Cynopsis
12.21.10

Good morning. It’s Tuesday, December 21, 2010, and this is your first early morning briefing. As always, if you prefer to watch this morning’s news instead of reading it, click here . 

Tonight’s Finales:
ABC: Skating with the Stars at 8p
Spike TV: Auction Hunters at 10p

The FCC is ready to pass net neutrality regulations as both Democratic commissioners, Michael J. Copps and Mignon Clyburn agreed to support the proposal introduced by FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski. If passed, the net neutrality rules would, for the first time, hinder internet service providers from blocking websites to consumers or giving preferred status to websites on their networks. Telecom and cable companies oppose these proposed regulations, saying these policies could obstruct them from expanding broadband online connections and boosting speeds. Google and Skype, in addition to public interest groups are in favor of the regulations declaring specific rules will ensure consumers will receive equal access to all legal websites and applications.

In an announcement made yesterday, MGM has emerged from bankruptcy after seven weeks with $500 million in funding to restructure the studio. MGM said its secured lenders are exchanging around $5 billion which includes interest and fees for the majority of the equity in MGM. Spyglass Entertainment heads Gary Barber and Roger Birnbaum will serve as Co-Chairmen/CEOs. In the wake of this news, an estimated 45 employees, mainly in the distribution and marketing divisions, were let go last Friday. Historically, MGM was founded in 1924 and its assets include Leo the Lion logo, United Artists, a library of 4,000 titles encompassing the James Bond, Pink Panther and Rocky film franchises as well as half-ownership in the future Hobbit films.

TV One introduces viewers to a full-season of its first original scripted series as the sitcom Love That Girl! debuts January 10 at 9p. The comedy stars Tatyana Ali (Fresh Prince of Bel-Air) as Tyana Jones, a young divorcee who goes home to begin a new life and career in her father’s (Phil Morris) real estate business in Southern California. TV One originally aired four episodes of Love That Girl! last January from creator Bentley Kyle Evans. The series is produced via Evans’ company, Bent Outta Shape Productions, Inc. with his executive producer partner Martin Lawrence, who will guest star in future episodes of the show. The series is also produced in association with HazraH Entertainment.

Starz announced its upcoming original series, Camelot, a new retelling of the Arthurian legend, will premiere on April 1 at 10p. The 10-episode drama has an ensemble cast counting Joseph Fiennes as Merlin, Jamie Campbell Bower as the young Arthur and Eva Green in her first television appearance as Morgan. The series cast also includes Tamsin Egerton as Guinevere, Claire Forlani as Igraine and Peter Mooney as Kay. Shot on location in Ireland, Camelot is produced by Octagon, Take 5 Productions, Ecosse Films and GK-tv. Starz and GK-tv hold the US and international distribution rights while Take 5 Productions holds Canadian rights.

During the season 21 reunion show on Sunday, CBS revealed format changes are in store for Survivor season 22 dubbed Survivor: Redemption Island opening in mid-February. Survivor host Jeff Probst said once an individual is voted out, the person will go to Redemption Island where they will continue to exist in similar conditions as the rest of the battling contestants. Then, when another individual is eliminated that person will join the first person on Redemption Island and both will participate in a duel. The winner will remain on Redemption Island continuing to duel with other eliminated participants. As the season nears its end, the final person on Redemption Island will be allowed to re-enter the competition and vie for the $1 million prize.

Next month, Animal Planet brings back a new second season of Confessions: Animal Hoarding relating more bizarre stories of people who cannot control their compulsion to hoard animals. Prior to the opening of the new 10-episode season on January 14 at 10p, Animal Planet will air a two-part recap special on January 7 at 9p and 10p titled Confessions: Animal Hoarding Revisited. In the two-part special, viewers will receive an update about the initial six people profiled throughout season one. The series is produced by GRB Entertainment for Animal Planet.

Tracy Morgan, one of the stars of NBC’s 30 Rock will not be part of a handful of episodes due to air next March. Morgan is recovering nicely after having had a kidney transplant earlier this month and producers and writers of the show, including executive producer Tina Fey, are giving him ample time to recover and plan on addressing his absence on the show.

