Cynopsis

12/17/07

Good Morning.  It’s Monday, December 17, 2007 and this is your first early morning briefing. 

Last Friday, the WGA Negotiating Committee sent a message to its membership saying that since the “AMPTP is currently unwilling to bargain,” the WGA will contact individual major AMPTP companies to negotiate with them one-on-one. The WGA said that bargaining with the Alliance as a unit is an option, not a requirement, and the WGA can legally call for individual negotiations with the AMPTP’s members. The WGA message said it hoped each company would “respond promptly in accordance with the law.”  Those requests are expected to begin going out today.

The response from AMPTP was one of unity among eight of the Alliance’s largest members.  On the AMPTP website homepage, there is a new banner:

“Different assets… Different businesses … Different companies … One common goal. To reach a fair and just agreement with writers and get back to work.” 

And under it are the names of 8 Alliance members: Peter Chernin, Fox Group; Brad Grey, Paramount Pictures Corp; Robert Iger, Walt Disney Company; Michael Lynton, Sony Pictures Entertainment; Barry Meyer, Warner Bros.; Leslie Moonves, CBS Corp; Harry Sloan, MGM and Jeff Zucker, NBC Universal.

Not on that list of signatories is independent production company WorldWide Pants who produces the David Letterman Show and it has indicated it is interested in negotiating an interim agreement with the WGA so it can get back to work.

Tonight’s Premieres:
ABC: Duel at 8p
NBC: Clash of the Choirs at 8p
 
Tonight’s Finales:
FOX: K-Ville at 9p
VH1: I Love New York 2 at 9p

ABC announced its midseason primetime premieres of new and returning series:
Jan 1: Just for Laughs at 830p and According to Jim at 9p
Jan 2: Wife Swap at 8p and Supernanny at 9p
Jan 3: Cashmere Mafia at 10p
Jan 7: Dance War: Bruno vs. Carrie Ann at 8p
Jan 31: Lost at 9p and Eli Stone at 10p
March 2: Oprah’s Big Give at 9p
March 17: Dancing with the Stars at 8p and The Bachelor at 10p

And a couple of premiere dates for NBC:
February 18:  Baby Borrowers at 8p; Quarterlife at 9p

Sundance Channel acquired the seven-episode series Sierra Club Chronicles, produced by Robert Greenwald’s Brave New Films in association with Sierra Club Productions. The series begins February 5 at 9p and will air as part of THE GREEN, the network’s weekly primetime block centered on environmental topics. Sierra Club Chronicles documents the efforts of dedicated individuals around the country who are trying to protect the environment and their communities.

The Ski Channel has a multi-platform programming partnership with ski photographer and weather expert, Tony “Harro” Harrington to produce a new series Storm Hunter and a documentary film on storm hunting. Part of the deal includes the network acquiring broadcast rights to the 14-day 2008 World Heli Challenge event in Mt. Cook, New Zealand which is owned by Harro. Twelve half-hour episodes of Storm Hunter will be produced per year which will be promoted on The Ski Channel’s other media outlets. The series, shot in film, will begin by tracking extraordinary storm patterns, and then call in extreme skiers and snowboarders from around the world to shoot in wild powder conditions in the most remote destinations.

Weekend Box Office Estimates: Dec 14-16, 2007
I am Legend (Warner Bros.)                      $76.5 million – opening weekend
Alvin & the Chipmunks (Fox)                      $45.0 million – opening weekend
The Golden Compass (NewLine)                 $9.0 million – 2 wk total $40.9m
Enchanted (Buena Vista)                          $6.0 million – 4 wk total $92.3m
No Country for Old Men (Miramax)              $3.0 million – 6 wk total $33.6m
The Perfect Holiday (Yari Film Group)          $2.6 million – opening weekend
Fred Claus (Warner Bros.)                         $2.3 million – 6 wk total $68.9m
This Christmas (ScreenGems)                    $2.3 million – 4 wk total $46.0m
Atonement (Focus)                                 $1.9 million – 2 wk total $2.9m
August Rush (Warner Bros.)                      $1.8 million – 5 wk total $28.1m
Source: Box Office Mojo

Retro Television Network (RTN) will team with Holston Valley Broadcasting Corporation to launch RTN programming on a digital stream of WKPT/Tri-Cities, an ABC affiliate, starting December 21. In addition to airing on WKPT-DT, RTN will also be available over-the-air on WOPI-CA.

Showtime has picked up 20 episodes of Secret Diary of a Call Girl, from producers Tiger Aspect with Silverapples Media and ARG, and it stars Billie Piper. The series was originally produced for and aired on the UK’s ITV2. According to Daily Variety, the first eight episodes will air this summer. The show revolves around Hannah, a legal secretary by day, and a high class call girl by night. 

