Source: Nielsen Galaxy Explorer; Live+SD coverage area HH rating for original movie premiere Sat 9p (12/6/08), #1 ranking vs Sat-Sun8-11p Prime time competition (11/22-12/7/08). Subject to qualifications upon request.

Cynopsis

12/18/08

Good morning. It’s Thursday, December 18, 2008, and this is your first early morning briefing. 

Tonight’s Finale:
FOX: Secret Millionaire at 8p

Teen struggles are front and center next month as ABC Family brings back its summer series The Secret Life of the American Teenager with twelve new one-hour episodes. Moving to Mondays this season, the series will debut January 5 at 8p and is produced by Prodco, Inc. in association with Brendavision.

TV Land will premiere season two of High School Reunion February 18 at 10p. During eight episodes, this next reunion will feature classmates from the 1988 graduating class of Chandler High School in Arizona gathered together at an estate on Kauai. The series is produced by Next Entertainment in association with Warner Horizon Television.

Former VP of LIN Broadcasting, Inc., Frank A. O’Neil passed away last Friday after a long battle with cancer. Before retiring in 1991, Frank was a fixture in the Dallas television market as he worked in various capacities at the NBC affiliate KXAS for 25 years including serving as President/GM. During his career Frank also managed other LIN television stations including WAVY/Norfolk and KXAN/Austin. While leading KXAS, Frank established the station as a champion of local volunteerism, bringing numerous recognition and awards to the station. Frank’s memorial service was this past Monday and those who wish can send memorials in his name to the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston or another charity of choice.

Program Call: If your company will be attending NATPE ’09 with programming, we will send out a special NATPE Shopping Guide edition the Thursday before the conference. To have your programming included, please send only the following info for your top 5 shows: title, availability date, number of episodes, length, type (i.e., movie, series, special, etc.), genre and your terms (barter, cash, etc.). If your company is interested in being included, please send the details to
by Friday, January 16, 2009.

A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE FROM FUSE

TV One launched its 24-hour hi-def simulcast channel on Time Warner Cable in New York City Region and on Comcast in Boston, Chicago, Portland, OR and Seattle with more launches planned for next month. TV One-HD will air the same schedule as its standard-def counterpart with 20% of programming in hi-def at launch and up to 40% in hi-def by the end of 2010.

Charter Communications along with Insight Sports added 24-hour fishing lifestyle channel, WFN: World Fishing Network to its digital cable systems in Minnesota.

Comcast and STAR, an Asian media/entertainment company and a wholly owned subsidiary of News Corporation, announced STAR India PLUS will launch today on Comcast’s digital lineup in California. STAR India PLUS will be available to viewers in Sacramento, Fresno, Stockton, San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose and surrounding areas, with the exception of North Santa Barbara and Lompoc systems. The distribution agreement between Comcast and STAR also includes four other Indian channels: STAR ONE, STAR India GOLD, STAR India NEWS and VIJAY.

Production is underway in Los Angeles on Party Down the new original series from Starz Entertainment and television production unit Starz Media. The 30m comedy is about a six-person catering team working in L.A. with each hoping for their big break. For the ensemble cast, Starz has tapped Ken Marino, Adam Scott, Jane Lynch, Martin Starr, Ryan Hansen and Lizzy Caplan. The series will debut in March airing next to the returning series Head Case.

Last spring, Tom Fontana and Barry Levinson left the NBC project The Philanthropist citing creative differences with the network.  Stepping in was David Eick, who has now decided to leave the project in favor of the Battlestar Galactica spinoff series Caprica for Sci Fi Channel.  Enter again … Tom Fontana (Levinson will not be returning). NBC has ordered 8 episodes.