E! opens the New Year by airing episodes of the former HBO series Sex and the City beginning January 3 at 8p. E! will launch the series in chronological order with episode one, airing two episodes back-to-back each weeknight in a one-hour block. E! has rights to all 94 episodes over the series’ six-season run.

Documentary Channel (DOC) will highlight African-American documentary filmmakers as part of a new monthly initiative next year in partnership with New York-based The Black Documentary Collective (BDC) and the Los Angeles-based Black Association of Documentary Filmmakers-West (BAD West). DOC’s Black Documentary Cinema will commence February 22 at 8p with the US television premiere of The Healing Passage: Voices From the Water from poet-filmmaker S. Pearl Sharp. Other upcoming documentary film titles include Chisholm ’72: Unbought & Unbossed from Shola Lynch and Beyond the Steps: Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater from Phil Bertelsen.

Local television advertising revenues are forecast to total $18.5 billion in 2010, equal to a +17% rise from broadcast stations’ revenue take in 2009, based on a report from BIA/Kelsey and reported by B&C. Political ads and automotive spending are the key contributors to the revenue increase. The top local TV markets this year were Denver, Tampa-St. Petersburg-Sarasota, West Palm Beach-Ft. Pierce and Chicago.  Separately, according to a Barclays report, Total Local and network television is forecast to be up 9.5% in 2011 and +5.5% in 2012 over 2010 finish. 

Program Call: Cynopsis Media will be producing our annual NATPE Shopping Guide sent to all Cynopsis and Cynopsis Kids subscribers on Thursday, January 20, the week before NATPE 2011 in Miami.  If you would like to have your programming included, please send us 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.) as well as your company’s stand/booth location.  To be included in this free and highly-viewed special edition, please send your submission to [email protected] no later than Friday, January 14, 2011. A confirmation email will be sent following each submission from Lisa (if you don’t receive a confirmation email, please resubmit).

Mexico-based Televisa and Univision have finalized a multi-billion dollar agreement taking their long-term program license deal into 2025. The new pact also allows a PLA for Mexico where Televisa can air Univision programming. In October, the two entities agreed Televisa could up its stake in Univision to 40% over several years. Initially, Televisa paid $130 million for a 5% ownership stake in Univision and has the option to raise its share by 10% after three years. Additionally, Televisa can take on Univision debt that can be converted to a further 30% stake in Univision. Also under the terms of the new deal, Televisa was granted license-fee payments estimated at $50 million for the first year. Two Televisa executives, CEO Emilio Azcarraga Jean and EVP Alfonso de Angoitia, were added to Univision’s board of directors. On the flip side, Univision received debt relief, rights to digital content in the US and an extension of the PLA agreement.

Due to a new affiliation deal, KSBW-TV, the NBC affiliate in the Monterey-Salinas-Santa Cruz market and owned by Hearst Television Inc. will also carry the ABC network and its programming on its digital multicast channel beginning next spring. ABC’s primetime, daytime and network news programming in addition to syndicated shows will be available locally throughout California’s Central Coast. The upcoming new ABC multicast channel will also be available via Comcast Cable. Television viewers in the Central Coast region have been without an ABC affiliate or ABC programming since 2001 when KNTV/San Jose, the former ABC affiliate, became the NBC affiliate for the San Francisco market.

Friday A18-49 Analysis: It was a tight race Friday night and NBC won the A18-49 viewers with a 1.3/4, according to final national ratings from Nielsen. At 8p, CBS’ encore holiday classics Yes, Virginia and Frosty the Snowman averaged a winning 1.4/5 followed by Noche de Estrellas: Premios Oye! on Univision at 1.1/4. Then at 9p, a three-way tie occurred between ABC’s Primetime: What Would You Do, NBC’s Dateline and Univision’s Premios Oye! all delivering a 1.3/4 followed in second place by the average of CBS’ Frosty Returns repeat and I Get That A Lot at 1.2/4. NBC’s Dateline was the solo winner during 10p with a 1.4/5 and Univision’s Premios Oye! came in next at 1.2/4.

Live + Same Day Household Ratings: Friday, December 17, 2010  time period averages. Source: NTI Galaxy, as dated, Live+SD.

