Close to three-quarters of Gen Z adults and 52% of millennials said in an S&P Global Market Intelligence Kagan survey that they strongly or somewhat agree that they receive better TV and movie recommendations from social media than from online video services. Nearly two-thirds (62%) of Gen Z adults reported that they strongly agree/somewhat agree with the statement “I have purchased items/merchandise directly from a social media platform,” while 47% of millennials had the same response, compared to 31% of Gen Xers and 21% of baby boomers/seniors.

Netflix made a primarily cash-based second offer for the entertainment and streaming assets of Warner Bros. Discovery, reports The Wall Street Journal. Comcast also made a second bid for WBD’s entertainment and streaming assets, according to the WSJ, while Paramount’s sweetened offer also included the company’s cable networks. Warner Bros. Discovery has said it hopes to complete the auction process by around Christmas.

Big news for Hallmark’s “When Calls the Heart”: The drama has been renewed for season 14, with original cast member Lori Loughlin onboard as Abigail Stanton for six episodes. Abigail was written out of the show in 2019, after the college admissions bribery scandal that led to Loughlin’s arrest. “Since the series’ debut in 2014, the character of Abigail Stanton was a fan favorite and beloved by the Hearties,” said Michelle Vicary, Hallmark Media’s Head of Programming. “At its core the Hallmark brand is about hope, positivity and connection, which is also the central theme of ‘When Calls the Heart.’ We felt that season 14 was the right time to continue Abigail’s story with her return to this beloved series.” Season 13 of the series premieres Sunday, January 4 at 8p; season 14 begins filming next year and will air in 2027.

Out of home (OOH) advertising revenue rose 4.5% in 3Q25 versus the previous year, totaling $2.13 billion based on figures released by the Out of Home Advertising Association of America. That’s the highest third-quarter revenue volume on record and extends the industry’s 18th consecutive quarter of growth. Year-to-date OOH revenue reached $6.98 billion. Key findings in the OAAA report include:
· Digital OOH accounted for 35% of total OOH revenue year-to-date and grew 11.6% in the third quarter, reinforcing its role as the category’s strongest growth engine.
· Transit generated the highest growth among formats, increasing 11.4% from 3Q24.
· Seven of the top ten OOH spending industries increased investment in the third quarter, including three that posted double-digit gains: Financial Services (+35.5%), Insurance & Real Estate (+26.8%) and Communications (+10.3%)
· Local Services & Amusements remained the largest spending industry category YTD at $2.13 billion.

Season five of “Stranger Things” landed at number one on Netflix’s weekly TV chart, with 59.6 million global views – the biggest launch ever for an English-language series on the streamer. The first four episodes of the season dropped November 26.

Fan screenings of the season five – and series – finale of “Stranger Things” will take place in over 500 theaters starting December 31 at 8p, synchronized with the episode’s global streaming premiere, and run through January 1. Running time is two hours and five minutes; for a list of theater locations, go here.

Canela Media has partnered with The Coca-Cola Company for Sprite’s new holiday campaign featuring Las Marías, twin sisters who perform regional Mexican music. Developed and produced by Canela Studios, the campaign for Sprite’s Winter Spiced Cranberry soda is aimed at engaging Hispanic American consumers who embrace both tradition and modernity. “Sprite has always been about celebrating individuality and authenticity,” said Stephanie Eaddy, Sr. Director, Cultural Marketing, The Coca-Cola Company. “This campaign captures the unique duality of the Hispanic community during the holidays and delivers it in a way that is bold, inclusive, and full of joy.”

Havas announced its partnership with F.Y. Eye’s Nonprofit Co-Lab. Seven NYC nonprofits will collaborate with Havas volunteer teams to co-create professional PSA campaigns that address community needs like foster care, combating sex trafficking, championing education in prison, and more.

Netflix’s “My Next Guest Needs No Introduction With David Letterman” is back for season six on Tuesday, December 16. Guests will include Michael B. Jordan, MrBeast, and Jason Bateman.

Season eight of TLC’s “1000-Lb Sisters” kicks off Tuesday, January 6 at 9p.

Journalist Hanna Battah is joining ABC to co-anchor “World News Now” and “Good Morning America First Look” alongside ABC News’ Sophie Flay. Battah joins the network after more than 12 years as an anchor and reporter at various local stations across the country, most recently at Dallas’ KDFW-TV.

FOX News Media has promoted Aishah Hasnie to anchor and White House correspondent. Hasnie will anchor her own program on Saturday afternoons from 12-2p beginning on January 10 and will assume the White House correspondent position this week.

