Good morning. It’s Thursday, November 11, 2004, and this is your first early morning briefing.
If you’re of the mind that only people in Nashville like country music, then you might want to take a look at CBS Tuesday night ratings. According to fast nationals from Nielsen Media Research, CBS’ 38th Annual Country Music Awards drew a night winning 5.9/15 A18-49, ahead of NBC’s 4.4/11, ABC 3.6/9, WB 2.4/6, Fox 2.3/6, UPN 1.3/3. At 8pm CBS grabbed an early lead with a 5.4/14, with both NBC and ABC posting a 9 share for the hour. WB’s Gilmore Girls drew a 2.4/6 A18-49 (up approx 10% week to week), but really shined in its key demo W18-34 with a 4.3/11. The first hour of Fox’s premiere of The Rebel Billionaire (did you see some of the crazy stuff these guys have to do?!) avg’d a 2.3/6. At 9pm CBS held its lead with a 6.1/15, while NBC’s final 30m of Biggest Loser climbed to a 4.4/11, while ABC’s sitcom hour pulled a 3.7/9. Veronica Mars on UPN saw its highest demos in the young female categories, averaging a 5 share. WB picked up on its lead-in among teens 12-17 for One Tree Hill and scored a 4.0/12, +1 sh point. At 10p CBS held tough with a 5.9/15, while NBC gave it a run for its money with Law & Order SVU’s 5.3/14. ABC’s NYPD Blue finished up the night with a 3.7/9.
What is wrong with this picture?ABC will be airing Steven Spielberg’s Oscar winning film Saving Private Ryan tonight,uncut and unedited, to commemorate Veteran’s Day. The network has aired the movie twice before on this holiday, in 2001 and 2002, also uncut and unedited. As in the past, the network will air warnings/advisories during each commercial break of the graphic violence and language in the film; tonight the film will be introduced by Senator John McCain R-Ariz. Here’s the rub. Since network affiliates can be fined as quickly as the network itself on FCC violations, some stations have taken a proactive route and contacted the FCC to find out if this film will in any way be in violation of the regulations, and/or ask for a pre-broadcast waiver. The FCC cannot respond to those inquiries; it says responding would be deemed censorship or illegal prior restraint. The result is 18 television stations will preempt the movie tonight – stations owned by Belo, Scripps, Tribune, Cox, Hearst-Argyle, Citadel and Pappas. When the film aired in 2001, the FCC did receive complaints from American Family Assoc (Donald Wildmon’s group) and the FCC responded thusly: “We cannot conclude that this material is indecent. The expletives used by some characters, in context, do not appear to depict or describe sexual or excretory organs or activities. Moreover, the use of expletives or other ‘four-letter words’ in and of itself does not render material indecent.” And yet, with the vagaries of today’s FCC, stations can’t be sure that previous ruling will stand, nor can they receive any sort of guidance from the same group that can slap them with a fine. ABC has told its affiliate body it will cover any fines from the FCC, but what it cannot do is cover any other sanctions imposed by the government agency, including license revocation. Imagine a cop saying he may give you with a speeding ticket if you go too fast or even take away your car, but refusing to tell you the speed limit.
Casting / Development / Production
Court TV has ordered up a new reality doc series called Parco PI, about a family of private (perhaps not so private anymore) detectives based in NYC. The net has ordered 4 eps, with an option of picking up 9 more, and plans to debut it in early 2005, according to Hollywood Reporter.
The WB has officially decided not to go forward with its project Global Frequency (Warner Bros. Television, Cloudbreak Entertainment), but has returned it to its producers who are shopping it elsewhere.
Dina Meyer has joined the cast of Point Pleasant (20th/Original TV), the midseason series for Fox.
Fox has ordered a pilot of the drama project Prison Break (20th/Adelstein-Parouse Prods/Original TV). We’ve talked about this before — two brothers: one on the inside, one on the outside. The engineer on the outside gets himself tossed in jail so he can help his convict brother escape from death row. Over the course of 22 eps, we witness the planning and execution of an elaborate escape from prison. According to latest info from Hollywood Reporter, the pilot will be directed by feature film director Brett Ratner (Rush Hour, among others).
NBC has ordered a pilot script for a new comedy project starring Dennis Hopper as a freewheeling new dad living with his grown up daughter and step son. The project is from Warner Bros. TV and Fort Hill Prods (Matt LeBlanc’s prod co).