NBC: 3.7/7        Minute to Win It [r] 2.5/5, Dateline 4.2/8

CBS: 2.9/5          Yes, Virginia [r] 2.9/5, Frosty the Snowman [r] 3.0/5, Frosty Returns [r] 2.7/5, I Get That A Lot 2.0/4, Blue Bloods [r] 3.4/6

ABC: 2.7/5          Supernanny 2.6/5, Primetime: What Would You Do? 2.8/5, 20/20 2.7/5

FOX: 1.7/3          FOX Movie: Are We There Yet 1.7/3

UNIV: 1.6/3        Noche de Estrellas: Premios Oye! 1.6/3, Premios Oye! 1.7/3

ION: 1.0/2          Without A Trace 0.9/2, Without A Trace 1.0/2, Criminal Minds 1.1/2

CW: 0.9/2           Vampire Diaries [r] 0.9/2, Vampire Diaries [r] 0.8/2

TELE: 0.5/1         Aurora 0.6/1, El Fantasma de Elena 0.5/1, Alguien Te Mira 0.5/1

TF: 0.4/1            Cine de Las Estrellas 0.5/1, India 0.4/1

A18-49: NBC 1.3/4, CBS 1.2/4, UNIV 1.2/4, ABC 1.1/4, FOX 0.8/3, CW 0.6/2, TF 0.4/1, TELE 0.4/1, ION 0.3/1

 Patrick A. Trueman was appointed as CEO of Morality in Media by its Board of Directors. Patrick will further serve as a member of the board. Previously, Patrick was Chief of the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section at the US Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. under Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush.

John Erickson, Founder of Retirement Living TV (RLTV) announced the network has named Paul FitzPatrick as President/COO. Paul has served in this capacity since mid-November. Before this appointment, Paul was a Senior Strategic Consultant for the network since September leading Prime Votes, RLTV’s mid-term election effort. In his new function, Paul will supervise the network to its next phase of growth and development. John will continue in his role as Chairman/CEO.

MSNBC promoted Thomas Roberts from being a part-time anchor on the cable news network to a full-time anchor position during daytime. Roberts has additionally been the fill-in anchor for Countdown With Keith Olbermann and First Look as well as daytime programming.

Effective immediately, CBS Sports elevated Jennifer Sabatelle to VP/Communications where she will spearhead all communications efforts for CBS Sports. Additionally, CBS Sports promoted Gerard Caraccioli to Executive Director/Communications up from Director/Communications.

Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. tapped Ken Shapiro and Larry Gelfand as SVPs of Turner/SI Digital Ad Sales. Ken and Larry will head integrated sales and marketing initiatives online and across all digital platforms for Turner’s various entertainment, sports and animation sites. Ken and Larry both are based in New York, reporting to Walker Jacobs, EVP/Ad Sales.

Bravo added Deirdre Bianchi as Senior Director/Program Planning, reporting to Jerry Leo, SVP/Program Strategy and Acquisitions. Previously, Deirdre was Director/Program Planning at Comedy Central. Furthermore, Dina Muradian was hired by Bravo as Director/Program Planning, reporting jointly to Francesca Sullivan, VP/Multiplatform Program Planning and to Deirdre Bianchi. Prior to this appointment, Dina was Director/Program Planning at Spike TV.

A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE FROM IAB

Happy Holidays from the IAB!

Since 1996, the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) has been leading the charge for ad creative formats and online measurement standards, creating common ground between media buyers and sellers, advocating in Washington on behalf of the industry, and leading incredible industry-focused classes, webinars, and events.  If your employer isn’t yet a member, we hope you’ll consider joining our growing membership ranks in 2011. 

Click here for more information on IAB Membership

This day in History:   1937 – Walt Disney debuted the first, full-length, animated feature in Hollywood – it was Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

Answer to Yesterday’s Trivia Question:  This advertising singing group include such notables as Ben Indasun, Tiny Goodbite and Rye Stack.  They did ads as well as had a Christmas special in 1987.  Who are they?   CALIFORNIA RAISINS  Kudos to: Michael O’Gara/NY; Andrew Goldman-HBO/NY; Gina Handy-Tribune Media Services/NY; Robert Deason-Halogen TV/Charlotte; John Moloznik-GLM Media Dynamics/Scottsdale; John Kukla-Fox/Dallas; Jonathan Kirkland-Current TV/LA; Ronald Chong-WBTV/LA; Jeffrey Weiss/Encino; Lorrie Shilling-DirecTV/El Segundo; Derek Anderson-Associated Producers/Toronto

