CYNTHIA TURNER’S
Cynopsis

07/21/05

Good morning.  It’s Thursday, July 21, 2005, and this is your first early morning briefing.

Because a week without a Nielsen story is like a week …. without a Nielsen story …  The Task Force on Television Measurement, headed up by Chairman Cardiss Collins, has sent letters to both the Senate and the House of Representatives, asking both to decline any legislation requiring oversight of TV ratings and mandatory accreditation by the MRC.  The letters, directed to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation and the House Commerce Committee, talk about Nielsen’s cooperation in hearing the Task Force recommendations for improving the rating process, and says Nielsen has done an “exemplary job” of implementing those recommendations. The Task Force urged the members of the Senate and House Commerce Committees to support a continuing free market process for dealing with ratings issues, and to ensure that communities of color are not negatively impacted, as demonstrated by its report and recommendations.  The Collins penned letters finished with this closing paragraph:

“As the work of the Task Force clearly demonstrates, Nielsen is able to partner with industry and community leaders to make necessary changes in ratings systems and technologies without government intervention. We are aware of similar efforts between Nielsen and its clients to achieve the same ends. That is how a free and open market operates, and we urge the Senate to let this successful process continue without unnecessary and undesirable legislation.”

Collectively, the broadcast and cable networks carrying the President’s brief speech Tuesday evening on his choice for Supreme Court nominee, delivered 29.2 million viewers, according to preliminary estimates.  The networks providing coverage were ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, CNN, Court TV, Fox News, Headline News and MSNBC. 

NBC has officially greenlit the new midseason series Windfall (Regency Television) starring Luke Perry, as one of 19 friends who all share the $386 million proceeds of a winning lottery ticket. 

Veronica Mars is getting a seat at the big table.  CBS will air four episodes of the UPN series, with back to back episodes scheduled to air on July 29, 8-10p; and single eps on August 5 and 12, both at 8p. Veronica Mars has been signed for a second season on UPN, airing on Wednesdays at 9p.

NBC Universal is introducing a new original content division, created to reach and partner with media companies around the world on localized versions of NBC Universal programs.  The budget for the division has not been announced. The new unit will format programs from Universal’s successful current and classic shows (scripted and non-scripted) as well as bring in concepts or finished productions developed with overseas partners.  Initially the company will place its formatting focus on shows that were created by production houses that already broadcast shows on NBC (including Scout Prods, Nash Entertainment and Wolf Films).  The NBC Universal unit will also look to collaborate with local writers and producers overseas in order to tailor the programs for the respective local markets for all kinds of electronic media. Leslie Jones, NBC U TV Distribution’s VP/International Sales and Format Production, will manage the new division.  She will report to Jerry Petry, EVP/Business Operations and Sales Strategy for NBC Universal’s television distribution division.  Western Europe is rumored to be the first territory of focus for the local market formatting.  As such, Leslie Jones will work with NBC Universal’s U.K.-based Working Title TV as a global scripted development and production unit.  In addition, NBC Universal’s international TV sales unit department will take over the licensing outside of the local version’s place of origin once the finished production is done.

Note to self:  Find someone who can tell me how Peter Jennings is doing.

ABC:

• Boston Legal has added two more to the cast – Ryan Michelle Bathe and Justin Mentell. Bathe as a junior associate who is sometimes given strange assignments and cases; and Mentell also as a junior associate whose strong ambition some times gets the better of him.

NBC:

• Dateline NBC has signed Julie Moran as entertainment correspondent.  Moran had been with Entertainment Tonight for several years, and most recently with The Insider’s List with Julie Moran on the Fine Living Network.

Paramount Network Television has signed a 2-year/7-figure development deal with writer Anne McGrail.  As part of her deal, she joins the fall series Threshold as co-exec producer, in addition to developing new projects for the studio.

