Cynopsis

04.16.09

Good morning. It’s Thursday, April 16, 2009, and this is your first early morning briefing.  

Tonight’s Premiere:
WGN America: Around the World for Free at 9p

A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE FROM SCI FI CHANNEL

Ex-Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich may end up starring in NBC’s summer reality series I’m a Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here. Blagojevich will participate in the live series event if a federal judge approves and allows him to travel to Costa Rica from where the show will originate. The series will debut on NBC June 1 and will air as a strip over four weeks. Blagojevich would be one of ten celebrities left in the jungle and forced to deal with various challenges to see how and if they can adapt to a wilderness environment. The celebrities’ participation will raise money for charity.

A&E Network unveils a second season of its original unscripted series Crime 360 where actual criminal investigations are staged in real time, step by step from the start to the resolution, using CGI and forensic technology. New one-hour episodes begin May 21 at 10p with production returning to Cleveland as well as three new cities: Rochester, Little Rock and Indianapolis. Crime 360 is produced by BASE Productions with John Brenkus and Mickey Stern serving as executive producers.

TNT scored with the NBA during the 2008-2009 regular season, reporting year-to-year increases in key demos based on information from Nielsen, including:
A18-49: + 17% 980,000 vs. 835,000
A25-54: +16% 881,000 vs. 760,000
M18-49: +12% 691,000 vs. 617,000
M25-54: +12% 614,000 vs. 547,000
Pro basketball continues on TNT as the network’s 40 Games in 40 Nights coverage of the 2009 NBA Playoffs begins this Sunday with a trio of games and TNT will provide exclusive coverage of the 2009 Eastern Conference Finals.

Discovery Channel’s season five premiere of Deadliest Catch on Tuesday night at 9p hooked the largest average audience in the series’ history including 2.6 million A18-49, nearly 2.8 million A25-54 as well as almost 1.6 million M18-49 and 4.1 million total viewers.

ION Media Networks, Inc. confirmed talks with its secured lenders and stakeholders regarding a comprehensive recapitalization of the company’s balance sheet involving a debt-for-equity exchange. The plan would de-lever the company’s balance sheet, giving it a new cash investment infusion to further advance ION’s long-term expansion strategy. ION’s business operations would continue uninterrupted and so far, stakeholders involved in discussions support the company’s de-leveraging efforts and the overall direction implemented by company management.

New York-based MTB Cleveland Operating LLC and MTB Cleveland Licensee LLC is selling independent station WOAC-TV/Canton to Radiant Life Ministries, an Ohio-based not-for-profit corporation and broadcaster of Christian and inspirational television content. An application has been filed with the FCC for the transfer.

UPFRONT 2009: OXYGEN

Oxygen hosted its upfront presentation yesterday in New York, revealing plans for a second night of originals in primetime starting this summer as well as a further expansion on its popular Tori Spelling/Dean McDermott franchise appealing to its female audience.

New series for Oxygen include:

• Dance Your Ass Off – In this unique dance/weight-loss competition series, full-figured contestants partner with professional dancers, performing dance moves to get thin. Marissa Jaret Winokur will host. 495 Productions produces with a premiere set this summer.
• Addicted to Beauty – Office docu-comedy set in the world of medi-spas. Eight one-hour episodes focus on the staff of a hot beauty treatment facility in California who provides Botox to their rich and privileged customers while sampling the services during coffee breaks. Produced by RDF USA and Intuitive Entertainment and slated to premiere later this year.
• The Naughty Kitchen with Chef Blythe Beck – Series will follow feisty Chef Blythe Beck, a 29-year old Texas native as she runs the kitchen and crew at Dallas’ Central 214. From Authentic Entertainment and Code Entertainment. The series will roll out later this year.

