Source: NSS Galaxy Explorer, 60 Min. Sat/Sun programs, AA%/GAA% HH rtg, Nov 05 vs. premiere week, % incr. on AA%.

CYNTHIA TURNER’S
Cynopsis

01/05/06

Good morning.  It’s Thursday, January 5, 2006, and this is your first early morning briefing.
 
Ted Koppel‘s absence from television was thankfully short lived.  Discovery Communications announced yesterday Koppel will host and produce for the Discovery Channel long-form programming that will examine global topics and events.  He will take on the title of Managing Editor, and joining him will be his longtime exec producer Tom Bettag along with eight other former Nightliners. First on the list of priorities for Koppel will be to develop a long-form programming slate, which will include his well-honed Town Hall Meetings, designed to examine the most important issues of the day.  Koppel, Bettag and Discovery GM Jane Root hope to have the first collaborative effort on the air this fall.

Following the split of Viacom into two entities, Herb Scannell, President/Nickelodeon Networks Group and Vice-Chairman/MTV Networks announced he is leaving the company.  Scannell joined Nickelodeon in spring 1988 and became President of the network in 1996.  During his tenure at Nickelodeon he has led the company, and its related networks, into new production and lines of business including Nickelodeon’s move into developing and producing original animated series, feature films, and the expansion of the uber consumer products and licensing divisions, opened an animation studio, and launched a number of channels (Noggin/The N, GAS, TV Land), to name a few. 

Season Premiere:
ABC:    Dancing with the Stars 8-10p
NBC:    Four Kings at 830p, and time period premieres for My Name is Earl and The Office from 9-10p
A&E:   Dallas Swat at 10p

Little Rock WB affiliate KWBF, an Equity Broadcasting station, has picked up NBC’s The Book of Daniel, which the local NBC affiliate KARK declined to air based on content.  This is the show has has come under the American Family Association’s microscope in recent weeks.  The AFA is also based in Little Rock.  KWBF will air the show in its original time period, that is Fridays at 8p starting this week.  Another NBC station, WTWO in Terre Haute also has chosen not to air the program.  Both NBC affiliates are owned by Nexstar Broadcasting.  WTWO’s General Manager Duane Lammers had a different reason for not airing the program, which he sets out in this statement:  “This has nothing to do with the program and has nothing to do with the AFA. I think the system is screwed up. I think the network thinks we are going to do whatever they tell us to do. I think the regulatory environment is flawed.” The Book of Daniel is about a very human Episcopalian minister who is struggling with his own stuff, while running into difficulties with his church, and on occasion has a sit down with God (played by an actor).   As for the AFA, this is the same organization that came out strongly against ABC’s NYPD Blue, objecting to that show’s content.  As in the NYPD Blue instance, the AFA has not seen any footage of The Book of Daniel beyond network promos, but has based their objections on what they believe the show will contain.

ImaginAsian TV will launch its first ever original reality series, Finding My America, on January 98 at 930p. IATV has ordered five 30-minute episodes.  two young Asian American women set out to discover America while on a 3,000 mile road trip  from New York to San Francisco.

CMT has picked up the cable rights to all ten episodes of the former NBC series Three Wishes, with the option to carry any future episodes.  The program will premiere on CMT on January 21st at 10p, and then move to its regular time period, Mondays at 8p.

Wheel of Fortune has teamed up with cable network SOAPnet and will focus on soap stars from ABC, CBS and NBC, during its Soap Stars Week, scheduled to air Feb 27-March 3rd.  The stars will all be playing for their favorite charities.

Feeling the need to respond to anything you read in Cynopsis?  Feel like voicing an opinion, or just venting a little?  Now you can, and not just to me, but for anyone who’s interested!  Cynopsis has launched a blog – the only big difference with this daily email is you’ll need to go to it (it won’t come to you), and you can post your comments without restriction.  So feel free:  http://cynopsis.blogspot.com/

Fox has given the official go-ahead to make the pilot of a drama series called Vanished from 20th and exec prod Josh Berman. The show follows the investigation after a Senator’s wife disappears.

