Tuesday December 19, 2023

Today’s Finales
ABC: The Great Christmas Light Fight at 9p
HBO: REAL Sports With Bryant Gumbel at 10p
NBC: The Voice at 9p

IN THE NEWS

The European Union is formally investigating X for failure to counter illicit content and disinformation, a lack of transparency about advertising and “deceptive” design practices. It’s the first time the EU is exercising the authority it gained with the passage last year of the Digital Services Act, which gives regulators new powers to force social media companies to police their platforms, and impose fines of up to 6% of global revenue. In response, X said in a statement that its focus is to create a “safe and inclusive environment for all users on our platform, while protecting freedom of expression, and we will continue to work tirelessly towards this goal.”

Nexstar Media Group’s WOOD Grand Rapids, Mich.; KELO Sioux Falls, S.D.; and WMBB Panama City, Fla., will start carrying The CW on one of their subchannels starting January 1. “The addition of CW programming to these Nexstar-owned stations will bring the number of Nexstar and partner-owned CW affiliates to 45, covering more than 39% of US TV Households,” said Andrew Alford, president of Nexstar’s broadcasting division. “As The CW’s No. 1 affiliate group, we are very pleased to be taking this step, especially as several new entertainment shows get set to premiere and ACC college basketball moves deeper into its season — WWE NXT in fall 2024 also will be a big hit. As a result, our CW-affiliated stations will be able to offer advertisers even more opportunities to reach viewers.”

Author Demetrious Polychron has been ordered to stop distributing copies of his 2022 sequel to JRR Tolkein’s The Lord of the Rings, titled The Fellowship of the King, and destroy all physical and electronic copies. In April 2023, Polychron tried to sue the Tolkein estate and Amazon, alleging TV series “Rings of Power” infringed the copyright in his book. The judge ruled instead that Polychron’s book was in fact infringing on Amazon’s prequel. The court also awarded $134,000 for lawyer’s fees to the Tolkien Estate and Amazon.

Max has canceled “Warrior,” but the three existing seasons of the martial arts crime drama have been picked up by Netflix in a co-exclusive deal with the Warner Bros. Discovery streamer. “My wish is that the huge global Netflix audience LOVES ‘Warrior’ and from that Love more goodness flows – in the form of greater recognition for our talented cast and crew who deserve all the things, in the form of passionate fandom for this relevant kick ass show and, if I dare to dream, in the form of an opportunity to continue our story for our amazing fans who, thanks to Netflix, will have grown in number and enthusiasm,” said Shannon Lee, series EP and daughter of martial arts icon Bruce Lee, whose writings inspired the show.

Megan Cassella is joining CNBC as a correspondent based in the Washington, D.C. bureau, starting January 8. Cassella was most recently Senior Economics and Policy Reporter at Barron’s.

FOX News Channel has promoted Gillian Turner to a dual role as anchor and State Department and foreign policy correspondent. Turner will cover international and domestic issues.

Do you prefer your holiday entertainment uplifting or edgy? Classic or cooking-focused? There’s something for every taste in Cynopsis’ 2023 Holiday Guide!

HOLIDAY GUIDE HERE

Netflix is eyeing a spin-off of its #1 series, “Wednesday.” Centered on Uncle Fester, played for a season one episode by Fred Armisen, the series is in early development at Amazon MGM Studios.

NEW & RETURNING SERIES

All eight episodes of Prime Video’s “The Second Best Hospital in the Galaxy” (fka “The Hospital”) will drop February 23. The adult animated sci-fi comedy, from creator Cirocco Dunlap and Animal Pictures, will debut on February 23. Stephanie Hsu (“Everything Everywhere All at Once”) has joined the cast as a series regular alongside previously announced cast members Maya Rudolph, Natasha Lyonne, Keke Palmer, Kieran Culkin and Sam Smith.

MGM+ has picked up the second season of “Beacon 23,” based on the best-selling book by Hugh Howey. Produced by Boat Rocker, the science-fiction mystery thriller will return in April with eight new episodes.

FOX Nation’s “A History of the World in Six Glasses” premieres Monday, January 8. The six-part comedic docuseries, featuring Dan Aykroyd Jim Belushi, Jon Lovitz, Kevin Nealon and George Wendt, will chronicle the history of beer, wine, spirits, coffee, tea and soda and their respective impacts on the world.