Oxygen projects in development:

• Keshia and Kaseem (wt) – Docu-series about former little sister “Rudy” from the Cosby Show, Keshia Knight Pulliam and her boyfriend and business partner, Kaseem Penn. The series explores their living together in the Atlanta area while each juggles a high-profile career. Produced by Edmonds Entertainment and Pullpen Productions.
• Celeb-U-Moms – Docu-series following the personal and professional lives of Hollywood moms who try to balance love, family, friendships and glamorous careers. World of Wonder produces.
• Mr. & Mrs. Makeover (wt) – Pilot for series developed and headlined by Tori Spelling and her husband Dean McDermott. The series combines marriage counseling as well as physically making over each participant and their surroundings. Produced by World of Wonder who is the company behind Tori & Dean: Home Sweet Hollywood; Tori Spelling and Dean McDermott also will executive produce.
• Tori and Dean Telepic (wt) – In addition, Oxygen is in the early development phase on a made-for-television romantic comedy movie featuring Tori Spelling and Dean McDermott who will both star and executive produce.

A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE FROM OXYGEN

SOURCE: Nielsen Media Research. Click here for full source data.

Regional sports network YES Network will be available to a national audience via Verizon FiOS following a multiyear deal with the telco, reports Multichannel News. YES Network, minus its New York Yankees and New Jersey Nets game coverage, will be carried on FiOS TV Extreme HD service for free to subscribers. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. YES Network becomes the first regional sports network available in all FiOS TV markets outside of its home markets of New York state and northern and central New Jersey. Earlier this month, YES Network launched to Bright House Network subscribers in Tampa, where the Yankees have a training facility. In May, YES Network will also be available in Orlando and central Florida.

TBS ordered ten 30m episodes of an animated series called Neighbors from Hell about the Hellmans, a typical all-American suburban family with a twist: dad, Balthazor, mom, Tina and their two kids Mandy and Josh and their dog Pazuzu come from Hell. The family is sent to Earth with a mission to keep humans from finding their way to Hell. The project, TBS’ first original animation series, is from Fox TV Animation, the company behind Family Guy, DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. and Jeffrey Katzenberg (Shrek). Pam Brady wrote the pilot episode and will also executive produce along with Mireille Soria.

CYNOPSIS DIGITAL – TODAY’S TOP STORY:  Time Warner Cable, which continues to take heat this week for its metered broadband plan, would like the FCC to back off insisting that ISPs meet net neutrality obligations per Ars Technica, noting a response to the FCC’s call for input regarding the stimulus plan. “Now is not the time, nor is this the appropriate proceeding, to engage in a debate about the need for net neutrality obligations,” the company writes.  Full edition: CYN DIGITAL.

CYNOPSIS KIDS – TODAY’S TOP STORY: Kids Animation India (KAI), the publishing and merchandising arm of Spacetoon India, launches its first animated intellectual property Fafa & Juno.  The property revolves around Fafa, an independent young girl, and Juno, a panda, and will feature stories that emphasize positive values.  Ahead of the animated series, which is in pre-production with plans to launch in spring 2010, Spacetoon will promote Fafa & Juno through licensing, publication, merchandising, and events.  Initially, Fafa & Juno books will be available in 31 titles across various categories. The merchandising products will include back to school, art sets, stationery, toys and home furnishing.  A portion of KAI’s proceeds for Fafa & Juno will go to Nanhi Kali, an origination that promotes education for underprivileged girls in India. Full edition: CYN KIDS.

A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE FROM THE WEATHER CHANNEL

Top 10 M-F Syndicated Strip Series for the week of 3/30-4/5/09 ranked by HH Rtg
Wheel of Fortune (CTD)                                   7.2 AA
Jeopardy (CTD)                                               6.1 AA
Oprah Winfrey Show (CTD)                               5.8 AA / 6.0 GAA
Two and a Half Men (WB)                                 4.9 AA / 6.5 GAA
Judge Judy (CTD)                                            4.3 AA / 6.7 GAA
Entertainment Tonight (CTD)                             4.1 AA / 4.2 GAA
Family Guy (2/T)                                             4.0 AA / 4.8 GAA
Seinfeld (SPT)                                                 3.7 AA / 4.2 GAA
Dr. Phil Show (CTD)                                         3.3 AA / 3.4 GAA
Everybody Loves Raymond (CTD)                       3.1 AA / 4.1 GAA
Source: NSS Galaxy Explorer, Live+SD

