Source: NHI Galaxy Explorer, L+ SD 000s. wk of 2/11/08. Rank=ad supported cable, progs=tkg, movies=tc, excl. news, sports, kids, GD & PC type codes. Bcast comptn A18-34, English spkg. Nets, M-Su Prime.

Cynopsis

02/21/08

Good Morning.  It’s Thursday, February 21, 2008, and this is your first early morning briefing.

ABC announced the return dates for many of its primetime series:
April 7: Samantha Who? at 930p with 6 eps
April 8: Boston Legal at 10p with 6 eps
April 13: Desperate Housewives at 9p with 5 eps and a special two-hour finale
April 20: Brothers & Sisters at 10p with 4 eps
April 24: Ugly Betty at 8p with 5 eps, Grey’s Anatomy at 9p with 5 eps and Lost at 10p with 5 eps
ABC’s dramas Pushing Daisies, Private Practice and Dirty Sexy Money will all return next season.

Tonight’s Premieres:
Fuse: Live Through This: Nikki Sixx at 10p
SPEED: Setup – Season 2 at 8p, PINKS All Outtakes at 10p and Livin’ the Low Life at 1030p

Broadcast Evening News Ratings Wrap-Up: The final results for the week of February 11, 2008:
ABC: 9.44 million total viewers and 2.5/9 A25-54
NBC: 9.41 million total viewers and 2.4/9 A25-54
CBS: 6.98 million total viewers and 1.8/7 A25-54

Effective March 17, two of CBS’ comedies will swap places as The Big Bang Theory takes the Monday 8p slot and How I Met Your Mother moves to Mondays at 830p. Both sitcoms also return with new episodes while the rest of Monday’s line-up remains the same.

In March and April, ION Television Network lassoes Saturday as Western Night with original and classic movies from RHI Entertainment. Western Night opens with the world premiere of Aces N’ Eights on March 15 at 9p. Other western titles follow through April 26.

The CW’s reality show Beauty and the Geek is back for a fifth season starting March 11 at 8p. Nine intellectually-challenged beauties compete against nine smart but socially-bereft guys in various tests to win the $250,000 grand prize. The series is from fox21 and produced by Katalyst Films and 3 Ball Productions with executive producers Ashton Kutcher and Jason Goldberg. 

Blockade Entertainment and Gameplay HD, focused on video gaming and part of the VOOM suite of hi-def networks, will begin production of a new original animated series, Sacred Road. This series will combine a video game engine and software code to create a 3D-like hi-def animated television series. Sacred Road is about five American GIs who battle to defeat Nazis during WWII and will premiere on Gameplay HD this fall.

To new pilots have been ordered by CBS – Splitsville from exec producer Jamie Kennedy is a game show where divorcing couples negotiate for possessions via a variety of challenges.  The second pilot is a reality series focused on a team of law enforcement people who are all assisting people who have been victimized by crime. This latter project is from Tom Forman, the exec producer behind CBS’ Kid Nation.

Another cast change at Law & Order – departing will be 9-year veteran Jesse L. Martin, and joining the cast is Anthony Anderson who had appeared as a cop once before on Law & Order: SVU.

Casting Call: A Los Angeles production company, casting for a wedding-themed pilot on behalf of a major cable network, is looking for brides and their bridesmaids aged 21-35 to apply. If you are a new bride and have 4-7 bridesmaids to choose from, send an email to
. All participants must be available in mid-March for four days of filming in the L.A. area. 

CYNOPSIS DIGITAL – TODAY’S TOP STORY:    Google is planning to announce the details of its AdSense video ad solution this morning, which serves contextual InVideo overlay ads dynamically to a group of trial programming partners, including entertainment portals Revver, blip.tv and My Damn Channel as well as how-to-video sites BobVila.com and ExpertVillage.com. The system searches metadata embedded within each clip, then serves an appropriate overlay relating to the subject matter or theme. While this may not be the killer application for online video advertising, it should go a long way in helping to monetize goofy user generated video that spreads like wildfire around the web before a sponsor can be premeditatedly attached to it.   Full edition: CYN DIGITAL. (Or to listen to the Cynopsis Digital Podcast click here or subscribe to it at iTunes here .)

