Your audience wants sports; Comcast Spotlight has sports. Fast sports. Slow sports. Team sports. Individual sports. The simple fact is, cable has more hours of sports programming than any other medium and Comcast Spotlight helps you access it all. Comcast Spotlight – No one puts sports together like we do. For more information click here.

CYNTHIA TURNER’S
Cynopsis

10/20/05

Good morning.  It’s Thursday, October 20, 2005, and this is your first early morning briefing. 

ABC has ordered the back nine for Commander in Chief.  Season to date, the Touchstone TV show has averaged a 4.6/11 in the key A18-49 demo. Just recently, ABC had named Steven Bochco as the show’s new showrunner, exec producing along side the show’s creator Rod Lurie.

Today is the day.  The Senate Commerce Committee is scheduled to vote today on the bill proposed last week that sets April 7, 2009 as the final definitive date that all of TV goes digital.  According to the plan, once the analog feeds are turned off, the government can recapture them and auction them off, with the proceeds going to off-set the current budget deficit which is in the 12-digit range.

* MORE GOOD STUFF *If you’re planning on heading to Mexico for the Latin America Video Music Awards hosted by MTV, don’t.  Not only does the weather stink at the moment, but MTV has decided to postpone the Mexico event. A new date has not yet been announced as of press time.  The event itself was originally planned for tonight. Then in an attempt to beat the storm, it was pushed up by a day to yesterday, but that didn’t work either as the storm took a bad turn. As you’ve heard, Wilma is expected to be a whopper of a hurricane for the Atlantic basin.

Most everyone has something to say about the current season of new and returning shows, and so why wouldn’t the Parents Television Council.  Among their top picks for family viewing are Extreme Makeover Home Edition (ABC), Three Wishes (NBC) and Everybody Hates Chris (UPN).  Among their worst are four shows from Fox – The O.C., Family Guy, American Dad and War at Home, as well as CSI, 2-1/2 Men and Cold Case on CBS, Desperate Housewives on ABC. What makes a show a bad choice as far as the PTC is concerned?  The amount of violence, sexual content and bad language, as measured by the Council.

Timeless International has signed to represent StreetCast TV, a first run 30m weekly business news show providing insight into the upcoming week based on the previous week’s key news announcements and events. Anchored from the New York Stock Exchange, StreetCast TV will be represented in all the major exchanges including Vancouver and Toronto reflecting the global markets. The show will be on a slow roll out prior to a Fall 2006 launch, available on a barter basis.

Two Corrections:

• WB’s Related will begin airing originals on Mondays and repeats on Wednesdays (reverse of what’s how it’s currently scheduled) as of Monday, October 31.
• And Over There was not a finale on FX last night – the finale was pushed back by one week because of baseball.  So if you missed it last night, don’t fret – it’s not until next week.

Fremantle International Distribution and Sony BMG have started a 50/50 joint venture that will combine their respective capabilities to target the global sales for television programming and DVD distribution.  The new business will develop the music publishing company’s catalogue of TV properties and go after major music and pop culture event programming investments that can be sold globally for TV and DVD use.  The goal is to bring four to six TV/DVD creations to the international market annually, and work together on sales across all media resources.

MTV’s launch of Miss Seventeen on Monday night at 1030p drew 2.0 million total viewers, and delivered a 2.3 rating in the network’s coveted 12-34 demo.   That demo number ranked MTV as #1 in the time period (excluding sports and professional wrestling, i.e., WWE).

Fox Reality has signed Kennedy to host their first original program Reality Remix. The daily 30m series premieres on Monday, Oct. 24 at 730p, and promises to be the ultimate guide to everything reality.  The show will be presented in a newsy format to cover each day’s updates about reality and unscripted programming. Fox Reality network launched on May 24, 2005 and is currently seen in more than 18 million households with goals to exceed 20 million by the end of its first year.

Another note about Michael J. Fox who you know by now is preparing to take a 3-episode arc for Boston Legal on ABC – he will also appear on Inside the Actor’s Studio on Bravo on October 30.  Personally, I’m delighted to see him back on television and thought you might be as well.