The season premiere of Nat Geo WILD’s “The Incredible Dr. Pol” on January 6 at 9p will be followed by the series debut of “The Incredible Pol Farm” at 10p. In the spin-off, the Pol family works to transform 350 acres of undeveloped land into a farm.

Outdoor Channel, Sportsman Channel, and World Fishing Network are offering a fresh lineup of lifestyle series beginning January 1. “As we ring in the New Year, our Q1 lineup for Outdoor Sportsman Group is stronger than ever with an emphasis on connecting passionate hunters, anglers, shooting sports enthusiasts, gastronomes and adventure seekers,” said Outdoor Sportsman Group Head of Programming Tim Cremin. “We’re confident these new programs will not only entertain but inspire our viewers to embrace the great outdoors.” Among the offerings: Outdoor Channel’s “Taste of the Wild” block on Mondays; new Sportsman Channel series “American Heroes Outdoors TV”; and World Fishing Network programming block “The Reel Life Sundays,” among others.

BY THE NUMBERS

Sixty-four percent of Gen Z consume news on social media, according to a study commissioned by Vizrt. Instagram (60%), TikTok (38%), and Facebook (38%), are most popular news sources for the demo. Other takeaways include:
· Gen Z is twice as likely to pay attention to content with on-screen graphics in comparison to other generations (31% vs 14%).
· 56% of those aged 18-25 find it challenging to watch content on their phones due to horizontal content not being adapted for vertical viewing.
· 45% find the lack of on-screen graphics when watching content on the go an issue.

“Content creators, traditional broadcasters and newer online news outfits, must adapt to meet the evolving needs of news consumers as each generation becomes more digitally advanced,” said Ulrich Voigt, Global Head of Product Management, Vizrt. “Immersive storytelling with AR and XR can quickly and easily break down barriers to news accessibility and drive audience engagement.”

While penetration of 5G wireless home internet across the US is just 3%, penetration is much higher in markets where the service is available. Half (49%) of TV content viewers who do not have 5G wireless home internet service say that they are likely or very likely to consider subscribing when it becomes available in their area, according to Horowitz study, “State of Media Entertainment, and Tech: Disruptions 2023.” The study found that 67% of subscribers of 5G service say that their Wi-Fi covers all the areas of their homes better than traditional broadband; 7% found traditional broadband is better. “5G wireless home internet is definitely a competitive threat to traditional fixed-line broadband providers as consumers look to trim costs for reliable internet, which is now an essential utility,” said Adriana Waterston, EVP and Insights and Strategy Lead for Horowitz Research. “The novelty of being able to try out a new, alternative provider, combined with the trust people already have in mobile brands like Verizon and T-Mobile, are forcing traditional ISPs into a defensive position. This competitive environment will be a win for consumers. We anticipate this will drive internet prices down and quality up while all providers focus on delivering the most reliable home internet service for the best value in order to attract and retain customers.”

TECH

Apple is taking its popular Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 models off the market as soon as this week. The decision follows a ruling in October by the International Trade Commission, which found that Apple was in violation of device maker Masimo’s pulse oximeter patent, which uses light-based technology to read blood-oxygen levels. “While the review period will not end until December 25, Apple is preemptively taking steps to comply should the ruling stand,” said the company in a statement. “Apple strongly disagrees with the order and is pursuing a range of legal and technical options to ensure that Apple Watch is available to customers.”

Bluestone Equity Partners announced a growth investment in VideoVerse, the company behind Magnifi, an AI-powered video editing solution. “With media companies and streamers now producing millions of hours of video every minute, demand for curated content has skyrocketed,” said Vinayak Shrivastav, VideoVerse CEO and Co-Founder. “Our partnership with Bluestone marks an exciting phase as we forge ahead with global expansion, and driving innovation in the realm of media technology by unlocking the boundless potential of AI.”

Ascential shareholders voted to approve a deal, announced on October 30, for the sale of its digital commerce business to Omnicom Group for $900 million. Over 98% of voting shareholders were in favor of the agreement.

Range Media Productions, Jack Harlow, and Media.Monks, in partnership with Meta are producing an immersive VR concert and behind the scenes VR documentary. “Jack Harlow No Place Like Home: A VR Concert” premieres in VR on Thursday, January 4 at 5p in Meta Horizon World’s Music Valley. It’s Meta’s first combination of an immersive VR concert and documentary special.