Amplify Pictures has greenlit the indie comedy “Mt. Mystic,” created by Jeremiah Dunlap and Cory Quintard, who also star. The six-part series is directed by Dunlap and is based on Dunlap and Quintard’s self-funded comedy pilot “Mt. Mystic Rangers,” which debuted on YouTube in March.

ZAG (“Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir”) is launching a new family entertainment franchise, “Carmen,” inspired by former Formula 1 driver Carmen Jorda and her fight to break barriers in motorsport. A theatrical animated feature, animated series, and licensing and consumer products program are in development.

The Ink Factory (“The Night Manager”) is producing “Legacy of Spies,” an adaptation of works from John le Carre, for the BBC in the UK and MGM+ in the US, in co-production with Berlin Amusement Park Film (“All Quiet on the Western Front”) and in association with 127 Wall Productions and Paramount Television Studios. Stephen Cornwell (“Message from the King”) will pen the screenplay alongside Clarissa Ingram.

Blink49 Studios has signed an exclusive two-year first-look producing deal with Belletrist Productions, the company founded by Emma Roberts and Karah Preiss. Under the pact, Blink49 Studios and Belletrist will develop and produce scripted television projects. “Karah and I are incredibly excited to partner with Blink49,” said Roberts. “Their commitment to bold storytelling and their appetite for rich, writer-driven material from global books to emerging IP makes them an ideal collaborator as we continue developing stories with a team so aligned with our creative vision.”

Prices start at $249. Let’s get you the talent you deserve.

CONNECT TODAY

NBCUniversal unveiled its “Milan Cortina Creator Collective” ahead of the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympic Games. As it did at the Paris Olympics last summer, NBCU, in partnership with YouTube, Meta, and TikTok, is launching a multi-platform social creator program that will empower over 25 creators to tell stories of the Games through their eyes with on-the-ground access. Small wonder NBCU is giving it another go – the Paris Creator Collective garnered nearly 300 million views.

Genius Sports Limited has struck a new partnership with FanDuel Sports Network to provide brands with the nationwide Intelligent Content Platform, offering access to premium, in-game ad inventory across linear, digital and streaming environments. Brands can own key moments of the live action with real-time, sponsorable game insights, including Player ID, Shot Probability, Shot and Defender Distance, and Heat Maps. “This partnership reinforces our commitment to delivering innovative, fan-forward experiences at scale,” said Jim Keller, EVP, Head of Advertising and Sponsorship Sales at FanDuel Sports Network. “By pairing Genius Sports’ real-time intelligence with our network’s unmatched scale, we’re giving brands the ability to connect with fans with moments that matter most, creating more meaningful opportunities across every screen.”

In more FanDuel Sports Network news, the app is now available directly on VIZIO and on smart TVs with VIZIO OS. “As we continue to evolve FanDuel Sports Network into a dynamic, fan-first local sports media platform, our partnership with VIZIO is another meaningful milestone in expanding accessibility and fueling our direct-to-consumer growth,” said Eric Ratchman, Chief Revenue Officer, Main Street Sports Group.

The telecast of the National Christmas Tree Lighting 2025 from Washington, DC will air on Great American Family and GFAM+ on Friday, December 5 at 8p, and stream on Great American Pure Flix from December 5-January 31.

Fifth Season has secured global distribution rights to “The Westies,” the new eight-episode crime drama from creator and executive producer Chris Brancato (“Godfather of Harlem”). Under his overall television deal with MGM+, Brancato created the series with Michael Panes, who also executive produces and showruns. “The Westies” will premiere on MGM+ in the US, UK, Germany, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Brazil, Mexico, Chile, and Colombia.

Blue Ant Media, a global streamer, production studio, and rights business, has renewed its content partnership with Europe’s Sky to continue supplying Sky Nature with original Love Nature series and documentaries for audiences in the UK, Italy and Germany.

Speaking of, Big Media landed two new licensing deals with Blue Ant Media for its factual slate. Blue Ant will premiere “Scanning History” on Smithsonian Channel in Canada in March 2026 and season three of “Truthseekers” on its Cottage Life channel in September 2026.

Sphere Abacus announced a raft of scripted sales, including crime drama “Scrublands,” an Easy Tiger production in association with Third Act Stories, to AMC Networks for Spain and Portugal, and RUV for Iceland.

Today’s Trivia Question
On “Mad Men” (2007-15), what was Don Draper’s real name? (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.)