* NEW ORDERS / CASTING / DEVELOPMENT / PRODUCTION *HGTV will launch a new series called Design Star, a nationwide search for the next great design star.  What makes a design star?  People who first can design a room to utter perfection, while simultaneously hosting their own show.  Probably tougher than it looks.  They’ll begin accepting applications next Monday – you can find apps on line at HGTV.com.  The ultimate winner will get their own 13-episode series on the network, launching in January 2007. Now, if you don’t think you’re quire ready for the limelight but just want your room redone, then starting in early December they’ll be looking for those people too.

Jesse Ventura in a sitcom?  According to Hollywood Reporter, NBC is chatting with the former Governor, pro wrestler and general noisemaker.  No deals done yet, and nothing official coming from either camp.

Spike TV will launch a new reality show this spring called Pros vs. Joes wherein professional players from a variety of sports will compete against normal folks in various sporting competitions.  Playing along will be Jerry Rice, Karl Malone, Bo Jackson, Herschel Walker, Tony Dorsett, Randall Cunningham, Clyde Drexler, Brandi Chastain, Jennie Finch, Dan O’Brien and Dave Stewart, among others.   While just hanging out with these guys may be prize enough, the Joes are competing for season tickets to their favorite teams’ games, and ultimately a fantasy sports package. Spike TV has ordered 10 eps.

* EXECUTIVE MOVES *Univision Communications Inc has promoted Judy Kenny to EVP/Univision. She will be in charge of day-to-day network sales for the Univision Network, effective immediately.  Most recently, Judy served for eight years as SVP/ New York Manager for Univision, TeleFutura and Galavision.
 
Disney-ABC Television Group has announced a new department structure for its communications division, consisting of six departments. Nicole Nichols has been upped to SVP/Entertainment Communications, Sharon Williams, to SVP/Communications Resources and Patti McTeague to VP/Kids Communications.  Jeffrey Schneider, VP/ABC News Communications, continues to oversee the group’s efforts on behalf of an expanding ABC News. This role also includes oversight of communication efforts on behalf of ABC News Radio, ABC News Now and ABC News.com.  Julie Hoover, VP/Corporate Communications, oversees the Group’s overall corporate presence, including Government Relations, Labor Relations, Affiliate Relations, Sales, Marketing, Research and Community Outreach departments.  She also oversees communication efforts on behalf of ABC Radio and the ABC Owned Television Stations. And Siobhan Kenny, VP/Branded Television Communications, EMEA will assume the role of acting head of International Communications.
 
Scholastic Media announced the appointment of Deron Triff as VP/Business Development.  Deron is charged with overseeing the development of Scholastic Media’s digital and on-demand distribution channels through broadband, wireless and mobile, cable and satellite, and advanced media devices.  He will also represent Scholastic Media’s strategic planning efforts in digital distribution businesses, technologies and services.  Deron will report to Deborah Forte, President/Scholastic Media and EVP/Scholastic Inc.

WCBS/New York has named Joanna Brahim as Manager/Public Relations and Community Affairs.  Joanna hails from MSNBC, where she worked in media relations with key talent.   She will manage talent and press relations and community outreach activities for the CBS flagship station.

Zach Smith has been named WGN-TV Regional/National Sales Manager effective October 24.  The announcement was made by Marty Wilke, WGN-TV Director of Sales.   Zach makes the move to Chicago from KDFW/KDFI in Dallas.

 * RATINGS *Tuesday — A18-49 Analysis:  NBC won the night on Tuesday with a 4.5/12 A18-49 rating, according to fast affiliate ratings from Nielsen Media Research.  CBS was #2 with a 4.0/11, followed by ABC 3.5/9, WB 2.5/6, Fox 2.3/6, 0.8/2.  At 8p CBS’ NCIS led with a 4.2/12, with The Biggest Loser not so lost at #2 with a 3.5/10.  ABC and WB (yes WB!) tied for #3, each earning an 8 share for the hour. At 9p NBC was in front with My Name is Earl (5.5/14); and as has been its trend, The Office dropped a handful of share points earning a 4.1/10 and ranking #3 at 930p. ABC and CBS each averaged an 11 share at 9p.  At 10p NBC bounced back significantly with L&O:SVU topping at a 5.2/14, ahead of both CBS and ABC by 5 share points.

