A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE FROM WARNER BROS. DOMESTIC CABLE DISTRIBUTION
THEATRICALS DELIVER TIME & TIME AGAIN!
MURDER BY NUMBERS (35th Run) – #1 on AMC
WILLY WONKA & THE CHOC. FACTORY (96th Run) – #1 on ABC Family
SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION (137th Run) – Top 5 on Spike
WARNER BROS. MOVIES MAKE BASIC BETTER
Source: NTI, HH Cvg Rtg, 2/12-2/19/06, Live+SD A18-49 Cvg Rtg. Series=Trck, Movies=TC. Murder=Su 8p, Willy=Sa 8p, ties Sixth Sense. Shawshank=Fri 9p. # of runs on Basic Cable.
CYNTHIA TURNER’S
Cynopsis
02/24/06
Good morning. It’s Friday, February 24, 2006, and this is your first early morning briefing.
Fox Cable Networks will purchase Turner South, Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.’s Atlanta-based regional sports and entertainment network. The cable and satellite television service currently reaches approximately 8 million subscribers across a six-state region. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed. The Turner South acquisition brings the total number of FCN owned-and-operated regional programming networks to 15, and together they reach more than 80 million cable and satellite subscribers in 40 of America’s 50 largest cities.
* MORE GOOD STUFF *
Sundance Channel announces a new Sunday night programming section, Asia Extreme, which showcases films from South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Japan. Eight Asian feature films distributed by Tartan U.S.A., a primary provider of horror and crime films from the East, will form the cornerstone of Asia Extreme. The new slate airs Sunday nights at 12a, beginning April 2.
Last night was a tough TV watching night – at least for those of us not using TIVO or without multiple sets in the same room. From 8-9p in this house, the remote was smoking, flipping between figure skating on the Olympics (my choice), Survivor (everyone’s choice), American Idol (son’s choice) and Dancing with the Stars (also my choice). Since I had the remote, I got to decide when we’d flip, and that meant every time I landed back on ice skating the room groaned. Of course, if I landed back on freestyle ski jumping, there was plenty of “wait, keep it here!”. I don’t think we’d want this problem every night, but I don’t believe I can think of a single time in the last dozen years when we’ve had this hard a time thoroughly enjoying ourselves.
iTunes announced yesterday it has sold/downloaded its one billionth song, which was Speed of Sound by Cold Play. iTunes has been in service for just three years. Since iTunes began offering videos to download in October, it has surpassed more than 15 million video downloads in a little over four months. The happy buyer is a fella from
Cynopsis Question: A week ago we asked you what you thought was the best commercial of all time. After hundreds of responses, here are your Top 10 in rank order:
Wendy’s: Where’s the Beef?
Coca Cola: I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing
Coca Cola: Mean Joe Green
Alka Seltzer: I can’t believe I at the whole thing – meatball
Apple: 1984
Staples: Back to School Campaign: It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year
Anheuser Busch: Clydesdales bow heads to NYC and the site of the former World Trade Center buildings
Dunkin Donuts: Time to Make the Donuts
Pepsi: Lots of Puppies climbing all over a little blond haired boy (interesting how many weren’t sure what the product was in this ad)
Tabasco: Exploding mosquito
VW: VW driver arrives at the wedding late
The advertiser who consistently got the most votes regardless of the specific ad, was Volkswagen. Your VW favorites included: psychedelic Bug and the hippies; Man tackles shopping cart before it hits his VW; VW can go forward and backward; driver inherits a hundred billion dollars for being smart enough to drive a VW; Bug floats!; and the couple who decide to continue enjoy driving in their VW rather than stop and go inside to the party.
* NEW ORDERS / CASTING / DEVELOPMENT / PRODUCTION *
CBS has ordered a drama project called Waterfront starring Joe Pantoliano (aka Joey Pants). The story focuses on the Mayor of Providence, Rhode Island, played by Pantoliano.
Casting Notes …
Gary Danielson, a 13-year National Football League veteran and former Purdue University quarterback, joins CBS Sports as lead analyst for the CBS Television Network‘s coverage of college football.
