CYNTHIA TURNER’S
Cynopsis

06/13/05

Good morning.  It’s Monday, June 13, 2005 and this is your first early morning briefing.

Not everyone agrees with Nielsen Media Research‘s release late last week that Local People Meters have found more adult male viewers in San Francisco, New York, Chicago and Los Angeles in a direct May 2004 vs. May 2005 comparison.  More specifically, the Nielsen release pointed to the Men 18-49 demo being up in each of these markets in a M-Su 7a-1a analysis (San Francisco +31.3%, Chicago +16.3%, New York +12.7% and Los Angeles +7.5%).  According to research provided to Cynopsis by Fox Television Stations last Friday, the picture changes considerably when certain key dayparts are looked at more closely: 
New York: M18-49 demo (May 2004 vs. May 2005):
Prime Access 7-8p:    -3%
Prime 8-10p:               -5.2%
Prime 10-11p:             -5.4%
Los Angeles: M18-49 demo (May 2004 vs. May 2005):
Prime Access 7-8p:   -19.1%
Prime 8-10p:              -11.1%
Prime 10-11p:              -4.5%
Chicago: M18-49 demo (May 2004 vs. May 2005):
Prime Access 5-7p:   +1.0%
Prime 7-9p:                 -8.4%
Prime 9-10p:               -6.6%
Fox Television Stations did not supply similar research for the San Francisco market.

Tonight’s Premieres:
MSNBC:  Tucker Carlson Show at 9p
TNT:  The Closer at 9p

Showtime has ordered four new drama pilots:

• Dexter about a brilliant young guy who works forensics for the Miami Dade PD.  He also quietly exhibits his sociopathic side and commits the occasional heinous dismemberment crime.  Based on the book by Jeff Lindsay, Darky Dreaming Dexter.
• Filthy Gorgeous is about a group of young escorts – both men and women, their lives, their work, their clients.
• The Bastard follows the trials and tribulations of a young lawyer who is trying to regain his status as a family member and therefore owner of a high-end resort.
• The Tudors is a period serial, focusing on the life and times of King Henry VIII, his parade of wives and tastes for living.

Ballroom dancing is clearly working for ABC; Fox hopes the same will be true for figure skating.  Fox has ordered a new reality show set on the rink with professional skaters and celebs paired in Skating with Celebrities.  Fox has ordered 6 eps, per Variety.  No word yet on any of the participants.

Procter & Gamble is cutting back on its upfront spending for broadcast TV, cable and syndication, per an article in today’s Wall Street Journal.  In 2004 P&G spent nearly 80% of its ad budget on television, to the tune of some $2.5 billion.  Per WSJ, the company is expected to pull back on its cable network ad placement by as much as 25%, and 5% with the broadcast networks. Where will the money go?  Apparently there is a particular interest in product placement (i.e., the Crest toothpaste episode of The Apprentice), and some predict P&G will hold back much of their for the scatter market later in the year.

MTV will launch three new series this fall – well, two new series and one import from MTV UK.  The import is Bad Dads, Phat Moms, a competition between two who are trying to recreate their favorite music videos as close to the original as possible, though their versions must star their moms and dads as the featured artists.  New series are The Reality Show where people who think their lives are interesting enough to warrant their own reality show compete, and Parental Control where parents get to chose new dates for their sons and daughters.  Premiering this summer will be an improvisational comedy show called Nick Cannon Presents Wild ‘N Out, on July 21 at 10p.

Launching this August is a new cable network called The Africa Channel, with James Makawa, CEO, in charge. In an interview on CNN last Friday, Makawa said he had a carriage deal with one of the big MSOs, and tho he didn’t identify which MSO, he did say he had been in negotiations with Time Warner, Comcast, Cox and Charter. As far as content, the English language channel will carry the full compliment of entertainment, news magazines (i.e., travel series, lifestyle, etc.) and general news.

Fox has set the launch date of its new drama series Prison Break for August 29, at 8pm, kicking off with a two hour premiere ep.  Thereafter, the show will settle in at 9p on Mondays beginning September 5.

Media Venture Management has sold its WTXL-Tallahassee station (ABC affiliate) to Southern Broadcast Corporation for $12 million.  This will be SBC’s second station in the state – it also owns WWSB in Tampa/St. Pete/Sarasota. The sale is pending FCC approval.

