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Good morning — and, for me, farewell.
This is my final day writing for Cynopsis (although my last newsletter will technically be Monday), and I couldn’t let the moment pass without saying what a genuine honor it has been starting your day alongside you.
I’m leaving you in exceptionally capable hands: Victoria McNally and Alyssa Boyle bring deep expertise, sharp editorial instincts, and a real passion for serving readers well. I was impressed the moment I saw their work — and I have no doubt you will be, too.
Thank you for reading, for responding and for caring about this industry the way you do. It has been a privilege to earn a few minutes of your morning.
– Lynn Leahey, Editorial Director, Cynopsis
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Top News
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The dead are going global. Netflix and AMC Global Media struck a multi-year $500 million licensing deal giving both companies co-exclusive streaming rights to “The Walking Dead” and its six(!) spin-offs.
- Netflix has streamed “The Walking Dead” franchise exclusively in the U.S. since 2011. The new agreement expands that access to the United Kingdom, Italy, Australia and New Zealand.
- Starting in 2027, all six spin-off series — “Fear the Walking Dead,” “The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon” (which includes “The Book of Carol”), “The Walking Dead: Dead City,” “The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live,” “The Walking Dead: World Beyond” and “Tales of The Walking Dead” — will be available on Netflix globally and on AMC+ where the service is offered.
- “The Walking Dead” will come to AMC+ in its entirety for the first time early next year.
- The Takeaway Nearly 15 years after its debut, The “Walking Dead” Universe is still expanding. Now it’s coming for your streaming queue, no matter where you live.
AMC Global Media’s Netflix news came alongside its second quarter earnings results, which were slightly less encouraging.
- Domestic Operations revenue fell 11% year over year to $470 million, while U.S. ad sales dropped 11% to $109 million.
- On the other hand, streaming revenue rose 6% to $180 million, and international revenue climbed 4% to $79 million.
- On the strength of the Netflix deal and renewed distribution partnerships with Comcast and YouTube, AMC Global Media raised its full-year guidance. CEO Kristin Dolan, in a letter to shareholders, said the company is capitalizing on “the value of our IP, the importance of our studio and the strength of our partner relationships, particularly in the area of distribution.”
- The Takeaway: Despite declines in domestic and advertising revenue, AMC Global Media is leaning into content licensing and streaming to offset traditional revenue headwinds. The Netflix deal signals a strategic pivot toward monetizing AMC’s IP library, and the raised guidance suggests management believes that shift is gaining traction.
As if Paramount+ wasn’t going to greenlight this. The streamer ordered a “Clueless” sequel series, with Alicia Silverstone reprising her iconic role as Cher Horowitz and serving as executive producer. Production kicks off in Los Angeles in 2027.
- The premise: 30 years later, Cher has conquered business and motherhood — until her daughter hits high school.
- Behind the camera: Josh Schwartz & Stephanie Savage (“The OC”) and Jordan Weiss (“Freakier Friday”) write and EP; original director Amy Heckerling and producer Robert Lawrence are also aboard as EPs, via CBS Studios.
- The franchise is having a moment. Last summer’s 30th anniversary brought a cast reunion and screening at the Academy Museum, and the film was just added to the U.S. National Film Registry by the Library of Congress.
- “Clueless is coming home,” said Paramount+’s Head of Originals Jane Wiseman, touting the LA production as a nod to the original while supporting local crews and talent.
Disney is offloading its 50% stake in A+E Global Media to longtime co-owner Hearst Communications in an all-cash deal valued at over $1 billion, with a formal announcement expected at Disney’s upcoming earnings call, posted analyst Rich Greenfield on Thursday. A+E Global Media President & Chairman Paul Buccieri is expected to remain at the helm following the close of the transaction, reporting to Hearst CEO Steven R. Schwartz.
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Nominations Are Open: 2026 Cynopsis Top Women in Media Awards
Honoring the most influential women in media, entertainment and advertising. From broadcast networks and streaming platforms to sports, esports and on-air talent — this program recognizes the full spectrum of female leadership. Self-nominations are welcome. Early deadline is July 31.
Nominate Now
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New and Returning Series
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For sneak peeks, check out Cynopsis Trailer Park.
“Normal People” director Lenny Abrahamson is reuniting with Element Pictures for another slow-burn love story. Starz and BBC greenlit “You Are Here,” an eight-part adaptation of David Nicholls‘ best-selling novel, with Nicholls himself writing the script. Matthew Macfadyen (“Succession”) and Claire Foy (“The Crown”) star as two people stumbling into a relationship that neither saw coming.
PBS’s “American Experience” set a three-part docuseries, “Lindbergh,” for May 2027. Ken Burns executive produces alongside director-writer Stephen Ives — the duo’s latest collaboration — with the project timed to mark 100 years since Charles Lindbergh’s landmark transatlantic flight. The series promises a fresh look at the aviator’s complicated and contested legacy.
