CYNTHIA TURNER’S
CYNOPSIS

08/16/04

Good morning. It’s Monday, August 16, 2004, and this is your first early morning briefing.

Friday’s Opening Ceremonies of the 2004 Summer Olympic Games on NBC drew 25.1 million viewers from start to finish (8-11:49p)  and in prime posted a 8.1/26 A18-49 rating.  In recent summer game history, Athens ranks as #3 after the Sydney Games (27.2 million viewers), the 1996 Atlanta Games (39.7 million) and ahead of 1992 Barcelona (21.6 million), 1988 Seoul (22.7 million) and 1976 Montreal (13.8 million).

Fox has announced November 9 will be the launch date of its reality series The Billionaire: Branson’s Quest for the Best (f/k/a Branson’s Big Adventure) starring Virgin Airlines/Megastore/Records founder Richard Branson.  Branson will take 16 entrepreneur wannabes on various adventures around the globe, testing their business acumen and sense of adventure, while eliminating those who don’t measure up in Branson’s own estimation.  What the winner wins will be revealed when the winner is revealed.

Perhaps programming development executives figure we can all relate to the topic which is why the newest craze in reality shows is center on people’s weight, i.e., Showtime’s upcoming series Fat Actress starring Kirstie Alley, and NBC’s The Biggest Loser (Reveille/NBC Universal/3 Ball Prods).  The deal on The Biggest Loser is with the help of the latest knowledge and technology (minus surgery), players work toward losing weight and altering their lifestyles so as not to yo-yo (a term I learned on Dr. Phil’s weight loss challenge episodes).  Most recent rumors are Caroline Rhea will host according to Hollywood Reporter, but nothing confirmed by NBC as yet.

A battle of primarily first run programming ensued on Thursday evening, with CBS out on top with a 3.9/12 over #2 NBC 3.2/10, according to data from Nielsen Media Research.  At 8pm CBS’ Big Brother scored a 3.9/13, well ahead of #2 NBC’s repeats of Will & Grace (x2) 2.7/9.  Other first run programming for the hour – Blue Collar TV on the WB averaged a 1.7/6 A18-49 rating,a head of UPN’s first hour of WWE Smackdown (1.4/5), and Fox’s Alien V. Predator (1.3/4). At 9pm Last Comic Standing on NBC led with a 4.4/13, a moment ahead of CBS’ repeat of CSI (4.3/12). At 10p the only first run programming was Prime Time Thursday on ABC, delivering a third place 2.2/7 for the hour, behind CBS’ Without A Trace [r] 3.5/10 and a repeat of ER on NBC (2.6/8).

WB has been forced to replace the lead in its upcoming freshman sitcom Commando Nanny, according to Variety.  Philip Winchester, whom you’ve seen in various marketing ads for the show, broke his foot, leaving him unable to work for up to 6 weeks. The show is scheduled to debut on September 17, and thus far no episodes have been shot.  Putting Winchester under a talent holding deal for the time being, the WB has turned to Owain Yeoman, originally cast to play a small part in the show.

Weekend Box Office Estimates: August 13-25, 2004
Alien v. Predator (Fox)                 $38.2 million – opening weekend
Princess Diaries 2 (Buena Vista)                $23.0 million – opening weekend
Collateral (DreamWorks)         $16.0 million – 2 wk total $52.4m
Yu-Gi-Oh! The Movie (Warner Bros.)      $9.4 million – opening weekend
The Bourne Supremacy (Universal)        $8.3 million – 4 wk total $139.4m
The Village (Buena Vista)               $7.0 million – 3 wk total $99.7m
The Manchurian Candidate (Paramount)   $6.0 million – 3 wk total $47.9m
Little Black Book (Sony/Revolution)     $3.7 million – 2 wk total $14.6m
I, Robot (Fox)                          $3.6 million – 5 wk total $133.7m
Spider-Man 2 (Sony)                     $3.4 million – 7 wk total $360.8m
Source: Box Office Mojo

Three debates between the Presidential Candidates have been scheduled — September 30 with moderator Jim Lehrer (PBS’ NewsHour) from the Univ of Miami; October 8 from Washington Univ in St. Louis will be a town hall format moderated by Charles Gibson (ABC News); and October 13 moderated by Bob Schieffer (CBS News) from Arizona State University.  Each debate will have a different overall topic – the first will focus on Domestic Policy; the second as a town hall meeting is open to all topics; and the third will focus of Foreign Policy.  One VEEP debate has been scheduled for October 5, moderated by Gwen Ifill (PBS’ NewsHour) from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland.