MTV has ordered up two new series from Tiger Aspect Prods — Damage Control is an 8 ep reality game series that asks how well parents know their children; and You’ve Got a Friend (Tiger Aspect Prods/Katalyst) is 8 half hour eps where someone tries to pass off a total stranger as their new best friend for a weekend.
Fox has given a script commitment with penalty to Larry Wilmore for a new comedy project that is a backstage view of a black talk show. As yet untitled, the project is produced by NBC Universal Television with Wilmore as exec prod/writer.
FX has ordered up a ten part miniseries from Section Eight prod co (George Clooney and Steven Soderbergh’s outfit) called The Ten Commandments, per Variety. Each installment will be written an directed by different people, each likely to have completely different casts. The object is to look at each of the Ten Commandments and see how they fit into today’s American view of what is right and what is wrong. Clooney and Soderbergh will each head up one episode.
FYI: Stone Stanley Entertainment has changed its name to Stone and Company Entertainment. Stanley left in July.
Outdoor Life Network‘s new series The Best and Worst of Tred Barta debuted on November 5th to a .3 HH rtg, the highest rated field sports programming ever to air in the time period on OLN. The show was part of OLN’s Friday night block of fishing and hunting series, which on the same night achieved the network’s high ratings in this genre of programming among all key male demos. Among M18-34 +267% with a .22 vs. season to date averages; M18-49 +133% with a .21, and M25-54 +140% with a .24.
Bravo’s Significant Others will return for a second season on December 5 at 9pm
Cynopsis Question for you: Colin Farrell says he’s not interested in being the next Bond, James Bond. Apparently others names have been tossed about in the hopper, but the question to you is, who do you think would be the next best Bond? Your Next James Bond Choices: Jude Law with 18%, Clive Owen 17%, Hugh Jackman 16%, Ewan McGregor 5%, George Clooney 4%; Colin Firth, Adrien Paul and Christian Bale each with 2%, and an Honorable Mention (more than 3 votes) for Sean Connery, Denzel Washington, Brad Pitt, Johnny Depp, Ben Affleck; Julian McMahon; P-Diddy, Ralph Fiennes.
Ron Geraci has been named SVP/Research for Nickelodeon. The appointment was made by Laura E. Wendt, SVP/Research, Nickelodeon Networks, to whom he will continue to report. Ron oversees all programming and advertising sales research for Nickelodeon and digital channels Noggin, The N, Nickelodeon Games and Sports (Nick GAS) and Nicktoons.
NBC Universal Research upped four from its team: Sari DeCesare to SVP/Network and Cable Entertainment Research, overseeing all ratings research and analysis supporting programming, ad sales and marketing for NBC Network’s entertainment dayparts, PAX, USA, SciFi and Bravo. Nancy Gallagher to SVP/News, Sports, Network & Cable Affiliate Research, responsible for ratings and sales research for NBC Network News, CNBC, MSNBC, Sports & Olympics, as well as Network and Cable Affiliate Relations/Marketing. Horst Stipp has been named SVP/Primary & Strategic Research, covering all primary research for NBC News and Sports, News/information cable CNBC and MSNBC, USA, SciFi and Bravo and Business and Corporate Strategic Development. Randi Schneider was upped to VP/Network Broadcast & Entertainment Research, overseeing ratings analysis and research for NBC Network Primetime, NBC Network Daytime and Late Night, NBC Network Sales and Marketing and PAX Network Ratings and Sales Research.
Robyn Miller, SVP/Marketing for Fine Living Network has announced she will be leaving the network at the end of the calendar year. Robyn says she plans to start living the Fine Living motto – Live Like You Mean It, and spend more time with family and consider her next options.
TV Land and Nick at Nite has added to its Communications group with the appointment of Rachel Lizerbram as VP/Communications. Rachel reports to Paul Ward, SVP/Comm, who also make the announcement. She will be responsible for the creation and execution of communications strategies related to the promotion of Nick at Nite and TV Land original shows and specials, programming acquisitions, marketing initiatives and outside partnerships.
Marc Buhaj has been named VP/Programming & Scheduling, Cartoon Network and Boomerang, reporting to Bob Higgins, SVP/Programming & Development at Cartoon Network. In this new role, Marc will direct all aspects of programming for the two networks, including scheduling, on-air event planning and program operations. Buhaj joins Cartoon Network US from the Hong Kong where he was Executive Director/Programming & Acquisitions, Turner Entertainment Networks Asia, where he helped to launch the Turner’s kid and family targeted Pogo Channel.