Today’s Trivia Question:   Who said this famous quote as he retold the story of a new holiday, “Many Christmases ago, I went to buy a doll for my son. I reached for the last one they had, but so did another man. As I rained blows upon him, I realized there had to be another way.”   (Email [email protected] 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

Later — Cyn
12.21.10

Cynopsis Ad Sales:
Mike Farina – VP/Business Development & Sales – 203-218-6480 / [email protected]
Classifieds – Trish Pihonak- 203-381-9096 / [email protected]

Member of Interactive Advertising Bureau (iab)

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

ATTENTION JOB RECRUITERS FOR THE TELEVISION AND ADVERTISING INDUSTRY – send us your contact information so we can begin to build a database for referrals.  We get people all the time around the country asking us for names of local recruiters.  Help us out – send us your contact information, name, company, address, phone, email and fax.  NY and LA are great, but we also need names of firms in Chicago, Dallas, Miami, Atlanta, DC, and elsewhere.  We have people to send you!   Email your info to [email protected].

JOB OPENING: SALES ASSISTANT/AMC & WEtv/Chicago: 2+yr admin exp in sales envmt of Cble/Tv/Ent indstry. Assts VP & AEs w/daily sales & clients. Handls high call vol. Excllnt comp/comm/orgztnl skilz. Rez: www.cablevision.jobs/12945 (1/4)

JOB OPENING: MANAGER II RESEARCH/Discovery Communications/SS: Directs primary rsrch efforts; analyzes Nielsen data & other syndicated info dvlpmnt, prod, prgrm, schd, & mrktng strtgy. www.discovery.com (req 2997) (1/4)

JOB OPENING: DIGITAL ACCT EXEC/Discovery Communications/NY: AE w/5+ yrs digital ad sales exp a must to sell national advertising for Discovery’s Digital properties including web, mobile, VOD and podcasting. www.discovery.com (2795) (1/4)

JOB OPENING: SR. Web RSRCH ANALYST/TRAVEL CHANNEL/ CHEVY CHASE MD: 3 + yrs media/web research. Strong analytical/data interpretation skills. Media Research/team player a must. Apply, www.scrippsnetworks.com/careers & select 2049 (12/25)

JOB OPENING: DIRECTOR OR MANAGER, COMMERCIAL CLEARANCES/The Hub/NYC: Must have strong background in commercial standards, within kids TV/content highly desired. Apply at http://thehub.catsone.com/careers (12/24)

JOB OPENING: DIR, INT’L MERCHANDISING/NY: Mng SKU dvlpmnt from a creative & fiduciary point of view. Dvlp overall product mix 7-10+ merch exp working in retail/wholesale envir. Lots of travel. Resume: [email protected] (12/24)

JOB OPENING:  MGR, PROGRAM RESEARCH/Oxygen/NYC:  Min 4 yrs exp in media research. Supports mgmt, programming, development, scheduling, press/publicity, marketing & pricing/finance. Apply to [email protected] (12/24)

JOB OPENING: DIGITAL ACCOUNT EXEC/NY: Sell AETN’s digital advertising w/ assigned territory to agencies & clients. www.aetn.com/careers.html Apply: https://www.abso.com/jobboard/Default.aspx?JOBBOARDID=618&JobDetail=85513 (12/24)

JOB OPENING: FRONTLINE ASSISTANT ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE/WGBH/Boston: FRONTLINE Assistant Account Executive (Social Media & Promotions). AEEF, FT 52 Weeks. Job Req # 4878 Please apply online at http://careers.wgbh.org/ (12/24)

JOB OPENING: CREATIVE DIRECTOR/2C Media/Miami: Dvlp promo campaigns for major nat’l networks. Strong writing, conceptual, editorial, & 3-5 yrs cable, studio, or ntwrk promo exp. Co info @ 2cmedia.com. Contact: [email protected] (12/23)

JOB OPENING:   MARKETING ASSISTANT/ION/NY: Asst w/network sales/consumer marketing initiatives, college deg a must, 1-2 yrs mktg exp. EOE  See full ad: http://www.ionmedianetworks.com/page.php?p=careers&job=1249 (12/23)

