Cynopsis

11/06/08

Good morning. It’s Thursday, November 6, 2008, and this is your first early morning briefing. 

Tonight’s Premiere:
MTV: 50 Cent: The Money and the Power at 10p
 
Tonight’s Finales:
Discovery Channel: Destroyed in Seconds at 9p
HBO: 24/7: Calzaghe/Jones 24/7 at 11p

A combined total of 70.6 million viewers tuned in to watch extended election night coverage across 14 network last night, according to Nielsen Research.  Leading the broadcast and cable networks in total viewers for the 8-1230am time frame was CNN with 13.2 million viewers, immediately followed by ABC News with 12.5 million.  A full list of the 14 networks and their total viewers for the evening are listed below in the Ratings section.

Comedy Central’s Indecision 2008: America’s Choice election night special airing from 10p-1106p posted a 1.9 rating among A18-49 with 2.1 million A18-49 viewers; delivered a 3.0 rating with M18-34; and attracted 3.1 million total viewers.

Beginning in January, Adult Swim will expand by one hour, starting at 10p nightly through 6a rather than 11p. Filling the new hour will be King of the Hill as Adult Swim made a multi-year licensing deal with Twentieth Television to acquire the animated series.

In its new reality beauty competition series True Beauty, ABC explores what really makes a person attractive. From executive producers Tyra Banks and Ashton Kutcher, True Beauty debuts January 5 at 10p. Over the course of eight episodes, six beautiful females and four handsome guys will live together in a Los Angeles mansion while they participate in various inner and outer beauty challenges eliciting their true temperament. Every episode the judges, former supermodel Cheryl Tiegs and fashion expert Nole Marin will rate each to determine which contestant has both looks and inner beauty. The final winner will receive a cash prize and be featured in People magazine’s 100 Most Beautiful People issue. Hosted by Vanessa Minnillo, the series is produced by Warner Horizon Television.

Author/screenwriter/filmmaker Michael Crichton, 66, died suddenly Tuesday in Los Angeles after a private battle with cancer. Michael was a household name for his best-selling novels turned blockbuster movies such as Jurassic Park and The Andromeda Strain. Michael also created NBC’s long-running hospital drama ER in 1994. A funeral service is expected though details have not been published.

A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE FROM SUNDANCE CHANNEL

In a new seven-year deal, Acorn Media Group will manage the home video distribution of more than 30 of classic British mystery and drama titles from FremantleMedia Enterprises in the U.S. and Canada, some of which have not previously been available in North America . The agreement took more than a year to hammer out and it includes such titles as Callan, Paradise Postponed, Pie in the Sky, Rivals of Sherlock Holmes among others.

A&E Network has two real-life original series in production. The new series Keyshawn Johnson: Tackling Design features former NFL player and current ESPN analyst Keyshawn Johnson as he begins a new career as an interior designer. Ten 30m episodes are produced by Screen Door Entertainment. A&E also renewed Sell This House for a seventh season with 13 new 30m episodes from Screaming Flea Productions. Both series will premiere in 2009 airing on Saturdays in The Big Fix programming block.

SCI FI Channel approved nine new episodes of Scare Tactics for next spring. Hosted by Tracy Morgan, this hidden-camera series using elaborate sets and scenarios to scare the bee-geebies out of unsuspecting people has averaged 1.54 million total viewers through its third season (July-November 2008).

ABC canceled the midseason series Single With Parents, the comedy produced by ABC Studios and DreamWorks and starring Alyssa Milano, according to THR. Production on the show had been interrupted due to disagreements over creative direction and with no resolution, ABC decided to nix it altogether. ABC has three other midseason 30m shows in the works: In the Motherhood, Better Off Ted and The Goode Family in addition to the recently announced pilot Cougar Town. 

CYNOPSIS DIGITAL – TODAY’S TOP STORY:  Google announced it is abandoning its search advertising agreement with Yahoo after both sides attempted to pull back on the scope of the agreement to appease regulators. Yahoo released a statement saying it continues to believe in the merits of the deal and is “disappointed” in Google’s decision. Meanwhile the Justice Department issued its own statement defending its position, claiming the arrangement would have “denied consumers the benefits of competition – lower prices, better service and greater innovation.” The deal would have given Google a 90% share of the search market and provided Yahoo with a much-needed injection of additional revenue.  Full edition: CYN DIGITAL.

CYNOPSIS KIDS – TODAY’S TOP STORY: While DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc.‘s animated feature film Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa doesn’t open domestically until this Friday, November 7, the movie has already broken records in Russia and the Ukraine, where it opened last week.  Distributed by Paramount, Escape 2 Africa earned $22 million in box office receipts across the region as of this Monday, per Variety. Full edition: CYN KIDS.

