 IN THE NEWS |
 The Walt Disney Company and OpenAI have struck a three-year licensing deal that makes Disney the first major content licensing partner on Sora, OpenAI’s short-form generative AI video platform. Sora will be able to generate short, user-prompted social videos, drawing from a set of more than 200 animated, masked and creature characters from Disney, Marvel, Pixar and Star Wars. In addition, ChatGPT Images will be able to turn a few words by the user into fully generated images in seconds, drawing from the same intellectual property. The agreement does not include any talent likenesses or voices. As part of the agreement, Disney will make a $1 billion equity investment in OpenAI. “Technological innovation has continually shaped the evolution of entertainment, bringing with it new ways to create and share great stories with the world,” said Bob Iger, CEO, The Walt Disney Company. “The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence marks an important moment for our industry, and through this collaboration with OpenAI we will thoughtfully and responsibly extend the reach of our storytelling through generative AI, while respecting and protecting creators and their works.”
Disney also accused OpenAI rival Google of copyright infringement and demanded that Google remove all infringing Disney content on YouTube and YouTube Shorts that Google created with its AI Services. “Google is infringing Disney’s copyrights on a massive scale, by copying a large corpus of Disney’s copyrighted works without authorization to train and develop generative artificial intelligence models and services, and by using AI models and services to commercially exploit and distribute copies of its protected works to consumers in violation of Disney’s copyrights,” said Disney in a cease-and-desist letter.
Global advertising spend is on course to wrap the year with growth of 8.9% to $1.19 trillion, according to WARC’s Global Ad Trends. That’s an upgrade of 1.5 percentage points from WARC’s September forecast. The rosier result is due to strong results from Big Tech platforms and a muted impact on global trade from trade tariffs. Key highlights from report include:
· Alphabet, Amazon and Meta take a combined market share of 56.1% excluding China this year – equivalent to $556.6 billion – rising to 58.0% in 2026.
· Global ad market growth is expected to accelerate to 9.1% next year (+1.0pp) to a total of $1.30 trillion equivalent to $150 per capita.
· A rise of 7.9% is predicted in 2027, with a market total of $1.40 trillion, double that of the pandemic hit year of 2020.
“Advertising has broken away from the economic cycle and behaves in a way that doesn’t feel reflective of the real economy,” said Alex Brownsell, Head of Content, WARC Media. “New money has arrived from digital-native categories, while commerce has redrawn the measured media map, and Big Tech’s self-reinforcing flywheel is harvesting almost all incremental dollars.”
TelevisaUnivision and Roku are launching an advertising solution that delivers a US Hispanic audience segment across all content endpoints, with targeting and measurement that maximizes performance through the Roku Data Cloud and TelevisaUnivision’s Household Graph. The partnership brings together CTV scale of ViX360 with content watched in Spanish on Roku, including TelevisaUnivision programming, as well as genres engaged with every day in English, within a single buy. TelevisaUnivision will be the exclusive reseller of Roku Media Spanish-language supply,
Fifty-six percent of US consumers use GenAI at least several times a week, according to data from LoopMe, and 19% of that group reports spending less time browsing the web because of GenAI. Gaming, however, is on the rise – 19% of consumers said they are spending more time on mobile gaming, a number that rises to 40% among 25-34-year-olds. “What the research highlights is the advertising opportunities opening for brands as gaming becomes a key route to market,” said Stephen Upstone, CEO & Founder at LoopMe. “This is a medium that’s being embraced by all age groups and all demographics. And it’s increasing among frequent AI users as well as more casual ones, offering brands the potential to get in front of audiences that other channels might not serve well.”
A+E Global Media™ announced the launch of two FAST channels for German-language audiences across Germany, Switzerland and Austria, anchored by the “Ax Men” and “Swamp People.” Both launches offer round-the-clock access to full-series programming in German. |
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| NEW & RETURNING SERIES |
| “Pole to Pole With Will Smith” premieres Tuesday, January 13 on Nat Geo. In the seven-part docuseries – which was five years in the making – Smith joins seven expeditions.
In the season premiere of Discovery’s “Expedition X” on Wednesday, January 7 at 9p, paranormal investigator Jack Osbourne will guest star for an investigation into an Old West town.
Season two of “Ted,” the prequel series to the “Ted” films, drops Thursday, March 5 on Peacock. In addition to the live-action series, Peacock is expanding the “Ted” universe with the upcoming “Ted: The Animated Series” (w/t), which will pick up where the “Ted” films left off. “Ted” creator Seth MacFarlane has signed a first-look deal UCP for his Fuzzy Door production company.
A&E handed a two-season order of “Crime in Progress” ahead of its debut on Thursday, January 1 at 10p. Each episode follows the entire arc of an investigation, capturing crimes as they unfold in real time, with no reenactments or narration.