Coca Cola is once again looking to Teach the World to Sing.  Coke’s famous Hilltop commercial from 1971 gave the soda company a Top 10 hit song on the Billboard list. Resurrecting the song, Coke plans to target the young 18-24 crowd with its produce Coke Zero – and the new ad is called “Chilltop.”  No pretty green landscapes this time – instead a rooftop in Philadelphia, with hip hop artist G. Love assembled with a group of 18-24 year olds singing this new set of lyrics:  “I’d like to teach the world to chill, take time to stop and smile / I’d like to buy the world a Coke and chill with it awhile.”  Coke Zero’s tagline is Everybody Chill.  The new ad launches at the end of this month.

Weekend Box Office Estimates: June 10-12, 2005
Mr. and Mrs. Smith (Fox)                            $51.1 million – opening weekend
Madagascar (DreamWorks)                       $17.1 million – 3 wk total $128.3m
Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge/Sith (Fox)   $14.8 million – 4 wk total $332.1m
The Longest Yard (Paramount)                  $13.5 million – 3 wk total $118.1m
Adv/Shark Boy & Lava Girl (Dimension)     $12.5 million – opening weekend
Cinderella Man (Universal)                          $9.5 million – 2 wk total $34.5m
Honeymooners (Paramount)                      $5.8 million – opening weekend
Sisterhood…Pants (Warner Bros.)             $5.7 million – 2 wk total $23.7m
Monster in Law (New Line)                         $2.6 million – 5 wk total $76.5m
Crash (Lions Gate)                                     $1.9 million – 6 wk total $44.3m
Source: Box Office Mojo

You probably remember Dana Elcar best in the role as Peter Thornton, head of the Phoenix Foundation on MacGyver.  It was while he played that role that he was going blind – in fact they did an episode on glaucoma, and before he finished with MacGyver, he was completely blind.  Dana Elcar passed away last Monday from complications from pneumonia at the age of 77.  Other notable roles during his career was as Special Agent Polk in the film The Sting, and he was a regular opposite Robert Blake on Baretta, and opposite Robert Conrad in Baa Baa Black Sheep.

Broadcast Response, Inc announced Eric Stanton has been named as President of the agency.  In this new role, Eric will oversee all media and client relations as well as monitor the company’s financial and operational performance.
 
Susan Spencer has been named head of National Promotions for Dream Works Animation Consumer Products.  The announcement was made by Anne Globe head of Worldwide Consumer Products and Promotions for Dream Works Animation. In her new role, Susan will be responsible for the strategic development and implementation of National Promotions for Dream Works SKG properties including animation and live action films, home video and television, as well as product placement efforts.

Mediaedge:cia (MEC), a media communications specialist company and part of WPP’s media investment management company GroupM, has formed a new specialist unit, MEC Interaction, merging all of MEC’s online and offline lead generation activities under a single banner, effective immediately.  The new unit consists of Wunderman Media, The Digital Edge and Outrider, and will be headed by Rob Norman as Worldwide Chief Executive Officer.  Norman was previously Chairman of Mediaedge:cia UK and CEO of Outrider Worldwide.  The Digital Edge (TDE), MEC’s online media planning and buying division; Outrider, MEC’s search marketing group; and Wunderman Media, MEC’s direct response media planning and buying unit, will become integral parts of MEC Interaction.  Outrider will continue to operate as a global search specialist.  Alan Schanzer, formerly TDE’s Managing Partner, will oversee MEC Interaction as Managing Partner, MEC Interaction North America, with Sarah Hammel, formerly Wunderman Media’s Finance Director, as Senior Partner, Finance Director.  Both will report to Norman.

The newly-formed Board of The Council for Research Excellence, created to make recommendations on how best to direct and implement the $2.5 million research and development fund created by Nielsen Media Research, voted in its new Chairman – Mark Kaline, Global Media Manager of the Ford Motor Company; and Vice-Chairman, Larry Bobo, Professor of Sociology, Stanford University.  The Council for Research Excellence represents all client segments, including members from national and local broadcast and cable, advertisers, national and local advertising agencies, ethnic media agencies, television station groups, syndicators, and the public interest groups.  The Board of Directors will serve as the primary decision-making body of the Council, and a smaller Steering Committee will oversee operations and make recommendations on research to the Board.  That Steering Committee will include: Susan Cuccinello, SVP of Research, TVB; Henry DeVault, SVP Audience Analysis, ABC, Inc.; Mike Hess, Director of Global Research and Communication Insights, OMD Worldwide; George Ivie, Executive Director, MRC; Mark Kaline, Global Media Manager of the Ford Motor Company; John Reardon, Group Vice President, Tribune Broadcasting; Ceril Shagrin, SVP Corporate Research, Univision; Ira Sussman, VP Research & Insight, CAB; and Jack Wakshlag, Chief Research Officer, Turner Broadcasting. 

