Cynopsis

12/16/08

Good morning. It’s Tuesday, December 16, 2008, and this is your first early morning briefing. 

Tonight’s Premieres:
BlueHighways TV: Texas County Line at 830p
NBC: Momma’s Boys at 10p

Tonight’s Finales:
NBC: The Biggest Loser: Families at 8p
SCI FI Channel: Cha$e at 10p

SAG Strike Update: A cadre of more than 130 top box office actors including George Clooney, Tom Hanks, Kevin Spacey, Sally Field among others sent a petition to SAG national president Alan Rosenberg, national executive director Doug Allen and other leaders, asking for a cancellation of the strike authorization vote. SAG leaders have not publicly commented on the letter. The opposition letter from the actors said the weakened economy was their motivation to end strike talks and it further stated: “We feel very strongly that SAG members should not vote to authorize a strike at this time,” the letter said. “We don’t think that an authorization can be looked at as merely a bargaining tool. It must be looked at as what it is — an agreement to strike if negotiations fail.” Actors who favor the strike authorization vote include Ed Harris, Rob Morrow, Martin Sheen, Holly Hunter and Mel Gibson.

Tonight at 830p, multi-platform network BlueHighways TV (BHTV) will debut the weekly series Texas County Line. The 30m series will seek out music and musicians in their native state. The show is hosted by actor Brad Maule who also hails from Texas. New episodes premiere each Tuesday with repeats airing during the week.

Animal Planet is going to the dogs next month as Saturday primetime includes two series featuring canines. Beginning January 3 at 8p, the network premieres the new series Underdog to Wonderdog following the Doggie Wonder Team as they make-over shelter dogs to land a loving home. At 9p, new episodes of It’s Me or the Dog will debut hosted by dog trainer Victoria Stilwell.

Beginning this month, SOAPnet will air a package of 19 movies the network acquired from Sony Pictures Television, Inc. for its 10p Sunday Night Movie franchise. Examples of the theatrical titles include Hitch, Fun with Dick and Jane, Something’s Gotta Give, Sleepless in Seattle, My Best Friend’s Wedding, Jerry Maguire as well as others.

Heating up a cold January will be FOX’s American Idol slated to return for an eighth season with a two-night, four-hour premiere at 8p on January 13 and January 14. The new season begins with three weeks of audition episodes until January 29 followed by “Hollywood Round” episodes on February 3 with the first viewer voting starting February 17. American Idol is produced by 19 Entertainment and FremantleMedia North America.

FOX is getting further fired up over a fifth season of Hell’s Kitchen opening January 29 at 9p. Chef Gordon Ramsay will preside over 16 aspiring chefs who are vying for the “Head Chef” position at the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa. The competition series is produced by Granada America and A. Smith & Co.

Also on January 29, Spike TV lassoes in the new sports-competition series Toughest Cowboy at 11p. From producer Mark Burnett, the eight-episode 60m series follows a dozen daredevil cowboys taking on three rodeo stunts each night, competing in cities such as Chicago, Atlanta, Indianapolis, Columbus, Raleigh and Minneapolis-St. Paul. The final Toughest Cowboy Champion will win the deed to a ranch in the Rocky Mountains of Wyoming. Toughest Cowboy is the first project from the deal between Mark Burnett Productions and AEG announced earlier this year.

Continuing with its Real Housewives franchise, Bravo renewed The Real Housewives of Atlanta produced by True Entertainment. In its last season, the series averaged 1.13 million A18-49 and 1.49 million total viewers.

BBC America acquired the series sequel to Life on Mars, currently airing on ABC. Ashes to Ashes, with 16 one-hour episodes produced by Kudos Film & Television in association with Monastic Productions and distributed by BBC Worldwide follows the same characters as they descend into the 1980s. BBC America will premiere the series in March 2009.

FUEL TV serves up a new hi-def streaming video player allowing full-length episodes of the network’s top shows. Developed by Move Networks, the new player is available now on FUEL TV’s website with hi-def versions of The Great Ride Open at www.fuel.tv/TheGreatRideOpen. Furthermore, FUEL TV will launch a second season of FUEL TV presents Camp Woodward February 15 at 830p. During six episodes, the series follows participants living at Camp Woodward, a top action sports camp. FUEL TV produces the series.