A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE FROM NATPE ’08

8000+ top media execs, 76 countries, 3 days of buying and selling, 350+ globally recognized exhibiting companies, 1500+ content buyers. That’s NATPE ’08. If you’re involved in creating, funding, licensing or delivering video content of any duration, on any subject, for any platform then you should make NATPE ’08 the very first entry in your 2008 schedule of must-attend events.

Cartoon Network promoted Molly Chase to VP & Executive Producer New Media. She will oversee the design studio, technology group, game studio and production team working on CartoonNetwork.com, Awesomehouseparty.com and ToonamiJetstream.com as well as other platforms. Molly will continue to be based in Atlanta, reporting to Paul Condolara, SVP & GM, New Media.
 

Today in Cynopsis Kids

• Does your garage have room for Thomas the Tank?
• EM.Entertainment in pay-TV deal with ProSiebenSat.1 Group
• Who really bought The Tales of Beedle the Bard?

Today in Cynopsis International 

• Eurovision Song Contest to sing Middle Eastern tunes in localized version by Nibras Media and Tanweer Group
• Canada contemplating handing out its first free high-def channel license

Today in Cynopsis Digital, listen to the audio version here or subscribe to the iTunes Cyn Digital podcast 

• Frustrated with representative body, WGA to negotiate directly with studios
• Google to launch its own user generated Wikipedia
• Parents can offer Wii wishers an IOU instead

Wednesday – A18-49 Analysis: CBS and NBC both finished first Wednesday night with 3.3/9 A18-49, according to fast affiliate ratings from Nielsen Media Research. NBC won at 8p with Deal or No Deal at 3.5/10 while the season finale of The CW’s America’s Next Top Model was next at 2.6/7. During 9p, CBS nipped the lead with Criminal Minds at 3.7/10, just a smidge in front of NBC’s second half of Deal at 3.6/10. Also this hour, the debut of Crowned: The Mother of All Pageants on The CW ranked sixth at 1.1/3. Then at 10p, CBS’ CSI: NY was #1 at 4.0/11.

Live + Same Day Household Ratings: Wednesday, December 12, 2007 – time period averages. Source: Nielsen Media Research

NBC: 7.7/13        Deal or No Deal 8.5/14, Dateline: NBC 6.1/10

CBS: 7.6/12          Kid Nation [f] 4.5/7, Criminal Minds 9.0/14, CSI: NY 9.3/16

ABC: 3.7/6           Pushing Daisies 4.5/7, Private Practice [r] 3.7/6, Dirty Sexy Money [r] 2.9/5

FOX: 3.4/5          Back to You 2.9/5, ’til Death 2.8/4, Kitchen Nightmares [f] 4.0/6

CW: 2.6/4           America’s Next Top Model [f] 3.6/6, Crowned: The Mother of All Pageants [p] 1.7/3

UNIV: 1.8/3        Amar sin Limites 1.9/3, Pasion 1.8/3, Don Francisco Presenta 1.7/3

TELE: 0.6/1        Madre Luna 0.6/1, Victoria 0.7/1, Pecados Ajenos 0.5/1

A18-49: CBS 3.3/9, NBC 3.3/9, FOX 2.2/6, CW 1.9/5, ABC 1.7/5, UNIV 1.2/3, TELE 0.4/1

Thursday – A18-49 Analysis:  CBS racked up a clean sweep Thursday night with 4.9/13 A18-49, according to fast affiliate ratings from Nielsen Media Research. CBS’ Survivor was successful at 8p with 4.5/13, yet the network had its top ratings of the night during 9p as CSI did a 6.1/16. CBS’ Without a Trace had the final win at 10p with 4.0/12.

Live + Same Day Household Ratings: Thursday, December 13, 2007 time period averages. Source: Nielsen Media Research

CBS: 10.4/17     Survivor: China 8.8/14, CSI 12.5/19, Without a Trace 10.0/17

FOX: 5.3/8         Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? 5.8/9, Don’t Forget the Lyrics! 4.9/8

ABC: 4.2/7        Ugly Betty [r] 3.7/6, Grey’s Anatomy [r] 5.3/8, Private Practice [r] 3.7/6

NBC: 3.7/6        The Office [r] 3.7/6, 30 Rock 3.7/6, Saturday Night Live Christmas 2002 3.8/6

CW: 2.4/4         Smallville 2.6/4, Supernatural 2.2/3

UNIV: 1.7/3      Amar sin Limites 1.8/3, Pasion 1.9/3, Aqui y Ahora 1.4/2

TELE: 0.7/1      Madre Luna 0.7/1, Victoria 0.8/1, Pecados Ajenos 0.5/1

A18-49: CBS 4.9/13, NBC 2.7/7, FOX 2.6/7, ABC 1.9/5, CW 1.4/4, UNIV 1.3/4, TELE 0.5/1

Friday – A18-49 Analysis:  CBS had another big win Friday night with 2.4/8 A18-49, according to fast affiliate ratings from Nielsen Media Research. CBS prevailed each hour with its drama lineup: Ghost Whisperer did a 2.6/9 at 8p; Moonlight was #1 at 9p with 2.1/6; and Numb3rs tallied a first place 2.5/8 during 10p.

