Source:  Simmons Multimedia Engagement Study 2008. Top 6 motivational attributes for advertisers. A25-54 ranked among 80 ad-supported networks. For source details and marketing opportunities, visit ScrippsNetworksAdSales.com.

Cynopsis

03.03.09

Good morning. It’s Tuesday, March 3, 2009, and this is your first early morning briefing.

Tonight’s Premieres:
The CW:  The Reaper at 8p

Tonight’s Finale:
FX:  Nip/Tuck at 10p

Granite Broadcasting and Barrington Broadcasting have formed a joint sales agreement and shared services agreement to jointly operate their respective stations in Syracuse, NY and Peoria, IL.  WTVH in Syracuse will be operated from the Barrington studios at WSTM.  In Peoria, Barrington’s WHOI will be operated by Granite’s WEEK.  Under the JSA, the operating station will provide advertising, sales, promotion, admin services and selected programming to the other station.  According to the stations, one of the specific advantages of this set up is to provide local and national news in new time periods and extend local news in other time period, allowing viewers better access to local information. The set up will also see the reduction of some staff positions at both properties as a result of combined resources between the stations.

TV Guide Network has ordered up a fourth season of Idol Tonight, along with hosts Kimberly Caldwell and Justin Guarini.  The new season of Idol Tonight is set to debut on Wednesday, March 11 at 8p with special guest Taylor Hicks. 

G4‘s newest documentary series G4 Underground is set to debut on Sunday, March 29 at 9p with host Morgan Webb.  The series goes inside a variety of controversial issues including real life superheroes, ninja schools, so-called “brain ‘roids” and urban spelunking.  

Discovery Channel will debut a new series on April 15 at 10p called Pitchmen featuring infomercial barkers Billy Mays and Anthony “Sully Sullivan”.  The series showcases a variety of inventors and tinkerers who have created what they believe to be the next must-have product, and bring them to Mays and Sullivan to help them market their inventions.  The series will take products from the boardroom pitch all the way to the filming of the infomercial.  Pitchmen is produced by Original Productions.

Rita Rocks has been given a pick up for season #2 on Lifetime Television. Produced by Media Rights Capital for Lifetime, the series stars Nicole Sullivan, Richard Ruccolo and Tish Campbell-Martin, and is about a wife and mother who forms a garage rock band.

MIP TV Program Call: If your company will be attending and showcasing programming at MIP TV 2009 in Cannes, France, at the end of next month, Cynopsis will send out a special MIP TV Shopping Guide edition the Wednesday 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, your terms (barter, cash, etc.) and names and contact info of those attending from your company. If your company is interested in being included in this free guide, please send the details to
by Friday, March 20, 2009.

 
RDF Rights, part of the RDF Media Group, picked up the rights to four reality series from VH1 including 8 episodes of Confessions of a Teen Idol; 8 eps of Celebrity Rehab Presents Sober House; in addition to the world rights, excluding the US, for 13 episodes of The Real World: Brooklyn and a dozen eps of The Real World: Cancun. RDF Rights currently holds the rights to other VH1 series such as The Pick Up Artist, Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew and Celebracadabra.
 
Via deal with DirecTV, CBS College Sports Network has expanded its overall household reach to 30+ million subscribers, and has been moved to DirecTV’s Choice Xtra package, making it available to a wider audience. CBS College Sports is also available thru DirecTV’s Premiere package and Sports Pack.

Latest project on the CBS development plate is called America’s Strongest American from producer Michael Davies, reports THR.  We’re not talking about pulling 18-wheelers like you see on the ESPN strongman shows, but rather competitions suited for the average size American.  Set to host are Ben Bailey and Michelle Merkin.

Casting update – Teri Polo has been signed to join the cast of the CBS drama project Washington Field from CBS Paramount, in the role of Amanda O’Donnell, an expert in forensics and weaponry.  According to THR, the story revolves around an FBI squad made of a variety of experts.

CYNOPSIS DIGITAL – TODAY’S TOP STORY:  Matt Stone and Trey Parker have signed a deal to make the first 9 seasons of South Park available for Netflix‘s Watch Instantly service, per the New York Times. Matt and Trey apparently met with Hulu and Joost but decided to go with Netflix instead because the deal included upfront cash rather than guarantees or advances on a share of future ad revenue. The two writer/producers, whose SouthParkStudios site has generated some 300 million views since launching last April, have a unique agreement with Comedy Central that gives them half of all non-TV revenue generated from the show.   Full edition: CYN DIGITAL.

