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Happy Friday, readers! Here’s what’s on the docket:
- The UK Approves The Paramount-WBD Merger
- TV Companies Are Earning Big Bucks On Live Sports
- Apple TV’s “Bonfire Of The Vanities” Is Up For Grabs
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In The News
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So much for being “minded to intervene.” Despite previous comments made by UK Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, the country’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has approved Paramount Skydance’s acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery.
- The CMA’s statement concludes that although both companies “compete closely” in theatrical film distribution, children’s TV programming and streaming services, the merged entity will continue to face competition across all three categories.
- While the approval is a positive step forward for Paramount Skydance, the deal is still in limbo in the US, where 12 state attorneys general have sued to block the deal for violating antitrust laws. A federal judge has set a trial date for March 2027, more than six months from now.
- Paramount Skydance (which wanted its M&A trial to go forward in November, by the way) agreed to delay the closure of the deal as late as June 2027 – which could add up to $1.7 billion more to the deal price based on the agreement’s structure.
Today was a big day for TV earnings reports, and not every company fared quite so well last quarter.
- Versant, which spun off from Comcast at the beginning of 2026, announced mixed results. Revenue fell 3.8% on a year-over-year basis due to declining linear TV numbers, but company leadership claims that production on new direct-to-consumer products for MS Now and CNBC is going well.
- Warner Bros. Discovery also faced headwinds on studio and TV ad revenue, partly blaming the loss of its domestic NBA broadcast rights. Unsurprisingly, streaming is the biggest bright spot on the company’s Q2 earnings sheet. WBD’s streaming ad revenue grew 8% YOY, thanks in part to a promising increase in the proportion of HBO Max subscribers signing up for the ad-supported tier. Unlike Paramount Skydance, WBD wasn’t too eager to discuss details during its earnings call about how it expects to benefit from the planned merger between the two media and entertainment giants.
- Fox Corporation, at least, posted eye-catching revenue numbers post-World Cup, particularly in advertising. The company earned $4.2 billion in the previous quarter and a record $17.1 billion for the full fiscal year, in no small part thanks to the FIFA Men’s World Cup and continued growth of its free streaming platform, Tubi.
- The Takeaway: Collectively, these earnings reports reflect a growing trend in the industry away from linear or cable programming and toward streaming instead – with the exception of live sports, which performs well no matter where it ends up.
In other merger and earnings news, Nexstar CEO Perry Sook said on an earnings call Thursday that a settlement to end an antitrust lawsuit against the company’s merger with Tegna might be possible.
- Just before the $6.2 billion acquisition deal was set to close last March, DirecTV and several state attorneys general sued to block the merger.
- Also worth noting is that the FCC today announced the repeal of a restriction that limits companies from owning stations that reach more than 39% of TV households. Assuming the repeal doesn’t face its own court challenges, it would likely affect the outcome of the case against Nexstar.
This year’s genre winners are in. “The Boys” and “Widow’s Bay” scored several wins at the sixth annual Critics Choice Super Awards, which honors titles in the superhero, sci-fi/fantasy, horror and action genres. TV prizes also went to “Task,” “Pluribus” and “Spider-Noir,” as well as Sterling K. Brown in “Paradise,” Kaitlin Olson in “High Potential” and Danielle Brooks in “Peacemaker.”
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Know a Woman Who’s Leading Media Forward? Nominate Her.
The 2026 Cynopsis Top Women in Media Awards honor the most influential women in media, entertainment and advertising. From broadcast networks and streaming platforms to sports, esports and content technology — this program recognizes the full spectrum of female leadership. Nominations close August 7.
Submit Today
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New & Returning Series
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For sneak peeks, check out Cynopsis Trailer Park.
The first teaser for “War,” a London-based legal drama from HBO and Sky Original, hit the internet on Thursday. The series stars Dominic West (“The Wire”) and Sienna Miller (“Anatomy of a Scandal”), was created by George Kay (“Lupin”) and co-produced by New Pictures and Observatory Pictures. The season premiere debuts on Oct. 1.
“Tip Toe,” the critically acclaimed Channel 4 series starring Alan Cumming and David Morrissey, will make its US premiere on Starz Oct. 2.
Season 3 of “Conan O’Brien Must Go,” HBO’s Emmy Award-winning travel series, will premiere on Aug. 21. This time, the comedian is heading to India, the Netherlands, Morocco and the Philippines.
Bravo’s “The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City” returns for Season 7 with a supersized episode on Sept. 16.
The lion does not concern itself with TV premieres, but this one’s happening anyway. National Geographic will release the first episode of its four-part nature documentary, “Lion,” on Aug. 19. The series is executive produced by “The Lion King” (2019) director Jon Favreau, as well as BBC Natural History Unit director Mike Gunton.