“Love During Lockup” returns to We TV on Friday, January 16 at 8p, centered on six people outside of prison through the early stages of their romance with an inmate.
All six episodes of crime drama “His and Hers” drop Thursday, January 8 on Netflix.
Season two of Apple TV drama “Hijack” launches Wednesday, January 14, with episodes rolling out weekly. Idris Elba (“Luther”) stars and executive produces.
New TLC series “Suddenly Amish,” following six non-Amish individuals as they leave behind their modern “English” lifestyle and step into a deeply traditional Amish community, kicks off Tuesday, January 13 at 10p. |
Today’s Premieres
Disney+: Taylor Swift: The End of an Era
Netflix: City of Shadows; Home for Christmas; Single Papa
Paramount+: Tales of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Sunday’s Premiere
PBS: Happiness at 8p |
| PRODUCTION |
 Paramount+ has greenlit two animated series, “The Elephant & Piggie Show!” and “The Pigeon Show! Starring The Pigeon,” based on Mo Willems’ best-selling book series. The series orders mark the first collaborations between Paramount+ and Hidden Pigeon Company.
CBS Studios has renewed its overall deal with Robert King and Michelle King (“The Good Wife”). The duo, who have been at CBS Studios since 2009, will continue to create, write, and produce series for streaming and broadcast under King Size Productions.
Hugh Laurie (“House”) is set to star opposite Amy Poehler in Peacock comedy “Dig.” The series from Universal Television centers on four women who find themselves at the center of an international conspiracy.
France’s UGC and Xilam Animation are partnering to adapt Bernard Werber’s bestselling novel Empire of the Ants for television. The series will follow two parallel investigations unfolding simultaneously. The adaptation will be produced using live action for the human narrative, and visual effects for the ant world.
Lifetime announced two Ripped from the Headlines original movies set to premiere in January. “Accused: The Karen Read Story” the story of Karen Read, who was charged in connection to the death of her police officer boyfriend and ultimately acquitted, debuts Saturday, January 10, while “I Am Mary Jo Buttafuoco” premieres Saturday, January 17.
Speaking of true crime, Hot Snakes Media is partnering with Websleuths, the online community dedicated to unpacking true crime cases, across a slate of projects. The deal grants Hot Snakes access to emerging stories, real-time case chatter and community-driven breakthroughs surfacing daily on the platforms.
Great American Media is in production in Buffalo on the first Great American Christmas movie of 2026, “Love Under the Christmas Tree,” focused on a woman who inherits a Christmas tree farm.
Busy Bee Productions has started production on “Jenicka’s Journeys,” a new travel docuseries starring Jenicka Lopez for LatiNation Media (LATV and LatiNation app). It’s an expansion in unscripted series for LatiNation from Busy Bee, building on the partnership that began with Chiquis’ “Foodie on the Go.” |
| TECH |
| IAB Tech Lab has released its new CTV Ad Portfolio along with an update to the Guide to Programmatic CTV. The CTV Ad Portfolio defines six core CTV ad formats – Pause, Menu, Screensaver, In Scene, Squeezebacks, and Overlays – while the updated Programmatic CTV guidance details how these formats can be more efficiently and consistently transacted. “Over the past year, we’ve seen the CTV marketplace explode, and the industry has been asking for clear, practical guidance to keep up,” said Anthony Katsur, CEO, IAB Tech Lab. “What we heard again and again was that publishers, buyers, and platforms needed a common language for emerging CTV formats, and a way to streamline how these formats are traded. This portfolio and guidance update are really about meeting that need and helping accelerate growth in the space.”
Pinterest has inked a deal to acquire CTV performance advertising platform tvScientific. tvScientific’s outcome-based CTV platform will be integrated directly into Pinterest’s performance products, including its automation and AI-powered advertising suite, Pinterest Performance. “For the first time, Pinterest advertisers will be able to evaluate TV with the clarity they expect from their performance channels,” said Bill Ready, CEO, Pinterest. “Looking ahead, advertisers will be able to buy TV with the performance metrics they are already using, turning Pinterest into a true search, social, and CTV performance solution.”
Comcast and Amazon announced the launch of Amazon Luna, a cloud gaming service, on Xfinity TV and streaming devices. “At Amazon, we’re focused on making gaming more accessible for our customers, and this collaboration with Comcast allows us to reach more customers across the US,” said Jeff Gattis, General Manager, Amazon Luna. “Comcast’s reach and versatility makes it a great fit as we continue to scale Amazon Luna and its growing content library across more devices, more homes, and more players.”