FINAL HOUSEHOLD RATINGS:  Tuesday, October 18, 2005, for all Networks – program averages.  Source: Nielsen Media Research. 

CBS     8.5/13   NCIS 11.3/18, The Amazing Race 7.1/11, Close to Home 7.0/12

ABC     7.8/12   According to Jim 5.0/8, Rodney 5.1/8, Commander in Chief 10.5/16, Boston Legal  7.9/13

NBC     7.3/11   The Biggest Loser 5.8/9, My Name is Earl 7.7/12, The Office 5.4/8, L&O: SVU  9.5/16

FOX     4.1/6    Bones [r] 2.9/5, House [r] 5.4/8

WB      3.4/5    Gilmore Girls 3.8/6, Supernatural  3.0/4

UPN     1.4/2    America’s Next Top Model [r] 1.9/3,  Sex, Love & Secrets  0.8/1

A18-49            NBC 4.5/12, CBS 4.0/11, ABC 3.5/9, WB 2.5/6, Fox 2.3/6, 0.8/2

The History Channel presents This Day in History:
1973-In the “Saturday Night Massacre,” President Nixon orders Attorney General Elliot Richardson to fire Archibald Cox, the special prosecutor investigating the Watergate allegations.  Richardson refused and resigned, as did his deputy, William Ruckelshaus.  Solicitor General Robert Bork, however, agreed to fire Cox in an action that enraged the Congress and led directly to the drafting of articles of impeachment.

Answer to Yesterday’s Trivia Question: Arthur Ramsey, a brilliant mathematician and linguist expert would be found where?  THRESHOLD       Kudos to:  EJ Offurum-Horizon Media/NY; Ted Chase-Lifetime TV/NY; Jonathan Lipson-Active International/Pearl River NY; Jack Krayson-APF/NY; Dan Thomson-Media First International/Minneapolis; Amy Levine-High Noon Entertainment/Centennial CO; Sherry Wentling-RPA/Chicago; Kevin Schmidt-National Cable Communications/Chicago; Michael Lightner-Telerep/LA; Sandra Dibble-Ice Box Advertising/Van Nuys CA; Sheldon Wiebe-Eclipse Magazine/Calgary AB Canada

A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE FROM COURT TV

There’s ‘frontier justice.’
And ‘poetic justice.’
But most intriguing of all, there’s
Hollywood Justice…

Tonight the spotlight shines on pop diva Whitney Houston.  HOLLYWOOD JUSTICE .  Thursdays & Saturdays at 11:30PM E/P.  Only on Court TV.

Advertisers: investigate marketing opportunities with Court TV.  We’ll do you justice.

Today’s Trivia Question: And the way goes trouble down the drain, was a tagline for which commercial advertisement?   (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
10.20.05 – 5:13a
Cynopsis Ad Sales – Barbara Shapiro – 203-583-1224 /

Classified Ad Sales – Trish Pihonak – 203.381-9096 /

If you’d rather listen than read, you can sign up for the Cynopsis: In Your Ear podcast available for download each morning by 630a at www.cynopsis.com or via iTunes 4.9 listed in the podcast directory under “News.”

Subscribe, unsubscribe, or change a subscription for any Cynopsis edition: www.cynopsis.com
Archived Editions: www.Cynopsis.com
Press Release Fax: 203-381-9318
All outgoing e-mails are scanned and sent out virus free.
Copyright Cynthia Turner 2005

Cyn opsis  CLASSIFIEDS —

JOB OPENING: SALES COORD/CBS Network NY/ Contact advertisers & agencies for commercials in Sports program. BA/BS pref. Related work exp. Detailed w/exc comm skills. Late Fridays. Res /salary
  (subject Sales). (10/27)

JOB OPENING: INVENTORY ASSISTANT/Paramount Advertiser Services/NY.  Min 2 yrs data entry, strong attn to detail, time mgmt & multi-tasking a must.  Work closely with sales department. Apply to: 
(10/27)

