Skip a newsletter last week? Here’s our roundup the top stories in each of our four daily editions, so you can be up on the latest news, Cynopsis-style, in the worlds of linear, digital, sports and kids television. Enjoy!
NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment is bundling Bravo, E!, Esquire and Oxygen in a new lifestyle group headed by Frances Berwick, already overseer of Bravo and Oxygen. Esquire president Adam Stotsky lands the additional title of general manager of E! Entertainment, while E! president Suzanne Kolb leaves the company. “In a crowded, constantly evolving media landscape, it’s more important than ever to have a business structure that not only delivers results today, but also sets a course with the right leadership for future success,” said NBCU Cable Entertainment chairman Bonnie Hammer. Ahead of Tuesday’s announcement, Kolb sent a memo to staff expressing her appreciation. “I know the future for E! shines bright and I look forward to cheering you on as you reach new heights,” said the 10-year E! vet. “I am a better person for knowing you and a better executive for working with you. I look forward to our paths crossing again soon.”
Fox is pulling reality show Utopia from its Tuesday sked. Encores of Family Guy, The Simpsons and Bob’s Burgers will fill the hole until October 14. The World Series takes up the following two Tuesdays, then a new season of MasterChef Junior launches November 4, shuttled from Friday, November 7. Utopia will continue in its Friday slot; Fox’s original plan was for the ratings-challenges social experiment to move to a Tuesday-only schedule.
The NFL is going long with DIRECTV, officially announcing an extension and expansion with the company to carry NFL Sunday Ticket in a new multi-year agreement. The new deal also expands DIRECTV’s rights to stream the package live on mobile devices and via broadband and DIRECTV will continue to carry its Red Zone Channel and new DIRECTV Fantasy Zone channel. In addition, DIRECTV and the NFL also extended their NFL Network distribution relationship with DIRECTV to offer its customers TV Everywhere access to NFL Network.
“This new agreement is a testament to the terrific long-term relationship we have with the NFL and its millions of fans across the country,” said Mike White, chairman, president and CEO of DIRECTV. “NFL SUNDAY TICKET has always been the centerpiece of DIRECTV’s sports leadership and we’re pleased to continue our relationship with the NFL and be a part of the league’s future growth and success.”
The FCC took a stand against sports blackout rules yesterday, voting unanimously to eliminate the controversial mandates. Ruling 5-0 against the blackouts, the FCC stated that the regulations were outdated and unnecessary given the money leagues receive from TV revenue. “The Order finds that the Commission’s sports blackout rules are no longer justified in light of the significant changes in the sports industry since these rules were first adopted nearly forty years ago,” the FCC said in the decision. “At that time, ticket sales were the primary source of revenue for the NFL and most NFL games failed to sell out. Today, television revenues have replaced ticket sales as the NFL’s main source of revenue, and blackouts of NFL games are increasingly rare. The NFL is the most profitable sports league in the country, with $6 billion in television revenue per year, and only two games were blacked out last season.”
Of course, the ruling won’t actually end blackouts, which are written into the NFL’s private contracts with broadcast and cable companies, although it means that the government is now out of the practice. The NFL released its own statement on the matter, according to NBC Sports, writing: “NFL teams have made significant efforts in recent years to minimize blackouts. The NFL is the only sports league that televises every one of its games on free, over-the-air television. The FCC’s decision will not change that commitment for the foreseeable future.”
“Let the streaming begin!” Adam Sandler said as he announced a deal with Netflix to develop four original movies for the streaming service. Sandler will produce and star in the films, but the titles have yet to be announced. Netflix most recently revealed another partnership, with The Weinstein Co., for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: The Green Legend to be released on the service in August 2015.
Facebook is revamping the Atlas ad server to offer more “people-based marketing,” including the ability to target users of its photo-sharing app, Instagram. The company tapped Jivox as its dynamic creative ad platform partner. The Jivox IQ data-driven ad platform will deliver rich media display ads throughout the Atlas ecosystem and enable it to be tracked and measured within Atlas. Facebook currently counts 1.3 billion users. “The Atlas announcement underscores a significant trend in digital advertising, namely the integration of social media for facilitating conversations between brands and consumers, with the interactivity and engagement that so far has only been possible in rich media display advertising,” Diaz Nesamoney, founder/CEO of Jivox, tells Cynopsis. “Jivox’s unique ability to produce rich media, data-driven ads that are triggered by real-life events and trending topics, and then served across all screens makes us an ideal partner for Atlas as they take a leadership role in reinventing the way companies market to prospects and customers.”
When The Hub Network relaunches as Discovery Family Channel on Oct. 13, Tom Cosgrove will be in the GM seat, reinforcing the net’s focus on family viewing. “While the trend is for family members to scatter at home to pursue different interests, we believe television can actually be an inspiration for bringing families together,” said Discovery group president Henry Schleiff, who will oversee the transition and to whom Cosgrove will report. “Our goal for Discovery Family Channel is to curate and program content that will grab entire families.”
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