Good morning. It’s Friday, August 20, 2004, and this is your first early morning briefing.
The owners of the Major League Baseball teams is looking to branch out into a new business – specifically television. The group has decided to try their hand at launching the Baseball Channel for fall 2005. Programming content, beyond games, will include spring training, highlight shows, classic matchups, etc.
NBC’s Olympics pulled a 10.0/28 on Wednesday night in the A18-49 demo according to Nielsen Media Research, with 28.0 million viewers. The closest competitor in the demo was Fox with a 2.1/6. The highest rated hour of the night was at 10p with 31.4 million people tuning in to watch Paul Hamm seemingly lose and then ultimately win the gold, giving NBC a 11.8/31 demo rating. Elsewhere, Fox aired four back to back eps of Family Guy for a 2.1/6 average. Amish in the City on UPN earned a 1.2/4 A18-49, and in the female demos a 1.6/5 in both W18-34 and W18-49. The Player at 9pm stumbled with a 0.7/2, down 26% from last week.
Casting / Development News:
Brandy is finalizing a development deal with Fox to star in a 30m series being developed for next season.
Jason Isaacs has been tapped for Showtime‘s new and as yet untitled drama project from Blake Masters in a classic good vs. evil story about two brothers living in Providence RI. The other is played by Jason Clarke. Isaac’s character is the bad guy – a RI mobster; while Clarke’s character is a good politician (work with me here).
Sources: Hollywood Reporter/Variety
Come October 4, FUSE’s President/General Manager Marc Juris will ankle is post in favor of the General Manager position at CourtTV. Marc will oversee a bevy of depts – programming, production, creative services, marketing and corporate communications, reporting to Art Bell, President/COO. Said Henry Schleiff, Chairman/CEO: “Marc is a branding maven with a tremendous track record of success … Bringing Marc on-board is certainly emblematic of the direction Court TV is going – hip, edgy, young and cutting edge.” (Favorite headline of this story on the net was John Dempsey’s in Variety: “Net’s Juris Prudence.”)
Top 10 M-F Syndicated Strip Series for the week of Aug 2-8, 2004 ranked by HH Rtg Wheel of Fortune (King World) 7.6 AA Jeopardy (King World) 6.4 AA Everybody Loves Raymond (King World) 5.9 AA / 7.4 GAA Oprah (King World) 5.8 AA / 5.9 GAA Seinfeld (Sony) 5.5 AA / 6.7 GAA Friends (Warner Bros.) 5.1 AA / 6.2 GAA Entertainment Tonight (Paramount) 4.5 AA / 4.6 GAA Judge Judy (Paramount) 4.5 AA / 6.5 GAA Dr. Phil (King World) 3.6 AA / 3.6 GAA Millionaire (Buena Vista) 3.6 AA / 3.9 GAA Source Nielsen Media Research
Top 10 M-F Syndicated Strip Series for the week of Aug 2-8, 2004 ranked by A18-49 Seinfeld (Sony) 3.7 AA / 4.4 GAA Friends (Warner Bros.) 3.6 AA / 4.2 GAA Everybody Loves Raymond (King World) 3.5 AA / 4.3 GAA Oprah (King World) 2.4 AA / 2.4 GAA That 70’s Show (Carsey-Werner) 2.3 AA / 2.9 GAA Wheel of Fortune (King World) 2.1 AA Entertainment Tonight (Paramount) 2.0 AA / 2.0 GAA Jeopardy (King World) 1.8 AA Judge Judy (Paramount) 1.8 AA / 2.6 GAA King of the Hill (20th) 1.8 AA / 2.1 GAA Will & Grace (Warner Bros.) 1.8 AA / 2.1 GAA Source Nielsen Media Research
Okay, let’s do a quick poll. Over the past few months several parties have pointed fingers at NBC for using their news programming to promote their entertainment programming. Case in point – Friends departure was featured on both Today and Dateline. And coming up, Dateline will feature a story with ex-Dateliner Jane Pauley on her years of dealing with manic depression. That interview is scheduled for September 1, one day after NBC Universal launches it new syndicated daytime talker The Jane Pauley Show. So here’s the question — is it wrong to use all the resources at hand to create a surge of interest over a show or person? A quick
yes or no – results here Monday. Personally, I’d say no, it’s not wrong. Convenient that this is considered news at this time, sure; but not wrong. But that’s just me.
Passport Syndication will launch its newest weekly show The Ultimate Poker Challenge on September 4. Taped at the Plaza Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, the series features run of the mill players as well as professionals and they butt heads in hopes of winning the pot. Cleared in 80% of the country, the show picks up with cable’s successful infusion of poker players series. The show is hosted by Chad Brown (formerly of As the World Turns), and is exec prod by Dan Pugliese, with Sam Riddle as producer.