Top 10 M-F Syndicated Strip Series for the week of 3/30-4/5/09 ranked by A18-49 Rtg
Family Guy (2/T)                                            2.9 AA / 3.4 GAA
Two and a Half Men (WB)                                2.6 AA / 3.4 GAA
Seinfeld (SPT)                                               2.4 AA / 2.7 GA
Oprah Winfrey Show (CTD)                              2.1 AA / 2.2 GAA
Wheel of Fortune (CTD)                                  1.8 AA
Everybody Loves Raymond (CTD)                      1.8 AA / 2.4 GAA
King of the Hill (2/T)                                       1.7 AA / 1.9 GAA
Jeopardy (CTD)                                              1.6 AA
Friends (WB)                                                  1.6 AA / 1.9 GAA
King of Queens (SPT)                                      1.6 AA / 1.9 GAA
Source: NSS Galaxy Explorer, Live+SD

Tuesday – A18-49 Analysis: FOX maintained an even hand Tuesday night taking the A18-49 demo with a 6.4/16 A18-49 according to final national ratings from Nielsen Media Research. FOX’s American Idol surpassed the competition during 8p with an 8.5/23 with the next nearest network being NBC and The Biggest Loser at 3.4/9. Then at 9p, NBC’s Biggest Loser topped the chart with 4.2/11 while FOX placed second with Fringe at 4.0/10. CBS’ Without a Trace won the 10p hour with a 3.0/8 followed by a repeat of NBC’s Law & Order: SVU at 2.4/6 and coming in third was ABC’s newer series Cupid at 1.7/5.

Live + Same Day Household Ratings: Tuesday, April 14, 2009 time period averages. Source: NTI Galaxy, as dated.  Live+SD

FOX: 10.0/15       American Idol 13.8/21, Fringe 5.9/9

CBS: 8.3/13          NCIS [r] 8.7/14, The Mentalist [r] 7.7/12, Without a Trace 8.5/14

ABC: 5.6/9            According to Jim 3.0/5, According to Jim 2.7/4, Dancing with the Stars Results 9.6/15, Cupid 4.1/7

NBC: 5.2/8            The Biggest Loser 7 5.6/9, Law & Order: SVU [r] 4.5/7

UNIV: 2.4/4          Cuidado con El Angel 2.4/4, Manana para Siempre 2.7/4, Aqui y Ahora 2.0/3

CW: 1.4/2             Reaper 1.3/2, 90210 1.4/2

MNT: 0.8/1            Street Patrol [r] 0.7/1, Street Patrol 2 [r] 0.7/1, Jail [r] 0.9/1, Jail 2 [r] 0.9/1

TELE: 0.7/1           Dona Barbara 0.6/1, El Rostro de Analia 0.7/1, Sin Senos No Hay Paraiso 0.8/1, Cartel T 0.8/1

ION: 0.4/1            Boston Legal [r] 0.4/1, Boston Legal [r] 0.5/1, Boston Legal [r] 0.4/1

A18-49: FOX 6.4/16, NBC 3.3/9, CBS 2.7/7, ABC 2.2/6, UNIV 2.0/5, CW 1.0/3, TELE 0.6/2, MNT 0.4/1, ION 0.1/0

Michael Clemente will provide oversight of news editorial for FOX News in his current position as SVP/News. Michael assumes responsibility immediately succeeding John Moody, News Editorial EVP who is joining News Corp to manage a new portal giving the company’s journalism properties a chance to share content. In his new capacity, Michael will work closely with Bill Shine, SVP/Programming on television production and report to Roger Ailes, Chairman/CEO, FOX News. Michael started at FOX News last February and previously was with ABC News for 27 years most recently as a Senior Executive Producer for the ABC Digital Media Group.

Marvel Studios, the Hollywood division of Marvel Entertainment, appointed Douglas Finberg as EVP/International Marketing. Douglas will be in charge of developing and managing the global marketing campaigns for the studio’s upcoming films consisting of Iron Man in May 2010 to The Avengers due out in May 2012 among others. In his new position, Douglas will report to Kevin Feige, President, Marvel Studios and Tim Connors, COO, Marvel Studios. Previously, Douglas was the SVP/International Marketing for Paramount Pictures International.

Atlas Digital hired Lloyd Guillen as VP/Sales and Business Development where he will identify business opportunities to advance the company’s growth. Based in Los Angeles, Lloyd reports to Shawn Sanbar, President.

