 IN THE NEWS |
| HBO has renewed “The Chair Company” and “I Love LA” for second seasons. “The Chair Company” is pacing as HBO’s top freshman comedy in platform history, with the season averaging 3.3 million Live+3cross-platform viewers, while “I Love LA” ranks as HBO’s second top freshman comedy ever, averaging nearly 2 million viewers. |
 On the drama side, HBO picked up a second season of “Task,” starring Mark Ruffao, from creator Brad Inelsby. “We knew well in advance of its launch that we had a powerful drama series on our hands, but it has been so rewarding to witness the audience’s fervor and embrace of this show as it grew week after week,” said Francesca Orsi, EVP, HBO Programming, Head of HBO Drama Series and Films. “Rarely does a writer balance humanistic storytelling with intricate, explosive plotting but Brad Ingelsby is one of our industry’s greats and we have no doubt he will strike as profoundly and addictively once again in season two.”
Another HBO drama, “House of the Dragon,” was renewed for season 4, slated for release in 2028. Season 3 of the prequel series premieres this summer. Another “GoT” prequel, “A Knight for the Seven Kingdoms,” has been renewed for a sophomore season premiering in 2027. That series premieres on Sunday January 18.
Ad spend in the creator economy has more than doubled since 2021, from $13.9 billion to $29.5 billion in 2024, according to the IAB’s 2025 Creator Economy Ad Spend & Strategy Report. The report notes creator economy ad spend is projected to reach $37 billion in 2025, a 26% increase year-over-year, and about 4x faster than the media industry overall. Forty-eight percent of ad spenders consider creators a “must buy,” ranking only behind social media and paid search. “Leveraging the creator economy to connect with audiences is no longer experimental for marketers – it’s essential,” said David Cohen, CEO, IAB. “The significant growth we’re seeing reflects a deepening commitment from brands to invest in creator-driven strategies. However, with that maturity comes a need for clear standards, better measurement, and tools to navigate an incredibly fragmented ecosystem.”
“Live with Kelly and Mark” co-hosts Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos have been tapped to host the International Emmy® Awards, taking place Monday, November 24 in NY.
French-language series “The Hunt,” scheduled to premiere on December 3, has mysteriously been taken off the Apple TV slate, and removed from its press site. A trailer for the show was released last week. |
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| CONVERGENT TV WORLD AWARDS 2026
The Awards Defining the Next Chapter of Media
Today’s media landscape moves at the speed of screens—linear, streaming, digital, gaming, DOOH, and emerging platforms all merging into one powerful ecosystem.
With categories spanning creative excellence, advanced data strategy, cross-screen performance, and next-gen monetization, these awards celebrate those building the future in real time. Submit your entry by December 5 before pricing increases.
START YOUR ENTRY |
| NEW & RETURNING SERIES |
| Season two of MrBeast competition series “Beast Games” debuts Wednesday, January 7 on Prime Video with three episodes. The series is Prime Video’s most-watched unscripted show ever.
Sports docuseries “5-Star,” following the real-time transformations of four freshman recruits as they begin Big Ten Conference football, kicks off Tuesday, December 2 on Paramount+.
A new season of “Rachael Ray’s Meals in Minutes” premieres Monday, December 1 at 9p on Fyi, followed at 10p by “Cake Toppers.”
“Genndy Tartakovsky’s Primal” returns for a third season Sunday, January 11 at 11:30p on Adult Swim. The animated series follows a caveman at the dawn of evolution.
Ike Barinholtz, Eva Longoria, Mario Lopez, William Shatner and John Stamos will star in a batch of five new episodes of HGTV’s “Celebrity IOU.” The series features celebs sharing personal stories of gratitude with HGTV stars and series executive producers Drew and Jonathan Scott. |
Today’s Premieres
Netflix: Dining With the Kapoors
Prime Video: The Family Man; Karaoke Club
Saturday’s Premiere
Nat Geo: Toronto Airport Uncovered at 9p
Sunday’s Premiere
Nat Geo: Chris Hemsworth: A Road Trip to Remember at 9p |
| PRODUCTION |
| On the way from Apple TV: “The Unlikely Cook with Awkwafina,” a new eight-episode unscripted food series starring and executive produced by comedian, writer and actor Nora Lum, aka Awkwafina (“Quiz Lady,” “The Farewell”). In the series, Nora embarks on a cross-country journey as she explores contemporary Asian American cuisine, starting with her family’s legacy. The series is produced for Apple TV by Twofour and is executive produced by Lum, David Brindley, Itay Reiss and Caroline Davies.