ABC:
- Calista Flockheart and Rachel Griffiths have joined the cast of Brothers & Sisters. This is Flockheart’s first return to series TV since the end of Ally McBeal.
- Drama pilot Traveler has added Steven Culp to the lineup. The Traveler is about three graduate students – one frames the other two for a museum bombing.
Fox:
- Thriller pilot Beyond set in the NASA jet propulsion’s lab, has added Jonah Lotan and Rachel Stirling to the cast.
- Primary, a drama project about a pair of hostage negotiators, has added Ron Livinston and the male lead.
CBS:
- In the still untitled Carol Mendelsohn drama project, Alan Tudyk has been cast as one of the legal associates. Tudyk’s character hails from a posh Ivy League law school.
- Play Nice has added Swoosie Kurtz as the mother and widow of the family toy company which has now been inherited and will be run by their son and daughter. Timm Sharp has previously been cast as the brother, and Sara Rue as the sister.
- Comedy project Sex, Power, Love & Politics has added James Van Der Beek. The cast also includes Jane Krakowski and Jay Harrington.
- And the comic-book inspired pilot project Ultra has added Peter Dinklage in the role of The Scientist. Playing our superhero who is single gal pal by day and ultra superhero by night, is Lena Headey.
* EXECUTIVE MOVES *
Steve Sidel is upped to Pres/Discovery Education at Discovery Communications, reporting to Judith McHale, Pres/CEO. Steve will oversee a new combined business division — Discovery Education, School Services and Discovery Education, Home Services — with an Executive Vice President running each business unit reporting to him.
Jason Jordhamo becomes Executive Director/Daypart Marketing for ABC reporting to Warren Siddall. Jason will have overall management responsibility for the development of sales strategies and presentations for Prime, Day, News, JKL, SOAPnet, Unlimited, and Interactive. Ann Marie Granite also joins the department as Associate Director/Customized Marketing reporting to Amy Porter, Executive Director/Customized Marketing. Ann Marie will develop customized research and sales materials for the New York, Detroit and LA Divisional offices.
Paul Condolora is upped to SVP and GM/Cartoon Network New Media, reporting to Mark Norman, SVP/Business Operations, Cartoon Network U.S. and Boomerang. Based in Atlanta, Paul will develop new Cartoon Network and Adult Swim-branded products, services and marketing initiatives for broadband, VOD, wireless and interactive television, also overseeing the creative development and day-to-day operations for CartoonNetwork.com, AdultSwim.com, CartoonNetworkYA.com, and TickleU.com.
Lori Sale will lead ICM’s new Global Branded Entertainment division, designed to further leverage the convergence of worldwide brands and the agency’s assets across the film, television, music and publishing industries. Lori comes from The Weinstein Company, where she was EVP/Worldwide Promotion.
Robert Pini becomes SVP/Corporate Communications of New Line Cinema, reporting to Christina Kounelias, EVP/Publicity and Corporate Communications. Robert will serve as a corporate liaison to Time Warner and will oversee corporate publicity opportunities for New Line Cinema.
* CYNOPSIS EDITORIAL *
Who Needs Gold for Every Night’s 18-49 Prime — When You’ve Got Lots of Them in Hand, and on Hip?
By Alli Joseph
There has been much ado in the trades lately about NBC going on the defensive about its Winter Olympics ratings being more slippery than the slopes in Turin. But the funny part is, if you sift through said articles carefully, you’ll read that the BMIC (Big Men in Charge, and Women, too) seem less hysterical about primetime ratings lately than journalists think they should be. Though it must be said that network reps are still often on the “offensive”, defending their programming choices, is their conviction a front? Or is it the sanguine virtual promise of ancillary revenue streams that’s calming them?
NBC said that NBCOlympics.com has already had the online video streams accessed at least 5 million times. In fact, NBC Olympics Chairman Dick Ebersol told the Hollywood Reporter that it’s the first time that the company will make a profit from the Web site, saying it will be $5 million-$6 million. “Our Internet business is exploding,” he said. “We’ve already reached in the first eight days of these Olympics the total number of people that we reached during the games in Salt Lake City.” “Our multi-platform strategy is working,” Randy Falco, Pres/COO of NBC Universal Network Television Group told Mediaweek.