Tuesday, November 9, 2004.Fast National Ratings for all Networks – time period averages.Source Nielsen Media Research. Time Period Averages Only. [p] = Premiere; [o] = Original; [r] = Repeat
CBS 11.5/18 38th Annual Country Music Awards (OTO) 11.5/18
NBC 7.6/12 The Biggest Loser 6.6/10, Scrubs 5.9/9, Law & Order SVU 10.0/16
ABC 6.4/10 My Wife & Kids 5.9/9, George Lopez 5.6/8, According to Jim 6.6/10, Rodney 5.9/9, NYPD Blue 7.2/12
WB 3.7/6 Gilmore Girls 4.2/6, One Tree Hill 3.2/5
FOX 3.3/5 The Rebel Billionaire [p] 3.3/5
UPN 2.0/3 All of Us 2.2/3, Eve 2.3/3, Veronica Mars 1.8/3
A18-49 CBS 5.9/15, NBC 4.4/11, ABC 3.6/9, WB 2.4/6, Fox 2.3/6, UPN 1.3/3
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MOVIN’ ON UP… ONE TREE HILL IS PRIMETIME’S FASTEST GROWING SERIES
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Source: NTI Explorer, Premiere-to-date 9/20-11/07/04 & 9/22-11/09/03. % US Rtg Gain. Primetime=broadcast prime.
The History Channel presents This Day in History: 1918: At the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, the Great War finally ends. Known as “the war to end all wars,” World War I proved instead to be just the beginning of the violent twentieth century. At the time of the Armistice, the Great War had become a bloody stalemate that had cost the lives of 9 million soldiers, with 21 million more wounded. They were joined by 5 million civilian dead. After years of inconclusive attrition, the intervention of United States troops swayed the balance in favor of France and Britain, and Germany surrendered.
Answer to Yesterday’s Trivia Question:If you were to travel down I-90 and get off at Exit 119 in Blue Earth, Minnesota, you’d come across a 55′ statue of what? THE JOLLY GREEN GIANT. Kudos to: Michael Lao-MasterCard Int’l/NY; Paul Gaulke-Media General/Richmond; Monique Burgess-WBTW/Myrtle Beach; David Kern-ITN Networks/NY; Jerry VanDenHul-JVI Prods/Arkansas City; Lauren Grady-The Richards Group/Dallas; Kathy Carlson-Cuneo Adv/Bloomington MN; Jean Follestad-Starz/Englewood; Andrew Wainrib-KCW Prods/Malibu; JoAnn Stevenson-KOLO/Reno; Tosha Lovingwood-KCBS/LA; Richard Levine-DirecTV/El Segundo
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In January 2005, this daily edition will introduce brand new ad space as well as make available previously sold out space. New space includes Top of Page above the title (only Thursdays available). And becoming avail in 2005 for the first time in more than 4 years isSpace A, immediately following the daily Nielsen Media Research household ratings chart.
If you’d like to see a Media Kit outlining the demographics of the Cynopsis sub base as well as 2005 rates, send me a note at
Today’s Trivia Question in honor of Veteran’s Day: How many stars were on the American Flag in 1954 when November 11 was officially declared Veteran’s Day? (click to respond to the trivia question and please be sure to include with your answer your name, company, city and time zone. Only the second four correct responses from each time zone will be listed in tomorrow’s kudo list.)
In 2005, Cynopsis will offer new ad space. Interested?