Endemol USA, with SVP Jeremy Gold at the helm, announced a new development slate including twelve scripted drama and comedy projects aimed at various broadcast and cable networks, reports Variety. Some of the projects in the pipeline include:

• For SOAPnet, the soap series Julia’s Tango is being adapted by writer Jill Condon who also heads the project. The storyline is about a young lawyer who leaves Boston to return to her family’s home in Buenos Aires to run a bed & breakfast inn. Shot in Argentina, the series would have 13 episodes.
• Manager/Husband – a comedy for FOX about a talent manager and his young pop star wife. Jim O’Doherty and David Israel are writing based on a concept by Andre Gurland. Twentieth Century Fox Television and Principato-Young will also produce.
• It’s Not You, It’s Me – single-camera comedy for HBO about a young woman living in the city and her relationships. Vic Levin is writing the project.
• Nanny project for The CW written by Veronica Becker and Sarah Kucserka about four nannies and the families they work for set in Dallas. Warner Bros. Television is also producing.
• Hell on Wheels for AMC about the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad with Tony and Joe Gayton as writers.
• Joe Cartoon – 30m animated series for Comedy Central based on Joe Shields’ animated website.

Casting Call: Norwegian production company, Monster Entertainment is looking for fun and outgoing Americans with Norwegian ancestry to audition for a new travel reality competition series based in Norway called The Great Norway Adventure (wt), described as that country’s version of American Idol. Applicants must be at least 18 years old and not older than 60. For more information and to find application forms, visit www.oconnorcasting.tv/norway.

CYNOPSIS DIGITAL – TODAY’S TOP STORY: The National Venture Capital Association is predicting a “difficult” year in 2009 as the global financial crisis continues to spread like a virus through the entrepreneurial ecosystem. Some 92% of venture capitalists surveyed predicted a slowing of venture investment in 2009 vs. 2008, which is expected to reach the $29 to $30 billion range by year-end. Sixty-one percent believe the decline will be greater than 10%, dropping overall investment below $27 billion in 2009. However, there will still be plenty of ventures receiving money, albeit smaller contributions. More than half (53%) of VC executives predict that they will invest in the same number portfolio companies in the coming year, if not more.    Full edition: CYN DIGITAL.

CYNOPSIS KIDS – TODAY’S TOP STORY:  4Kids Entertainment, Inc. yesterday announced a drop in its headcount by about 15% across all subsidiaries and divisions, as well as planning to reduce its operating costs by $4-5 million in 2009.  The operation review and layoffs come just as 4Kids and Fox Broadcasting Company end their relationship, as previously reported, bringing an end to the 4KidsTV Saturday morning programming block on Fox this month. Full edition: CYN KIDS.

CYNOPSIS INTERNATIONAL – TODAY’S TOP STORY:  Comcast has several new stars on board.   News Corporation’s STAR media/entertainment company will have its STAR India PLUS channel launch across Comcast’s digital cable platform in California as of today.  It will be available in all of Comcast’s CA service areas including Sacramento, Fresno, Stockton, San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose and the surrounding areas (with the exception of the North Santa Barbara and Lompoc systems).  As part of deal, 4 other Indian networks, STAR ONE, STAR India GOLD, STAR India NEWS and VIJAY will also be available for Comcast distribution.   Full edition: CYN INTERNATIONAL.

Top 10 M-F Syndicated Strip Series for the week of 12/1-12/7/08 ranked by HH Rtg
Wheel of Fortune (CTD)                                   7.7 AA
Jeopardy (CTD)                                               6.2 AA
Two and a Half Men (WB)                                 5.3 AA / 7.1 GAA
Oprah Winfrey Show (CTD)                               5.2 AA / 5.3 GAA
Judge Judy (CTD)                                            4.6 AA / 7.1 GAA
Entertainment Tonight (CTD)                             4.2 AA / 4.3 GAA
Family Guy (2/T)                                             4.1 AA / 4.8 GAA
Seinfeld (SPT)                                                3.6 AA / 4.2 GAA
Dr. Phil Show (CTD)                                         3.3 AA / 3.4 GAA
Everybody Loves Raymond (CTD)                       3.3 AA / 4.4 GAA
Source: NSS Galaxy Explorer, Live+SD

NEW M-F Syndicated Strip Series ratings for HH (12/1-12/7/08):
House of Payne (2/T)                                        2.4 AA / 3.0 GAA
Deal or No Deal (NBU)                                       1.8 AA / 2.3 GAA
Doctors (CTD)                                                 1.7 AA
Judge Karen (SPT)                                           1.0 AA / 1.5 GAA
Bonnie Hunt Show (WB)                                     0.9 AA / 0.9 GAA
Family Court (SPT)                                           0.6 AA / 0.8 GAA
Trivial Pursuit (2/T)                                          0.6 AA / 0.8 GAA
Punk’d (TRI)                                                    0.5 AA / 0.5 GAA
Source: NSS Galaxy Explorer, Live+SD