JOB OPENING: EXPERIENCED FREELANCE SEGMENT WRITERS & PROD/NAHB Prod Group/DC: Clear, Energetic scripts written w/ clarity & timely manner. Knwldg home building & design ind. essential. Res, writing samp/or reels to:
  (11/03)

JOB OPENING: RES. MGR/DISNEY ABC CABLE NTWK GROUP/BURBANK: Mng variety of res. proj’s incl Nielsen Analyses & primary res. studies. 3+ yrs Nielsen ratings analysis exp/ cable, bcst or synd res dept. BA req’d
(11/03)

JOB OPENING: SR DIRECTOR, PROG & DEVELOPMENT, Comedy Central/NYC. Min 5+yrs Dev Exp, Min.2+@Director Level, Stg exp w/scripted & non, Proven track w/show success, Strg Indus/prod relatnshps EOE/M/F/D/AAP. Apply www.mtvncareers.com (10/26)

JOB OPENING: SR. PUBLICIST, NATAS/The Emmys, NY. 5+ yrs exp. Responsible for publicity for all NY-based national awards. Reports to President. Apply w/resume & salary req.:
(10/26)

JOB OPENING: MGR/ HGTV.com/Knoxville: Assists Brand Director in dev of site strategy. BA deg related field. 4 yrs exp. w/ web technologies & web design. Cvr & Res:
and reference job # 4752-U (10/26)

JOB OPENING: PROJ MGR/Scripps Ntwrks Interactive/Knoxville: Dev online functional specs & comm tech dev’s among cross functional groups. BA/BS deg/equiv exp & 4 yrs in IT. Cvr & res:
ref job # 4818-U (10/26)

JOB OPENING: DESIGN MGR/Scripps Ntwrks Interactive Knoxville: Resp for coord of assets & staffs inv w/del of design/websites & other interactive apps /ad sales & ecommerce. 5 yrs exp.
& ref job # 4738-U  (10/26)

JOB OPENING: DESIGN DIR/ Scripps Ntwrk Interactive/Knoxville: Lead Online design team. Mng corp, & creative design teams. BA/Bach Fine Arts/Graphic Des. 8 yrs exp. Res & Cvr:
and ref job # 4758-U  (10/26)

JOB OPENING: VP, BRANDS/HGTV.com. DIYNetwork.com, HGTVPro.com/Knoxville: Responsible for all brand related website activities. Cvr & Res to:
and reference job # 4740-DD  (10/26)

JOB OPENING: SENIOR PRODUCER /PlayhouseDisney.com:, oversee online and brand strategy, creative production, learning-based games, MBA preferred, 5 years of Internet TV experience; BURBANK, CA apply to:
  (10/25)

JOB OPENING: MEDIA PLANNING ASSISTANT, Disney Channel & ABC Kids; front line for media planning and promo elements; Input all work order info, detail-oriented, 1-2 yrs. Exp., must love kids’ TV, Burbank, CA;
(10/25)

JOB OPENING: PRODUCTION COORDINATOR, On-Air Promotion Disney Channel, asst. w/producers projects identified for global sharing, movies, shows, graphics and work orders with international delivery; Burbank CA
(10/25)

JOB OPENING: TEMP COORD (LONG TERM), AWARD & FEST ENTRIES/TALENT TRAVEL,SHOWTIME/NY.Min 2 yrs exp w/high volume & multi-deadlines. Cable/net/fest/pr/agency/studio bckgnd req. Apply:
(10/25)

JOB OPENING: AD SALES COORDINATOR/TV One, LLC, New York Office. We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced individual. Visit our web site for a detailed job description and application details. www.tvoneonline.com (10/25)

JOB OPENING: INSIDE SALES PERSON, Entertainment Sales Culver City, CA: Assist sales mgrs, mng orders & monitor campaigns. 2 yrs media planning/sales exp., pref. in the online mrkt. BA or equiv. & ent industry knwldg.
(10/25)

JOB OPENING: VP, PROGRAM PROD/HGTV-Knoxville: 7yrs nat’l cable/ broadcast ntwrk exp @ prgrmng exec/exec prod level req.Mult. media platfms exp a +. Excellent creative & mngrl skills.
& ref job #4819-U (10/25)