CYNOPSIS KIDS – TODAY’S TOP STORY:   Universal Pictures and Hasbro enter into a six-year partnership to produce at least four movies based on some of Hasbro’s brands, including Monopoly, Candy Land, Clue, Ouija, Battleship, Magic, The Gathering and Stretch Armstrong.  According to the deal, Hasbro will team exclusively with Universal Pictures for feature films, except for existing toy/movie franchise Transformers (a sequel is in the works) and GI Joe (currently filming), which are with Paramount/DreamWorks and Paramount respectively.  The first movie title under the new deal is slated for release in 2010 or 2011, with Universal expected to release a movie per year thereafter.  The William Morris Agency brokered the deal on behalf of Hasbro.  Hasbro recently named Lisa Licht as its new GM/Entertainment and Licensing.  Hmmm, which to do first?  While a Monopoly project has been talked about for some time, if it were my choice (and it isn’t) I’d say the timing is right for a movie based on Magic, The Gathering or Stretch Armstrong. Full edition: CYN KIDS.

CYNOPSIS INTERNATIONAL – TODAY’S TOP STORY:  Virgin Media Television‘s men’s U.K. entertainment channel Bravo acquired the original scripted drama The Kill Point in an exclusive deal with Lionsgate. Debuting as part of Bravo’s Spring primetime schedule, the 8×60 miniseries first premiered on Spike TV this past summer.   Full edition: CYN INTERNATIONAL. 

Top Ten Basic Cable Ad Supported Network Rankings among A18-49 for the week of: 2/11-2/17/08
Primetime    (000)        Total Pgm Day              (000)
TNT               1463          TNT                         721
USA               1326          TBSC                       620
TBSC             1183          USA                         574
FX                   786          NICK                        568
CMDY              742          NAN*                       538
AEN                 715          FX                           506
DISC                687         ADSM*                     490
VH1                 662          ESPN                       420
MTV                 632          CMDY                      419
AMC                 605          AEN                        414
Source Turner Research from Nielsen Media Research Data.
All ratings based on Total U.S. Television Universe of 112,800,000 homes
* = Network broadcasts less than 51% of minutes in a 24 hour day. Primetime listing only includes those networks broadcasting more than 51% of the primetime hours (M-Su 8p-11p)

Top Ten Basic Cable Ad Supported Network Rankings among Total Viewers for the week of: 2/11-2/17/08      
Primetime    (000)       Total Pgm Day                  (000)
USA                3171         NICK                          2232
TNT                2818         TNT                            1390
TBSC              1963         USA                            1273
FOXN              1738         NAN*                          1255
NAN                1560         TBSC                          1038
AEN                1429         TOON                          1011
AMC                1356         FOXN                            929
LIF                  1356         ADSM*                         919
FX                   1346         LIF                               881
DISC               1307         AEN                              855
Source Turner Research from Nielsen Media Research Data.
All ratings based on Total U.S. Television Universe of 112,800,000 homes
* = Network broadcasts less than 51% of minutes in a 24 hour day. Primetime listing only includes those networks broadcasting more than 51% of the primetime hours (M-Su 8p-11p)

Top 10 Cable Programs among A18-49 (000) for the week of: 2/11-2/17/08
TNT     NBA All-Star Game                                   3792
TNT     NBA All-Star Saturday Night                      3173
TNT     NBA Tip-Off All-Star                                  3031
BRAV   Project Runway                                        2650
USA     WWE Entertainment 10p                           2551
USA     WWE Entertainment 9p                             2309
USA     Monk                                                       2083
FX       Nip Tuck                                                  2068
MTV    RW/RR Gauntlet 3                                     2054
USA     Psych                                                      2030
Source Turner Research from Nielsen Media Research Data.
All ratings based on Total U.S. Television Universe of 112,800,000 homes