Plus, with the ability to premiere pilot episodes of new series, like Conviction, on Apple’s iTunes Music Store for free (on March 3, they will be the first network to do so), NBC will increase brand and potential ad revenue for all of the network’s platforms, as the market for wireless portable entertainment devices continues to explode. Other networks have seen the same dollar signs in offering their own on-air properties online and on-demand to broadband providers and devices, with UPN streaming the pilot of Everybody Hates Chris on Google, and Showtime and the WB offering Fat Actress and Supernatural, respectively, on Yahoo! in the past year.
The Olympics will be over soon, but the opportunities for networks like NBC, Showtime and UPN (or now, the CW) to grow their mobile distribution content of big earners – original programming, particularly new series with big stars and big sponsors – will go the distance.
–Alli Joseph is a multimedia writer/producer, television host and media consultant in New York with years of experience doing almost every job in the broadcast and Internet trenches; she’s still standing.
* RATINGS *
Top 10 M-F Syndicated Strip Series for the week of Feb 06-Feb 12, 2006 ranked by HH Rtg
Wheel of Fortune (King World) 8.9 AA
Oprah (King World) 7.8 AA / 7.9 GAA
Jeopardy (King World) 7.3 AA
Everybody Loves Raymond (King World) 6.5 AA / 8.5 GAA
Seinfeld (Sony) 6.0 AA / 7.6 GAA
Dr. Phil (King World) 5.8 AA / 5.8 GAA
Entertainment Tonight (Paramount) 5.7 AA / 5.8 GAA
Judge Judy (Paramount) 5.1 AA / 8.0 GAA
Friends (Warner Bros.) 5.0 AA / 6.6 GAA
That ’70s Show (Carsey Werner) 4.4 AA / 5.6 GAA
Source: Nielsen Media Research
Top 10 M-F Syndicated Strip Series for the week of Feb 06-Feb 12, 2006 ranked by A18-49
Seinfeld (Sony) 4.0 AA / 5.0 GAA
Everybody Loves Raymond (King World) 3.7 AA / 4.7 GAA
Friends (Warner Bros.) 3.5 AA / 4.6 GAA
That ’70s Show (Carsey-Werner) 3.1 AA / 3.9 GAA
Oprah (King World) 3.1 AA / 3.2 GAA
Wheel of Fortune (King World) 2.5 AA
Entertainment Tonight (Paramount) 2.5 AA / 2.5 GAA
Jeopardy (King World) 2.1 AA
Dr. Phil (King World) 2.1 AA / 2.1 GAA
Judge Judy (Paramount) 1.8 AA / 2.7 GAA
Source: Nielsen Media Research
Wednesday – A18-49 Analysis: Fox led on Wednesday night with an original American Idol, earning an overall 13.4/32 A18-49 with no competition in sight, according to fast affiliate numbers from Nielsen Media Research. NBC was #2 with 4.5/11, followed by CBS 2.8/7, ABC 2.4/6, UNI 1.7/4, Tele and WB tying with a 0.7/2, and UPN 0.6/1. Fox easily won the 8p hour with an 11.2/30 for Idol holding its lead through the 9p hour with a 14.2/33, almost four times the share of NBC’s Olympics. NBC took the lead at 10p from Torino with 5.6/14.
Live + Same Day Ratings: Wednesday, February 22, 2006 – time period averages. Source: Nielsen Media Research
FOX 18.1/27 American Idol 18.1/27
NBC 9.7/15 Winter Olympics 9.7/15
CBS 6.4/10 Still Standing 4.3/7, Still Standing 4.3/6, Criminal Minds [r] 6.4/9, Criminal Minds [r] 8.4/14
ABC 4.1/6 George 4.0/6, Freddie 3.6/5, Lost [r] 4.4/6, Lost [r] 4.1/7
UNIV 2.1/3 Contra Viento Y Marea 2.2/3, Alborada 2.3/3, Don Francisco Presenta 1.7/3
WB 1.5/2 Movie: Orange County 1.5/2
UPN 1.2/2 South Beach 1.2/2, Veronica Mars [r] 1.2/2
TELE 0.8/1 El Cuerpo del Deseo 1.1/2, Tierre de Pasiones 1.0/2, Corazon Partido 0.9/1, Decisiones-Casos Extraordinarios 0.6/1, Decisiones 0.6/1
A18-49 Fox 13.4/32, NBC 4.5/11, CBS 2.8/7, ABC 2.4/6, Uni 1.7/4, Tele and WB 0.7/2, UPN 0.6/1
Friday Fun Fact: A goldfish has a memory span of three seconds.
