54 (14,000 viewers). “Cuomo” ranked as the top-rated show for NewsNation delivering nearly 200,000 viewers. |
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This Day in History
1895 – The first newspaper comic strip, the Yellow Kid, appeared in New York World.
Answer to Our Last Trivia Question
What was the original title of the series “Hill Street Blues”? “Hill Street Station.” Kudos to: Ken DuBow-DuBow Media Distribution/LA; Tom Moore-Kalt Productions/LA; Susan Nessanbaum-Goldberg-M and S Entertainment/LA; John Kukla-KDFW Fox 4/Dallas; Lisa Ciancarelli-Mime Analytics/NYC; Phyllis McQuillan-MSG Networks/NYC
Today’s Trivia Question
What was Kramer’s name in the “Seinfeld” (1989-98) pilot? (Email trivia@cynopsis.com with your answer and be sure to include your name, company, city and 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
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
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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