Viacom Inc. and DirecTV, Inc. have signed a new long-term carriage agreement, providing continued carriage of Viacom’s broadcast and cable networks.  The specific cable channels that are part of the deal include: MTV; Nickelodeon; VH1; TV Land; Comedy Central; Spike TV; CMT; Noggin; BET; MTV2; VH1 Classic; Nicktoons; and MTV Espanol to DirecTV subscribers nationwide and local carriage to DirecTV subs of CBS and UPN O&O broadcast stations.  The ability to debut CBS’ HD shows in local markets by DirecTV is also included in the deal.  The financial terms of the agreement were not announced.  DirecTV also added two of Viacom’s new networks to its roster; Logo as of June 30 as part of its Total Choice Plus, and last week the MTV Desi network joined its HindiDirect programming package.

Anime Network, the all anime North American cable channel, has secured five new carriage deals for its subscription video-on-demand service.  Bringing the number of providers to 15 that carry the SVOD service are new agreements with BendBroadband, Click! Network, Massillon Cable TV, PrairieWave Communications and Sunflower Broadband.  This summer Anime Network will feature the series Elfen Lied a story of good vs. evil in the mind of a woman with supernatural powers (not for younger kids).  Additionally, in a US TV first the network will air an anime classic Gatchaman, as well as the original Japanese version of the live action horror movie Dark Water.

FremantleMedia has created a new content division – New Platforms – which will be led by Catherine Mackay, as CEO.  Catherine will be responsible for establishing and growing FremantleMedia’s capabilities to create, produce and supply original entertainment for a broad range of new distribution platforms and new devices. Specifically, the division will have the primary responsibility within FremantleMedia for creating and supplying new content to telecom companies, mobile operators, broadband internet and other platforms.  She will also continue as CEO of Enterprises, the division which comprises the company’s existing ancillary rights and international distribution businesses.

Amy Hartwick has joined ABC Entertainment as VP/Comedy Development, reporting to Stephanie Leifer, SVP/Comedy Development.  Amy makes the move to ABC from 20th Century Fox Television, where she most recently was part of the team that developed My Name is Earl.

Donita Todd has been named VP/GM of Clear Channel’s WPMI/Mobile and WJTC/Pensacola stations, effective July 26.  The announcement was made by Josh McGraw, Regional Vice President for Clear Channel Television’s Southeast Group. Donita makes the move to Clear Channel from WFTX/Ft. Myers where she was VP/GM.

James Doohan, best known as Scotty on Star Trek, passed away yesterday morning from pneumonia and Alzheimer’s disease; he was 85.  Born and raised in Vancouver, BC, Doohan chose to do his Star Trek character with a Scottish accent after trying out a variety of different accents.  He believed a chief engineer on a starship sounded much more commanding with the Scot’s accent. In 1998, Doohan said this about his first couple of years on Star Trek:  “I started out in the series at basic minimum- plus 10 percent for my agent. That was added a little bit in the second year. When we finally got to our third year, Paramount told us we’d get second-year pay! That’s how much they loved us.”

Tuesday–A18-49 Analysis:   President Bush spoke for approximately 11 minutes beginning at 9pm, carried on the big 4 bcst networks with sustained coverage.  This time frame is not rated and is not included in the night’s averages.  Of the big four, all but ABC returned to regularly programming immediately after the speech, in most cases joining the shows in progress  (with the exception of Fox which slid House by 10m).  ABC stayed with coverage until 930p, preempting According to Jim.  All of the 10p shows began on time.  

With all that said …. CBS led the charge on Tuesday night with an overall 2.9/9 A18-49 rating according to final numbers from Nielsen Media Research. Following CBS were Fox 2.1/7, NBC 2.1/6, ABC 1.8/5, UPN 1.0/3, and WB .6/2.  At 8p a repeat of NCIS delivered with a 2.4/8, two share points ahead of ABC, NBC and Fox, who were all tied at a 6 share. At 9p, after the President, Big Brother dominated on CBS with a 3.4/10, far outpacing NBC’s original ep of I Want to be a Hilton (1.3/4) and Fox’s repeat of House (2.5/7). Rock Star: INXS and a repeat of L&O: SVU tied at 10p, each with an 8 share, which has to be a big shot in the arm for Rock Star. And if you haven’t seen it by the way, give it a shot – great music!