FOX’s upcoming reboot of “Baywatch” has been awarded an enhanced 40% tax credit by the California Film Commission (CFC) under its Film & Television Tax Credit Program 4.0, ensuring that the lifeguard action series will once again film along the California coast. “It’s been incredibly rewarding to work alongside our partners at the California Film Commission to create an economically sustainable path for keeping a production like ‘Baywatch’ – so spectacularly tied to this great city and state – right here in Los Angeles,” said Rob Wade, CEO of FOX Entertainment. “We’re especially grateful for the tremendous support from the many public officials, including Governor Gavin Newsom, who championed this effort.” Before the tax credit was awarded, alternative locations were being considered.
BritBox announced a third season of drama “Time,” set in a young offenders’ institution. The three-parter will be led by David Tennant (“Doctor Who”), with Siobhan Finneran reprising her role as a prison chaplain. The series is made by BBC Studios Fiction for BBC iPlayer and BBC One, in co-production with BritBox. Filming will take place in Belfast.
Also scoring a 40% tax cut rebate is Netflix thriller “Night Agent.” Expected to be renewed for season four with the cost cut, the show previously filmed in Vancouver and New York.
UK’s 5 has ordered seasons 7 and 8 of “All Creatures Great and Small,” plus Christmas specials. The series, based on James Herriot’s books, is 5’s most successful drama series to date, having reached over 14 million individuals across the first 5 seasons. |
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| CABLEFAX MOST POWERFUL WOMEN
Align With Media’s Most Powerful Voices
The Cablefax Most Powerful Women Reception, Dec. 4, spotlights the visionaries leading media’s evolution. Sponsorships place your brand alongside the industry’s most influential names.
LEARN MORE |
| TECH |
Digital Culture Group has launched Resonance Pathway, a new feature within its proprietary AI-platform Audience Resonance Index™ (ARI) that’s designed to align emotional, cultural and economic signals with audience behavior in real time. Key capabilities include:
· Live Signal Integration: Ingests breaking news, economic shifts, cultural trends and behavioral insights to inform strategy.
· Consumer Journey Mapping: Tracks how audience sentiment evolves across the funnel, from curiosity to loyalty, and recommends adaptive messaging at each stage.
· Competitive Conquesting: Surfaces timely opportunities to outperform competitors by aligning live market signals with real-time audience insights and intent data.
· Cultural Moments: Analyzes brand alignment with cultural events, scoring whether brands have the timing, authenticity, and credibility to participate and whether their audience base wants that approach.
“This technology doesn’t replace strategy – it supercharges it,” said Crystal Foote, Founder and Head of Partnerships at Digital Culture Group. “ARI now tells you exactly which audience to reach, the tactics to use, how to resonate across every stage of the consumer journey, and what to say to each audience.”
TripleLift has expanded its Programmatic Pause Ads solution to include new publisher supply integrations and strategic product features. TripleLift’s Programmatic Creative Advantage benefits include:
· Programmatic Pause Ads are now available with zero creative development fees, ensuring that advertiser budgets are maximized for working media and in-market performance.
· Brands can go live within five business days with just one existing video asset, a significant reduction in typical turnaround time.
· The platform seamlessly transforms static advertiser assets into integrated ad experiences featuring dynamic elements like QR codes, brand logos, and custom headlines.
“As CTV matures, creative is becoming the next major frontier,” said Rob Deichert, COO at TripleLift. “Advertisers don’t just want reach. They want relevance, performance, and creative formats that respect the viewer experience.” |
| DISTRIBUTION |
| Sphere Abacus has secured worldwide distribution rights to Australian producer Easy Tiger’s thriller series “Treasure & Dirt,” produced for ABC in association with the BBC and the South Australian Film Corporation. |
| SPORTS REPORT |
| Brands spent nearly $900 million on venue naming rights across the seven major US pro leagues this season, according to new data from SponsorUnited. In its Major Assets Series: Venue Naming Rights 2024–25 report, SponsorUnited also found that 21 venues across the leagues remain unsold, leaving $100 – $130 million in annual value on the table. At the same time, the top five spenders, led by Crypto.com’s $30 million annual commitment and followed by Citi, SoFi, Intuit, and JPMorgan Chase, are reshaping the balance of power in naming rights.