Top 10 Broadcast Programs among A18-49 rating/share and (000) for the week of 2/11-2/17/08
FOX    American Idol  Tuesday                        12.3/29     16,150
FOX    American Idol  Wednesday                     9.8/26     12,860
FOX    Moment of Truth                                  6.0/15      7,850
ABC    Lost                                                   5.8/15      7,600
NBC    NBC Movie of the Week-SUN                   5.0/12      6,510
ABC    Extreme Makeover: Home Edition              4.6/11      5,980
CBS    Survivor: Micronesia                               4.6/13      6,000
FOX    FOX Daytona 500 Post-Race                    4.5/14      5,920
NBC    Deal or No Deal-MON                              4.3/11      5,580
CBS    Two and a Half Men                                 3.9/9       5,070                
Source Nielsen Media Research, Galaxy Explorer, Live + SD Data

Tuesday – A18-49 Analysis:  FOX captured another giant win Tuesday night with 11.2/27 A18-49, according to fast affiliate ratings from Nielsen Media Research. FOX maintained a double-digit lead with American Idol the first two hours: at 8p FOX posted a 10.5/27 and an even higher 11.9/27 at 9p. NBC’s Law & Order: SVU encore won at 10p with a 3.3/9.

Live + Same Day Household Ratings: Tuesday, February 19, 2008 (February Sweep Day 20) time period averages. Source: Nielsen Media Research

FOX: 16.4/25        American Idol 16.4/25

NBC: 5.4/9            The Biggest Loser 5 5.1/8, Law & Order: SVU [r] 6.2/10

CBS: 4.9/8             NCIS [r] 7.1/11, Big Brother 9 3.6/5, Jericho 3.9/7

ABC: 3.6/6              Just For Laughs 3.1/5, Just For Laughs [r] 3.0/5, According to Jim 3.1/5, Carpoolers 2.6/4, Boston Legal 4.8/8

UNIV: 1.9/3           Al Diablo con los Guapos 2.4/4, Pasion 1.8/3, Aqui y Ahora 1.5/3

CW: 1.7/3              Reaper [r] 1.3/2, One Tree Hill 2.0/3

TELE: 0.7/1            La Traicion 0.6/1, Victoria 0.9/1, Pecados Ajenos 0.6/1

A18-49: FOX 11.2/27, NBC 3.3/8, CBS 2.0/5, UNIV 1.6/4, ABC 1.5/4, CW 1.0/3, TELE 0.4/1

York Entertainment named Steven Bulzoni as President/Domestic Entertainment to supervise the daily activities of the independent film supplier’s domestic operations including sales, licensing, marketing, acquisitions and operations. Previously, Steven worked for York Entertainment as VP/GM from 1998 through 2004. In his new role, he will report directly to Tanya York, CEO.

Peter Granath was hired as Associate Publisher for The Week, a news and opinion magazine. Based in New York, Peter will spearhead print and digital advertising revenue and the magazine’s sales team will report directly to him. Prior to this appointment, Peter was the New England Advertising Manager for CNNMoney.com.

VH1 advanced Stacy Alexander to SVP/Talent and Casting where she will manage the talent department and team charged with developing relationships with key talent. Also upped in the talent department are Leah Horwitz to VP/Music Talent and Creative Development; Trevor Rose to Director/Talent and Creative Development; and Denise Bishop to Director/Talent and Creative Development. Leah worked with Bret Michaels on the Rock Of Love series and will continue to seek talent within the music industry. She reports to Rick Krim, EVP/Talent and Music Programming, VH1 and Jeff Olde, EVP/Original Programming and Production, VH1. Trevor’s duties include creating and developing new show ideas around celebrities and helping to secure top talent for the network. Denise has worked with recruiting talent for VH1 shows such as VH1 Hip Hop Honors, The Fabulous Life and The Wendy Williams Experience and VH1 Save The Music Foundation events.