USA Network has ordered a pilot of In Plain Sight from NBC Universal TV Studio, and exec producer Paul Stupin and writer David Maples. The project focuses on a female Federal marshal who works in the Witness Protection Program unit, protecting its participants as needed, says Variety.  The network also has two other pilots in the works: a comedy called Underfunded about an underfunded Canadian secret service unit from David Breckman and Ross Abrash; and Psyche about a fake psychic who works with the police department, from Tagline Pictures and Steve Franks.

Alison Lee has been appointed Head of Business Affairs at Granada International, reporting to Helen Fox-Gladwell, Director/Business Affairs. Alison will be responsible for managing the business affairs team, overseeing all sales and licensing deals and negotiating co-production and output agreements on behalf of Granada International. 

With the exit of Herb Scannell from MTV Networks, Judy McGrath, Chairman/CEO, MTV Networks unveiled the restructuring of the Nickelodeon Networks Management.  Cyma Zarghami, currently President/Nickelodeon TV, will now head the newly formed MTVN Kids & Family group. That group includes Nickelodeon TV, Nick at Nite, Nick Online, Nick Movies, Noggin/The N, Nicktoons TV, Nickelodeon Games & Sports (Nick GAS), as well as Nickelodeon’s magazine, recreation divisions and Nickelodeon’s digital businesses, including Neopets.  Zarghami joined Nickelodeon in 1985 and was instrumental in Nickelodeon’s growth since that time.  Moving out of the Nickelodeon Networks brand is the TV Land network, which will join Spike TV and Comedy Central under President Doug Herzog.  TV Land President Larry Jones will now report into Herzog.  Additionally, Jones will continue to lead Nick at Nite with a dual report into Zarghami.

Univision’s WUVP/Philadelphia, has upped Tammy Tkachuk to National Sales Manager from local sales Account Executive.

Top Ten Basic Cable Ad Supported Network Rankings among Total Viewers for the week of 12/26-1/1/06:
Primetime      (000)    Total Pgm Day   (000)
ESPN            5996    NICK            2101
USA             3349    ESPN            2000
TNT             2460    USA             1964
LIFETIME        1741    NAN*            1532
NAN             1718    TNT             1314
TBS             1518    CARTOON 1214
CARTOON 1394    LIFETIME        1067
HISTORY 1250    TBS             1007
FX              1186    ADULT SWIM*     929
SPIKE           1175    FOX NEWS        774
 Source: Turner Research from Nielsen Media Research Data.
All ratings based on Total U.S. Television Universe of 109,600,000 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 A18-49 for the week of 12/26-1/1/06:
Primetime     (000)     Total Pgm Day   (000)
ESPN            2565    USA             969
USA             1552    ESPN            954
TNT             1061    TNT             619
TBS             905     NAN*            608
FX              695     TBS             581
SPIKE           594     NICK            499
LIFETIME        578     FX              447
COMEDY  566     LIFETIME        443
DISCOVERY       560     ADULT SWIM*     422
MTV             545     MTV             407
Source: Turner Research from Nielsen Media Research Data.
All ratings based on Total U.S. Television Universe of 109,600,000 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 12/26-1/1/06:
ESPN    Rams/Cowboys            4395
ESPN    Giants/Raiders          3948
ESPN    Michigan/Nebraska       2981
ESPN    Miami/LSU               2614
USA     WWE Mon 10p             2501
ESPN    Sportscenter            2492
ESPN    Oregon/Oklahoma 2451
USA     L&O: SVU                2320
ESPN    NFL Prime Time          2269
USA     WWE Mon 9p              2190
Source: Turner Research from Nielsen Media Research Data.
All ratings based on Total U.S. Television Universe of 109,600,000 homes