Top 10 M-F Syndicated Strip Series for the week of 12/1-12/7/08 ranked by A18-49 Rtg
Two and a Half Men (WB)                                3.0 AA / 3.9 GAA
Family Guy (2/T)                                            2.9 AA / 3.4 GAA
Seinfeld (SPT)                                                2.4 AA / 2.8 GAA
Everybody Loves Raymond (CTD)                      2.0 AA / 2.7 GAA
Wheel of Fortune (CTD)                                  1.9 AA
Oprah Winfrey Show (CTD)                              1.8 AA / 1.8 GAA
Friends (WB)                                                 1.8 AA / 2.2 GAA
King of Queens (SPT)                                     1.8 AA / 2.2 GAA
House of Payne (2/T)                                     1.7 AA / 2.0 GAA  NEW
King of the Hill (2/T)                                      1.6 AA / 2.2 GAA
Source: NSS Galaxy Explorer, Live+SD

NEW M-F Syndicated Strip Series ratings for A18-49 (12/1-12/7/08):
Deal or No Deal (NBU)                                       0.7 AA / 0.9 GAA
Doctors (CTD)                                                 0.6 AA
Bonnie Hunt Show (WB)                                    0.4 AA / 0.4 GAA
Judge Karen (SPT)                                           0.4 AA / 0.6 GAA
Trivial Pursuit (2/T)                                          0.3 AA / 0.3 GAA
Punk’d (TRI)                                                    0.3 AA / 0.4 GAA
Family Court (SPT)                                           0.2 AA / 0.3 GAA
Source: NSS Galaxy Explorer, Live+SD

Tuesday – A18-49 Analysis: NBC was the big winner Tuesday night with 3.9/10 A18-49 according to final national ratings from Nielsen Media Research. The two-hour finale of The Biggest Loser on NBC did best at 8p with 4.1/11 over CBS’ NCIS at 4.0/11 and during 9p NBC’s The Biggest Loser weighed in at 5.1/13 ahead of CBS’ second place The Mentalist at 4.2/11. At 10p, CBS was the champ as Without a Trace posted a 3.2/9 in front of NBC’s premiere of Momma’s Boys with 2.5/7.

Live + Same Day Household Ratings: Tuesday, December 16, 2008 time period averages. Source: NTI Galaxy, as dated.  Live+SD

CBS: 10.9/17          NCIS 11.9/19, The Mentalist 11.6/18, Without a Trace 9.2/16

NBC: 6.2/10            The Biggest Loser [f] 7.2/11, Momma’s Boys [p] 4.1/7

ABC: 3.8/6              Charlie Brown Christmas [r] 4.7/7, According to Jim 3.4/5, According to Jim [r] 3.0/5, Eli Stone 3.5/6

FOX: 3.6/6               House [r] 4.2/7, Fringe [r] 3.1/5

UNIV: 2.1/3             Cuidado con El Angel 2.3/4, Fuego en la Sangre 2.3/3, Aqui y Ahora 1.6/3

CW: 0.8/1                90210 [r] 0.8/1, Privileged [r] 0.7/1

TELE: 0.7/1              Dona Barbara 0.6/1, El Rostro de Analia 0.8/1, Sin Senos No Hay Paraiso 1.0/2, Cartel T 0.7/1

MNT: 0.6/1              Spirit of Christmas 0.6/1

A18-49: NBC 3.9/10, CBS 3.8/10, FOX 2.2/6, ABC 2.1/6, UNIV 1.7/4, TELE 0.6/2, CW 0.4/1, MNT 0.3/1

OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network recruited Liz Dolan as CMO effective January 5. Liz, who has led marketing at NIKE and has been host and creator of the talk show Satellite Sisters, will supervise the brand identity for OWN and manage marketing initiatives for the network’s launch in late 2009/early 2010. Liz will report to Robin Schwartz, President of OWN.