The History Channel presents This Day in History:
1981 – Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer put an end to rumors and speculation and announce that they will be wed in the summer.
Answer to Yesterday’s Trivia Question: In what film did the character named Psycho confess his name real was Francis? STRIPES Kudos to: Robert Owen-Millennia 3 Television/Atlanta; Al Tucker-Advantage Media/New Albany OH; Julie Riley-Strata Marketing/Atlanta; Marge Pistulka-Empower Media Marketing/Coral Springs FL; Lucie Pran-The Richards Group/Dallas; Lance Papenfuss-KTTC; Brian Nugent-KPIF/Chubbuck ID; Jay Flora-WXIN/Indianapolis; Harlan Gulko-Focus Features/LA; Colleen Raymann-Buena Vista Television/Burbank; David Korduner-DGA/LA; LeeAnn Webster-O’Melveny & Myers/LA; Vic Lowrey-Freelance Editor/Santa Clarita CA; Mitch Altman-Click Media/Toronto
Today’s Trivia Question: Dr. Carolyn Ryan was forced to temporarily close her practice during the scandal revolving around her son’s involvement with the murder of his girlfriend. What ’90s thriller was this? (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
02.24.06 – 5:09a
Ad Sales – Barbara Shapiro – 203-583-1224 / [email protected]
Classifieds – Trish Pihonak – 203.926-9878 (new number!) / [email protected]
Cynopsis : In Your Ear podcast available for download at iTunes and/or Yahoo Podcast at http://podcasts.yahoo.com/
Subscribe, unsubscribe, or change a subscription for any Cynopsis edition: www.cynopsis.com
Archived Editions: www.Cynopsis.com
Press Release Fax: 203-926-9865 (new number!)
All outgoing e-mails are scanned and sent out virus free.
Copyright Cynthia Turner 2006
Cynopsis CLASSIFIEDS–
JOB OPENING: DIR MEDIA STRAT/Nat Geo Chan/DC: Dvlp/impl media strat & drive ratings. Tech savvy indv.-interpret ratings & dvlp strat. 7+yrs exp/media planning, off/on-air strat/TV/cable. BA deg. www.foxcareers.com . (#fng1108)EOE (3/3)
JOB OPENING: DIR MKTG/Nick Toons/NY: Drct mgmt & dev mktg plns/advrtsng 4 Ntwrk, exlnt prsnt/commu/cr8tv skls, strng brnd grwth emrgn + all media pltfrms 7 yrs cnsmr mktg + pasn 4 toons. EOE/M/F/D/AAP. Apply www.mtvncareers.com (3/3)
JOB OPENING: MGR LICNSEE COMPLI/Nick/NY: Dvlp cnsmr prds dpt licnsg ops matrls + adhc rprtng, dev raprt + cmplianc w/lcnse prtnrs, 5yrs lic rprtng. CMS knwldga+, strng wrtng/com skls. EOE/M/F/D/AAP. Apply www.mtvncareers.com (3/3)
JOB OPENING: ANALYST, PROGRAMMING RESEARCH/TBS/TNT: is looking for an to support movies & specials. Min 1+ yr media research experience. Knwlg. of Nielsen systems and media math essential. Visit www.turnerjobs.com (3/3)
JOB OPENING: SR PROJ MGR/TNT Research/ATL: Design & analyze market research studies; Manage research projects to support Turner network & sports initiatives; 5-7 yrs marketing & media research exp. Visit www.turnerjobs.com (3/3)
JOB OPENING: SALES ASST/National CineMedia/NY: Support for 2 Ntl Acct Directors. PC and excel savvy, MS Office, great oral & written skills, good multi-tasker, 4 yr degree & prior office exp pref. Email: [email protected] (3/3)
JOB OPENING: PROD MGR/NYC: Prod Co seeks organized, detail oriented individual to manage daily activities of studio based production, pilot to series. Resumes to: [email protected] (3/3)
