|
|
| Tuesday December 16, 2025 |
 IN THE NEWS |
 CBS is doubling down on what’s working with a new special, “Everybody Loves Raymond: 30th Anniversary Pt. 2,” airing Monday, December 22 at 8p. That’s less than a month after the 1996-2005 comedy’s first anniversary special, which premiered November 24 and had an encore broadcast four days later, raking in 10.08 million Live+SD multiplatform viewers.
Ad spending in the US is expected to grow 4% in 2026, according to ad spend provider Guideline, which forecasts an +8% rise from retail media; +9% from programmatic video; and +8% from search as GenAI starts introducing ads. Additional findings include:
· Despite the increasingly uncertain global economy, ad spend will likely finish +7% in 2025. This growth was driven mostly from social (+17%), retail media networks (+17%) and search (+15%).
· The US led global growth in 2025 at +6%. Canada declined slightly (-0.1%) while the UK finished 2025 +5%, a slight slowdown from 2024 (+6%).
· The global forecast for ad spending in 2026 is also +4%, led by Search (+7.5%), followed by Social at 6.8%.
The death of Rob Reiner at age 78 drew an outpouring of responses, from actors he worked with, to fellow directors, to Barack Obama and more. Before winning acclaim as a film director, Reiner, the son of TV pioneer Carl Reiner, gained fame – and an Emmy – for his role in Norman Lear’s “All in the Family.” A statement from the late Lear’s family said, “Norman often referred to Rob as a son, and their close relationship was extraordinary, to us and the world. Norman would have wanted to remind us that Rob and Michele spent every breath trying to make this country a better place.” Reiner and his wife, Michelle Singer Reiner, were found fatally stabbed in their Brentwood home on Sunday.
Ariana Madix (“Love Island USA”) and Dylan Efron (“The Traitors”) will host a preshow airing between the two-part live finale of NBC’s “The Voice” on Tuesday, December 16. |
 |
CONVERGENT TV WORLD 2026
The Voices Guiding the Next Era of Convergent TV
The next era of convergent TV demands direction. Laura Martin, Needham & Company’s leading media analyst, opens Convergent TV World with insights on AI acceleration, investment trends, and the measurement rebuild ahead. She’s joined by top industry voices examining audience shifts and the new rules for buyers and platforms. Expect two days of keynotes, workshops, buyer meetings & the Convergent TV Awards. Full agenda coming in January.
VIEW THE PROGRAM |
| NEW & RETURNING SERIES |
| HGTV’s “Don’t Hate Your House With the Property Brothers” returns Monday, December 29a t 8p. The series attracted over 9.1 million viewers across linear and streaming for its first run.
“The Cult of the Real Housewife,” a three-part docuseries investigating “The Real Life Housewives of Salt Lake City” star Mary Crosby, kicks off Thursday, January 1 at 8p on TLC. |
Today’s Premieres
Netflix: Culinary Class Wars; My Next Guest Needs No Introduction With David Letterman
Prime Video: Fallout |
| TECH |
| Samsung Ads has launched an integration with Amazon Publisher Cloud, enabling advertisers buying Samsung inventory through the Amazon DSP to combine Samsung’s scaled device-level audience data with Amazon’s shopping, browsing and insight signals. “Combining viewing behavior with shopping intent creates meaningful opportunities for advertisers to connect with audiences through connected TV,” said Eldad Persky, Senior Vice President, Global Product, Engineering and Business Development, Samsung Electronics. “By securely joining Samsung’s deep understanding of what people watch with Amazon’s signals, we’re enabling advertisers to reach the right audiences at scale more effectively across Samsung’s connected TV platform.”
Havas announced the acquisition of DIGIZIK, an agency specializing in entertainment, music, and culture. DIGIZIK joins Havas Media Network’s experiential marketing arm, Havas Play, and will operate as DIGIZIK by Havas Play, marking the launch of Havas Play in Belgium. |
|
| CYNOPSIS SPONSORSHIPS
End the Year With Smart Visibility
Cynopsis puts your message in front of 85K+ industry influencers. Turn remaining spend into meaningful traction going into 2026.