STREAMING

AccuWeather NOW is now available for Xfinity customers on X1 and the Xfinity Stream app. AccuWeather NOW is integrated directly into the channel guide on both platforms.

COMING UP

Holiday episodes of “Neighbors,” the Australian soap opera that debuted in 1985, will air on Amazon Freevee, which picked up rights to the show from Fremantle when it was canceled in 2022. A new season premiered on the streamer in September, and the holiday episodes will run the weeks of December 25 and January 1.

Critically acclaimed documentary “Kokomo City” will premiere on Paramount+ with Showtime on February 2, with its linear premiere on Showtime at 9p. The film from D. Smith “vibrates with energy, sex, challenge and hard-earned wisdom” from four Black transgender sex workers,” notes the release.

Cynthia Erivo (“The Color Purple”) headlines “Cynthia Erivo & Friends: A New Year’s Eve Celebration” on Sunday, December 31 at 8p on PBS (check local listings). Joining Erivo will be Ben Platt (“Dear Evan Hansen”) and Joaquina Kalukango (“Paradise Square”).

A special seasonal episode of “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood” premieres New Year’s Day on PBS Kids. The new episode features the first visit by Juan Carlos and his mom, Valentina, to Daniel and his family.

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Lawyers for Major League Baseball said they had agreed with Diamond Sports Group on a framework that would keep 11 clubs on Bally Sports channels through the 2024 season. The move gives the teams more time to sort through local TV options.

North American-based esports organization Cloud9 will become a BLAST Premier Member Team for the 2024 season after acquiring the slot owned by Evil Geniuses. Founded in 2013, Cloud9 is based out of LA and is currently ranked 11th in the world in Counter-Strike.

Since Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce started dating, the NFL’s female audience increased by 29.4% across Facebook and YouTube, according to Tubular Labs. Swift’s TikTok audience that also watches NFL videos rose from 2% to 15%.

Manchester City inked a new multi-year partnership with Kellogg’s that will see the brand become the UK club’s Official Breakfast Cereals partner of both the men’s and women’s first teams. In addition to promoting breakfast food, the organizations will work together to encourage positive change within communities. The Kellogg’s brand will be visible to attendees at the Etihad Stadium and Joie Stadium through matchday-activations and stadium advertising, in addition to across club digital channels.

NHL on TNT will be the US home of the 2024 Discover NHL Winter Classic on New Year’s Day, with simulcasts available on TruTV and Max. The League’s two newest clubs will go head-to-head, as the 2023 Stanley Cup Champion Vegas Golden Knights battle the Seattle Kraken on Monday, January 1 at 3p.

Infront and the MNC Group, the Indonesian media conglomerate, have reached an agreement for the exclusive broadcast rights of the UEFA European Football Championship 2024, including all qualifiers, playoffs and the UEFA Nations League.

OutKick, the multimedia sports platform, saw month over month growth in November with over 6.4 million total multiplatform unique visitors (up 6% versus the prior month), 24 million total multiplatform views, (up 2% versus the prior month), and 23 million total multiplatform minutes (up 1% flat versus the prior month), according to Comscore.

GOING GLOBAL

APC Kids has secured new broadcast deals for fantasy family series “Tinka.” Season three of the show has been picked up by Téléquébec (Canada) and Canal+ (France), while season two has been acquired by MTVA (Hungary) and France TV (France). Season one has found a new home on ERR (Estonia).

Banijay announced Germany’s new “Big Brother – Knossi Edition” hit 8.81 million live views during the 57-hour live stream on Twitch. With more than 2 million unique viewers, the series topped 283 million watched minutes.

Globo is taking “Land of Desire” to Paraguay. The production is scheduled to premiere on Telefuturo in January.

MediaLane format “Stars on Stage” has been optioned by RTL4 in The Netherlands and will debut on January 24. The reality show follows eight celebrities competing to become a musical theater star.

Answer to Our Last Trivia Question
What is the actual name of “ugly naked guy” in “Friends” (1994-2004)? Jon Haugen played the nudist. Kudos to: Justin Pierce-JP Consulting Group/LA; Maggie Takei-Moore Media/Sherman Oaks, CA; Tom Moore-Kalt Productions/LA; JoAnn DiNapoli-DeSales Media Group/Brooklyn, NY; Susan Nessanbaum-Goldberg-M and S Entertainment/LA

Today’s Trivia Question
Which series featured television’s first flashback episode? (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