Casting Call:  TLC is casting for a new series and is looking for LA based folks who want to share their stories of something positive coming up in their lives.  The only problem is they need a little push to get started.  For instance, getting engaged, beginning a new business, trying to join the world of pro-sports.  If you have a story you want to share with TLC, email Danya Berman, Original Cast & Die, at
.

Thursday- A18-49 Analysis:   ABC was in front on Thursday night thanks to the NBA Finals Game #1 between the Detroit Pistons and San Antonio Spurs.  Overall for the evening ABC delivered a 3.4/11 A18-49, according to final data from Nielsen Media Research, followed by CBS 3.1/9, NBC 2.6/8, UPN 2.0/6, Fox 1.3/4, WB 1.2/4.  At 8p ABC’s combo of a repeat of  My Wife & Kids and the NBA Gametime pregame show won the hour with a 2.6/9.  NBC’s double repeats of Joey 8-9p earned a 2.3/7.  Following both and in third place was CBS with its premiere of the Tommy Hilfiger reality series, The Cut, a 90m ep which earned a 2.0/7 for the first hour and a 2.1/7 for the full 90m.  During the 9-10p hour NBC earned a 3.7/11 for the second installment of Hit Me Baby One More Time.  The full 9p-12:03am NBA game on ABC delivered a healthy 4.4/14.  And a 90m repeat of CSI on CBS from 930-11p followed with a 4.0/11.

FINAL HOUSEHOLD RATINGS: Thursday, June 9, 2005, for all Networks – time period averages.  Source: Nielsen Media Research. 

CBS     6.7/12   The Cut [p] 4.8/9, CSI [r] 8.5/15

ABC     5.7/10   My Wife and Kids [r] 3.3/6, NBA Gametime 3.3/7, NBA Finals Game #1 (12:03am) 7.2/13

NBC     4.1/7    Joey [r] 3.8/7, Joey [r] 4.5/8, Hit Me Baby One More Time 4.7/8, ER [r] 3.4/6

UPN     3.4/6    WWE Smackdown 3.4/6

FOX     2.2/4    The O.C. [r] 2.1/4,  The O.C. [r] 2.3/4

WB      1.7/3    Blue Collar TV [r] 1.8/4, Blue Collar TV [r] 1.8/3, Beauty and the Geek [r] 1.5/3

A18-49            ABC 3.4/11, CBS 3.1/9, NBC 2.6/8, UPN 2.0/6, Fox 1.3/4, WB 1.2/4

A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE FROM COMCAST SPOTLIGHT

Comcast Spotlight enables advertisers to demographically segment their markets through Adcopy. Adcopy lets you simultaneously run different commercials in the same market allowing you to talk to different people differently. And with Adcopy, advertisers can be more targeted than they could ever be on broadcast. Comcast Spotlight – Spot cable finally delivers. For more information click here.

The History Channel presents This Day in History:
1921 – Babe Ruth knocked a 460 foot ball deep out of the park at the Polo Grounds in New York City.  This amazing home run was the longest “the Babe” ever hit.

Answer to Yesterday’s trivia question: The best way to get most husbands to do something is to suggest that perhaps they’re too old to do it.” What famous person, recently in the headlines, spoke this quote? ANNE BANCROFT, who was married to Mel Brooks. Kudos to:  Jacqueline Riva-Mind Share/NY; Melissa Patillo-RPA/Atlanta; Patricia Taylor-Red Paw Productions/NY; Laura DeLeon-KCBD/Lubbock TX; Eric Merrill-GSD&M/Austin; Jill Tarlow-Spelling Television Publicity/LA; Brian Dozer-KSTW/Seattle; Linda Parets-Horizon Media/LA

A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE FROM COURT TV

Today’s Trivia Question:  The lead character in Gone With the Wind, Scarlett O’Hara was originally given another name and then changed to Scarlett.  What was the original name?   (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
06.13.05  5:29am
Cynopsis Ad Sales – Barbara Shapiro – 203-583-1224 /

Classified Ad Sales – Trish Pihonak – 203.381-9096 /

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Copyright Cynthia Turner 2005