WunderKIND Ads announced a programmatic integration with Yahoo DSP, granting advertisers scalable access to Wunderkind’s proprietary CTV Pause Ads. Brands can now programmatically activate Pause Ads at scale, targeting known users across premium CTV inventory, triggering engagement during opt-in moments, and measuring full-funnel impact with clarity. “Integrating Wunderkind’s high-impact display and CTV formats into Yahoo DSP doesn’t just expand our inventory; it’s an initiative aimed at enhancing user engagement and driving measurable business outcomes,” said Beau Ordemann, Vice President, CTV at Yahoo.
Cox Media, Philo, Samsung Ads, Telly, and Vevo have joined Universal Ads’ Universal Audience Network. “Universal Ads continues to make TV buying easy by consolidating fragmented, premium supply into one self-service platform, covering every major kind of high-quality viewing experience, from programmers and cable providers to distributors, smart TVs, VOD, FAST, and more,” said Adam Royle, Head of Publishers, Universal Ads. “This latest curated addition of leading publishers is another step in our mission to grow premium video as a category for businesses, especially those new to TV advertising, while creating new demand for our partners.”
LG Ad Solutions struck a new partnership with both CCR Media and AdImpact that establishes a local television dataset spanning all 210 US markets. “We’re building one of the most comprehensive local CTV data ecosystems in the market, one that connects what’s airing, what’s being advertised, and how audiences engage across every US market,” said Serge Matta, President, Global Ad Sales, LG Ad Solutions. “This partnership ensures that we can deliver ads that are relevant to viewers while helping brands avoid wasted spend in markets that don’t matter to their business.” |
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| SPORTS REPORT |
| 2026 Discover NHL Winter Classic begins at Miami’s loanDepot park (home of Major League Baseball’s Miami Marlins) with the 2026 Enterprise PreGame, a fan festival open to 2026 Discover NHL Winter Classic ticket holders, on Friday, January 2, ahead of the Forida Panthers/New York Rangers match-up. Hockey-themed experiences will be provided by NHL partners and licensees including BodyArmor, Cat, Discover, Energizer, Enterprise, Pepsi and more. NHL on TNT Face Off Presented by Verizon, with Wayne Gretzky, Paul Bissonnette, Anson Carter, and Liam McHugh on hand, will deliver pregame coverage beginning at 7p and return after the final horn for postgame reaction and analysis.
Comcast Technology Solutions has been selected by both Charter Communications, Inc. and Cox, in separate deals, to help create, manage and distribute linear channels for out of market games from sports leagues including MLB, NHL, and NBA.
FloSports has acquired Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series from Lucas Oil Products. The acquisition represents a strategic step for FloSports as it continues to invest in and operate motorsports properties and sports IP. |
| COMING UP |
| “Who in the Hell is Regina Jones?” will air across Weigel Broadcasting’s Dabl, Start TV and Story Television networks on Monday February 16 at 8p. The documentary tells the story of the founder and publisher of the groundbreaking SOUL newspaper. |
| RATINGS |
| Telemundo’s multiplatform audience for the 2026 FIFA World Cup™ Draw averaged a Total Audience Delivery of 693,000 total viewers, marking the most-watched FIFA Draw in Telemundo history and delivering growth of +48% vs. 2022 and +154% vs. 2018. Digital platforms contributed 45,000 viewers (6%).
Basic Cable Top 10
P2+ AA (000)
Primetime
ESPN 2314
Fox News 2088
MS Now 65
Hallmark Channel 769
Freeform 506
CNN 499
HGTV 448
Food Network 436
TBS 396
ESPN2 384
Total Day
Fox News 1379
ESPN 788
MS Now 613
Hallmark Channel 435
CNN 398
HGTV 68
Freeform 66
Food Network 33
TBS 228
Hallmark Mystery 225
Source: Nielsen
Nielsen Top 10 Telecasts for the Week of December 1 |
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Friday Fun Fact
People blink about 20 times a minute, spending 10% of waking hours with their eyes closed.
This Day in History
1959 – The UN Committee on Peaceful Use of Outer Space was established.
Answer to Our Last Trivia Question
Which two-season comedy spinoff series focused on the goings-on at a TV newsmagazine? “Newsreaders” (2013-15). Kudos to: Justin Pierce-JP Consulting Group/LA; Tom Moore-Kalt Productions/LA; Heidi Nyburg/Santa Cruz, CA; Susan Nessanbaum-Goldberg-M and S Entertainment/LA
Today’s Trivia Question
Which 1961-66 sitcom was based on a comic strip? (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. |
DIRECTOR OF PERFORMANCE MARKETING >>
ATHLETE TO ATHLETE/SANTA MONICA, CA: Lead the performance marketing team across Meta Ads and new paid digital channels (TikTok, YouTube, Google, etc.) as well as build and execute a roadmap for channel expansion and profitable scale. Develop and run structured testing frameworks. Partner with Creative Strategist on ad briefs, testing priorities, and creative feedback loops. Full info HERE
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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