Program Call: If your company will be attending NATPE ’09 with programming, we will send out a special NATPE Shopping Guide edition the Thursday before the conference. To have your programming included, please send only the following info for your top 5 shows: title, availability date, number of episodes, length, type (i.e., movie, series, special, etc.), genre and your terms (barter, cash, etc.). If your company is interested in being included, please send the details to
by Friday, January 16, 2009.

A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE FROM FUSE

Trifecta Entertainment & Media will bring MTV’s Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County and its spinoff The Hills to syndication, per TV Week. Both shows are being offered as a single series. Trifecta also is bringing A&E Network’s Cold Case Files to syndication.

Lionsgate will offer a slate of television projects for the 2009 NATPE Market & Conference including the new drama series Crash; the dark comedy series Nurse Jackie headlined by Edie Falco (Lionsgate also holds the U.S. off-net and international DVD distribution rights); the thriller/horror anthology series Fear Itself; and the drama series Mad Men.

CBS Radio formed a definitive agreement with Clear Channel Communications, Inc. to exchange five medium-sized market radio stations for two large market stations. The agreement allows Clear Channel to gain KBKS-FM in Seattle, WQSR-FM in Baltimore, KXJM-FM and KLTH-FM in Portland, OR and KQJK-FM in Sacramento. In turn, CBS Radio will pick up KLOL-FM and KHMX-FM in Houston.

Young Broadcasting Inc. finalized a new retransmission consent deal for its ten station group with DISH Network. Young’s stations include five ABC affiliates: WKRN/Nashville, WTEN/Albany, WRIC/Richmond, WATE/Knoxville and WBAY/Green Bay; three CBS affiliates: WLNS/Lansing, KLFY/Lafayette and KELO/Sioux Falls (also a MyNetworkTV affiliate in that market via its digital channel); one NBC affiliate: KWQC/Davenport; and one MyNetworkTV affiliate: KRON/San Francisco.

SCI FI Channel tapped Scottish actor Robert Carlyle (Trainspotting, The Full Monty) to star in the network’s new original series Stargate Universe. Carlyle will portray Dr. David Rush with production beginning next February in Vancouver. The series, produced by MGM, is slated to premiere summer 2009 as a two-hour movie on SCI FI Channel and distributed by MGM Worldwide Television Distribution.

New for the New Year, ReelzChannel will offer viewers more movie news and information with a revamped seven-days-a-week format containing hourly updates throughout the day. Starting January 12, the network presents ReelzChannel Movie News at 3 minutes prior to each hour from early morning until late-night. This format will supplant the daily 30m news program Dailies, though the show’s executive producer, Clif Dunn will continue with the network producing stories about movies and filmmaking. 

ABC approved a pilot order from writer Dave Hemingson for a 60m legal dramedy, per THR. The project with 20th TV producing is about a law school grad, played by Matt Long with a blue-collar background who joins a Los Angeles boutique law firm.

CYNOPSIS DIGITAL – TODAY’S TOP STORY:  Companies that have been staunch supporters of Net Neutrality are shifting positions on the eve of the Obama presidency including the all-important Google, reports the WSJ. Citing documents reviewed by the paper, Google is negotiating with cable and telecom ISPs to insure preferential treatment for its data, an arrangement that flies directly in the face of the Net Neutrality principle that all data should be treated equally. Google counsel Richard Whitt described the Journal as “confused” in a blog post yesterday. (He assumes the report is based on Google’s offer to implement “edge caching” servers directly with ISPs to cut down on response times.) Microsoft and Yahoo, which are beginning to strike deals with network providers, have also dialed back their support of the policy according to the piece.   Full edition: CYN DIGITAL.

CYNOPSIS KIDS – TODAY’S TOP STORY:  ValCom, Inc. complete the purchase of all of Faith TV and plans to change the name of the network to My Family TV, which will feature more family oriented programming.   ValCom aims to triple the network’s size over the course of the next two years by expanding its markets to include NY, Boston, LA, Chicago, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Washington DC, Houston and Detroit.  As of this week, the 24/7 My Family TV channel is available 24/7 in 17 million homes via 65 broadcast stations and Sky Angel IPTV.  Full edition: CYN KIDS.