Top 10 Broadcast Programs among A18-49 (000) for the week of 12/26-1/1/06:
CBS:    CSI                                         6890
ABC:    NFL Monday Night Football       6760
Fox     The OT                          6260
ABC:    Desperate Housewives            5960
CBS:    CSI Miami special               5450
ABC:    In Justice 1/1                  5180
CBS     Two &  A Half Men               5180
ABC:    EM: Home Edition 1/1            4970
CBS:    CSI: NY                         4750
NBC:    Law & Order: SVU                4710
Source:  Nielsen Media Research, Galaxy Explorer

Tuesday — A18-49 Analysis:   According to fast affiliate ratings from Nielsen Media Research, the FedEx Orange Bowl on ABC Tuesday night dominated the A18-49 category with an overall 6.2/15.  ABC won every hour of primetime, and NBC was the top rated network sans sports, ranking #2 every hour from 8-11p.  At 8p the game pulled a 5.7/15, while an original Fear Factor on NBC earned a 3.2/8 (tied in share with CBS’ repeat of NCIS). At 9p the game increased its viewership, averaging a 7.1/17.  The season premiere of Scrubs on NBC earned a 3.8/9, while the second episode at 930p pulled a 4.1/0. The 10p hour, the closest hour between ABC and NBC all night, found ABC in the lead with a 5.9/15, while NBC’s Law & Order: SVU averaged a 5.5/14.

Live + Same Day Ratings: Tuesday, January 3, 2006 – time period averages only. Source: Nielsen Media Research. 

ABC     12.1/18 FedEx Orange Bowl 12.1/18

CBS     7.5/11  NCIS [r] 7.9/12, NCIS [r] 8.5/12, 48 Hours Mystery [r] 6.0/10

NBC     6.6/10  Fear Factor 4.9/7, Scrubs [p] 4.7/7, Scrubs 4.9/7, Law & Order: SVU   10.0/16

Fox     4.7/7   Bones [r] 4.3/6, House [r] 5.5/8

Univ    2.1/3   Contra Viento y Maria 2.2/3, Alborada 2.3/3, Casos de la Vida Real: Edicion Especial  1.7/3

UPN     2.0/3   UPN Movie: Devil’s Pond 2.0/3

WB      1.9/3   Gilmore Girls [r] 2.4/4, Beauty & the Geek [r] 1.8/3

A18-49:         ABC 6.2/15, NBC 4.2/10, CBS 3.1/8, Fox 2.8/7, Univision 1.6/4, WB and UPN 1.1/3

Today in History:
1940 – The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) heard FM radio for the first time. The new medium of FM, free of interference and static, was developed by Major E.H. Armstrong. In 1941, the first FM transmitter was put in operation.

Answer to Yesterday’s Trivia Question: Dressed in a gown of white and adorned with a crown of daisies, Mother Nature addresses an unseen narrator in a series of commercials in the ’70s.  What is the commercial for? CHIFFON MARGARINE.  It’s not nice to fool Mother Nature!  Kudos to: Tim Murray-Nat’l Cable Communications/NY; Jerry Gibbons-Cox Communications/West Warwick RI; Peter Hamilton-Rubenstein Associates/NY; Dennis R. Nance-Turner Broadcasting/Atlanta; Loretta Norman-GSD & M/San Antonio; Kathy Yarbrough-The Graham Group/New Orleans; Vaughn Ericson-Bernstein Rein Adv Inc; Kyle Krebs-KLTY/Dallas; Vic Lowrey-Freelance Editor/Santa Clarita CA; Susan Nessanbaum-Goldberg-Grenada America/LA; Gatt Lindsey-Maika’I Koa Entertainment/Hollywood; Dan Matson-DJM/Glendale CA; Phil Olsman-NBC4/LA

Today’s Trivia Question: On Murphy Brown, what did Corky Sherwood collect?   (click here 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
01.05.06 – 4:53a
Ad Sales – Barbara Shapiro – 203-583-1224 /

Classifieds – Trish Pihonak – 203.926-9878 (new number!) /

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Copyright Cynthia Turner 2006