CYNOPSIS INTERNATIONAL – TODAY’S TOP STORY:  FremantleMedia Enterprises and Acorn Media Group will work together to sell the former’s classic British mystery and drama titles for home video distribution in the U.S. and Canada.  The 7-year repping deal covers over 30 titles.  Spring 2009 will herald the arrival of the first title release.  Full edition: CYN INTERNATIONAL.

Top 10 M-F Syndicated Strip Series for the week of 10/20-10/26/08 ranked by HH Rtg
Wheel of Fortune (CTD)                                   7.5 AA
Jeopardy (CTD)                                               6.1 AA
Two and a Half Men (WB)                                 5.2 AA / 6.8 GAA
Oprah Winfrey Show (CTD)                               4.9 AA / 5.0 GAA
Judge Judy (CTD)                                            4.4 AA / 6.8 GAA
Entertainment Tonight (CTD)                            4.3 AA / 4.4 GAA
Family Guy (2/T)                                             3.8 AA / 4.6 GAA
Seinfeld (SPT)                                                 3.5 AA / 3.9 GAA
Dr. Phil Show (CTD)                                         3.4 AA / 3.4 GAA
Everybody Loves Raymond (CTD)                      3.2 AA / 4.2 GAA
Source: NSS Galaxy Explorer, Live+SD

NEW M-F Syndicated Strip Series ratings for HH (10/20-10/26/08):
House of Payne (2/T)                                       2.0 AA / 2.4 GAA
Deal or No Deal (NBU)                                       1.9 AA / 2.4 GAA
Doctors (CTD)                                                 1.5 AA
Judge Karen (SPT)                                           1.0 AA / 1.4 GAA
Bonnie Hunt Show (WB)                                     0.8 AA / 0.8 GAA
Family Court (SPT)                                           0.6 AA / 0.8 GAA
Trivial Pursuit (2/T)                                           0.6 AA / 0.7 GAA
Punk’d (TRI)                                                    0.5 AA / 0.6 GAA
Source: NSS Galaxy Explorer, Live+SD

Top 10 M-F Syndicated Strip Series for the week of 10/20-10/26/08 ranked by A18-49 Rtg
Two and a Half Men (WB)                                2.9 AA / 3.7 GAA
Family Guy (2/T)                                            2.8 AA / 3.2 GAA
Seinfeld (SPT)                                                2.2 AA / 2.5 GAA
Wheel of Fortune (CTD)                                  1.8 AA
Everybody Loves Raymond (CTD)                      1.8 AA / 2.3 GAA
Oprah Winfrey Show (CTD)                              1.7 AA / 1.7 GAA
Friends (WB)                                                 1.7 AA / 2.0 GAA
Entertainment Tonight (CTD)                           1.6 AA / 1.6 GAA
King of Queens (SPT)                                     1.6 AA / 1.9 GAA
Jeopardy (CTD)                                             1.5 AA
George Lopez (WB)                                        1.5 AA / 2.0 GAA
Source: NSS Galaxy Explorer, Live+SD

NEW M-F Syndicated Strip Series ratings for A18-49 (10/20-10/26/08):
House of Payne (2/T)                                       1.2 AA / 1.4 GAA
Deal or No Deal (NBU)                                       0.7 AA / 1.0 GAA
Doctors (CTD)                                                 0.5 AA
Judge Karen (SPT)                                           0.5 AA / 0.7 GAA
Bonnie Hunt Show (WB)                                    0.3 AA / 0.3 GAA
Family Court (SPT)                                           0.3 AA / 0.3 GAA
Trivial Pursuit (2/T)                                          0.3 AA / 0.3 GAA
Punk’d (TRI)                                                    0.3 AA / 0.3 GAA
Source: NSS Galaxy Explorer, Live+SD

Tuesday – A18-49 Analysis: Viewers voted Tuesday night and with live election coverage it was a tie between ABC and NBC at 4.7/10 A18-49 according to fast affiliate ratings from Nielsen Media Research. With that said, however, it must be noted ratings for Tuesday night are preliminary and do not reflect the final performance levels. Nielsen will release final national ratings for Tuesday later today and we will include the final results in Friday’s edition.

Live + Same Day Household Ratings: Tuesday, November 4, 2008 (November Sweep Day 6) time period averages. Source: Nielsen Media Research

ABC: 8.2/12          Election Coverage 8.2/12

NBC: 7.8/11           Election Coverage 7.8/11

CBS: 4.9/7             Election Coverage 4.9/7

FOX: 3.1/4             Election Coverage [8-10p] 3.1/4

UNIV: 2.1/3            Election Coverage 2.1/3

CW: 1.7/2              90210 2.0/3, Privileged 1.5/2

TELE: 0.5/1            Election Coverage 0.5/1

A18-49: ABC 4.7/10, NBC 4.7/10, CBS 2.5/5, FOX 2.2/5, UNIV 1.9/4, CW 1.2/3, TELE 0.3/1

 
Nielsen provided additional election night audience estimates from Tuesday night including results from many cable networks. Among total viewers, ABC was the top network in primetime with 13.1 million viewers and over extended coverage (8p-1230a) CNN did best with 13.2 million viewers. See full details below.