CYNOPSIS INTERNATIONAL – TODAY’S TOP STORY:   Endemol is working with Argentinean telenovela producer Underground on two different fronts.  In addition to acquiring a minority stake, Endemol signed a co-production deal that also covers exclusive distribution repping for Underground content.  The two companies have previously collaborated on the 120-episode The Successful Mr. and Mrs Pell. Full edition: CYN INTERNATIONAL.

Friday – A18-49 Analysis:  CBS matched its ratings from the previous week Friday night winning with a 2.2/7 A18-49, according to final national ratings from Nielsen Media Research. At 8p, CBS did best with its back-to-back Frosty specials posting a 2.3/8 each half hour; UNIV came next with Cuidado con el Angel at 1.5/5. During 9p, CBS was tops again with another holiday special  Flight Before Christmas at 2.2/7, followed again by UNIV with Fuego en la Sangre at 1.7/5. Then at 10p, NBC’s Dateline tipped into first place with 2.1/6 over CBS’ Numb3rs repeat at 2.0/6.

Live + Same Day Household Ratings: Friday, December 12, 2008  time period averages. Source: NTI Galaxy, as dated. Live+SD.

CBS: 4.3/8         Frosty the Snowman [r] 4.2/8, Frosty Returns [r] 4.0/7, Flight Before Christmas 4.1/7, Numb3rs [r] 4.7/8

NBC: 3.6/6          Great Holiday Moments 3.3/6, Lipstick Jungle 2.7/5, Dateline 4.7/8

FOX: 3.5/6           Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? 3.8/7, Don’t Forget the Lyrics! 3.2/6

ABC: 3.0/5          Wife Swap 2.4/4, SuperNanny 2.6/5, 20/20 4.0/7

MNT: 2.0/4          WWE Friday Night Smackdown 2.0/4

UNIV: 1.8/3       Cuidado con el Angel 2.0/4, Fuego en la Sangre 2.0/4, Nuestra Navidad 08 1.5/3

CW: 0.9/2           Everybody Hates Chris 1.2/2, Everybody Hates Chris [r] 1.0/2, Family Entertainment Awards 0.6/1

TELE: 0.7/1         Dona Barbara 0.6/1, El Rostro de Analia 0.7/1, Sin Senos No Hay Paraiso 0.8/1, Cartel 0.8/1

A18-49: CBS 2.2/7, UNIV 1.5/5, FOX 1.4/5, NBC 1.4/5, ABC 1.3/4, MNT 1.1/4, TELE 0.6/2, CW 0.5/2

Tribune Company named Ed Wilson as Chief Revenue Officer where he will have oversight to the company’s publishing, broadcasting and interactive revenues, effective immediately. Ed will continue as President of Tribune Broadcasting, managing the company’s 23 television stations, WGN America and WGN Radio. 

Lindsey Pollak, career expert, was added at ABC News on Campus as a Contributor. Lindsey will write a weekly online career advice column geared toward college students appearing on ABC News on Campus website.

David Selwood joined Javelin Direct as SVP/Decision Support, North America. David will lead a team charged with creating detailed statistical models with the goal to increase client’s marketing efficiency. Based in Dallas, David reports to Mike McCartin, COO.

A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE FROM FUTURE TV SHOW 2009

FUTURE TV SHOW 2009: New York City – January 21-22 2009

Now in its 3rd year, The Future TV Show brings together North Americas most exclusive gathering of Media executives to discuss the ever evolving multi-platform world and how this is set to impact the future of the TV business.

Speakers Include: FOX, Google, NBC, Disney, MTV, Time Warner Cable 
Delegates Include: MTV, HBO, Scripps, Rogers, XBOX, HGTV, CBC, THN, CNN

Spaces are limited!
REGISTER NOW or learn more at www.TheFutureTVShow.com
.

This day in History:  1977 – The film Saturday Night Fever, starring John Travolta, debuted.