Young Broadcasting Inc. elevated Jay Huizenga to President/GM of KELOLAND (KELO-TV) in Sioux Falls. Jay has been with the station for 27 years, most recently as Station Manager.

A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE FROM CITYMEALS-ON-WHEELS

This day in History:  Born on this day: Rue McClanahan (1934), Tyne Daly (1946), Kelsey Grammer (1955), Jennifer Love Hewitt (1979)

Answer to Yesterday’s Trivia Question:  Susie Mc Namara was the secretary of Peter Sands on what TV show?  PRIVATE SECRETARY (Ann Sothern)   Kudos to:  John Hesano-Eastman Radio/NY; Paula Mermelstein-Showtime Networks/NY; Greg West-WATC/Atlanta; Steve Kurtzer-Zimmerman/Ft. Lauderdale; Ginny Buzzell-WJFW/Rhinelander, WI; Erin Green-Charter Media/St. Louis; Rich Koz-WCIU/Chicago; Ana Auther-Randy Murray Productions/Phoenix; Don Wollman-Big Brother/LA; Karen White-Widget Post/Hollywood, CA; Roz Seibold-
Tucson Hearing Clinics/Tucson

Today’s Trivia Question:  Who was the first host and hostess pair on the game show Wheel of Fortune? (2 part answer)    (
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.)

Later  — Cyn
02.21.08

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JOB OPENING:  ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE ONLINE / LIFETIME/NY: Sales Account Manager responsible for growing and managing media sales for Lifetimetv.com and LMN.tv Apply at: http://www.mylifetime.com/about/jobs.html   (2/28)

JOB OPENING:  DIGITAL SALES PLANNER/CBS TV Dist/NY: Take-charge person to manage online inventory. Communicate with ad agencies and execute clients tech needs. Knowledge and experience working with DART. Email:
(2/28)

JOB OPENING: ASST TO PRES/CEO/REALITY TV CO/LA: 3yrs exp working for senior-lvl exec. Detail oriented, computer skills, fast pace. Phones, sched mtgs, interact with agents/writers/producers. Res to:
(2/28)

JOB OPENING:  DIG PROD MGR/WE tv/NYC: 2-4 yrs exp Web tech/new media. Support Interactive content & mktg proj for digital platforms.Strong knwlg of client-side& web-based technologies, html. rez www.cablevision.jobs ref #5414BR (2/28)

JOB OPENING:  VP, PRODUCTION MGMT: Will oversee all aspects of production for VH1/Logo. Events, original series, pilots etc. Apply www.mtvncareers.com under Prod. Mgmnt. EOE (2/28)

JOB OPENING: KIDS DTV PRODUCER/CDA Productions/LA: Must have demonstrated exp. with live action kids productions. Infant/Toddler experience preferred. Apply to: 
(2/28)

JOB OPENING:  RESEARCH ANALYST II/Discovery/MD:  Min. two yrs research exp pref. broadcast/media. Quantitative/Qualitative exp req. Strg proj. management & comp. skills Nielsen or SPSS. Apply: www.discovery.com   req# 7677   (2/28)

JOB OPENING:  ADV SALES MGR/NYPost.com/Pagesix.com/West Coast: 2+ yrs sales mgmt exp, 3-5 yrs online ad sales, knwlg budgets, online sales & motivating sales people. Focus on Ent. Media nat’l, retail.  Res to:
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JOB OPENING:  ACCT EXEC/NYPost/Pagesix.com/W. Coast: 2+ yrs Online, Ad sales, Exp w/ agencies/clients across nat’l, retail, ent/media, TV/video ad sales a +, Strong sales, presenting, negotiating skills. Res to:
(2/28)