FINAL HOUSEHOLD RATINGS: Tuesday, July 19, 2005, for all Networks – program averages. Source: Nielsen Media Research. 

CBS     5.3/9    NCIS [r] 6.5/12, President Bush (9-9:10p) – unrated, Big Brother 5.3/9,   Rock Star: INXS  4.1/7

NBC    4.2/7    Average Joe: The Joe Strikes Back 3.2/6, President Bush (9-9:10p) – unrated, I Want To Be a Hilton 2.6/4, L&O: SVU [r] 6.5/11

ABC     3.3/6    My Wife and Kids [r] 3.5/6, George Lopez [r] 3.3/6, President Bush (9-9:10p) – unrated, Rodney [r] 3.2/5, Empire 3.1/5

FOX     2.8/5   Trading Spouses [r], President Bush (9-9:10p) – unrated, House [r] 4.7/8

UPN     1.6/3    One on One [r] 1.3/2, All of Us [r] 1.6/3, Girlfriends [r] 1.8/3, Half and Half [r] 1.5/2

WB      1.1/2    Gilmore Girls [r] 1.3/2, One Tree Hill [r] .9/1

A18-49            CBS 2.9/9, Fox 2.1/7, NBC 2.1/6, ABC 1.8/5, UPN 1.0/3, WB .6/2

The History Channel presents This Day in History:
1861 – In the first major land battle of the Civil War, a large Union army commanded by General Irvin McDowell is routed by Confederate forces under General Pierre G.T. Beauregard.  Many in the north believed that the Confederacy would be swiftly defeated.  Learning of the impending battle at Manassas junction, near Washington, D.C., civilians turned out in force to picnic and watch the battle.  When McDowell’s badly trained force was routed, the picnickers fled in panic.  It was at this battle that Confederate General Thomas J. Jackson earned his nickname “Stonewall,” which referred to his men holding their ground under repeated Federal assaults.

Answer to Yesterday’s trivia question:  In this TV advertisement, a man opened a medicine cabinet, only to find a man inside, happily greeting him. What commercial was this for?   RITE GUARD BY GILLETTE Kudos to:  Tom Motta-CBN/NY; Jayne Wallace-Consumer Report/NY; Matt Meacham-Tribune Media Services/Glenn Falls NY; Paul Gluck-whyy tv/Philadelphia; Dale Warshaw-KWBA/Tucson; Kristin Staskowski-Marketron Int’l/Birmingham AL; Jim Gray-Froglight Productions/Missoula MT; Dolly Pearl/West Taluca Lake CA; Dennis Amino-KABC/LA; Dave Sikula-Yahoo/Sunnyvale CA; Mary Kovach-Universal McCann.

A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE FROM COURT TV

Today’s Trivia Question: In salute to James Doohan, what was Scotty’s full name on the original Star Trek series?    (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.)

A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE FROM SCRIPPS NETWORKS

Scripps Networks resonate with consumers and are sure bets for advertisers.

Just take a look at these results in 2005:

HGTV: Dream Home Giveaway ’05 – 39+ million entries

DIY:  Best Built Home ’05 (First Annual) – 4.3+ million entries

GAC: Sizzlin’ Summer Barbeque – 2143% increase vs. ’04

REMINDER — Cynopsis will be on vacation all next week (yippee!) returning a week from Monday. 

Later — Cyn
07.21.05  – 4:45am
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WHAT’S ON TONIGHT:  Thursday, July 21, 2005

ABC              Extreme Makeover [r], ABC News: Hooking Up, Primetime Live
CBS              Big Brother, CSI [r], Without A Trace [r]
FOX              That 70’s Show [r], That 70’s show [r],The O.C. [r]
NBC              Joey [r], Joey [r],  Joey [r] ,Will & Grace [r],  Will & Grace [r]  Will & Grace [r]
PAX              Doc, Diagnosis Murder, Early Edition
UPN              WWE Smackdown
WB               Smallville [r], Everwood [r]
TELE             El Cuerpo del Deseo, Los Plateados, Decisiones
UNIV             Apuesta por un Amor, La Madrastra,  Cristina