Answer to Yesterday’s Trivia Question: The role of Christine Cagney in the TV series Cagney & Lacey was played by Sharon Gless, after the first six episodes, but who had this role in the in the original television movie (1981)? LORETTA   Kudos to:  Gerry Bixenspan-TV Marketing/NY; Matthew Willence-ITN Networks/NY; Karen Kelly-SPUH/New Brunswick, NJ; Suzanne Semilof-CNBC/Suze Orman Show/NY; Jim Smith- Oncor-Dallas/TX; Hank Bordowitz-Bordowitz Media Werx/Macomb, IL; Dan Whitford-RPM Advertising/Chicago; Tim Rank-HRP/St. Louis; Gene Lavelle-First Look Studios/LA; Casey Burns-Nine-Thirty Consulting/West Hollywood; Yvonne Vega-Fox Mobile Group/Beverly Hills; Mitzi Moskovitz-LeapFrog Ent./Emeryville, CA; Sheldon Wiebe-EclipseMagazine.com/Calgary; Nigel Bagley-Tape Consultancy Ltd./London; Bernard Bourret-Verite Films/Toronto

Today’s Trivia Question:  This actor had several recurring TV roles over the years including those on Soap, Taxi and The Golden Girls, but earlier in his career he appeared in a series of Cracker Jack TV ads. What is this actor’s name? (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.)

Later — Cyn
12.16.08

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A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE FROM PEABODY AWARDS

Cyn opsis CLASSIFIEDS – For More classifieds, visit the Cynopsis.com classifieds page here    .

JOB OPENING: SR MGR PROG PUBLICITY/A&E TV/NY: Dev History PR strategies on print/electronic & internet props. Mng Public Affairs & Mktg prtnships & talent. BA & 5+ yrs TV publ cable/b’cast/news. Apply: www.aetn.com/careers.html (12/20)

JOB OPENING: 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: RESCH MGR/TLC/MD: Work w/Dir/Int clients to design/manage Net resch efforts, utilizing Nielsen data, other consumer data to develop programming, scheduling, and mktg strats. Apply: www.discovery.com #8255 (12/19)

JOB OPENING: RESEARCH STRATEGIST/TLC/MD: Analyzes & reports on Nielsen TV ratings data and market research statistics to support the programming, scheduling and marketing depts. Apply: www.discovery.com #8254 (12/19)

JOB OPENING: SR MANAGER/TV SALES & DIST/BBC/NYC: hit sales targets, ID new clients, pitch and conclude deals w/ cbl ntwrks. Scripted & nonscripted programs. To apply, www.bbcamerica.com/employment.jsp (12/18)

JOB OPENING: SR MANAGER AUD DEV/BBC/NYC: Grow Mrkt for BBC.Com, drive traffic, manage syndication relationships w/ 3rd party partners. Create mrktng & aud dev strat. To Apply, www.bbcamerica.com/employment.jsp (12/18)

JOB OPENING:  EXEC/ADMIN ASST/Comcast Networks/NY: Asst Sr execs w/ daily admin duties.3-5 yrs exp asst Sr execs.Strong writ/verbal comms skills; det-oriented. MS Off. knwlg a must. Must Apply @ www.comcast.com . EEO/AA/Drug free (12/17)

JOB OPENING: STRATEGIC PLANNING ANALYST/NY: Resp for digital avail rpts, contracted/billed rev rpts, support VP/Mgr on ad hocs. Finance exp preferred, strong excel. TimeWarner.com  # 99308. Cover/resume:
(12/17)

JOB OPENING:  NATIONAL TV Supervisor & Buyer/LA: Top Agency, Excellent Group ,need negotiating experience with National TV& Cable Networks. Excel Benefits, will relocate – pls send resume to
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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: HR INTERN POST-PROD CO/Burbank, CA: Gain exp. in all facets of HR: Benefits, Recruiting, Employee Relations, Compensation, Training. Submit resume:
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WINTER SPRING INTERNSHIP CREDITS ONLY: MKTG INTERN POST-PROD CO/Burbank CA: Gain exp. in all facets of Marketing: PR, Online, Graphic Design, Copyrighting, Advertising. Submit resume to
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SPRING INTERNSHIP CREDITS ONLY: IN SESSION INTERNS/truTV/NY: Assist in production of daytime trial coverage and booking department. Skills: Writing, Computer, Research. Apply online: www.turnerjobs.com Req#109741BR (12/19)

