CYNTHIA TURNER’S
Cynopsis

08/26/05

Good morning.  It’s Friday, August 26, 2005, and this is your first early morning briefing – on time and early in the morning!

Raycom Media has entered into an agreement to purchase Liberty Media for $987 million, and assume approx $110 million in Liberty debt.  Liberty owns 15 network affiliates in midsized markets – four of which are in markets Raycom already has a station: Wilmington NC, Toledo, Albany GA, and Columbia SC. The sale is pending FCC approval and the parties hope to have it wrapped up by the end of the calendar year.

Come January 1, 2006, the number of Total US TV Households will be bumped up to 110,200,000, according to Nielsen Media Research, an increase of 0.5% from this year.  That number will be reflected in the whole of the 2005-06 television season, beginning September 24th. The number of total ethnic homes for 2006 has been increased as well: 

• African American Households up to 13,280,000 (up by 0.8% vs. 2005);
• Hispanic TV Households 11,230,000 (+2.9%) and
• Asian TV Households up to 4,220,000 (+3.2%). 

There are also changes in the DMA market rankings, which Nielsen attributes in part to a migration of people to the south and west, which is consistent with data from the US Census bureau.  Among the market ranking changes in the Top 20 DMAs are Houston moves into the Top 10 (Detroit drops to #11); Tampa will be #12 while Seattle drops down to #13; and Phoenix moves up to #14 pushing Minneapolis down to #15.  There are quite a few other changes; check with your Nielsen rep for the full comparative chart.

The War of the Worlds (DreamWorks) will be split between ABC and TNT, according to Variety, and the pair will pay a fee of approx $25 million.   In the past, theatrical films going to television usually picked up a licensing fee of 15% of the domestic box office.  Not this time.  The box office to date for World is in the $230 million neighborhood, which means the networks are paying approx 11% of box office.  This film will go to HBO first (summer 2006 thru all of 2007), then to ABC 2nd qtr 2008 where it stays for three years and up to 3 primetime airings, and the finally on to TNT in 2011 for two more years, and then finishes up back at HBO for one more year.  In 2014 the film also goes to Tribune Entertainment, who has the syndication rights to the DreamWorks titles.

Two new series coming to HGTV this fall.  The first debuts on August 31 at 9p, called Buy Me.  This show takes you behind-the-scenes of real estate deals where real people are selling their homes, and real people are buying.  If you’ve ever been on either side of the table, you know what you’re in for with this show.  The second new show coming to HGTV is called My First Place, set to debut on October 22 at 9p. This weekly show captures all the drama of the highs and lows of first time buyers.  Hosted by Jill Cordes.

Correction : If you didn’t see this yesterday around 2:45p ET, here it is again just to make sure we all get it – I made an error in yesterday’s edition.  I misinterpreted a story in Daily Variety, and unfortunately reported the story on Comedy Central‘s series Weekends at the D.L. incorrectly.  The show HAS NOT been pulled from the schedule.  The show has been airing on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights, and Comedy Central has decided to stop airing the Sunday edition.  The episodes on Friday and Saturday will continue as originally scheduled, and for good reason.  This past weekend, its fourth outing since its premiere, and its first weekend without the Sunday run, the Fri-Sat combo averaged 682,000 total viewers, and 435,000 A18-49 viewers. That marks the series highest average to date. The program also averages a median age of 30. And finally, the Friday 8/26 episode of Weekends at the D.L. was on the Tivo list of top shows subscribers were watching last week.

The Style Network has picked up the syndicated series Ambush Makeover, distributed by 20th Television.  The series follows a team of Style Agents as they first ambush, and then makeover their mark.  The show will begin airing on Style on September 12, M-F at 6p.

I want my MTV, becomes I want my VMAs, for 30 days.  Beginning this Sunday, August 29 following the live broadcast of the MTV Video Music Awards, MTV will launch My VMAs on its new broadband video channel MTV Overdrive.  My VMAs will provide users with exclusive content from the VMAs and related festivities, including expanded footage from the “white” carpet fashion coverage; arrivals; backstage artist interviews; as well as more music performances produced specifically for Overdrive.  At the end of the TV Post Show, the on-air talent will toss to an extended After-Show that will be available exclusively on MTV Overdrive.  At the conclusion of the After Show, VMA elements will begin to be made available on Overdrive at MTV.com, and following that fans will have 30 days during to access the entire VMA pre-show, main show and post-show on MTV Overdrive.

