Cynopsis is introducing a new web feature called In Case You Missed It, which is a quick roundup of the top stories of the previous week in each of our four daily editions. So if you skipped a newsletter, this is where you want to go to make sure you’re up on the latest news, Cynopsis-style, in the worlds of linear, digital, sports, and kids television. Enjoy!
Want to subscribe? Go to Cynopsissubscribe.
A six-car crash early Saturday morning left comedian James McNair (aka Jimmy Mack) dead, and 30 Rock star Tracy Morgan critically injured. Morgan was returning from a tour date in Delaware when the limo bus in which he and McNair were passengers was hit by a tractor-trailer in New Jersey. Two other passengers were left in critical condition.
Fox yanked I Wanna Marry Harry and Riot from its Tuesday sked, replacing them with repeats of comedies Family Guy, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, New Girl and The Mindy Project. Harry and Riot pulled a .4 rating/1 share on Tuesday, the lowest ratings ever for an original series on the Big Four. Fox will make unaired eps of Harry available on Fox.com, Fox on Demand, FOX NOW and Hulu starting this afternoon.
Digital
Viacom sealed a content and marketing deal with DEFY Media. Under the new pact, DEFY will manage Viacom digital properties Addicting Games, GameTrailers and Shockwave, while the network will help to create new ad opportunities and revenue through its subscription-based platforms for DEFY. DM’s reach extends across 155 million monthly unique viewers, with 40 million YouTube subs across its brands including SMOSH, Break, and Made Man.
A year after an admitted racial slur caused her fall from grace and the loss of numerous sponsorships, not to mention her Food Network show, Southern cuisine queen Paula Deen is cooking up a new subscription-based digital destination, called the Paula Deen Network, launching in September. “Guess who’s going digital, y’all!” Deen said. “I’m so excited about my new online Network and can’t wait to show everyone what we’ve been working on.” The new digital shows will include Paula Cooking Light, 20 Minute Meals and One Dish, Three Ways, with episode themes like “Leftover Mondays” or “Taco Tuesdays.” Early registration will begin in July, and pre-registration is available at PaulaDeen.com.
Sports
MTV revealed results of a new survey gauging young people’s excitement for the World Cup across eight of its regions, including Australia, UK, France, Latin America (Argentina, Colombia and Mexico), Germany, Italy, Southeast Asia (Philippines, Malaysia and Singapore) and Spain. The survey found that 61% of Millennials believe the World Cup will be more exciting than the Summer or Winter Olympics, according to the report. Stateside, a similar survey found 74% of American Millennials believe the World Cup is an important event in uniting people around the world, while nearly half agree Millennials are more engaged in the World Cup than older Americans.
Hard Knocks has a new home, as HBO Sports, NFL Films and the Falcons announced that the all-access series would make Atlanta the focus of this year’s edition of the show. Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Atlanta Falcons will debut in August for the franchise’s ninth season with five episodes on Aug. 5 at 10p on HBO. Other hour-long episodes will run on subsequent Tuesdays at the same time, with an encore play Wednesday at 11p. A 30-person NFL Films crew will be at the Falcons’ training camp at team headquarters in Flowery Branch, GA, shooting more than 1,500 hours of footage over the course of the series.
Kids
Nickelodeon is graduating a member of its 2013 Animated Shorts Program to a 13-ep series. Congrats to creator Chris Savino and The Loud House, the first of the class to be greenlit for a series. Inspired by Savino’s (Rocko’s Modern Life, The Powerpuff Girls) chaotic life growing up in a huge household, the series will follow 11-year-old Lincoln as he reveals an inside look at what it takes to survive in the bedlam of a large family, especially as the only boy with 10 sisters. Additionally, Nick picked 11 finalists from its 2014 Animated Shorts Program. The shorts will be produced by year-end to feed the development pipeline.
DHX Media has launched a new division, DHX Brands, to corral its licensing and merchandising activity under a new dedicated consumer products arm. The division will be led by U.K.-basedPeter Byrne, who will serve as EVP, DHX Brands, alongside his role as CEO of DHX Media’s subsidiary licensing agency business CPLG. Also as part of the restructuring, Tor Bushell takes on the position of VP Brand Management, DHX Brands; Paul Keech becomes VP, Creative Services, DHX Brands; and Tom Roe is appointed Commercial Director, DHX Brands, transitioning from CPLG. CPLG will be the appointed agent for selected DHX Brands in all of their subsidiary territories, including the recently expanded presence in North America under Ted Larkins. Both Erin Dippold and Al Fedrigoni will form part of the new North American consumer products team at CPLG. DHX Brands include Teletubbies, Yo Gabba Gabba! Caillou and Johnny Test.
Want to get editions every day? It’s free: go to Cynopsissubscribe.