A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE FROM GOSPEL MUSIC CHANNEL

 *The Myers study on Emotional Connections of Audiences to Media, December, 2005

Cynopsis  CLASSIFIEDS —

JOB OPENING:  MGR, CONS MKTING/Oxygen Media, NY. Execute multiple cons mktg projects. 3-5 yrs exp. in mktg & promotions. TV/ent. industry pref. Creative thinker, organized, detail-oriented. EOE Resume:
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JOB OPENING: SALES ASSISTANT/Superstation WGN 2 openings (LA & NY): Requires detail-oriented team player with excellent communication skills & proficiency in Excel & Word-DR experience a plus. Resume to
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JOB OPENING: SR CLIENT/Analyst/MSA Media/NY: Manage cable nets on Gabriel/other SW. Perform biz svcs, issue resolution, training, Jr Acct mgmt duties, prod planning. Must have tech knowledge. Send res & $ req to
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JOB OPENING: AFFILIATE MRKTNG MANAGER/Gospel Music Channel/Atlanta: 3-5 yrs related experience. Familiarity with Simmons research a plus. Service orientation a must. Keen executer.
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JOB OPENING: DIR, CREATIVE SERVICES/DISNEY BUENA VISTA GAMES/ Resp overseeing creative services dept. 5 + yrs exp video game ind. or equiv exp/ adv agency working w/ video game clients.  BA pref’d. Res to:
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JOB OPENING: MRKTNG MGR/DISNEY BUENA VISTA GAMES: Work w/ strategic growth Buena Vista Games vertical & licensed prod’s.  BA/BS Pref’d. 5 + yrs related exp.  Proven success consumer kids mrktng. Res:
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JOB OPENING: MGR, COMMUNICATIONS/REACH Media Inc./Dallas: 5-7 yrs exp in public relations, preferably TV/Entertainment media background. Report to Dir., Communications. Strong writer. Exc comm skills
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JOB OPENING: ADMIN ASSISTANT/ Gospel Music Channel/Atlanta: 3-5 yrs exp supporting senior managers; fast pace, internet prof. req.
(1/11)

JOB OPENING: AD SALES MARKETING & PROMOTIONS MGR/Gospel Music Channel/Atlanta: 5+ yrs exp (media or agency, programmer). Keen executer.
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JOB OPENING: RESEARCH MGR/Gospel Music Channel/Atlanta Reports to SVP Marketing. Recommend, develop and field research for programming, marketing, affiliate and ad sales. Hands on position.
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JOB OPENING: ON-AIR PROMOS PROD/Discovery Nets Intl/Silver Spring MD: Prod on-air/ pres. tape elements/intl brands. 5-7 yrs on-air promo/prod exp, promo sched, intl/channel launch exp. Apply: www.discovery.com . Job req#3234 (1/11)

JOB OPENING: PRODUCTION ACCT/CABLEVISION/NYC: Assist the Dir of Production in creating production/program budgets. Req’s 1+ yrs exp in entertainment environ. BS/BA req’d. Res to:
w/job ID0103CYN15700MRK (1/11)

JOB OPENING: SALES PLANNER-AETN, NY. Create plans, steward accts, designate ADUs & recaps, coord make goods & post analysis prep. 2yrs exp plnng or buyer. Exc comm skills. Client service mindset. Res & Sal Req’d:
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JOB OPENING: MANAGER OF DEVELOPMENT/National Geographic Channel/DC: Devlp concepts to meet aggressive ratings goals.5-10yrs exp.TV prod, writing, program financial budget. Must apply on-line@ www.foxcareers.com EOE (1/11)

JOB OPENING:  DIR/MARKETING /OLN/Stamford, CT – 10 yrs cable ntwrk Consumer Mktg req’d. Develop/execute consumer/trade mrktng campaigns for OLN’s tent pole events/prgrmmng & trade messages. www.olntv.com Res/salary:
(1/10)