JOB OPENING:  CREATIVE DIR/ON-AIR/Lifetime/NY: Create/manage/execute high level mktg campaigns. Strong campaign launch exp. Apply www.aetn.com/careers.html (12/22)

JOB OPENING:  WRITER/PRODUCER/ Lifetime/NY: Conceptualize/write/produce high impact promo launch campaigns. 3+ yrs exp in on-air promo. Strong writing skills. Appy: www.aetn.com/careers.html (12/22)

JOB OPENING:  TEMP ON-AIR DESIGN DIR/AMC/NY: Creative visionary w/7+yr motion gfx exp. Oversee on-air design, produce gfx.  Mgmt/communication skills, good rolodex–all musts. Rez & salary reqmts to: www.cablevision.jobs (12944BR) (12/22)

JOB OPENING:  CREDITS PRODUCER/Stamford, CT: Night shift -produce reformatted credits Lifetime aetn.com/careers https://www.abso.com/jobboard/Default.aspx?JOBBOARDID=618&JobDetail=85469 (12/22)

JOB OPENING:USA & SYFY SALES RESEARCH ANALYST/NBC UNIVERSAL/NYC:Support Sales positioning of USA & Syfy. Strong interest in TV Research, Knowledge of Excel/PowerPoint.Apply @ [email protected] (12/22)

JOB OPENING:  EVENTS/TOUR MANAGER/NYC/Multimedia Co:  Exp. mgr to run all aspects of 100-city promotional tour for in-house marketing team. 6-mo. assignment managing vendors and local in-market staff. [email protected] (12/22)

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 [email protected].

WINTER/SPRING INTERNSHIP CREDITS ONLY: Bynum Artist Management/LA: Looking for an unpaid intern to manage actor submissions. Approx. 3 to 4 hours/work day. Respond to [email protected] and include “Manager Intern” in subject line. (1/4)

WINTER/SPRING INTERNSHIP CREDITS ONLY: Intern will learn Production Assistant duties at the same time honing their writing, producing, and editing skills with Creative Directors. Should have major related to television/film. [email protected] (12/24)

WINTER/SPRING INTERNSHIP CREDITS ONLY:  TV DEVELOPMENT/GRB Entertainment/LA: Award winning TV company seeks organized, self-starting interns for administrative/writing/producing/editing support. Final Cut & Photoshop a plus. Resume/cover: [email protected] (12/23)

WINTER/SPRING INTERNSHIP CREDITS ONLY:  Intern will learn Production Assistant duties at the same time honing their writing, producing, and editing skills with Creative Directors. Should have major related to television/film. [email protected] (12/22)

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 [email protected]

SITUATION WANTED: EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT position film/TV (NY) 10 years experience: Interned for a President, Executive Assistant to SVP/VP/film director/celebrity [email protected] (1/4)

SITUATION WANTED: MEDIA SALES/MARKETING STRATEGIST/NY: Extensive exp in all forms of media. print/digital/OOH. Smart consultative seller. Can identify new niche mkts & use analytics to generate revenue. Contact: [email protected] (12/22)

SITUATION WANTED:  RESEARCH DIR/SALES STRATEGIST – 20+ yrs media, Nielsen, Hisp, research, sales, and presentation experience. Email: [email protected] (12/22)

E-mail [email protected] or call Trish Pihonak at 203.381.9096 for rates and specs for Job Openings.

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

WHAT’S ON TONIGHT –  TUESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2010

ABC: Skating with the Stars [f], No Ordinary Family [r], Detroit 1-8-7 [r]
AZTECA:  Cosas de la Vida, Al Extremo, La Loba
CBS: NCIS [r], NCIS LA [r], The Good Wife [r]
CW:  One Tree Hill [r], Life Unexpected [r]
FOX: Glee [r], Million Dollar Money Drop
ION: Without a Trace, Criminal Minds, Criminal Minds
NBC: Minute to Win It, SNL Presents:  A Very Gilly Christmas  [r]
PBS:  Nova, Independent Lens
TELE: Aurora; El Fantasma de Elena; Alguien Te Mira
UNIV:  Eva Luna, Soy Tu Duena, Aqui y Ahora

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