Skip a newsletter last week? “In Case You Missed It” rounds up the top stories in each of our three daily editions, so you can be up on the latest news, Cynopsis-style, in the worlds of linear, digital, sports and kids television. Enjoy!
FLAGSHIP
The finale of CBS’s Late Show with David Letterman delivered 13.76 million viewers Wednesday night, the show’s fourth largest audience ever, after its 1993 premiere and two post-Olympic shows in 1994. A 3.1 rating among A18-49 was Late Show’s best since Letterman’s kumbaya with Oprah Winfrey in 2005. The broadcast clobbered every primetime show as well as its late night competition. Even delayed by Dave’s extended exit, The Late Late Show with James Corden drew 4.01 viewers, the most ever for the franchise with any host.
The Twin Peaks revival is back on at Showtime, and “even bigger than we expected,” said net president David Nevins. Creator David Lynch, who pulled out of the limited event series in early April over financial issues, will direct the whole shebang, which will include more than the originally-announced nine hours. “Totally worth the extra brewing time,” said Nevins. Cult fave Peaks aired in 1990-91.
DIGITAL
Music streaming service Spotify has been busy. On the heels of its recent deal with Starbucks, Spotify unveiled a new platform that includes video, podcast and interactive features. The service struck video deals with Turner Broadcasting, Walt Disney Co., Maker Studios, Vice Media,multi-platform network Rightster and others, and is diving into original programming with A Full English, featuring artists and other personalities who search for common ground over breakfast. The new interface will also offer its 60 million users content recommendations based taste and mood, and a running service that adapts to a listener’s speed.
Cancelled Fox comedy The Mindy Project has a new home on Hulu. The streaming service will bring back the series with a 26-episode season. The order is the comedy’s highest episode count yet, and brings the series within the number required for syndication. A premiere date will be announced at a later date. “Mindy has been a beloved member of the Hulu family, so this deal is a natural extension of our relationship,” said Craig Erwich, Senior Vice President and Head of Content at Hulu. The series is Universal Television‘s second on the SVOD service; it joins dramaThe Way and comedy Difficult People.
SPORTS
GroupM is expanding its sports and entertainment offerings under new global agency brand, ESP, made up of ESP Properties and ESP Brands. ESP Properties will be GroupM’s first company dedicated to serving rightsholders from the worlds of sports and entertainment, including federations, leagues, events, teams, publishers and venues and offer partnership sales, both to existing WPP brand clients and beyond. GroupM is also expanding its support for brands to plan, negotiate and activate sports and entertainment partnerships by growing the specialist teams in its individual media agencies. These specialist teams will be underpinned in key regions by ESP Brands. The new ESP Properties will be led by John Kristick, Global CEO of GroupM ESP. ESP Brands will be managed regionally in North America by Bryce Townsend and through the individual GroupM agencies in other regions.
With his last season as a full-time NASCAR driver underway, Jeff Gordon has already lined up a fill-time gig for the next phase of his career. The four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion will join FOX NASCAR in 2016 to serve as a race analyst for its 16th year of NASCAR SPRINT Cup Series coverage where he will be teamed with Mike Joy and Darrell Waltrip. Gordon served as race analyst for FOX Sports’ coverage of three NASCAR XFINITY Series races this year and now has a multi-year contract that begins this season with in-race reporting from the No. 24 Chevrolet during select Cup Series races, and segues to an analyst role that commences with Daytona Speedweeks in February 2016.