Broadcast Daytime Ratings Rankings – Women 18-49, week of Aug 15-21, 2005:
CBS:    Young & Restless         2.2/14
NBC:    Days of Our Lives       1.9/12
ABC:    General Hospital                 1.9/11
ABC:    One Life to Live                 1.9/11
ABC:    All My Children          1.7/11
CBS:    Bold & Beautiful                 1.7/10
CBS:    Price is Right 2                 1.5/11
NBC:    Passions                  1.4/8
CBS:    As the World Turns      1.3.8
CBS:    Guiding Light            1.3/7
CBS:    Price is Right 1                 1.3/9
ABC:    The View                 1.1/8
Source: Nielsen’s Galaxy Explorer, NTI as dated

Top 10 M-F Syndicated Strip Series for the week of Aug 8-14, 2005 ranked by HH Rtg
Wheel of Fortune (King World)                  7.4 AA
Jeopardy (King World)                                5.8 AA
Oprah (King World)                                    5.6 AA / 5.7 GAA
Everybody Loves Raymond (King World)  5.5 AA / 6.7 GAA
Seinfeld (Sony)                                           5.4 AA / 6.8 GAA
Friends (Warner Bros.)                              4.9 AA / 6.2 GAA
Judge Judy (Paramount)                            4.7 AA / 7.3 GAA
Dr. Phil (King World)                                  4.2 AA / 4.2 GAA
Entertainment Tonight (Paramount)          4.2 AA / 4.3 GAA
Regis & Kelly (Buena Vista)                       3.5 AA
Maury (NBC Universal)                     3.1 AA / 3.4 GAA
Source: Nielsen Media Research

Top 10 M-F Syndicated Strip Series for the week of Aug 8-14, 2005 ranked by A18-49
Seinfeld (Sony)                                           3.6 AA / 4.5 GAA
Friends (Warner Bros.)                              3.4 AA / 4.2 GAA
Everybody Loves Raymond (King World)  3.2 AA / 3.8 GAA
Oprah (King World)                                    2.3 AA / 2.3 GAA
Wheel of Fortune (King World)                  2.0 AA
That 70’s Show (Carsey-Werner)              2.0 AA / 2.4 GAA
Judge Judy (Paramount)                            1.8 AA / 2.7 GAA
King of the Hill (20th)                                  1.8 AA / 2.2 GAA
King of Queens (Sony)                     1.7 AA / 2.2 GAA
Entertainment Tonight (Paramount)          1.7 AA / 1.8 GAA
Maury (NBC Universal)                     1.7 AA / 1.8 GAA
Source: Nielsen Media Research

Fox has ordered a script of a comedy called That Guy from executive producer Ivan Reitman.  The story centers on a mid-thirties guy who decides it would be a good idea to live his live as a 21 year old, and all that entails. 

Fox has added Sean Astin to the cast of 24 (20th/Imagine Television) as a regular, according to Variety.  He will part of the Counter Terrorist Unit.  Astin joins Jean Smart, Brady Corbett and Connie Britton who are also all new regulars on the show when it re-launches on January 8 at 8p.

Casting Note:  RDF Media is now casting for Season 2 of ABC’s series Wife Swap. They’re looking for fun and unique families to go on a journey of a
lifetime.  If your family is ready for primetime, please send a photo and a brief paragraph about yourself to: 
rdfusa
.

It’s official.  Susanne Daniels has been named President/Entertainment, Lifetime Entertainment Services, starting September 12.  The announcement was made by Betty Cohen, President and CEO, Lifetime Entertainment Services.  Susanne will be based in LA, and will be responsible for all programming on Lifetime Television and Lifetime Movie Network, as well as Lifetime Real Women.

Tiger Aspect Productions has named Sophie Clarke-Jervoise as Senior Executive, effective November 1st.   Currently Head of Comedy at the BBC, in her new role Sophie will be responsible for overseeing Tiger Aspect’s comedy activity, managing the department, and developing original programming, as well as working on a number of series already in development.  She will work alongside Geoffrey Perkins, Tiger Aspect’s Creative Director for Comedy.

Rick Stanley has been named VP/GM of Comcast Spotlight in the San Francisco DMA moving from his position as VP/GM of Comcast Spotlight in Seattle, WA.  He is also responsible for the sales and operations of the Monterey-Salinas market and will be located at the Comcast Spotlight San Francisco offices. Greg Bennett replaces Rick as VP/GM of Comcast Spotlight/Seattle.