JOB OPENING: DIR ON AIR STRAT/Nat Geo Chan-DC: Dvlp/impl on-air strat & drive ratings. Tech savvy indv.-interpret ratings & dvlp strat. 7+ yrs exp/media buying/on-air strat/TV/cable. BA deg. Apply www.foxcareers.com . (#fng1108)EOE (10/25)

JOB OPENING: RESEARCH MANAGER/ATL: Create resrch pieces to support Affil/Ad Sales depts. Thorough knwldge of Nielsen & other resrch tools. Strong PC skills (Simmons, Power pt). BA/4+ yrs TV resrch req’d. 
(10/22)

JOB OPENING: RESEARCH MANAGER/WWE, Inc. /Stamford, CT Professional w/5+yrs TV Research exp. Demonstrated exp. driving research projects. Product knowledge a must. BA/BS, Apply: www.wwe-careers.com (10/22)

JOB OPENING: RESEARCH ANALYST/NBC UNIVERSAL TV DIST, NY – TV research exp in WRAP Overnights and Nielsen Systems a +. MS Office suite a must. Apply: www.nbcjobs.com #441587 (10/22)

JOB OPENING: CONSUMER MKT COORD/WE, Long Island:  Prev. exp in cons mktg (TV or agency). Support Sr. mgmt. Exc org and comm skills. MS office. BA/BS. Apply to
(10/22)

JOB OPENING: BUS. MGR/NY: Org multi-tasker to support  NY based prod co. Handle accounting & financial reports. Assist in tracking prod budgets & payroll. Knwldg of prod accounting software a must. Res:
(10/22)

JOB OPENING: SR PRIMETIME PROG RESEARCH MGR / ABC Burbank. 5+ yrs exp in P rimary ratings analysis; compu prof in Nielsen+ present/appls. Top written, oral, mgmt, organztl skills; BA req’d. Resumes:
(10/21)

JOB OPENING: EXEC ASST to SVP/GALAVISION-NYC:Permanent part-time/25 hrs wk,flex hrs OK. Must be organized, detail oriented. Strong excel + PP required. Apply:
Subj: EXEC ASST (10/28)

JOB OPENING: DIR OF ACCOUNTING/ Roberts Broadcasting/St. Louis: Financial duties for 3 TV stations. Fin. stmt & budget prep. Oversee A/P, A/R, payroll.BA deg in Acctg req; CPA pref. Brdcast exp pref. Resume:
(10/21)

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

SITUATION WANTED: LINE PRODUCER/PRODUCER/PROD. MANAGER  Extensive cable, broadcast and syndication experience. Reality, Talk, Docs & Arts. Single- & multi-cam. Available in the NYC-Philly Corridor. E-mail:
(10/27)

SITUATION WANTED: IN-HOUSE COUNSEL/MANAGER: Recently relocated TV/Music/IP attorney with executive & production management experience seeks position with media company in Greater-DC-Baltimore area.  Contact
(10/26)

SITUATION WANTED: Seeking RESEARCH POSITION (NYC): 5+yrs experience with local/national, syndicated/network/cable ratings research experience.  Proficient with Nielsen, Microsoft Office, Star, MRI, etc.  E-mail:
. (10/25)

SITUATION WANTED: BIZDEV tech-savvy exec. with heavy TV background looking for NYC bizdev/sales in content distribution, mobile content/advertising, interactivity broadband, etc. email
(10/25)

E-mail
for rates and specs for Job Openings.

Are you looking for a job? Post your Situation Wanted Ad here — Email
for specs.

WHAT’S ON TONIGHT: Thursday, October 20, 2005

ABC              Alias, Night Stalker, Primetime
CBS              Survivor: Guatemala, CSI, Without a Trace
FOX              Reunion, Reunion
NBC              Joey,  Will & Grace, The Apprentice 4, ER
PAX              Doc, Diagnosis Murder, Gaither Homecoming
UPN              Everybody Hates Chris, Love Inc., Eve, Cuts
WB               Smallville, Everwood
TELE             El Cuerpo del Deseo, Los Plateados, Decisiones
UNIV             Contra Viento y Marea, La Esposa Virgen, Cristina