Monday November 27, 2023

Today’s Finales
Fox: Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test at 9p
HBO: Love Has Won: The Cult of Mother God at 9p

IN THE NEWS

“The 97th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade” delivered a best-ever 28 million viewers across platforms, and a 7.2 rating among A18-49. That’s up 6% in both measures versus last year. “We’re absolutely thrilled that a record number of people were able to enjoy the parade with their families and friends, and spend the day with us,” said Jen Neal, EVP, Live Events and Specials, NBCUniversal Media Group. “We take great pride in bringing the best holiday programming to our audience – across both NBC and Peacock – and there’s no better way to bring in the season than with balloons, marching bands, musical performances and a tradition like no other.” “The National Dog Show Presented by Purina,” which followed the parade, drew 11.9 million viewers and 2.9 in the demo, up 8% and 11%, respectively, versus 2022.

X could lose as much as $75 million in advertising revenue by the end of the year, according to The New York Times. Documents reviewed by the The Times list over 200 ad units of companies which have halted or are considering halting advertising on the company previously known as Twitter. On Friday, X said $11 million in revenue was at risk, and that the numbers reported by The Times were inaccurate.

NBC’s “Law & Order” will have a new detective for its upcoming season. Reid Scott (“Veep”) has boarded the procedural for season 23, set to premiere on January 18. Cast member Jeffrey Donovan recently left the show over creative differences.

Madison Scarpino has joined FOX News Channel as an Atlanta-based correspondent starting December 4. Since January 2022, Scarpino has served as a FOX News multimedia reporter based out of St. Louis.

The Writers Guild of America West has accused Amazon Studios of violating its contract by failing to reconvene writers rooms for several shows that had been underway before the strike. “Studios are obligated to return writers to work ‘upon termination of the strike,’ and writers’ Personal Services Agreements were extended for a period equal to the portion of the contract term that elapsed during the strike,” said the WGA. “The Guild will bring legal action against Amazon and any other studio that violates the STA to recover compensation, interest on late payments, and benefit contributions due as a result of the delay.”

“The Curious Case of Natalia Grace: Natalia Speaks,” a follow-up docuseries to “The Curious Case of Natalia Grace,” premieres Monday, January 1 at 9p, and will run across three consecutive nights on ID. “When ‘The Curious Case of Natalia Grace’ premiered earlier this year, audiences were insatiably compelled by this twisted, confounding saga, making it one of ID’s most viewed, new series across cable and streaming. This story is far from over and it’s clear our viewers have many more questions they want answered,” said Jason Sarlanis, President, Turner Networks, ID & HLN, Linear and Streaming, Warner Bros. Discovery.

Martini Film Studios, the studio campus setting in British Columbia for numerous Hallmark movies, is opening its doors to the public for “Hallmark Day.” Attendees can tour the backlot set where TV movies like “Lights, Camera, Christmas!”, “A Magical Christmas Village,” “Time for Him to Come Home for Christmas,” and more were filmed. Fans will also see Hallmark stars in action, as Benjamin Ayres, Kimberley Sustad, Paul Campbell, Victor Webster, and more present a panel and Q&A session on the art of crafting love stories, their insights on the filmmaking process, and behind-the-scenes scoop from their Hallmark movies during the December 2 event.

SPORTS ROUNDUP

IMG has teamed up with England Netball to launch a new report revealing how the 2023 Netball World Cup has driven record fan engagement with the sporting organization’s digital channels. The report explores the role of the Vitality Roses’ on-court performance, players’ personal platforms, and earned news coverage during the tournament, in generating deeper fan engagement and commercial growth for the sport. “The Vitality Roses inspired the nation with their on-court heroics in the summer and it’s a testament to the team that netball enjoyed such an incredible moment and record levels of visibility,” said Fran Connolly, Chief Executive of England Netball. “As a result, more people than ever engaged and took notice of our sport and we are working really hard to capitalise on this success to move the dial, to improve opportunities for people to get on court and to take our sport to new heights.”

RugbyPass streaming service, launched by World Rugby and Endeavor Streaming in September, has attracted 350,000+ subscribers and a total 1.7 million users around the world. It streamed nearly 500,000 hours of content throughout the Rugby World Cup with 3.3 million total views, including nearly 700,000 live views.