Election Night Coverage Total Viewers November 4, 2008 – Primetime Coverage
Prime Time  Live Feed/Live+SD Data Stream 8-11p ET/7-10p CT/6-9p MT/5-8p PT
ABC: 13.1 million
CNN: 12.3 million
NBC: 12.0 million
Fox News Channel: 9.0 million
CBS: 7.8 million
MSNBC: 5.8 million
FOX Broadcasting: 5.1 million
Univision: 4.0 million
Telemundo: 790,000
BET: 438,000
CNBC: 391,000
BBC America: 224,000
WGN America: 115,000
TV One: 88,000
Combined 14 network total viewers: 71.4 million
Source: Nielsen Research

Election Night Coverage Total Viewers November 4, 2008 – Extended Coverage
Live Feed/Live+SD Data Stream 8p-1230a ET/7-1130p CT/6-1030p MT/5-930p PT
CNN: 13.2 million
ABC: 12.5 million
NBC: 11.9 million
Fox News Channel: 8.0 million
CBS: 7.4 million
MSNBC: 6.3 million
FOX Broadcasting: 4.6 million
Univision: 4.0 million
Telemundo: 847,000
BET: 547,000
CNBC: 415,000
BBC America: 231,000
WGN America: 163,000
TV One: 110,000
Combined 14 network total viewers: 70.6 million
Source: Nielsen Research

Loren Venturi-Miller advanced to SVP/National and Regional Sales with Screenvision. Loren is now responsible for the strategic direction of the cinema ad sales, services and content distribution company both nationally and regionally. She will also manage the national and regional sales teams and continues to report to Michael Chico, EVP/Sales and Marketing.

A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE FROM FUSE

This day in History: 1869 – The first intercollegiate football game was played in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Rutgers defeated Princeton 6-4.

Answer to Yesterday’s Trivia Question, Sponsored By Fuse. Ignite Your Brand.:  What famous music festival just took place in New Orleans, featuring acts like Nine Inch Nails, R.E.M., and Lil Wayne? Voodoo Experience. Check out Fuse’s exclusive live footage from the festival: http://www.fuse.tv/tours/voodoo-experience/. Kudos to:  Jane Oestreicher Mindshare/NY; Seidah Smith-Scripps Networks Interactive/ NY; Sean Varga-Osprey Communications/Stamford,CT; Anna Alvord-Scripps Networks/Knoxville, TN; Walt Combee, Jr.-WVLA/Baton Rouge, LA; Kathy Yarbrough-Touchpoints Marketing/Gretna, LA; Larry Glazer-WTTW /Chicago; Dory Melman Petsrill-Petry TV/Dallas; Lori Nakama-Hallmark Channel-Studio City,CA; Rox Lettman-CBS Inter TV/LA; Paul Blutter-General American Group, Inc./Northridge, CA; Mindi Sue- black & blue star/LA

Today’s Trivia Question: The Foo Fighters parodied the ad campaign for this refreshing product in one of their music videos (1996). What was the name of the product and what was the song in the video? (Email
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 REELZCHANNEL

Later — Cyn
11.06.08

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JOB OPENING: SR. MGR-HARDLINES/Cookie Jar Ent/Burbank Min.35 yrs Dom. License exp in Consumer Products industry with developed relationships. http://www.thecookiejarcompany.com (Careers). Send Res/CL:
(11/13)

JOB OPENING: PUBLICIST/Telepictures Prods/LA: Unit pub for synd TV show. News bkgd & exp on assign desk pref’d. Pitch/secure stories/content. Write/distrib releases.Fast paced enviro. 5-8yrs exp Res:
(11/13)

JOB OPENING: MKTG & SALES ASSOCIATE/IME-IESE Business School/NY: Min 3yrs exp in marketing education programs. Media/Entertainment background. Internet Marketing, lead generation, hands-on recruitment/sales.
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JOB OPENING: MGR CORP COMM/Rainbow/NY: Work across all Rainbow brands.Asst creating strat/write releases/pitch stories. 3+yrs media relat’s. Impeccable writing skills.strong media rltnshps, cbl exp a + www.cablevision.jobs ref#7483BR (11/12)

JOB OPENING: DIR CORP COMM/Rainbow/NY:Mng daily trade/business PR,work closely with Sr mgmt to dvlp/execute strat. 6-8 yrs PR exp, cable a +. Exc writing skills a must. Strong media relationships a +. www.cablevision.jobs ref#7486BR (11/12)