African American television homes in the US represent 12,870,000 households. Here are the rankings for the week of August 9-15, 2004 – highest rated primetime network programs in African American TV homes according to Nielsen Media Research UPN Half & Half (Mon 830p) 10.7 HH Rtg ABC AFC-NFC Hall of Fame Game (Mon 8p) 10.0 HH Rtg NBC Summer Olympics –Opening Ceremonies (Fri 8p) 9.9 HH Rtg UPN Eve (Tue 830p) 9.9 HH Rtg ABC My Wife & Kids (Wed 830p) 9.7 HH Rtg UPN Girlfriends (Mon 930p) 9.5 HH Rtg ABC AFC-NFC Hall of Fame Showcase (Mon 8p) 9.4 HH Rtg UPN Girlfriends (Mon 9p) 9.2 HH Rtg NBC Law & Order (Wed 10p) 9.2 HH Rtg CBS CSI (Thu 9p) 9.0 HH Rtg CBS Without a Trace (Thu 10p) 9.0 HH Rtg Source Nielsen Media Research
Top 5 Broadcast Spanish Language Primetime Programs for the week of August 9-15, 2004 ** UNIV Mariana de la Noche (M-F 8p) 20.6 NHTI HH Rtg UNIV Amarte Es Mi Pecado (M-F 9p) 19.5 NHTI HH Rtg UNIV Don Francisco Presenta (Wed 10p) 17.5 NHTI HH Rtg UNIV Mujer De Madera (M-F 7p) 16.3 NHTI HH Rtg UNIV Aqui Y Ahora (Thu 10p) 16.1 NHTI HH Rtg Source: Nielsen Media Research Note: NHTI Ratings are based on 10.57 million Hispanic TV Homes ** Please note that Nielsen Media’s rating parameters have changed for shows that air Monday-Friday to include the 5 day average instead of listing each individual weekday.
Top 5 Broadcast English Language Primetime Programs in Hispanic TV Homes for the week of August 9-15, 2004 NBC Summer Olympics – Opening Ceremonies (Fri 8p) 7.5 NHTI HH Rtg NBC Summer Olympics (Sun 7p) 7.2 NHTI HH Rtg UPN WWE Smackdown! (Thu 8p) 5.9 NHTI HH Rtg FOX Trading Spouses (Tue 8p) 5.3 NHTI HH Rtg NBC Summer Olympics (Sat 830p) 5.1 NHTI HH Rtg Source Nielsen Media Research Note NHTI Ratings are based on 10.57 million Hispanic TV Homes
Do you care that Paris Hilton lost and then found her chihuahua Tinkerbell? Me either.
You may call it the Crossroads of the World, but this weekend New York’s Times Square will be converted to the largest screening room in all New York. On August 21 and 22, beginning at 11am both days, ABC will screen several of its fall pilots including Wife Swap, Desperate Housewives, Boston Legal, Lost, The Benefactor and others. ABC is expected in the neighborhood of 3000 people. The event to all who come by, so if you find yourself with an open schedule, wander on down to Times Square, partake of the balloons, food and drink.
ABC News has named Bob Woodruff the new anchor of World News Tonight Saturday, and Terry Moran as the anchor for World News Tonight Sunday. Previously the post was filled by Elizabeth Vargas, who is making her move over to 20/20. Both Woodruff and Moran will continue as correspondents for World News Tonight with Peter Jennings as well as other ABC News programming.
Wednesday, August 18, 2004. Fast National Household Ratings for all Networks. Fast affiliate numbers which reflect time period data, not program data, and can change slightly once the finals come in, particularly for LIVE programming (i.e. Football). Source Nielsen Media Research.Time Period Averages Only. [p] = Premiere; [o] = Original; [r] = Repeat
NBC 17.0.28 Olympic Summer Games 2004 (8-12m = 16.9/29)
CBS 5.0/8 60 Minutes 5.1/9, King of Queens [r] 4.4/7, King of Queens [r] 4.3/7, 48 Hours [r] 5.5/9
ABC 3.0/5 My Wife & Kids [r] 4.3/8, My Wife & Kids [r] 4.5/8, Drew Carey 2.8/4, Drew Carey 2.3/4, ABC News Special: The Reunion 2.1/3
UPN 1.7/3 Amish in the City 2.1/4, The Player 1.2/2
A18-49 NBC 10.0/28; Fox 2.1/6, CBS 2.0/6, ABC 1.6/5, UPN 1.0/3, WB 0.8/2
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MOVIES MAKE BASIC BETTER!
