Skip a newsletter last week? “In Case You Missed It” rounds up 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!
It’s official, finally: Kevin Reilly has been named president of TNT and TBS, and chief creative officer for Turner Entertainment. The former chairman of entertainment for Fox takes on responsibilities handled by two departed execs: Turner Entertainment Networks president Steve Koonin, who left in April, and former president of TNT, TBS and TCM, Michael Wright, who exited in August. “Kevin brings a tremendous track record of success not only in terms of programming hits but also in the new media arena, where he was among the first broadcast network executives to push for meaningful investment in digital and social media,” said Turner Broadcasting president David Levy, to whom Reilly will report. “He has never shied away from taking bold programming risks and being a true champion of quality television.”
Turner Broadcasting might have been focused on its big Kevin Reilly hire on Tuesday, but they couldn’t ignore Dish Network chairman Charlie Ergen’s comments during an earnings call about the eight Turner channels dropped October 21 in a carriage dispute. “When we take something down, we’re prepared to leave it down forever,” said Ergen. “Things like CNN are not quite the product they used to be.” In a release on Wednesday, Turner responded, “We are disappointed in the aggressive nature of comments from the Dish Network, particularly given the fact that Dish agreed to our rates and carriage proposal weeks ago….While there were clearly deal points to get done, they were not the type you would usually go dark over. So it is still unclear to us exactly what this dispute is about.”
SPORTS
The NFL is bringing back a trio of games to London next season with its 2015 International Series slate set to feature a first-ever division game in the UK as well as games played on consecutive Sundays, also a first for the NFL in London. The schedule will see Jets/Dolphins on Oct. 4, Bills/Jaguars on Oct. 25 and Lions/Chiefs on Nov. 1, all at Wembley. “We are very appreciative of the outstanding support from our fans in the UK, not only for the games at Wembley, but for all of the related NFL events we have hosted throughout the city,” said NFL Executive Vice President of International Mark Waller. “We believe we have a great 2015 schedule that will continue to attract new fans to our sport and strengthen the bonds with our existing fans. To provide UK fans the opportunity to see games on consecutive weekends, to see new teams, and to attend a division game, which feature some of the most passionate rivalries in our sport, are signs of the growth and depth of our UK fan base.”
Taco Bell is ringing up the first ever student section at the College Football Playoff. The deal, in partnership with ESPN, will see the creation of Taco Bell’sLive Mas Student Sectionto provide undergraduate students with tickets and the opportunity to see their teams at each of the three final College Football Playoff games. “The Live Más Student Section brings one of the most important and impactful elements of football typically reserved for the regular season into the inaugural College Football Playoff,” said Chris Brandt, CMO at Taco Bell. “The passionate student fans define what it is to Live Mas, especially at playoff games, and we’re thrilled to be able to provide such a memorable experience with a Taco Bell twist.” Additionally, Taco Bell and ESPN will reserve 60 seats – 10 per school, per game – for the most dedicated fans. Starting today, current students can enter by following @ESPNCFB on Twitter and Instagram and sharing a photo that showcases their school spirit, using the hashtag #livemasfans.
…also as expected, CBS News unveiled the new CBSN ad-supported streaming news service yesterday. “There’s a tremendous opportunity on these platforms for a true round-the-clock newscast…that will appeal to both traditional news consumers and a whole new set of viewers,” Moonves said. Inaugural sponsors on the net, ad-supported across all platforms, include Microsoft and Amazon. Details include:
– Live, anchored coverage from 9a-midnight ET every weekday.
– Simulcasts of CBS News special reports for breaking news.
– Additional content from CBS sources CNET, CBSSports.com, Entertainment Tonight and more.
– Access to the network through CBSNews.com, connected devices like Amazon Fire TV, Roku platforms and CBS News apps.
– DVR-like function to allow viewers to watch segments they want to or tune into live programming.
– The show will include anchors Jeff Glor, Elaine Quijano, Michelle Miller, Don Dahler and Vladimir Duthiers.
StyleHaul CEO Stephanie Horbaczewski confirmed RTL Group has acquired the MCN for $107 million. StyleHaul received multiple offers dating back to when Disney acquired Maker Studios in April, Horaczewski told The Hollywood Reporter. “The acquisition is a smart move for an international company like RTL Group, not just because StyleHaul is one of the largest and fastest-growing vertically-focused MCNS, but what makes this acquisition stand out is that StyleHaul’s business model is somewhat unique among MCNs,” Peter Csathy, the CEO of digital business advisory agency Manatt Digital Media. “Because the beauty and fashion industry is commerce driven, StyleHaul stands to draw in big revenues that don’t need to be split with YouTube, in addition to more typical ad revenues and sponsored/branded content opportunities.”
Frederator Studios is back on the prowl for cartoon greatness. Fred Seibert’s studio is partnering with Sony Pictures Animation for its sixth digital cartoon incubator, GO! Cartoons. Sony will fund 12 animated shorts, each five minutes long, which will debut every month beginning next fall on the Cartoon Hangover YouTube channel as part of Seibert’s Channel Frederator Network (1.3 million subs). Additionally, one of the shorts will become a series on the YT channel. To date, Frederator has produced more than 200 shorts, 14 of which have spun off to series for Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, and Channel Frederator and Cartoon Hangover. Success stories include Adventure Time, The Fairly OddParents, Dexter’s Laboratory and The Powerpuff Girls.
Scandal-ous? Watchdog group The Parents TV Council on Monday unleashed an angry retort to ABC’s decision to follow up last Thursday’s ultra-G-rated It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown special with a quick transition to Scandal, which happened to open with a start with a graphic dream scene. “Shame on ABC for putting a peep show next to a playground,” PTC president Tim Winter said in a statement. “In less than 26 seconds we were taken from the Peanuts pumpkin patch to a steamy ‘Scandal’ sex scene… Such a transition is grossly irresponsible by the network and entirely unfair for parents. ABC owes families an apology.”
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