JOB OPENING: DIGITAL PRODUCER/CNN’s American Morning/NY: 5 yrs min major mkt tv news production exp, 1 yr min exp with web/interactive content, strong writer, leader. See full posting & apply to www.turner.jobs req# 108698BR (11/12)

JOB OPENING: CONTENT DESK EDITOR/WNBC: Conceive/execute news coverage, make front line editorial decisions on a story-by-story basis. Dvlp/monitor journalistic & editorial elements of news gathering. www.nbcunicareers.com #856232 (11/12)

JOB OPENING: SR DESK CONTENT DESK EDITOR/WNBC: Execute editorial vision of Content Desk across platforms;mng who will generate content from Content Desk Editors, Reporters, Field Crews to Content Prods.  www.nbcunicareers.com #853930 (11/12)

JOB OPENING: DIR, PROGRAM LICENSING & ACQUISITIONS/iN DEMAND/NYC: Oversee licensing/acquisitions, programming & packaging of content. Degree + 4-8 yrs exp in TV. Apply:
(11/11)

JOB OPENING: DIRECTOR, ANIMATION PROGRAM SALES: Resp for coordinating prgrm sales to domestic, internat’l free-TV & pay-TV broadcasters as well as home entertainment distributors. Resumes to:
(11/8)

JOB OPENING: DIR PRODUCTION OPERATIONS/National Geographic Television: Oversee the production management of documentary programs. To apply, visit www.nationalgeographic.com/jobs Job ID 3676. EOE (11/8)

JOB OPENING: MGR, NEW MEDIA INVENTORY/DISCOVERY/NY: Mng stewardship/optimization of dig. accts. Frcst inventories, analyze site activity, work closely w/ad sales client to guarantee deliverables. Apply: www.discovery.com Req#8394 (11/8)

JOB OPENING: DIR/PROG DEV/TLC/SS: Communicate/Coordinator w/Ind. Producers-Prod, other Companies/Depts outside of Discovery; serve as network liaison btw prod/dev. Apply: www.discovery.com Req#8335 (11/8)

JOB OPENING: SR RSRCH ANLYST/Lifetime (LA): Analyze & prdce reprts- daily ratings & compet perfmnce to guide Prgm, Mktg, & Aff Mktg strat. Exp TV Rsrch/data anlyst/Star Trak/Nielsen/math/stats. Res:
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JOB OPENING: DIR NAT ACCTS/Lifetime/LA/Drive distr prds & srvcs w/aff cable, sat & telco distrs/Ensre cntrct cmplnce & negt/anlyz spec prfrm bnchmrks/Exp: 5+ yrs in sales/Ext trvl/BA,BS or equiv req/Res:
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JOB OPENING: DIR RESEARCH/NY: Min 5 yrs exp in TV/Digital research, primary research(banners &tabs), exp w/Comscore, Nielsen’s, strong written & analytical skills, BA/BS or equiv exp, Rez: http://www.mylifetime.com/about-us/jobs (11/7)

INTERNSHIPS – These positions are for credit only – nobody gets paid here. These ads are always 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/SPRING INTERNSHIP CREDITS ONLY: RoCart, Inc./LA:Seeks RESEARCH INTERN for new NICK JR. live-action preschool show; position to start in JANUARY ’09. Submit cover letters/resumes to
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FALL INTERNSHIP CREDITS ONLY:  INTERNS /LA: Bright & passionate. Neal Stevens/Stevens & Assoc., prod 5 features films in past 6 yrs. Learn ropes from A-Z. Script coverage, dvlpmnt, possible assoc of credit for movies & much more.Email:
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SITUATION WANTED: Creative children’s TV producer/director w/ 18+ yrs hands-on exp. seeks web/TV projects/agent/team to join. Credits: PBS Kids (Buster, Fetch!, Zoom), History, CBS, BBC. Screen reel & CV @ http://www.alangrazioso.com (11/13)

SITUATION WANTED: Passionate & creative market researcher with 12 years exp. seeks to share skills and knowledge w/ companies to grow in challenging consumer landscape. Most recently was VP w/ Top 20 research co.
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WHAT’S ON TONIGHT –  Thursday, November 6, 2008

ABC: Ugly Betty, Grey’s Anatomy, Life on Mars
AZTECA: Camino a La Fama, Historias Engarzadas, Al Extremo
CBS: Survivor: Gabon – Earth’s Last Eden, CSI, Eleventh Hour
CW: Smallville, Supernatural
FOX: Kitchen Nightmares, Kitchen Nightmares
ION: Movie: Casino
MNT: My Thursday Night Movie: Alien: Resurrection
NBC: My Name is Earl, Kath & Kim, The Office, 30 Rock, ER
PBS: This Old House Hour, Antiques Roadshow, Independent Lens
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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