Live + Same Day Household Ratings: Friday, December 14, 2007 – time period averages. Source: Nielsen Media Research

CBS: 5.8/10      Ghost Whisperer 6.2/11, Moonlight 4.9/9, Numb3rs 6.2/11

ABC: 3.9/7         Men in Trees [r] 2.9/5, Women’s Murder Club [r] 4.2/7, 20/20 4.7/8

NBC: 3.6/6        Movie: It’s a Wonderful Life [r] 3.6/6

CW: 2.7/5         Friday Night Smackdown! 2.7/5

FOX: 2.4/4        Don’t Forget the Lyrics! [r] 2.9/5, The Next Great American Band 1.8/3

UNIV: 1.6/3      Amar sin Limites 1.6/3, Pasion 1.6/3, Nuestra Navidad 1.5/3

TELE: 0.6/1      Madre Luna 0.6/1, Victoria 0.7/1, Pecados Ajenos 0.5/1

A18-49: CBS 2.4/8, NBC 1.7/5, CW 1.5/5, ABC 1.3/4, FOX 1.3/4, UNIV 1.2/4, TELE 0.5/1

Saturday – A18-49 Analysis:  FOX was victorious Saturday night with 2.2/7 A18-49, according to fast affiliate ratings from Nielsen Media Research. FOX led off with a one-two punch: at 8p the Cops episodes averaged a 2.1/7 and at 9p America’s Most Wanted came in first with 2.2/7. During 10p, NBC’s movie presentation won with 2.0/6. 

Live + Same Day Household Ratings: Saturday, December 15, 2007 – time period averages. Source: Nielsen Media Research

FOX: 3.9/7          Cops [r] 3.5/7, Cops 3.9/7, America’s Most Wanted 4.0/7

CBS: 3.6/6           48 Hours Mystery [r] 3.2/6, Movie: The Notebook 3.8/7

ABC: 3.2/6              Movie: Surviving Christmas 3.3/6, Women’s Murder Club [r] 3.1/5

NBC: 2.7/5            SNL Christmas 2002 [r] 2.5/4, SNL: The Best of Chris Farley 2.9/5

UNIV: 1.6/3          Sabado Gigante 1.6/3

TELE: 0.4/1         Cine de Impacto [7p] 0.3/1, Cine de Impacto 0.4/1

A18-49: FOX 2.2/7, NBC 1.6/5, ABC 1.2/4, CBS 1.2/4, UNIV 1.1/3, TELE 0.4/1

A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE FROM CABLEU

This day in History:  1969 – Tiny Tim and Miss Vicki Budinger made television history when they were married on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.

Answer to Yesterday’s Trivia Question:  What actress plays Audrey’s sister, Barbara, on the 2007 sitcom Rules of Engagement?  HEATHER LOCKLEAR    Kudos to: David Williams-WMAK/Knoxville; Jon Aronson-Cartoon Network/[adult swim]/NY; Mike Boyd/Washington, DC; Josie Kamras/NJ; Melissa Heck-KCTV5/Kansas City; Liz Jones-SpotPlus/Dallas; Jay Gustafson-Lionsgate/CST; Sarah Antosh-Christal Radio/Minneapolis; Danielle Butler-One Light Productions/LA; Wendy Herckner-One Touch Intelligence/Greenwood Village, CO; LeNea Ricks-KIDK/Idaho Falls, ID; Susan Chalfant-FOX Interactive Media/LA; Eve Henderson-Global Edmonton/Edmonton, AB

Today’s Trivia Question: On the ’50s TV series Casey Jones, starring Alan Hale, Jr., Casey was an engineer on what train? (
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
12.17.07

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WHAT’S ON TONIGHT – Monday, December 17, 2007

ABC: Duel [p ], Notes from the Underbelly, October Road
CBS: How I Met Your Mother [r], The Big Bang Theory [r], Two and a Half Men [r], Two and a Half [r] Men, CSI: Miami
CW: Everybody Hates Chris [r], Aliens in America [r], Girlfriends [r], The Game [r]
FOX: House [r], K-Ville
ION: Mama’s Family, Mama’s Family, Who’s The Boss?, Who’s The Boss?, 48 Hours on ION TV
MNT: Olive, the Other Reindeer [r], Holidaze: The Christmas That Almost Didn’t Happen [r]
NBC: Clash of the Choirs [p ], Journeyman
PBS: Antiques Roadshow [r], Great Performances
TELE: Madre Luna, Victoria, Pecados Ajenos
UNIV: Amar sin Limites, Pasion, Cristina

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