JOB OPENING:  MGR DOMESTIC SALES ADMIN/NBC UNI/Universal City: resp. for the sales process and mngmnt of the domestic TV Basic Cable, TV (pay & free) & New Media deals. Degree or 2 yrs exp. www.nbcjobs.com   keyword #786681. (2/28)

JOB OPENING:  SW QA PROFESSIONAL/iTVX/Westchester NY: iTVX leader in Brander integration is seeking qualified QA Database experts to lead creation of new tools and services.  Resume to: 
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JOB OPENING:  SR. RESEARCH PROJECT MANAGER/CNN/ATL: Design/manage/present web analyses and primary research projects for CNN Digital businesses. 5+Yrs research/online analytics/Masters pref’d. Apply:
(2/28)

JOB OPENING: S&P & RIGHTS CLEARANCES MGR/PBS Sprout/PHILA: Knwldg of and/or exp w/legal or acquisitions & clearance procedures. Exp. w/children and/or cable prgrmng ind. BS/BA pref. legal/acquisitions. Apply: www.comcast.com (2/27)

JOB OPENING: COORD, PRICING & PLANNING, STYLE/Comcast Nets/NY: 1+ yr industry exp; Resp for tracking inventory, processing MSA posting, oversee EDI & supporting sales staff. Apply: www.comcast.com 60506BR EEO/AA/Drug Free (2/27)

JOB OPENING: MARKETING COORD/Hallmark Channel/LA: Support consumer marketing. 2 yrs admin. exp. See full posting & apply @ www.hallmarkchannel.com (2/27)

JOB OPENING: DIG CONTENT MGR/WE tv/NYC: 2-4 years web content or prod exp w/ent/web/cable. Video prod exp pref. Strong PM, comm & tech skills a must. rez to www.cablevision.jobs ref #5294BR (2/27)

JOB OPENING: MGR.ON-AIR PROMO PRODUCTION/LIFETIME TV/LA: Must have solid TV on-air promo exp. and knowledge of post-production technologies and digital file management. Apply to:
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JOB OPENING:  SR.WRITER PRODUCER/LIFETIME TV/LA: Conceptualize, write and produce on-air and radio promos. Must have demonstrated exp. within cable or broadcast network.   Apply to:
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JOB OPENING:  CREATIVE DIRECTOR/LIFETIME TV/LA: Must have extensive exp. in on-air promos within cable or network and demonstrated editorial expertise. Apply to:
(2/26)

JOB OPENING:  PR COORDINATOR/FOODNETWORK/NY:  Work w/ PR Mgr to provide market press support for select primetime series; develop support materials & select show releases. 1-3 yrs exp PR/related. Apply at: www.scrippsnetworks.com (2/26)

JOB OPENING:  DIRECTOR & AE SALES POSITIONS (NY, LA, Chicago)/Arena Media Networks: Exciting opportunity to join quickly growing digital placed based media company in sports & entertainment arenas.Contact:
(2/23)

JOB OPENING: DIR OF PRODUCTION (ADMIN)/Wash D.C: Dir prod multiple TV series: schedules, budgets, crews, equip, deliverables. Upbeat /detail oriented. Exp w/ 3+ series, 5+ yrs prod mgmt. Ltr/ Res:
(2/23)

JOB OPENING:  ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE/CABLEVISION/WOODBURY NY:  Seeks AE for local ad sales.2+ yrs ad sales exp. pref cable tv, radio, internet adv.  Valid NY DL.  See full posting and apply to www.cablevision.jobs req 4047BR (2/23)

JOB OPENING:  ONLINE REVENUE MGR/Discovery Communications /Miami:  Mgmt of online ad campaign, SEO exp req’d, Lat Am mkt knwldg, ROI Analysis, campaign budgets, media plans, staff mgmt. Resume to:
  (2/23)

JOB OPENING: AD SALES RSCH ANALYST/Oxygen/NYC: 2+ yrs data analysis exp using Nielsen softwares and other sales tools. Att to detail a must. . www.nbcunicareers.com #803511 (2/23)