GOING GLOBAL

UK indie Impossible Factual has completed production on two history documentaries. “The Lost Scrolls of Vesuvius” has been picked up by Channel 5, and “The Cambridgeshire Crucifixion” has gone to PBS, Arte and SBS and has been picked up by BBC 4.

British television executive Nick Bullen has announced the launch of a new company, 53 Degrees Global, which will house new production label Love Monday, alongside existing indies Spun Gold TV, Penny Lane Entertainment and postproduction company Wise Wolf.

Keshet International will distribute a package of news and current affairs reports produced by Israel’s investigative and current affairs program “Uvda” or international distribution. Collectively entitled “Inside Israel: This is War,” the initial selection of seven films is being created in response to requests from KI’s clients for in-depth, locally produced news reports covering the October 7 massacres and kidnappings in Israel by Hamas, and the resulting war.

Woodcut International announced sales in Asia leading into the Asia TV Forum & Market next month. TrueVisions (Thailand) has acquired season one of the factual series “A Royal Guide To…” for its channel True Explore Life; PCCW Media (Hong Kong) took doc “(K)nox: The Rob Knox Story” for its VOD service NOW TV; and Beijing ATW Culture (China) picked up the filmed theatrical performance of “Wuthering Heights” for theatrical release and non-theatrical platforms.

Dutch sales agent Incredible Film has secured global distribution rights to all six seasons of 4K documentary series “WineMasters.” The series, produced by Farmhouse TV & Film Productions, will join Incredible Film’s slate for ATF.

Quizzical Pictures, the South African production company, is launching an eight-part cozy crime series called “Murder by The Sea” to the international co-production market at Content London.

Abacus Media Rights has pre-sold “The Boy That Never Was,” a four-hour drama series based on the best-selling novel by Karen Perry, to RTÉ with support from Screen Ireland with delivery scheduled for April 2024.

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David Letterman’s return to CBS’ “The Late Show” – his first appearance since leaving the show in 2015 – delivered 2.18 million viewers in Live+SD numbers.

ESPN’s Super Bowl LVII rematch between the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs on November 21 was the most-watched “Monday Night Football” game in 27 years, drawing more than 29 million viewers (ESPN, ABC, ESPN2, ESPN+, ESPN Deportes and NFL+). The audience The Walt Disney Company’s best since 1996 (Green Bay at Dallas, 31.5 million).

Hallmark Channel’s “A Merry Scottish Christmas” #1 most-watched original movie premiere this year to-date among Households, Total Viewers, Women and Persons 18+, 25-54, 18-49, 55+ and Persons 18-34.

IN MEMORIAM

Children’s TV producer Marty Krofft died November 25 of kidney failure. He was 86. Along with his brother, Sid Krofft, Marty Krofft produced shows including “H.R. Pufnstuf,” “Land of the Lost” and “Sigmund and the Sea Monsters,” among others.

Television editor Doug Ibold died November 8 after battling cancer. He was 83. Among Ibold’s numerous credits were episodes of “Law & Order: SVU,” “Magnum, P.I.” and “Miami Vice.”

Answer to Our Last Trivia Question
What did Lorelai and Rory bring as gifts to Thanksgiving dinners in “Gilmore Girls” (2000-2007)? Flowers, chocolate turkeys and cranberry sauce. Kudos to: Cathy Russo-Paramount/NYC; Thomas Etheridge-AMC Networks/NYC; Rick Ramage-Hard Rock Stadium/Miami Gardens, FL; Laurie Ulster-Audible/NYC; Tom Moore-Kalt Productions/LA; David Westberg-SAG-AFTRA Credit Union/Burbank; Susan Nessanbaum-Goldberg-M and S Entertainment/LA; Justin Pierce-JP Consulting Group/LA

Today’s Trivia Question
Who simultaneously hosted “What’s My Line?” and ABC’s nightly newscast? (Email [email protected] with your answer and be sure to include your name, company, city and time zone. Unofficial rules: a limit of four answers per time zone.)

Cynopsis Team