UPtv acquired Season 2 of “Sugarcreek Amish Mysteries.” Season 1 reached 1.8 million viewers and ranked as a Top 20 ad-supported cable series in HH and W18+, according to Nielsen.
Today’s Premieres
OWN: Put a Ring on It: Cheathab at 9 p.m.
Prime Video: Batman: Caped Crusader
Starz: Fightland
Sunday’s Premieres
CNN: Decades in Sports at 9 p.m.
Discovery: Naked and Afraid: Shipwrecked at 8 p.m.
History: The Mega-Brands That Built America at 10 p.m.
Oxygen: Unknown Serial Killers of America at 10 p.m.
Paramount+: Lioness
TNT: The Librarians at 9 p.m.
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In Other News
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Mike Darnell signed a multi-year overall deal with Netflix, reports Deadline. Darnell — whose projects have included long-running reality hits like “American Idol,” “The Bachelor” and “Hell’s Kitchen,” among many others — will develop and produce series and provide “strategic creative guidance” across Netflix’s unscripted slate. Darnell left his job as president of unscripted television at Warner Bros. in 2023.
“Wonder Man” was canceled at Disney+ after one season, despite having been renewed for Season 2 back in March. Variety was first to report the news.
Law&Crime landed a Reelz deal. The digital network struck a partnership with Reelz that will bring three of its original series to cable television starting Monday, Aug. 17.
- The network’s Monday primetime block will feature back-to-back-to-back one-hour episodes beginning at 9 p.m., with encore presentations to follow.
- The three series — “Bodycam,” “Most Outrageous Crimes,” and “Interrogations” — are among Law&Crime’s most established digital properties.
- The Takeaway: The deal is the latest sign of linear TV’s growing appetite for proven streaming and digital content, as networks look to reduce risk by betting on formats with built-in fanbases.
Big Brother is being watched. That’s according to EDO, which tracks how ads drive real-time online search behavior. he Season 28 premiere was not only the show’s most-watched in five years, with 3.88 million viewers, it outperformed its 2025 debut across every key advertising metric:
- +8% ad engagement, meaning viewers were more likely to search for a brand right after its spot aired
- +16% advertiser value per ad slot — one “Big Brother” ad now does the work of around two average primetime ads (up from 1.6x last year)
- +36% jump in median search activity tied to ads
- The timing of the launch aligned with the finale week of “Love Island,” suggesting a potential halo effect between the two shows this summer
- The Takeaway: Reality shows can deliver better ROI for advertisers than they did a year ago, and the numbers suggest the genre’s momentum is compounding.
Concert event “Billie Eilish – Hit Me Hard And Soft: The Tour (Live)” makes its streaming debut Thursday, Aug. 6 on Paramount+. The film, directed by James Cameron, was released in theaters on May 8.
What a drag! FloRacing landed exclusive live streaming rights to the Cornwell Tools Night Under Fire, marking the first time in the event’s 49-year history that the drag racing showcase will be available to a national and international audience. The annual Summit Motorsports Park event airs Saturday, Aug. 1.
Beam us up. Weigel Broadcasting is marking the 60th anniversary of “Star Trek” with a month-long September celebration spanning MeTV, Heroes & Icons (H&I) and MeTV Toons. The tribute includes themed programming on MeTV, a complete original series marathon on H&I, and a “Star Trek: The Animated Series” marathon on MeTV Toons. Original series star William Shatner will appear on MeTV’s weekday morning series “Toon In With Me” on Sept. 8 at 7 a.m. joining host Bill Leff and cartoon sidekick Toony the Tuna to discuss his current creative projects and reflect on Star Trek’s enduring legacy.
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Tech
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StackAdapt introduced a new measurement feature that connects digital ad exposure to actual consumer spending, allowing advertisers to track economic outcomes while campaigns are still running. The Economic Impact Report, built into the platform’s media buying workflow, is aimed at travel marketers, tourism boards, and brands with location-based goals. It draws on transaction data from Affinity Solutions — covering more than 150 million credit and debit cards and roughly 25% of the U.S. adult population — to link ad impressions to real purchases.
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Executive Moves
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Commerce media platform Disco appointed three senior leaders: David Coleman as Head of Sales; Meghan Jacobi as Enterprise Sales Director, Supply; and Justin Silberman as VP, Product & AI.
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Friday Fun Fact
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Sharks go through 20,000 to 30,000 teeth in a lifetime.
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In what year did Discovery Channel’s Shark Week premiere?
(Email answers to trivia@Cynopsis.com and include your name, company and city. Answers limited to four per time zone.)
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Answer to Our Last Trivia Question
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One of the murderers in the final 2003 episode of “Columbo” was nominated for two Emmy awards this year, one for a comedy and one for a limited series thriller. Who is it? Matthew Rhys.
Congrats to: Phyllis McQuillan-MSG Networks/NYC; Fr. Mark Wajda/Clermont, FL; Tom Moore-Kalt Productions/LA; Susan Nessanbaum Goldberg-M and S Entertainment/LA
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