JOB OPENING: DIRECTOR, NEWS MARKETING/NBC Universal, NY: Set ad sales marketing strategy. Avg 10 yrs exp at agency, media, sales, or research. Strong comm & creative skills. Apply www.gecareers.com job #491799 (3/2)
JOB OPENING: ADMIN ASSISTANT/WE/NYC – Bright, detail oriented, highly org, admin prof for Sr. Ad Sales Exec. Exp w/mktg or sales support, Degree pref. resumes to [email protected] (3/2)
JOB OPENING: ASSISTANT/NYC: Re-organized prod co. seeks self-motivated, intelligent indv. for entry level pos. Must have follow thru w/strong phone skills, research knwldg & excellent writing skills a must. [email protected] (3/1)
JOB OPENING: SENIOR RESEARCH PROFESSIONAL/SMITH GEIGER /LA/NY. Design & enterprise quant & qual research plans. Deliver findings to blue chip clients. Adv degree. 8 years exp. Exc comm a must. [email protected] (3/1)
JOB OPENING: RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES/Discovery Nets, NY: DIRECTOR/MGR/STRATEGIST. Exp w/quantitative & qualitative data req (Nielsen/MRI/primary research design);TV Exp a Must. Apply: www.discovery.com . Job req #’s 3360/3358/3368 (3/1)
JOB OPENING: DIR, SALES DEV & PROMOS/Nick /NYC: Dev promos/retail prgrms, liaison w/mktg, 57 yrs cnsmr prods mktg/sales, Home Ent/DVD/cnsmr media exp a must, strng intrprsnl/commun skills. EOE/M/F/D/AAP. Apply www.mtvncareers.com (3/1)
JOB OPENING: SALES COORDINATOR/Rainbow/NY-Support busy Affiliate Sales team w/all admin aspects. 2 yrs office exp. Must be a self starter w/exc comm and PC skills. Cable preferred. res to [email protected] (3/1)
JOB OPENING: MARKETING ADMINISTRATOR/Rainbow/NY-Assist Affiliate Sales team w/all aspects of Sales, Mktg and client service. 2 yrs Cable Sales or Mktg. Strong org, comm & project planning. res to [email protected] (3/1)
JOB OPENING: CREATIVE SERVICES DIRECTOR/FOX Affiliate/Northern CA: For more info visit: http://fox40.trb.com/about/station/jobs . To apply send resume to: Fax: (916) 733-3110; Email: [email protected]. EOE (3/1)
JOB OPENING: SALES PLANNER/ Court TV, NY: For info go to: http://www.courttv.com/about/careers/ (2/28)
JOB OPENING: COORDINATOR, TRADE MKTG/WE/NYC Exp as Mktg assist/coord in trade focused environ (TV pref). Pro-active, organized team player needed. MS office, degree req. res to [email protected] (2/25)
JOB OPENING: FREELANCE PRODUCERS ON AIR PROMOS, Court TV, NY For info go to: http://www.courttv.com/about/careers/ (2/25)
JOB OPENING: RES. ANALYST/Comcast Networks/NY: Dev’p reports & analyses to support Ad Sales.1+yr media res exp. Knwldg Nielsen tools & MS Suite.Cvr Ltr/Res: [email protected]. Must apply: www.comcast.com REF#: 28365BR (2/25)
JOB OPENING: RES. DIR/Comcast Networks/NY: Mng daily activities of analysts. 5-7+ yrs media res. exp. Knwldg Nielsen tools. Excellent oral & written communication skills. Must apply: www.comcast.com REF#: 27314BR (2/25)
JOB OPENING: VP, RES./Comcast Networks/NY: Oversee/direct the design & execution of all primary & secondary res. for Comcast Nets.10+yrs exp, 5+yrs at Dir. or VP level at TV or cable net. Apply: www.comcast.com . REF# 28363BR (2/25)
JOB OPENING: VP-CONSUMER MRKTNG/Nat Geo Channel/DC: Lead all aspects of consumer marketing dept .to build awareness, dist/promote the network. Mng 5pers team.10+yrs Cons. Mar exp .Apply [email protected] www.foxcareers.com job#fng1848.EEO (2/25)