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CYNOPSIS CLASSIFIEDS
JOB OPENING:ICM is seeking is seeking an ASSISTANT TO A NEWS/BROADCASTING AGENT in its NYC office. A bachelor’s degree and at least 3 years administrative experience are required. Please email resume to (11/18)
JOB OPENING: SALES PLANNER/GSN, NY~2+ yrs cable experience Must have prior experience in planning client maintenance delivery & presentation skills Thorough knowledge of excel and powerpoint a must email resume to (11/17)
JOB OPENING: PUBLICIST/OLN, Stamford, CT. Exceptional verbal and written skills,3 yrs PR exp req’d; cable or sports industry a +.See www.olntv.com for more info. Resume/salary: (11/17)
JOB OPENING: GENERAL SALES MANAGER/Comcast Spotlight, Hartford DMA. 5 + yrs of media sales mgmt exp. with proven ability to lead and motivate a 35+ member sales team to achieve & exceed sales goals. Apply at www.comcast.com (11/17)
JOB OPENING: LOCAL SALES MANAGER/Comcast Spotlight, Middlebury, CT. 2+ yrs of media sales mgmt exp. with proven ability to lead and motivate a sales team to achieve & exceed sales goals. Apply at www.comcast.com (11/17)
JOB OPENING: GREAT! MARKETING ASSISTANT in Atlanta. If you are passionate and enthusiastic about promotion, help our team create buzz and wow our TV and entertainment clients. Email
for entry-level position info. (11/16)
JOB OPENING: MTV Networks: MANAGER, MARKET DEVELOPMENT/NY. Manage sales efforts/renewals for Spike TV for all Canadian Affiliates. Develop distrib strategies to maximize Spike TV distrib in Canada.Apply: www.mtvncareers.com EOE (11/16)
JOB OPENING: SUPRV PRODUCER, ONAIR GRAPHICS, MTV/NYC. 5yrs exp. motion graphics/design, Strng leader, Strg exp in TV, prod & large budgets, Able Knowledge intellectual property law A+, EOE/M/F/D/AAP. Apply www.mtvncareers.com (11/16)
JOB OPENING: HEAD OF LICENSING/LA: 3+ yrs exp of managing entertainment/children’s cross-category licensing programs. Good licensee and retail contacts; self starter. Email resume (11/16)
JOB OPENING: VP/MEDIA SALES, Growing, NYC “out of home” media co. Seeks 8-10 yrs exp & proven track record in cable, outdoor, or print ad sales a must. Strong comm & orgz skills. Excl comp. package. Reply: (11/13)
JOB OPENING: RESEARCH ANALYST-Nat’l Ad Sales-AMC, NYC. 2+ yrs media research exp, pref at a cable net. Analysis of data/materials for ad sales, mktng, pgming, p.r., affiliate / local ad sales. Apply:
(11/13)
JOB OPENING: DIR OF SALES/CLTV News, Oak Brook IL. 5+ yrs bcst/media sales mgmt; proven sales success w/agencies, retail. Resp: aggr sales goals/share, long term vision/planning. Resume:
JOB OPENING: SALES & SERVICES COORD./MTV Networks,CA. detail oriented self starter (1-2 yrs exp in sales/proj mgmt pref). Interaction w/clients, exc comm skills a must. Team player w/ “can do” attitude. Apply www.mtvncareers.com (11/12)
JOB OPENING: New York, NY. Experienced SENIOR PRODUCER to help launch and run weekly one-hour series on faith, culture and current events for national cable channel.Content is multi-faith.E-mail: (11/12)
SITUATION WANTED ADS, POSTED BY THOSE LOOKING TO BE HIRED —
SITUATION WANTED: CREATIVE POSITION/ PRODUCTION: MTV Asia Senior Producer (6 yrs) & film director of TV commercials, music videos, promos, drama. Work experience in Asia/ UK/ US.
. NYC (11/17)
SITUATION WANTED: Experienced EP/SENIOR PRODUCER with outstanding credentials & impeccable references seeking a senior creative position in BROADCAST OR CABLE NEWS.please email hawtreyandthedeafaids
(11/13)
SITUATION WANTED: 4 yrs exp. FINAL CUT/AE EDITING, SHOOTING, ENCODING, PRODUCING for National TV, MSN, Nokia, etc. Tired of being a one-man studio -Wanna’ be a team player! Based in NYC. Willing to move!
msn
(11/13)
SITUATION WANTED: SAVVY MARKETER with 15+ years exp. managing$20 million+ mktg. budgets for Fox, Spelling, Paramount, NBC and others. Expert in mgt. effectiveness, budget efficiency, strategic positioning. E-mail:
(11/13)
SITUATION WANTED: SEEKING SENIOR ENTERTAINMENT EXECUTIVE MENTOR interested in sharing insights and counseling an ambitious junior executive with programming, sales, and production experience. email:
(11/13)
SITUATION WANTED: PRODUCTION PROFESSIONAL with 20 yrs experience in US Hispanic market seeks a network television or cable position – Creative Services/Producer in LA, but will consider relocating. Contact: Maria Botta;
(11/13)
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WHAT’S ON TONIGHT: NOVEMBER 11, 2004:
ABC Thursday Movie: Saving Private Ryan (to 11:20p) CBS Survivor, CSI, Without a Trace FOX The O.C., North Shore NBC Joey, Will & Grace, The Apprentice, ER PAX AFV, AFV, Diagnosis Murder, Diagnosis Murder UPN WWE Smackdown WB WB Movie: Save the Last Dance TELE Prisionera, Gitanas, Te Voy a Ensenar a Querer UNIV Rubi, Amor Real, Aqui y Ahora
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