The NFL and two Mexican networks, TV Azteca and Televisa’s Galavision, have signed deals to air NFL Football beginning with the upcoming season and continuing through the 2006 season. Both nets will also carry the Super Bowl for the next two seasons, and will carry a full schedule of 23 games each. Galavision will get more than a dozen Monday night games, as well as the 9/9 season opener, the Thanksgiving Day NFC game and five NFC playoff games. TV Azteca will carry primarily Sunday afternoon games on Azteca 7, five AFC playoff games and the Thanksgiving Day AFC game.

John Weiser has been upped from EVP to President/Distribution for Sony Pictures Television .  The announcement came from Steve Mosko, President, Sony Pictures Television, to whom John reports. John will oversee all domestic sales operations for SPT, including sales of feature films produced by Sony Pictures, first-run and off-network syndicated programs and library titles to U.S. broadcast networks, cable networks and television station groups.   He also directs all distribution of SPT product to the Spanish language networks serving U.S. markets.

Marna Grantham has been named President/GM of KSCI/Los Angeles.  Announcing Marna’s appointment was Peter Mathes, Chairman of AsianMedia Group LLC. Marna has played a vital role in the launching and development of television program, network, and channel brands.  She has developed hallmark entertainment distribution, marketing, and sales strategies for some of the media industry’s marquee names.

Correction:  Nick-at-Nite and TBS will share the cable TV rights to Home Improvement in a six year deal which begins in 2007.  WGN was not part of this deal.

Thursday, August 12, 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

CBS     7.1/12  Big Brother 6.3/11, CSI [r] 7.7/13, Without A Trace [r] 7.3/13

ABC     5.0/9   Extreme Makeover [r] 4.6/8, Extreme Makeover [r] 5.3/9, Primetime Thursday 5.1/9

NBC     4.8/8   Will & Grace [r] 4.5/8, Will & Grace [r] 4.7/8, Last Comic Standing 5.6/9, ER [r] 4.1/7

UPN     2.7/5   WWE Smackdown 2.7/5

FOX     2.4/4   Alien vs. Predator (OTO) 2.1/4, Celebrity Boxing #2 (OTO) [r] 2.7/5

WB      2.0/3   Blue Collar TV 3.1/6, Reba [r] 2.4/4, Studio 7 1.3/2

A18-49  CBS 3.9/12, NBC 3.2/10, ABC 2.4/7, Fox 1.6/5, UPN 1.5/5, WB 1.2/4

A MESSAGE FROM WARNER BROS. DOMESTIC CABLE DISTRIBUTION

Source: NTI Explorer, Week ranks= 9/22/03-8/8/04, excludes specials.  Rank based on HH Rating.

The History Channel presents This Day in History:
1920 – New York Yankee pitcher Carl Mays hits Cleveland Indians player Ray Chapman in the head with a pitch.  Chapman dies the next day, the first and only player killed during a major league baseball game.

Answer to Friday’s Trivia Question: Who quoted this little Polish proverb: “Even though a man anoints himself with fragrant oils, he can still wind up with a broken face.”  BANACEK – George Peppard.  Kudos to:  Jeffrey Tuchman-Documania Films/NY; Eli Bailin-Mediavest/NY; Steve Wishnoff/NY; Ruthie Wittenberg-Don Buchwald & Assoc/NY; Jeff Simmons-Electronic Adv & Design/Dallas; John Kukla-KDFW/Dallas; David Hansfield-PIC TV/Chicago; Dirk van de Bunt/Carsey Werner Mandabach/LA; Jesse Dienstag-Hall & Partners/LA.