Kent Rees advanced to SVP/Marketing with IFC up from VP/Marketing and Brand Development. Kent’s responsibilities include the supervision and strategic direction of the network’s marketing and brand development covering both on-air and print marketing. Kent reports to Jennifer Caserta, EVP/GM, IFC.

IFTA Collections upgraded Tony Aronovitz to Manager to oversee all facets of domestic and global royalty collections, involving customer service and marketing as well as sustaining relationships with foreign collection societies.

A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE FROM KCET

 
This day in History:  1962 – Walter Cronkite began anchoring “The CBS Evening News”.

Answer to Yesterday’s Trivia Question:   Who is “allergic to microwaves – they release space hamsters into my bloodstream”?  HOWLING MAD MURDOCK on THE A TEAM  Kudos to: Marge Pistulka-Empower MediaMarketing/Coral Springs; Bob Von Kohorn-INVISION Inc/New York; Chris Day-The Weather Channel/Atlanta; Heather Weldin-Active Int’l/Pearl River; Thomas Allen Heald-The Black Hills Pioneer/Spearfish, SD; Tim Rank-Cox Reps/St. Louis; Odette Felix-Dark Horse Media/Tucson; Katherine White-News America Marketing/Los Angeles; Troy DeVolld-44 Blue/Los Angeles; Robin Schmelling-BCMI/Rancho Mirage; Yvonne Vega-Fox Mobile Group/Beverly Hills

Today’s Trivia Question:  On what show was the Monkey Bar & Hotel featured?   (Email
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.)

A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE FROM ACADEMY OF TELEVISION ARTS & SCIENCES

Later — Cyn
04.16.09

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JOB OPENING: SR MGR, MKTG/ABC Daytime/SOAPNet/LA: Mng/execute mktg strategy initiatives; lead devl of digital mktg/social netwk strat; 4+yrs enter /consumer mktg exp. Apply www.disneycareers.com Req ID# 191605 (4/22)

JOB OPENING: SALES ASSISTANT/BET/NY: Detailed-oriented, organized, multi-tasker, exc comm & math skills.Prof w/excel, Bachelors degree req. Email resume:
(4/22)

JOB OPENING: SALES PLAN’R/BET/NY: Prepare Sales Plans, Mng mult Accts, 2 yrs exp in Cable Sales or buying a must.Detailed-oriented, org’d, multitasker, exc comm & math skills, BA req. Email resume:
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JOB OPENING: SALES SUPPORT MGR/The Hotel Networks/NYC: Immediate opening for a College Grad w/ 5+yrs Direct Response sales exp. Detail oriented, w/Microsoft Office software knowledge a must. Apply:
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JOB OPENING: MGR INNOVATIONS/Initiative/LA: Dvlp mktg/digital breakthroughs to navigate emerging media, translate trends into opportunities for bus. growth:3+ yrs exp in digital media, creative thinker.Res to:
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JOB OPENING: DIR, BUS AFFAIRS/ABC Daytime/SOAPNet/LA: Structure, negotiate, oversee wide variety of deals/prods; top analytic skills. JD+ min 5yrs exp in TV. Netwk/cable strongly pref’d. Apply www.disneycareers.com, Req ID# 188120 (4/18)

JOB OPENING: AD SALES ASST/Hallmark Channel/NY: Work w/ AE’s & Plan’rs to srvc/maintain agencies & clients daily. Entry level. Good for college grad. Full posting & apply: http://www.hallmarkchannel.com/publish/consumer/home/jobs.html (4/18)

JOB OPENING: SR MGR PRICING & PLAN’G/AT&T Advanced Ad Solutions Nat’l Sales/NY: Dvlpmnt of IPTV advrtsng inv definition & pricing plan.Create process to interact w/ trafficking to fulfill orders & dvlp rate card. Res to:
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A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE

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SUMMER INTERNSHIP CREDIT ONLY: NEW BUSINESS DEVELOP/CREW CREATIVE, LEADING LA AD FIRM seeking go-getter business/MBA intern. Research/organize/pursue new biz opportunities & be proactive. Contact
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SUMMER INTERNSHIP CREDIT ONLY: INFO WEB ARCHITECT/CREW CREATIVE LEADING AD FIRM LA seeking IA/UI intern. Creating wireframes for web projects, navigate websites, User Interface. Contact
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SITUATION WANTED: OPERATIONS/PROGRAMMING 20 yrs experience in network/syndication/cable operations, sales, programming, marketing & promotion. Will Travel. Contact
917-664-2576 (4/23)

