Welcome to “In Case You Missed It,” a quick roundup of the top stories of the previous week in each of our four daily editions. So if you skipped a newsletter, this is where you want to go to make sure you’re up on the latest news, Cynopsis-style, in the worlds of linear, digital, sports, and kids television. Enjoy!
Flagship
NBC is about to have its first full 52-week win in the A18-49 demo in 10 years. With one week left to count, NBC is running 14 percent ahead of its year-ago ratings in A18-49 (to 2.4); it’s also up 25 percent in total viewers, for the biggest increase by a Big Four net in 25 years. Even excluding Winter Olympics coverage, NBC points out, it would have a 2.2 rating, versus 2.1 for second place Fox. NBC placed second in total viewers, after CBS, for the second time in 10 years.
TVGN is rebranding as POP, with fan-fueled programming aimed at “someone who wants to stay connected to that emotion of youth,” Brad Schwartz, the net’s president, entertainment and media, tells Cynopsis. “We noticed in the culture that fandom is blowing up. Scandal fans are ‘gladiators’; Lady Gaga fans are ‘little monsters.’ The opportunity to see the world through a fan’s eyes is a unique lane.” Target audience? “We think of them as a ‘modern grown up,’” says Schwartz. “Someone who has kids later in life, likes to work out, has a lot of disposable income.” TVGN, owned by CBS Corp. and Lionsgate, launches as POP in 1Q15 with 400 hours of original programming that expands on previously announced series including Rock This Boat: New Kids on the Block.
Sports
NBC and Golf Channel will initiate a first-time collaboration at the 2014 Ryder Cup that will see 71.5 hours of coverage from Sept. 22-28. Making its debut this year will be Golf Channel’s Ryder Cup Alternate Shot coverage, offering a different perspective of the action that complements NBC’s live weekend coverage and is hosted by David Feherty and Gary Williams, who join Lanny Wadkins, David Duval and Justin Leonard behind the microphone. Programming will offer: conversations with former Ryder Cup players and captains; contributions from Sir Nick Faldo; the world satellite feed hosted by members of the European broadcast team regularly featured on Golf Channel and an on-screen graphic frame. Coverage begins Sept. 26 at 2:30a on Golf Channel.
MLS got an overhaul with the unveiling of #MLSNEXT. Sporting a new crest, the rebrand replaces the traditional image of a soccer boot kicking a ball. The new icon features a shield accompanied by three white stars which represent “club, country and community,” according to the league. Meanwhile, the shield features a slash dividing it in two, which refers “to soccer’s speed and energy” while the perimeter symbolizes the “lines that mark off the field of play.” Meanwhile, each club will get a version of the league crest, “which better reflects their clubs identity and local market.”
“The new brand’s design is intended to say ‘soccer’ without the literal ball and cleat,” the league said with the announcement. “In the end, we decided that the inclusion of a ball and cleat is unnecessary as it dates us very quickly (due to the fast pace of innovation in our game) while many other ways exist to signal we are a soccer league. Our new brand will build meaning over time so that our new crest signifies soccer in North America and has a unique place in global sports.”
Digital
Larry Ellison left his position as CEO of Oracle, the information-technology giant he co-founded in 1977, and will instead take on the role of executive chairman and chief technology officer. Former president and CFO Safra Catz and Mark Hurd, former Oracle president, will become co-CEOs. Chairman Jeff Henley was named Vice Chairman of Oracle’s board. “Larry has made it very clear that he wants to keep working full time and focus his energy on product engineering, technology development and strategy,” Michael Boskin, presiding director of the Oracle board, said.
For the first time in a decade, Freaks and Geeks creator Judd Apatow will return to the small screen. His new sitcom, Love, will be distributed on Netflix, with a two-season commitment for ten episodes in 2016 and 12 in 2017. “Judd Apatow has a unique comedic voice that manages to be delightful, insightful and shockingly frank – often at the same time,” Netflix Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos said.
Kids
Soho Square Studios is launching a television production arm, Soho Square Productions, and they have big plans for kids and family entertainment. First project is a preschool CG animated show created with Keith Chapman (Paw Patrol, Bob the Builder, Fifi and the Flowertots), which will get a preview at MIPCOM. Soho partners Kim Goody and Alan Coates have worked on more than 100 film and television shows including Moshi Monsters: The Movie, Postman Pat and Little Charley Bear.
While we probably don’t need a study to tell us mothers’ reliance on mobile devices is on the rise, a new report from pregnancy and parenting website BabyCenter, U.S. Mobile Mom 2014 Report: Mobile Powers Mom’s Life, provides some interesting details. Based on polling of 1,118 U.S. women ages 18 and up who were either pregnant or had children up to 8 years old, the report finds 88% of mothers have a smartphone, and 46% of them said they would return home if they forgot their cell phone, but not if they forgot their wallet. This marks a 26% increase over similar responses in 2013. Among other findings:
* 67% of moms say they use their smartphone to entertain their children, more than double the amount who did so in 2013.
* 50% of moms say they shop online for their kids
* 48% get parenting information from a smartphone.
In an average day, a typical mom uses her smartphone or tablet to:
* Send 26 text messages
* Send 14 instant messages
* Use social media platforms 15 times
The most common activities for moms on their smart phones:
* Texting 99%
* Social media – 88%
* Playing games 66%
* Watching videos 65%
* Participating in online parenting communities 60%
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