CYNOPSIS MESSAGE FROM WE: WOMEN’S ENTERTAINMENT

Cyn opsis  CLASSIFIEDS —

JOB OPENING: Starz Ent. Group, EXEC DIR, PROGRAM & PROMOTION PLANNING/SCHEDULING, CO, Job #404 10387CY, for 6 Starz PayTV movie channels. Min 8 yrs exp in Sr-level programming role & 10 yrs cable/sat exp. Apply www.starz.com EOE (6/18)

JOB OPENING: COORDINATOR, PROGRAMMING/ BBC Worldwide- NY, NY: Coordinate sales activity for BBC America and New Media clients. 2-3 exp. Resumes:
(6/18)

JOB OPENING: AMC is looking for a MANAGER OF ADVERTISING in NY.  Min 5 yrs marketing exp in cable TV or ad agency. Production exp in devel successful marketing programs. Send resume to
6/18)

JOB OPENING: AMC is looking for a DIR OF ADVRTSNG in NY. Min 8 yrs marktng exp in cable TV or ad agncy. Ablt to devel succefl mktg pgms w limited lead times. Mangmt exp & budgetng exp. Send resume to
(6/18)

JOB OPENING:  WE is looking for a PROMO PLANNING MANGR in LI. Min2 yrs broadcast/cable network within traffic or schedling. Musts-strng knwldg of schedlng/mang exp. Knwldg of Gabriel a plus. Send resume to: 
   (6/18)

JOB OPENING:  EXPERIENCED PRODUCERS, SERIES PRODUCERS AND SHOOTER/PRODUCERS for US cable series. MIN 3 yrs producing experience, must work in DC, submit resume with references to
.  (6/18)

JOB OPENING:  SALES ASSISTANT/HALLMARK CHANNEL NY-Provides administrative & sales support to the Direct Response & Paid Programming Department. See full posting and apply at www.hallmarkchannel.com (6/18)

JOB OPENING: PROMOTIONS, SR. WRITER/PRODUCER; BBCA NY: 5+ yrs exp writing/producing promos; highly creative; familiar with BBCA brand; editing skills A+; resume & sal reqs to
  (6/17)

JOB OPENING: AD SALES ASSISTANT/Galavision, NY. Detail-oriented, exc comm/math/MS Office skills; asst Sales Team w/presentations/reports/clerical work. Spanish speaking highly pref/not req. Resume:
  (6/17) 

JOB OPENING: ABC Family/NAT’L AD SALES DEV MGR/NY 4+ yrs ad sales & mktg exp in TV; mng creative exec of sales materials & pres; trade adv & premiums. Knwldg of mnging creative agencies & Nielsen based res a +
(6/16)

JOB OPENING:  AE-NEW BUSINESS/WLVI-Boston. Entry level sales. Tenacious, organized, goal-oriented; able to prospect, develop & close new business essential. Resume: HR, 75 Morrissey Blvd, Boston, MA 02125; fax: 617- 474-5334. EOE  (6/16)

JOB OPENING: VICE PRESIDENT & GENERAL MANAGER/Nexstar Broadcasting Group is seeking an experienced GM to run KARK-TV, the NBC Affiliate in Little Rock, Arkansas. Contact: Brian Jones at
(6/16)

JOB OPENING: DIRECTOR OAP/FOX REALITY/LA. responsible for the operations, supervision & execution of on-air promos for FR. Reporting to VP of Mktg 5+yrs mgmt/on-air exp & 4 yr degree req’d. Apply @ foxcareers.com (ref: FNG 287) (6/16)

JOB OPENING: DIR/MGR, ORIG. PROGRAMMING/ACQ. Current TV- SF, CA. 3+ yrs. exp in devt/prod at tv network.  Passion for TV & 18-34 demo.  Exper. creating entertaining, smart content. Email
“Dir. OP&A” as subj. EOE (6/16)

JOB OPENING: MEDIA COORDINATOR–Orange Cnty/CA. 2-5 yrs exp. in buying TV/Cable/Radio/Print.Exp in Harris/Donovan a plus. Resp for maintenance of buys, traffic, air scheds, ROI tracking,etc. Email
  (6/15)

JOB OPENING: ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE, KUSI-TV/San Diego. Sell for one of the top independent,cutting edge, stations in the country. Want to join a winning team, email your resume to
EOE  (6/15)

JOB OPENING: NATIONAL BROADCAST BUYER – Initiative – LA and NYC. Seeking experienced Network Buyer to work on key clients. Must have Network TV and Cable buying exp. Submit resume to
  (6/15)

JOB OPENING:  MARKETING ASSISTANT – Court TV, NY For info go to: http://www.courttv.com/about/careers/ (6/15)