David Shearer will soon join MRM Worldwide, the digital and direct marketing agency of McCann Worldgroup as SVP/Executive Creative Director. David will begin his new position January 19 with responsibility for the overall creative product emanating from the company’s San Francisco and Seattle offices. David will also be MRM’s Executive Creative Director for the worldwide Microsoft account. He will report jointly to Wing Pepper, EVP/Managing Director, MRM San Francisco and Seattle for MRM Worldwide as well as Rob Bagot, Chief Creative Office, McCann Worldgroup San Francisco.

Richard Gay was appointed EVP/Strategy and Operations for MTV and VH1 where he will work closely with upper management of both networks to supervise business activities, head strategic planning efforts and implement various operational functions. Based in New York, Richard reports to Stephen Friedman, GM/MTV and Tom Calderone, President/VH1.

World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. tagged Robert Zimmerman as VP/Public Relations and Corporate Communications to manage business, consumer, financial and trade press relations and strategy in addition to becoming a member of the company’s management team. Furthermore, Gary Davis is the new VP/Global Public Affairs where he is charged with developing partnerships and outreach to enhance the reputation of WWE in the U.S. and in key countries abroad. Gary will manage corporate responsibility programs in the various countries where WWE has a presence in the areas of youth, literacy and volunteerism.

HBO enlisted 27-year veteran Tom Woodbury as General Counsel/EVP, Networks Business Affairs to be the company’s chief legal advisor on all legal issues associated with HBO as well as chief legal liaison to Time Warner. Tom will also continue his oversight of business affairs related to Affiliate Sales, International and Technology Operations, responsibilities he took on in 2004 when he was appointed EVP/Business Affairs and Legal, Sales and Network Operations. In his new role, Tom will report directly to Bill Nelson, Chairman/CEO.

G4 upped Adam Sessler to Editor-in-Chief of G4 Games Content to supervise editorial content for videogame show X-Play in addition to all gaming content for the network. Adam will still host X-Play along with Morgan Webb.

CYNOPSIS EVENTS AT NATPE 2009

This day in History: Born on this day: Keith Richards (1943), Steven Spielberg (1947), Ray Liotta (1955), Brad Pitt (1963), Katie Holmes (1978), Christina Aguilera (1980)

Answer to Yesterday’s Trivia Question, Sponsored By Fuse. Ignite Your Brand.:  Last month, Guns N’ Roses released their first studio album in 17 years- what is the title of the album?  CHINESE DEMOCRACY Kudos to: Ami Cadugan-Davis Advertising/Worcester,MA; Paul Kelly-truTV/IN Session/NY; John Carlo-Channel One Network/NY; Scott Gedney-ESPN/NY; Melissa Heck- KCTV/ Kansas City, MO; Jeanette Gipson- JA Integrated Thinking /Brentwood, TN; Bryan Wallace-HKS, Inc./Dallas; Beth Stockton- KCTV/KSMO/ Kansas City, MO; Coleen Raymann- Disney ABC Domestic Television/Burbank; Michael Dietz-Lucky Butterfly Productions/LA; Sr. Rose Pacatte-Pauline Center

Today’s Trivia Question:   What is the name of the clairvoyant character Johnny Carson played on The Tonight Show?   (Email
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A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE FROM PEABODY AWARDS

Later — Cyn
12.18.08

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WHAT’S ON TONIGHT –  Thursday, December 18, 2008

ABC: Ugly Betty [r], Grey’s Anatomy [r], Private Practice [r]
AZTECA: Lo Que Callamos Las Mujeres Edicion Especial, Especial Reality Jenni Rivera, Al Extremo
CBS: Million Dollar Password, CSI [r], Eleventh Hour [r]
CW: Smallville [r], Supernatural [r]
FOX: Secret Millionaire [f ], Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?  Holiday Special
ION: Boston Legal, Movie: The Christmas Clause
MNT: Wrestlemania [r], Celebrity Expose [r]
NBC: My Name is Earl [r], Kath & Kim [r], The Office [r], 30 Rock [r], 30 Rock [r], The Office [r]
PBS: This Old House Hour, Antiques Roadshow, Faith Hill, Joy to the World: A Soundstage Special Event
TELE: Dona Barbara, El Rostro de Analia, Sin Senos No Hay Paraiso
UNIV: Cuidado con el Angel, Fuego en la Sangre, La Rosa de Guadalupe

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