JOB OPENING:  MGR, WEB CREATIVE/OLN/Stamford, CT: 4+ yrs corp/consumer site web design experience req’d. Implement & maintain brand look of OLNTV.com. Manage web creative process. www.olntv.vom Resume/Salary:
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(1/10)

JOB OPENING:  RESEARCH ANALYST/Tribune Ent./NY: Support distrib/pgming/ad sales. Prstns, comp. analyses. Strong MS Office, writing skills. Familiar w/Nielsen sftwr a +. Go to www.tribjobs.com and search for the key word 7302 (1/10)

JOB OPENING:  VP FINANCE/Wash.DC: NatGeo Channel. Participate in dvlpmt of strategic fin. plan. Oversee all operational fin.aspects. 10+yrs exp. MBA pref, ent. ind a must. Apply on-line at www.foxcareers.com . EOE (fng1179)   (1/10)

JOB OPENING:  SECRETARY , PR/WE/NY – Support busy VP of PR and dept w/ all day to day admin. needs. Detail oriented, articulate prof w/solid phone & MS office skills. resumes to
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JOB OPENING: VOD COORDINATOR/iN DEMAND in NYC: seeks VOD Coord to create schedules/track/verify FOD content to meet deadlines. BA and min 1 yr work exp.  Send resume & sal req to
or fax 646-638-8415 (1/10).

JOB OPENING: SALES ASSISTANT, Chicago, NBC Universal. Organized, able to multi-task, detail-oriented, excellent comm skills. Nielsen, MRI & media math knowledge desirable. Apply www.gecareers.com , job#460895. (1/10)

JOB OPENING: RESEARCH SR/MANAGER, Daytime, ABC Burbank. 5+ yrs exp, primary/secondary projects, ratings analysis; top communication/analytical and computer skills. Bkgrnd in daytime net prgrm pref. Email:
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JOB OPENING: RESEARCH ANALYST/Zenith Optimedia/NYC: 2+ yrs exp(agency, buying service, rsch. co, or sales)CMR, Nielsen exp pref’d. exciting projects.
EOE (1/06)

WINTER 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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WINTER INTERNSHIP CREDITS ONLY: RADIO DISNEY NY needs internship applicants in ALL DEPARTMENTS.  If you have an interest in working with the most recognized name in family entertainment email to:
or fax 212-615-3268 (1/12)

WINTER INTERNSHIP CREDITS ONLY: PR INTERN, fuse Write releases and pitch letters, mng database, compile clips, brainstorm on creative ways to promote ntwrk. Prompt & professional, creative & assertive, takes initiative & is resourceful.  alynn @fuse.tv (1/06)

SITUATION WANTED ADS, POSTED BY THOSE LOOKING TO BE HIRED —

SITUATION WANTED: FIELD PRODUCER or ASSOCIATE PRODUCER. (LA) I’m creative, have a great attitude, great credits, and know how to make good TV. Sponsorship experience too. Love games and competition.
  (1/12)

SITUATION WANTED: AUDIENCE RESEARCH/Grad Student (Media, New School, NYC): Seeks work TV/film res. Exc analytical, writing & presentation skills. Educated in research methods, strategy & media theory. Mrktng background.
(1/10)

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Are you looking for a job? Post your Situation Wanted Ad here — Email
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WHAT’S ON TONIGHT:  Thursday, January 5, 2006

ABC             Dancing with the Stars [p], Primetime
CBS             CSI [r], CSI, Without a Trace
FOX             Movie: The Hot Chick
NBC             Will & Grace, Four Kings [p], My Name is Earl [tp-p], The Office [tp-p], ER
i                     Sue Thomas F.B. Eye, Early Edition, Doc
UPN             Everybody Hates Chris [r], Love Inc. [r], Eve [r], Cuts  [r]
WB              Smallville [r], Beauty & the Geek [r]
TELE            El Cuerpo del Deseo, Corazon Partido, Decisiones-Casos Extraordinarios, Decisiones
UNIV            Contra Viento y  Marea,  Alborada, Aqui y Ahora