JOB OPENING:  AVID EDITOR – Court TV, NY For info go to: http://www.courttv.com/about/careers/ (6/15)

JOB OPENING:  E-Poll is expanding and is looking for a RESEARCH DIRECTOR/Encino based. W/ a thorough knwldge of entertainment industry to manage custom mrkt res projects including design, data collection & analysis.
(6/14)

JOB OPENING: Lifetime TV/NYC seeks COPYWRITER FOR CREATIVE SVCS to asst. in the planning, dev. & execut. of copy for promo, mktg. & distrib. Must have copywriting exper. in Ad & Promo dept. Resumes to:
(6/14)

JOB OPENING: SENIOR PROD/WRITER/NAHB’s TV Prod grp/DC. Oversee production, story producing, talent, supervising post & script writing. 8+ yrs exp in TV prod. a must. Travel 50% of time. Resume & salary req. to:
(6/14)

JOB OPENING:  MGR VOD/AETN-NY. Dev/mge/oversee VOD mktg pgms supporting dist/branding for all nets, across all MSOs.3yrsexp cable sales/mktg/cable system mgmt.Keen int. in emerging media technology.Email:
  (6/14)

JOB OPENING:  MGR PR & PRGM PUBLICITY/AETN-NY.Mge pgm pub for pgms thru print, electronic, internet. 3 yrs exp in PR/Pub Pgming in TV, film or PR agency. Strong writing/proofing skills req. Team player.Email:
(6/14)

JOB OPENING:  EXEC PROD ON-AIR PROMO/AETN-NY.Create/prod high concept on-air campaigns. Mge budgets/freelance prods. 5 yrs exp long form pgm prod. Must: film/directing exp; be creative; have a reel. Resume:
(6/14)

JOB OPENING: SR AE-WLVI/Boston. 5+ yrs TV sales exp; exc. neg skills, strong work ethic.Major agency acct mgmt exp. Intimate knwldg of LPM Nielsen data, TVScan,Prime Next Qualitative sftwr. Resume:
  (6/20)

JOB OPENING: SR AE-WLVI/Boston. 5+ yrs TV sales exp; exc. neg skills, strong work ethic.Major agency acct mgmt exp. Intimate knwldg of LPM Nielsen data, TVScan,Prime Next Qualitative sftwr. Resume:
  (6/20)

SUMMER INTERNSHIP POSITIONS are all non paying jobs, available for school credit only. Nobody here gets paid – not even Cynopsis for the listing.  To learn more about posting your Internship position here, email
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SUMMER INTERNSHIP – SCHOOL CREDIT ONLY:  MRPI- Marina del Rey, CA-INTERNSHIP , school credit, Factual Programs Production/Post, 35-40 hrs wkly learn ins and outs of prodctn & post,
(6/14)

SITUATION WANTED ADS, POSTED BY THOSE LOOKING TO BE HIRED —

SITUATION WANTED: STUDIO/FIELD PRODUCTION. Recent college grad. with B.A looking for Manhattan/Long Island TV Production job. Interned with OLN, ESPN, True Entertainment and IFC.
(6/17)

SITUATION WANTED: LOS ANGELES TV PUBLICIST Dynamic publicist seeks freelance TV projects with possibility of full time job. Excellent media contacts. Fabulous writer & pitcher.  Contact:
.  (6/16)

SITUATION WANTED: Los Angeles-MID-LEVEL LOCAL MEDIA BUYER with experience in multicultural and general markets. Worked in top DMA. Relocating from NY to LA. First avail 7/18.
  (6/16)

SITUATION WANTED: STUDIO/FIELD PRODUCTION Recent college grad. with B.A. ready to start career in TV Production  FL based but can relocate to NY/NJ. Interned with The Golf Channel and The Outdoor Life Network.
(6/15)

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WHAT’S ON TONIGHT: Monday, June 13, 2005

ABC              The Scholar, Movie:  Men In Black II
CBS              Still Standing [r], Still Standing [r], Raymond [r], Two and a Half Men [r], CSI: Miami [r]
FOX              Nanny 911 [r], Hell’s Kitchen
NBC              Fear Factor [r], Las Vegas [r], Medium [r]
PAX              Xtreme Fakeovers, Murder Among Friends
UPN              One on One [r], Cuts [r], Girlfriends [r], Half and Half [r]
WB               7th Heaven [r] , Summerland
TELE             La Mujer en el Espejo, Los Plateados, Decisiones
UNIV             Apuesta por un Amor, La Madrastra, Cristina