WINTER SPRING INTERNSHIP CREDITS ONLY: COMEDY TALENT MANAGEMENT INTERN/ LA: Assist w/ office duties, covering shows, helping run live monthly show. For more info/submit resume, email
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WINTER SPRING INTERNSHIP CREDITS ONLY: Thirteen/ WNET/NY:Daily animated kids’ series seeks interns w/ interest in online educational media and web analytics. Must be available 12-20 hrs/wk. Stipend offered. Res/cvr lttr w/ availability to
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WINTER/SPRING INTERNSHIP CREDITS ONLY: Fuel TV music dept: INTERNS interested in learning about music sprvsn for TV/film. Will learn about licensing, placement, rights & all aspects of how music fits into prod. Resume to:
(12/18)

SPRING INTERNSHIP CREDITS ONLY: IN SESSION INTERNS/truTV/NY: Assist in production of daytime trial coverage and booking department. Skills: Writing, Computer, Research. Apply online: www.turnerjobs.com Req#109741BR (12/18)

WINTER SPRING INTERNSHIP CREDITS ONLY:  EDITORIAL VIDEO INTERN/NY, NY:  Assist Editorial Director w/ writer paperwork, assignments, photo gallery production & copywriting and editing. For more info/submit resume, visit www.cablevision.jobs req ID 6886BR (12/17)

SITUATION WANTED ADS, POSTED BY THOSE LOOKING TO BE HIRED …  There is no charge for placing your Situation Wanted ad … for more information contact Trish Pihonak at

SITUATION WANTED: Facing staff or budget cuts? Freelance MKTG STRATEGIST & PROMOTIONS guru available to supplement your staff. Specialties: branding, promo partnerships, & breakthrough biz dev strategies. Email:
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SITUATION WANTED: DOCUMENTARY PRODUCER, DIRECTOR, WRITER in L.A. Five prime time Emmy Awards. National Geographic on NBC and PBS. Discovery, History Channel and MSNBC. Contact email:
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SITUATION WANTED: FIELD PRODUCER/ DIRECTOR:LA/ Docusoap, Lifestyle, Infotainment,Feature Doc + more. Resonant leader,` keen director/ writer, strong storyteller + showrunner. 8+ yrs. Will travel.
917.716.7277 (1/3)

SITUATION WANTED: PRODUCER/WRITER/DIRECTOR (NY) Ultra creative, vast experience, all genres, all networks, reality, major cable, award winning and fun!
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SITUATION WANTED: NATIONAL ACCOUNT SALES MANAGER: Top performing sales professional; Expertise in Business Development/Marketing/Media; Adept at strategy, project management & implementation. CONTACT:
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SITUATION WANTED: Results oriented ACCT MGR DIST/SYND (19 yrs) seeks opp. w/ agency/network/studio/prod. co. Worked@ Disney, Ascent & Visual Data- Resume & client references avail. LA Based
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SITUATION WANTED: TV/ONLINE CFO or VP FINANCE, LA/NYC: Experience spans Financial Analysis, Strategy,M&A and Accounting in cable networks and online. Over 10 years with Disney and MTVN. Contact:
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SITUATION WANTED: BROADCAST DESIGNER..Multiple BDA/ Promax award winner. Art Direction/Motion Graphics/ print / webdesign.  See site at www.eqdesign.com –
(12/18)

SITUATION WANTED: ASSOCIATE PRODUCER or ASSOCIATE STORY PRODUCER (L.A.), 9+ yrs in all aspects of production, exp. in reality, inc. game, & scripted. Valid passport – willing to travel.
(12/18)

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WHAT’S ON TONIGHT –  Tuesday, December 16, 2008

ABC: A Charlie Brown Christmas [r], According to Jim, According to Jim [r], Eli Stone
AZTECA: Lo Que Callamos Las Mujeres Edicion Especial, Los 25 Mas, Al Extremo
CBS: NCIS, The Mentalist, Without a Trace
CW: 90210 [r], Privileged [r]
FOX: House [r], Fringe [r]
ION: Boston Legal, NCIS, Boston Legal
MNT: The Spirit of Christmas
NBC: The Biggest Loser [f ], Momma’s Boys [p ]
PBS: Nova [r], Independent Lens, Get Ready for Digital TV
TELE: Dona Barbara, El Rostro de Analia, Sin Senos No Hay Paraiso
UNIV: Cuidado con el Angel, Fuego on la Sangre, Aqui y Ahora

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