TODAY’S PREMIERES
HGTV: “My Lottery Dream Home” Season 19 at 9 p.m.
Netflix: “Death Inc.” Season 3; “Operation Safed Sagar: The Untold Story of the Kargil War”; “Our Sticky Love”; “Ricky Gervais Alley Cats”
WE: “Age Inappropriate” at 9 p.m.
USA: “Anna Pigeon” at 10 p.m.
SUNDAY’S PREMIERES
Bravo: “The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: Roaring 20th” at 9 p.m.
TLC: “Double Lives of Suburban Wives” at 10 p.m.
Prime Video: “The Chosen in the Wild With Bear Grylls”
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Production
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“The Bonfire of the Vanities,” a series adaptation of the 1987 novel by Tom Wolfe slated for production at Apple TV, is up for sale once again. Apple TV spent several months developing the series before deciding not to proceed due to involved parties’ disagreements over the creative vision. Together, Emmy Award-winning TV writer David E. Kelley and production studio Warner Bros. Television are looking for another buyer to continue the series. Matt Reeves (“Batman”) remains the series director.
Hulu greenlit another 20 episodes of “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,” which will cover Seasons 6 and 7. Season 5, which was interrupted by video evidence of Taylor Frankie Paul’s domestic violence case, will also be shortened.
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Tech News You Can Use
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On top of Fox’s successful earnings report Thursday morning, AVOD streaming platform Tubi also announced that it has reached 110 million monthly users, 60% of whom are Gen Z and Millennials. More than 20 million of those viewers came to the platform for World Cup content.
More brands want employees to make content on the job. Gap Inc. recently expanded access to its creator program to employees across its brands, which include Old Navy and Banana Republic.
- These employees can earn commission from sharing affiliate links alongside personalized content on social media platforms.
- The move means Gap is joining the ranks of brands and retailers establishing both informal and officially sanctioned employee creator programs, including Starbucks’ Green Apron Creators network.
- Brands weren’t always happy about employees making social videos featuring their products and storefronts (remember the Sherwin-Williams employee who was fired after making viral videos of mixing paint in 2020?), but at this point in time, the user engagement and sales that creators elicit are just too tempting for brands to pass up.
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Coming Up
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A+E Global announced two new projects to commemorate the 25th anniversary of 9/11. “102 Minutes Inside the Towers,” a documentary special for the History Channel, will premiere on Sept. 11; the other, “Angel in the Rubble: The Genelle Guzman Story,” will air on Lifetime on Sept. 12. Both will be produced by “Good Morning America” co-anchor Robin Roberts.
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Sport Report
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Digital sports content is countering the short-form video trend by focusing on long-form videos instead, according to new research from Creator Sports Capital founder and former YouTube executive Benjamin Grubbs.
- While other creators (and major TV studios, too, of course) are embracing microdramas and quick clips, Good Good Golf is developing videos that are three times longer (96 minutes in 2026 compared to 29 minutes in 2021). These videos attract double the engagement and 61% of watch time happens on television.
- Grubbs cites this as evidence of a “long-form countermovement,” one where YouTube videos “look more like broadcast television than social video.”
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Ratings
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Peter Parker might be the Spider-Man who’s cleaning up at the box office, but Miles Morales gets more play on streaming. According to Nielsen, the two animated “Spider-Verse” movies have been viewed on TV and streaming for more minutes in the US than any other iteration of the film franchise. However, all 10 “Spider-Man” movies combined can’t hold a candle to the “Spidey and His Amazing Friends” children’s cartoon series, which has been watched for almost double the amount of minutes (74 billion vs. 38 billion).
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Executive Moves
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ITV Studios appointed a number of senior leaders to its global team for Studio 55, including Lou Black as global SVP of brand and commercial partnerships; Amy Johal as VP of creator partnerships; Remy Kirk as VP of brand solutions; and John Taite as VP of brand partnerships in North America.
Pinterest hires David Brinker as global head of content as the company shoulders its way into the streaming TV ecosystem.
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Friday Fun Fact
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Identical twins do not have the same fingerprints.
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NSYNC member Chris Kirkpatrick once said he was more famous for his role on a popular children’s animated series than he was for his boy band career. What is the name of that show?
(Email answers to trivia@Cynopsis.com and include your name, company and city. Answers limited to four per time zone.)
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Yesterday’s Trivia Answer
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A Season 2 episode of “Portlandia” (2011-2018) featured a small “Battlestar Galactica” (2004-2009) reunion. Name two of the three “Battlestar” alumni who appeared. James Callis (Dr. Gaius Baltar), Edward James Olmos (Commander William Adama) and Ronald D. Moore (showrunner).
Congrats to: Lisa Ciancarelli-Infinitum/NYC; Tom Moore-Kalt Productions/LA; Susan Nessanbaum-Goldberg-M and S Entertainment/LA
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