SITUATION WANTED: COLLEGE STUDENT/NYC/DC: Seeking exciting summer internship (paid or unpaid). Drama & Psyc major at Vassar College, particularly interested in film and TV. Enthusiastic and hardworking.
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SITUATION WANTED: NASHVILLE WRITER/PRODUCER/FIELD DIRECTOR: MTV, CMT, TLC. 20 yrs exp all budgets, genres and still fun to work with!
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SITUATION WANTED: 20+ yrs. experience in TV Broadcasting & Cable finance/accounting. Seeking FT, PT or Temporary position: immediate start. Please contact
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SITUATION WANTED: SR MEDIA BUYER with 13 yrs experience with local & national campaigns utilizing TV, radio, online & outdoor ads. Contact me at
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SITUATION WANTED: REALITY PRODUCER/WRITER/DIR; NBC, TLC, CMT, CNN, E!, Discovery, pilots, sales tapes, internet; I’ll write your reality show treatment and develop your ideas. LA Based; travels well;
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SITUATION WANTED: ASST PRODUCER/COORD/MGR/PA (NY) Prod experience: ABC, NBC, CBS, BBC, MTV, Food Network, History Channel, Sesame Street, NY1. Seeks FT, PT, freelance. Resume: TinyURL.com/Charles-Goon Email:
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SITUATION WANTED: PRODUCER, WRITER, EDITOR, PACKAGER(NYC): Seasoned pro available to: 1.)Tackle your next promotion or sales presentation; and 2.) Relieve his boredom.
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SITUATION WANTED: NYC: Enthusiastic, hard-working SALES & MKTG PROF. 15+ yrs TV exp, 10 yrs on THE Sports & Family Affil team. Need results-driven/strategic/creative? You need me!
   www.linkedin.com/in/davidwmsweeney (4/22)

SITUATION WANTED: RESEARCH DIRECTOR 20+ yrs Media, Nielsen, Hispanic, & Sales experience. National and Local. Email:
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SITUATION WANTED: 5 PRIME TIME EMMYS/ DOC. PROD, DIR., WRITER in L.A. Credits: National Geo, PBS, Discovery, History CH, TLC and MSNBC. Contact email:
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SITUATION WANTED: Seeking asst work to a prod or exec in Scripted TV/Film Prod Co/Studio. Prior agency exp, exec assistant, & set PA work for major players/companies in LA & NY.Contact Jennifer @
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SITUATION WANTED: Local spot TV/RADIO buyer (NYC) Reliable experienced individual seeking FT or Freelance position at an advertising agency or buying service: immediate start. Please contact
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SITUATION WANTED: Recent Harvard grad and FREELANCE WRITER will do pretty much anything involving words and writing them. Currently writing for a Gawker blog. Hard worker, strong writer, great bargain. (NYC)
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SITUATION WANTED: AD SALES MKTG CONSULTANT: 20 yrs exp CBS, A&E, History, Comcast. Copywriter, producer, concept guy, strategist. Agency Skills/Ad Sales Expertise. All jobs considered. Reasonable rates.
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WHAT’S ON TONIGHT –  THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2009

ABC: In the Motherhood, Samantha Who?, Grey’s Anatomy [r], Private Practice [r]
AZTECA: Lo Que Callamos Las Mujeres Edicion Especial, Historias Engarzadas, Al Extremo
CBS: Survivor, CSI, Harper’s Island [p]
CW: Smallville [p], Supernatural [p]
FOX: Bones, Hell’s Kitchen
ION:  MASH, Movie: Keeping the Faith
MNT: My Thursday Movie: Conspiracy
NBC:  My Name is Earl, Parks and Recreation, The Office, 30 Rock, Southland
PBS: This Old House [r], Antiques Roadshow, Appalachia: The History of Mountains and People
TELE: Dona Barbara, El Rostro de Analia, Sin Senos No Hay Paraiso, El Cartel
UNIV: Cuidado con el Angel, Manana es para Siempre, Rosa de Guadalupe

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