JOB OPENING: ANALYST, NTWRK RES/Univision/NY: Analysis Nielsen data, sales presentation, audience est’s. 2yrs+ res./mrktng exp. media co/advrtsng agency. MS/PP/Word/Excel, Galaxy exp. AdViews, NPower. [email protected] (2/25)
JOB OPENING: MGR, AD SALES MKTG/FINE LIVING (NY): Create, execute & manage turnkey & custom sponsorships & promotions for Scripps Net. Min 5 yrs exp & knowledge of cable req’d. [email protected] Job #5055 in subj. (2/25)
JOB OPENING: RESEARCH DIRECTOR/Superstation WGN/NY: 5+ Yrs Cable Research. Creative/strategic thinker with analytical skills. Expertise with N-Power & other Nielsen products, plus Excel & Ppt. Resume/Salary: [email protected] (2/25)
JOB OPENING: SUPERVISING PROD/SHOW RUNNER/NY based Travel/Food series: Significant reality series mngmnt experience necessary, excellent writing & post skills w/reel to match. Begin ASAP. Contact: [email protected] (2/25)
JOB OPENING: DIR OF INTERACTIVE MRKTNG/World Wrestling Entertainment/CT: Duties, develop and oversee the execution of all Internet/Wireless mrktng and promotion programs supporting all areas of WWE’s business. www.wwe-careers.com (2/25)
JOB OPENING: INTERNAT’L SALESPERSON, PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT/CABLEready/Norwalk CT: Help create programs & sell them to US cable & around the world w/ this fun company. 5 yrs sales &/or dev’t exp. Req’d. e-mail [email protected] (2/25)
SPRING INTERNSHIPS – These positions are for credit only – nobody gets paid here. They are posted for free, and students work for school credit only. For more information on the specs for posting an Internship ad, email Trish at [email protected] .
SITUATION WANTED ADS, POSTED BY THOSE LOOKING TO BE HIRED —
SITUATION WANTED: Dynamic & Experienced AD SALES RESEARCHER/NYC: FT, PT or entry job sought to facilitate return to Industry.Superb Nielsen, organization & analytical skills; effective communicator. CONTACT: [email protected] (3/1)
SITUATION WANTED: SENIOR PRODUCER: More than 12 years professional experience is taking on new prods/projects. Extensive International experience, great w/budgets and an out-of-the-box thinker. Visit: www.kristen-schmitt.com (3/1)
SITUATION WANTED: WRITER/PRODUCER /EDITOR/Los Angeles: I do it all. 9 years experience. Reel available upon request. [email protected] (2/25)
E-mail [email protected] for rates and specs for Job Openings.
Are you looking for a job? Post your Situation Wanted Ad here — Email [email protected] for specs.
WHAT’S ON TONIGHT: Friday, February 24, 2006
ABC AFV [2hrs], 20/20
CBS Ghost Whisperer [r], Close to Home [r] Numb3rs [r]
FOX 24 [r] 2hrs
NBC Olympic Winter Games
i Another Pretty Face, It’s a Miracle
UPN Friday Night Smackdown
WB What I Like About You, Reba, Twins, Living with Fran
TELE El Cuerpo del Deseo, Tierre de Pasiones, Corazon Partido, Decisiones-Casos Extraordinarios,
Decisiones
UNIV Contra Viento y Marea, Alborada, Casos de la Vida Real: Edicion Especial
A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE FROM THE HISTORY CHANNEL
April 15, 1912
TITANIC SINKS
September 1, 1985
SCIENTISTS REVEAL THE UNTHINKABLE
February 26, 2006
THE HISTORY CHANNEL® EXPEDITION
*NEW SIGNIFICANT DISCOVERY*
Everything you thought you knew about the TITANIC…will change!
TITANIC’S FINAL MOMENTS:
MISSING PIECES
Sunday 9pm/8c
THE HISTORY CHANNEL