Today’s Trivia Question: In Andy Richter’s first scripted series, what was his job?  (click here to 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.)

A MESSAGE FROM COURT TV

Later — Cyn

Cynthia Turner’s Cynopsis
08/16/04  5:08am
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JOB OPENING:  Midtown NYC kid’s entertainment licensor seeks PRODUCT APPROVALS COORDINATOR w/ strong Japanese language and detail skills. Need to hire fast, CP experience a/o BFA a plus. Call Lynn at 646-497-0400, ext. 2041  (8/21)

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Job #3872U (8/20)

JOB OPENING:  RESEARCH ANALYST-King World/CBS-Short Hills, NJ. 1-3 yrs exp analyzing local mkts data, writing research-based sales pres.; knwldg of Nielsen, WRAP Sweeps, Ovnt systems; Pwrpnt, Excel. Resume:
(8/20)

JOB OPENING:  MEDIA RESEARCH SUPERVISOR/NY. 4+ yrs media exp, agency exp pref. Skilled w/Nielsen Galaxy Explorer, Market Segments, CMR Stradegy. Strong analytic, pres. & comm skills. Resumes:
, job title in subj.  (8/19)

JOB OPENING:  SR.ANALYST/AD SALES RESEARCH, Lifetime Television, NY. Solid bcst or cable research exp. Analyze rtgs & pgm perf. Knwldg of research systems a must. Email salary req:
, re: Sr.Analyst/Research  (8/17)

JOB OPENING:  SR. RESEARCH ANALYST, TBS/TNT Ad Sales, NY 3-5 yrs Nat’l rsch exp; strong analytical/comm skills, interpret data; proficient in Nielsen data/systems; www.turnerjobs.com #29520br, resume to
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JOB OPENING:  MGR AFFILIATE MKTG & PROMO, ABC/NY. 3-5yrs station promo or synd bkgd to service East Region. Strong media, promo, on-air and presentation skills required. Some travel. Email:
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JOB OPENING:  COORD, AWARD & FEST ENTRIES/TALENT TRAVEL,SHOWTIME/NY. 4+ yrs exp w/high volume & multi-deadlines. Cable/net/fest/ent pr/agency, studio bckgnd req. Resume/ref. must verify. Apply:
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JOB OPENING:  DIRECTOR, RESEARCH (RATINGS), FOX Broadcasting/LA. 3-5 yrs res exp, tv or agency Strong analyticals/strategic thinker; qual+quant; Nielsen systems (local&national). Apply: www.foxcareers.com
(8/17)

JOB OPENING:  MANAGER, RESEARCH, FOX Broadcasting/LA. 2+ yrs res exp, tv or agency Strong analyticals/strategic thinker; qual+quant; Nielsen systems (local&national). Apply: www.foxcareers.com
(8/17)

JOB OPENING:  RESEARCH ANALYST, Screenvision Cinema Network, NY:  2-4 years exp;  proficient with Nielsen and research resources.  Ability to analyze data and respond to requests.  Submit resumes to:
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SITUATION WANTED:  Talented MBA seeks MARKETING POSITION in entertainment; quant + qual skills; current freelance marketer for Disney/Buena Vista TV; 8/31/04 contract end; new product launch & consulting experience;
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A MESSAGE FROM CYNOPSIS AD SALES

WHAT’S ON TONIGHT:  MONDAY, AUGUST 16, 2004:

ABC             The Best TV Shows that Never Were; Movie: Jurassic Park III
CBS             Still Standing, Yes Dear [r], Raymond [r], 2-1/2 Men [r], CSI Miami [r]
FOX             That 70’s Show [r], That 70’s Show [r], Casino
NBC             Olympic Summer Games 2004
PAX             On the Cover, Balderdash, Early Edition, Diagnosis Murder
UPN             One on One [r], Half and Half [r], Girlfriends [r], Girlfriends [r]
WB              7th Heaven [r], Summerland [r]
TELE            Prisonera, Gitanas, Protagonistas VIP
UNIV            Mariana de la Noche, Amarte es mi Pecado, Cristina