EXORCIST: THE BEGINNING OPENS TODAY A New Chapter of Evil
Directed by Renny Harlin
Starring Stellan Skarsgård, James D’Arcy and Izabella Scorupco
Available exclusively from Warner Bros. Domestic Cable Distribution
FRIDAY FUN FACT: White Christmas (1954), starring Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye, was the first movie to be made in Vista Vision, a deep-focus process.
The History Channelpresents This Day in History: 1680 – At Santa Fe, Spanish soldiers surrender to native American forces and withdraw from the region, ending the Pueblo Revolt.
Answer to Yesterday’s Trivia Question: What was the name of the ABC, early 1970’s, sitcom family who owned the guinea pigs Myrtle & Mike? THE EVERETT FAMILY, on NANNY AND THE PROFESSOR. Kudos to: David Kern-ITN Networks/NY; Chris Rooney-RSN/Stamford; D. Matt Geller-DLT Ent/NY; Sabrina Del Priore-Oxygen/NY; Kenny Mueller-NCC/Dallas; Sam Lawson-UPN46/St. Louis; John Kukla-KDFW/Dallas; Jason Roland-KMIZ/Columbia; Christie Long-Turner Sports/LA; Karen Bolt-Carrie Prods/LA; John Mazur-XETV, XUPN Direct, LA; Milian Gotovac-ABC Family/LA.
Today’s Trivia Question: This Ralph Edwards show had a buzzer nicknamed Beulah, heard when the wrong answer was given. What was the name of the show? (click hereto respond to the trivia question and please be sure to include with your answer your name, company, city and time zone. Only the second four correct responses from each time zone will be listed in tomorrow’s kudo list.)
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Court TV: The Investigation Channel’s THE SMOKING GUN is on the case…
File it under: “Public Enemy, Private Munchies” What types of cookies are requested by Public Enemy while on tour? Click here for answer
Check out TheSmokingGun.com for more exclusive dish on your favorite celebs…before it’s served up anywhere else!
Later — Cyn
Cynthia Turner’s Cynopsis 08/20/04 Subscriptions to Cynopsis: email C
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WHAT’S ON TONIGHT: FRIDAY, AUGUST 20, 2004:
ABC George Lopez [r], 8 Simple Rules [r], Hope & Faith [r], Less than Perfect [r], 20/20 CBS NFL Preseason Football: Baltimore at Philadelphia (OTO) FOX The Bernie Mac Show x4 [r] NBC Olympic Summer Games 2004 PAX On the Cover, Balderdash, MGM Movie: Rocky V UPN Star Trek Enterprise [r], Amish in the City [r] WB What I Like About You [r], Grounded for Life [r], Reba [r], Blue Collar TV [r] TELE Prisonera, Gitanas, Protagonistas VIP UNIV Mariana de la Noche, Amarte es mi Pecado, La Escuelita VIP
Friday October 11, 2024 IN THE NEWS DirecTV announced plans to launch FAST platform “MyFree DIRECTV” later this year. The service will be accessible across online, mobile, and smart TVs and streaming devices. At launch, the free service will provide viewers with access to curated content and an on-demand library, with additional channels slated […]
A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE FROM GREAT AMERICAN FAMILY Great American Family Flips the Switch Tomorrow! Great American Christmas begins Year 4, cementing our place as the leader in quality content with the biggest stars. Starting tomorrow, 24/7 Christmas movies, including 17 originals added to our exceptional library. It’s not about quantity—it’s about quality. Stars Mario Lopez […]
SENIOR INTEGRATED MARKETING CAMPAIGN PROJECT MANAGER BEACON MEDIA GROUP NY/NJ Seeking a diligent, organized, and enthusiastic individual to join our team as we manage Integrated Marketing Campaigns for a candy manufacturer. Responsibilities include ensuring client satisfaction, managing project timelines, and optimizing campaign effectiveness. If you’re proactive and enjoy collaborating with teams, we want to hear […]
Wednesday October 9, 2024 IN THE NEWS Horizon Media announced a multi-year strategic partnership with AI marketing data analytics startup Akkio, aimed at streamlining the media campaign process. Horizon will integrate its data platform blu. with Akkio’s AI technology in a collaboration Bill Koenigsberg, Founder and CEO of Horizon, maintains will transform the business. […]
Tuesday October 8, 2024 IN THE NEWS The CW is making a switch. Starting tomorrow, October 9, “Inside the NFL” will air Wednesdays at 9p, swapping time slots with drama “Joan,” which will now air Fridays at 9p. “Joan” debuted on October 2 to 290,000 total viewers. NBCUniversal launched new content collection ExcellencE! on […]