JOB OPENING: REGIONAL NAT’L SALES MGR/KSBI-TVDT, OKC: Proven success record & 5+yrs exp working regn’l /nat’l accts. Knwlg of Nielsen ratings & effective/creative pckgng strategies a must. Some travel req’d. Res to:
(2/22)

JOB OPENING: SR SYSTEM ANALYST: Act as Sales liaison for sys reqments, issues & support, EDI, troubleshoot, train, test, proj mgmt, EDI coord, & wk w Donovan for VAN (Value Added Ntwrk). Apply: www.disneycareers.com Req 135147 EOE (2/22)

JOB OPENING: ACCT MGR-NAT’L SALES/BET/New York,NY: Cable salesperson w/strong presentation skills. Comfortable w/multi-platform & integrated opps.Sales/agencyexp. req’d. Email:
(2/22)

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:
(2/22)

JOB OPENING: EXEC DIR PROD/ GSN, The Network for Games/ SANTA MONICA: Report to VP Prog. 10 yrs. exp in Prod incl 5 yrs exp Line Prod. BA/BS degree in related field. Send Res/Cov Letter:
(2/22)

JOB OPENING: ACCOUNT EXEC/ Ovation TV/New York: Immediate opening for 5+yrs exp professional. Heavy client/planning selling; seek new business/create marketing platforms tailored for client’s needs Apply:
(2/22)

JOB OPENING:  SALES PLANNER/OvationTV/1NYC/1LA:   Prep/update client proposals. Asst establishing TV/media orders. Rsch client spending/brand analysis Process orders, handle fin. credit process. BA/BS resume:
(2/22)

JOB OPENING: TV PROD MGR/Chi: Produce creative programming for TV & other platforms. Creative problem solving & mgmt ability within fast moving, multi-tasking station group that breaks the mold every day.
(2/22)

WINTER AND SPRING INTERNSHIPS – These positions are for credit only – nobody gets paid here. They are posted for free, and students work for school credit only. For more information on the specs for posting an Internship ad, email Trish at
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SPRING INTERNSHIP CREDITS ONLY:  POLITICAL AD SALES INTERN/NY, NY: An understanding & interest in the political process is required.  Preferred Majors: Poly Sci & Communications.  Excellent communication skills.  Send resume to: 
(2/28)

SPRING INTERNSHIP CREDITS ONLY: SUMMER INTERNSHIPS AVAIL/News Channel 8/MyTV9-New Haven. CT: Now hiring interns for 5 depts, news, sports, mktg/community, mktg rsch and web prod. Deadline to apply is April 1st. Contact
(2/26)

SPRING INTERNSHIP CREDITS ONLY: RESEARCH INTERNSHIP/Hallmark Channel/LA: Avail immed. Learn about cable television, ratings and programming. Must take for class credit. Available now! Email resume to
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SITUATION WANTED:  MKTG/ACCT MGMT/PROMOTION/EVENTS: 10 yrs exp in cable, publishing, advertising. Versatile, creative, resourceful, detailed, outgoing personality. Seeking F/T role in similar capacity.
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WHAT’S ON TONIGHT – Thursday, February 21, 2008

ABC: Lost [r], Lost, Eli Stone
CBS: Survivor: Micronesia-Fans vs. Faves, CSI [r], Without a Trace [r]
CW: Supernatural [r], Supernatural
FOX: American Idol, Don’t Forget the Lyrics!
ION: Mama’s Family, Mama’s Family, Drew Carey Show, Drew Carey Show, Drew Carey Show, Drew Carey Show
MNT: Movie: A Low Down Dirty Shame
NBC: My Name is Earl [r], Celebrity Apprentice, Lipstick Jungle
PBS: This Old House Hour, Antiques Roadshow, Soundstage: Dan Fogelberg [r]
TELE: La Traicion, Victoria, Pecados Ajenos
UNIV: Premio Lo Nuestro 2008

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