INQUIRE ABOUT 2025 PLACEMENTS TODAY |
| PRODUCTION |
| Great American Media has greenlit its first original unscripted lifestyle series. “Jep & Jess: Beyond the Bayou,” starring “Duck Dynasty” alums Jep and Jessica Robertson, follows the couple at their Comanche Moon Ranch property.
Content intelligence platform Chronicle Studios has entered its first YouTube creator channel partnership with Gabe Hordos (“How to Train Your Dragon”) on his animated short film series “The Old Knight.” Chronicle Studios, which discovered Hordos through its AI-powered discovery models that index YouTube and other social media platforms to identify breakout IP, will oversee all content optimization and monetization efforts for “The Old Knight” on Hordos’ YouTube channel.
Journalist and political analyst Katie Pavlich is joining NewsNation as the host of a new primetime program airing weekdays at 10p. The new program, focusing on the day’s biggest political news stories, will debut in early 2026, replacing “Banfield.” |
| COMING UP |
 “One Battle After Another” makes its streaming debut on HBO Max on Friday, December 19, and hits linear Saturday, December 20 at 8p on HBO. The film, starring Leonardo DiCaprio as a washed-up revolutionary, was released in theaters on September 26. |
| DISTRIBUTION |
| ITV has acquired the “Gossip Girl” franchise, both the 2007-12, and the 2021 reboot. “Across both incarnations, ‘Gossip Girl’ has remained a defining cultural force, launching the careers of major stars, shaping global fashion trends, and cementing its status as one of the most recognizable teen drama franchises of the 21st century,” said ITV.
Wedotv has expanded its distribution partnership with LG Channels Smart TV streaming platform to include distribution in the MENA region, Asia, and Latin America. |
| RATINGS |
| Prime Video’s Falcons/Buccaneers NFL game on Thursday averaged 11.81 million viewers, attracting a peak audience of 13.60 million. With two weeks to go, “TNF” is averaging 14.92 million viewers, up +13% vs. last year’s full-season average.
FOX News Channel delivered its highest-rated non-election year in history, according to Nielsen. The network averaged 3.2 million viewers in weekday primetime, and held 64% of the cable news audience in primetime and total day.
Scripps Sports’ exclusive live telecast of the annual matchup between Big Sky Conference rivals the University of Montana Grizzlies and the Montana State University Bobcats earned a 72.5% share of viewing and averaged a 37.5 household rating across the state of Montana on November 22. It was the sixth most watched telecast of 2025 in Montana, behind the Super Bowl, the Super Bowl pre- and post-game shows, the AFC Championship, and an AFC Divisional game, and was up 12% over 2024’s game in Persons 2+ (131,000 P2+ viewers in Montana). |
| EXECUTIVE MOVES |
| Jeff Fagel has joined JamLoop as Chief Marketing Officer, and Oksana Korsakova, who has led JamLoop’s marketing efforts, has been named Chief Operating Officer. Fagel has held marketing leadership roles at Epsilon and Madhive.
Finite Films & TV has appointed Paddy Hughes (“Eating with my Ex”) as Creative Director to support its slate of original branded content. |
| IN MEMORIAM |
| Soap opera superstar Anthony Geary, best known for his long-running role as Luke Spencer – for which he won eight Daytime Emmys – died December 14 from complications from a scheduled operation. He was 78. The wedding of Geary’s Luke and Genie Francis’ Laura was the highest-rated soap opera episode in US history. |
This Day in History
1970 – The film “Love Story” was released.
Answer to Our Last Trivia Question
What was the first live televised sporting event? The 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin. Kudos to: David Garber-Loyola Marymount University/Playa Vista, CA; Tom Moore-Kalt Productions/LA; Susan Nessanbaum-Goldberg-M and S Entertainment/LA; Joe Lyons-Back Nine Productions/FL; Gerry Bixenspan-TV Marketing Inc./NYC
Today’s Trivia Question
The main character in which 1970s sitcom starred in soap opera “Those Who Care”? (Email your answer to mjfarrell9865324@gmail.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 |
|
|