OutKick wrapped October with month over month growth in multiplatform views and minutes. The sports platform saw 24 million total multiplatform views, up 8% versus September 2025, and 20 million multiplatform minutes, up 2% versus the prior month. OutKick also garnered 4.1 million total desktop and mobile unique visitors, according to Comscore.
FloWrestling’s coverage of the National Duals Invitational, Sponsored by Paycom topped the platform’s weekend coverage with record-breaking numbers that included more than 21 million video views and 210,000 live views across FloWrestling and YouTube. |
| COMING UP |
| Creator media company Pocket.watch unveiled a slate of new holiday programming from Toys and Colors, YouTube’s kids ensemble, that includes “Toys and Colors Elf Academy,” a new 22-minute holiday special, that will drop on Hulu Thursday, November 27.
“Paul Anka: His Way” debuts Monday, December 1 at 9p. The documentary follows the prolific musician from teen idol to chart-topping songwriter.
BET+ original “Love After Holidays” makes its debut Thursday, December 4. The film follows a talk show host on a journey of self-discovery. |
| RATINGS |
| The season two premiere of “Landman” delivered over 9.2 million streaming views for its premiere episode in the first two days since its debut on Paramount+ on November 16. Views increased by +262% from the first season premiere, making it the most watched premiere for any original series for Paramount+
With a boost from a football lead-in, “60 Minutes” on CBS was the only non-sports title to crack the top 10 telecasts the week of November 10, averaging 11 million viewers (#8). CBS’ “Tracker” (7.7 million viewers) was the top broadcast drama of the week (#19). “Tracker” has topped the list of new fall TV shows since its season premiere on October 19. |
| During October, FOX News Digital secured 3.7 billion multiplatform minutes, according to Comscore. The FOX News Mobile app drew 6.5 million unique viewers. |
| EXECUTIVE MOVES |
| Dave Braun has been named President of Sandler, a Trilliad company. Braun previously served as Sandler’s COO.
FOX News Media has promoted Bill Melugin to congressional correspondent. Melugin has relocated to Washington, DC and will cover the United States Congress.
Luana Church has been named VP, Development, Acquisitions & Distribution for Quebecor. Church joined the company in 2011. |
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Friday Fun Fact
Ferret-legging is a UK sport in which contestants put live ferrets in their pants to see who will be the last to release them. Competitors are not allowed to be drunk or drugged, and the ferrets must have a full set of teeth.
This Day in History
1824 – The first Jewish Reform congregation formed, in Charleston, South Carolina.
Answer to Our Last Trivia Question
On “Avenue 5” (2020-23), what was the interplanetary cruise ship’s main source of food? Eels. Kudos to: Justin Pierce-JP Consulting Group/LA; Gerry Bixenspan-TV Marketing Group/NYC; Tom Moore-Kalt Productions/LA; Susan Nessanbaum-Goldberg-M and S Entertainment/LA
Today’s Trivia Question
Which Academy Award-nominated actress played the daughter of Harvey Korman’s character in the short-lived “The Harvey Korman Show” (1978)? (Email your answer to trivia@cynopsis.com and be sure to include your name, company, city and time zone. Unofficial rules: a limit of four answers per time zone.) |
SENIOR MANAGER, TRAFFIC >>
INSP, LLC./CHARLOTTE, SC:
Oversee the Traffic staff and manage and monitor the day-to-day operations. Responsible for the prompt and accurate execution of broadcast logs for three networks. The manager assumes a leadership role within our Network Operations and consistently looks to streamline processes and increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of the Traffic department. Full info HERE
MANAGER, DISTRIBUTION MARKETING >>
INSP, LLC./INDIAN LAND, SC:
Develop and manage B2B and B2C campaigns in partnership with multichannel video programming distributors (MVPDs), virtual MVPDs (vMVPDs), and streaming platforms to increase viewership, drive tune-in, and support carriage initiatives. Execute marketing strategies. Strong multi-tasking skills, and the ability to manage competing priorities. Full info HERE
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
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
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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