Wednesday — A18-49 Analysis: Fox led on Wednesday night with a 3.2/9 A18-49 in the final numbers from Nielsen Media Research.  CBS was #2 with a 2.4/7, and was followed by NBC 2.1/6, ABC 1.7/5, UPN 1.0/3, WB .8/2.  At 8p Fox was in front with the pre-show of So You Think You Can Dance (the elimination period from the previous week),and earned a 2.5/8 for that 30m portion.  Thereafter, the remaining 90m of the show averaged a 3.4/9.  The final hour of Brat Camp at 9p on ABC delivered a 2.3/6, and Rock Star INXS with a special 60m ep at 9p delivered a 2.6/7.  At 10p a repeat of Law & Order on NBC earned a 2.7/8.

FINAL HOUSEHOLD RATINGS: Wednesday, August 24,  2005, for all Networks – program averages. Source: Nielsen Media Research. 

FOX     5.3/9    So You Think You Can Dance 5.3/8

NBC     5.1/9    Meet Mr. Mom 3.1/5,  Law & Order [r] 5.5/9, Law & Order [r] 6.8/12

CBS     4.4/7    Still Standing [r] 4.2/8, Yes Dear [r] 4.2/7, Rock Star: INXS 3.9/6, CSI: NY [r] 5.0/9

ABC     3.3/6    Brat Camp [f] 2.9/5, Brat Camp [f] 4.3/7, Lost [r] 2.8/5

UPN     1.7/3    R U THE GIRL 2.0/4, Veronica Mars [r] 1.3/2

WB      1.2/2    One Tree Hill [r] 1.1/2, Smallville [r] 1.4/2

A18-49            Fox 3.2/9, CBS 2.4/7, NBC 2.1/6, ABC 1.7/5, UPN 1.0/3, WB .8/2

Friday Fun Fact: Liv Tyler was named her after film actress Liv Ullmann because she was reportedly on the cover of “TV Guide” the week baby Liv was born. She’s the daughter of Aerosmith lead singer Steve Tyler and Bibi Buell

The History Channel presents This Day in History:
1920-Women are guaranteed the right to vote when Tennessee ratifies the Nineteenth Amendment, which is formally proclaimed adopted by Secretary of State Bainbridge Colby.  After more than 70 years of struggle by woman suffragists, Congress and the states agreed that gender, like race, could not bar a U.S. citizen from the franchise.

Answer to Yesterday’s Trivia Question: Where would one find a Fish, a Cage, and a female attorney?   ALLY McBEAL     Kudos to:  Melanie Scheer-Discovery Communications/NY; Judi Kahl-DIY Network and Great American Country/Knoxville; Tom Calato-WKMG/Orlando; Michele Stark-Comcast Spotlight/Washington DC; Bonita Holifield-Nielsen Media Research/Chicago; Randy Ingram-WISH/WNDY/Indianapolis; Raoul Mowatt/Chicago; Adam Leston-WDJT/WMLW/Milwaukee; Amy Horton-WHERE Magazine/San Diego; Elizabeth Berman-KING 5 TV/Seattle; Janice Ogata-Daileyceleb/LA; Susan Goldberg-MTV Networks/LA; Lynn Valiquette-Ellis Releasing/Toronto Ontario; Michelle Daly-The Comedy Network/Toronto Ontario; Richard Martin-Funky Formats/London; Daniel Nettleton-RDF Media/London

A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE FROM COURT TV

Today’s Trivia Question: This actor grew up in Florida on the east coast.  In the town he lived, his dad was the town’s police chief.  Who is this long time actor? (click here with your answer and be sure to include your name, company, city and time zone. Unofficial rules: Only the second four correct answers from each time zone will be mentioned; and once you’ve been mentioned in any of the Cynopsis editions, you can’t be mentioned again that calendar week.)

Later — Cyn
08.26.05  – 5:11am
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Copyright Cynthia Turner 2005

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WHAT’S ON TONIGHT:  Friday, August 26, 2005

ABC              Supernanny, Hope & Faith [r],  20/20
CBS              60 Minutes, The Cut, Numb3rs
FOX              Sports Special:  NFL Preseason Football
NBC              Dateline, Crossing Jordan [r]
PAX              America’s Talented Kids [r], Movie: Jack & Sarah
UPN              Movie:  All About the Benjamins
WB               What I Like About You [r], Blue Collar TV [r], Reba [r], Living with Fran [r]
TELE             El Cuerpo del Deseo, Los Plateados, El Principe Azul
UNIV             Inocente de ti,  Apuesta por un Amor,  La Madrasta,  Asies Gilberto Gless