CYNOPSIS KIDS – TODAY’S TOP STORY:  Moonscoop unveils a re-branding and restructuring plan under which its affiliated companies Taffy Entertainment and Mike young Productions will now operate under the Moonscoop brand banner.  To further build the synergy between the Moonscoop divisions, Paris-based CEO Nicolas Atlan will relocate to LA this fall to work in tandem with principals and Co-CEOS Mike Young and Bill Schultz and President Liz Young.  CEO Axel Dauchez will remain in the Paris overseeing operations across the group with Executive Chairmen and Founders Benoit di Sabatino and Christophe di Sabatino. Laurent Billion COO/Europe and Lionel Marty, President/Worldwide Distribution will also remain based in Paris.  Additionally, Brigitte Legendre Benloulou is appointed Director/Consumer Products for French-speaking markets.  Most recently with TF1, Benloulou will report to Cynthia Money, President/Worldwide Consumer Products and Marketing.  Full edition: CYN KIDS.

 
Friday – A18-49 Analysis:  CBS led on Friday night with a 2.2/7 A18-49 final national rating, according to Nielsen. At 8p Ghost Whisperer on CBS was in front with a 2.7/9, ahead of #2 Wife Swap on ABC with a 1.5/5.  At 9p CBS held it’s lead with Flashpoint posting a 1.9/6, just a notion ahead of ABC’s Supernanny with a 1.8/6.  The premiere of Dollhouse on Fox delivered a 1.6/5, and Friday Night Lights a 1.5/5. CBS swept the night with a win again at 10p, earning a 2.1/6, with ABC again being a close #2 with a 2.0/6.

Live + Same Day Household Ratings: Friday, February 27, 2009  time period averages. Source: NTI Galaxy, as dated. Live+SD.

CBS:  6.4/11    Ghost Whisperer 7.2/13, Flashpoint 5.8/10, Numb3rs 6.1/11

ABC:  3.8/7     Wife Swap 3.0/5, Supernanny 3.6/6, 20/20   4.7/8

NBC:  3.0/5     Howie Do It [r] 2.7/5 , Howie Do It [r] 2.4/4, Friday Night Lights 2.6/5, Dateline 3.9/7

FOX:  2.4/4     Terminator: Sarah Connor Chronicles 2.2/4, Dollhouse 2.7/5

MNT:  2.3/4     WWE Friday Night Smackdown 2.3/4

UNIV:  2.1/4    Cuidado con el Angel 2.2/4, Manana Para Siempre 2.3/4, La Rosa de Guadalupe 1.7/3

CW:  0.9/2      Everybody Hates Chris [r] 1.0/2, The Game [r] 0.8/1, Everybody Hates Chris [r] 0.8/1, The Game [r] 0.9/1

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

A18-49:   CBS 2.2/7, ABC 1.7/6, UNIV 1.6/5, FOX 1.4/5, NBC 1.4/5, MNT 1.4/4, CW 0.5/2, TELE 0.5/2

Screenvision named Alan Brittain as VP/Sales, Direct Sales Eastern Division, overseeing planning, directing and coordinating all Direct Sales Eastern Division activities including sales strategies, new account acquisitions and client partner relations. Reporting to Rebecca Hartman, SVP/Direct Sales, Alan will be based in the company’s New York headquarters.

NBA Digital added Eric Jackson as VP/Business Operations and Jeffrey Mirman as VP/Marketing and Programming.  Eric reports to Bryan Perez, SVP/GM of NBA Digital, responsible for managing the overall operations and daily execution of strategic and tactical initiatives of NBA Digital.  He will help to streamline the structure, process and executions to achieve success across all NBA Digital business units.  Jeffrey reports to Jennifer Storms, SVP/Marketing and Programming of Turner Sports; and is charged with maintaining the brand vision of NBA Digital, along with leading the strategic programming and marketing of NBA TV, NBA.com and NBA LEAGUE PASS.

Rainbow Advertising Sales Corporation appointed Scott Collins to EVP/National Advertising Sales for WE tv, up from SVP/Ad sales.  Scott will expand his role to increasing revenue opportunities in New Media Sales including digital and video-on-demand. Scott reports to Arlene Manos, President of Rainbow National Network Advertising Sales.

Lifetime Networks named New York-based distribution executive Jane Rice as SVP/Affiliate Sales, reporting to Lori Conkling, EVP/Distribution for Lifetime Networks. Jane will oversee all affiliate field sales responsibilities related to Lifetime’s portfolio of services, including Lifetime, Lifetime Movie Network and Lifetime Real Women, its video-on-demand and HD services and its online endeavors. 

Sony Pictures Television International upped Robin Lake to VP/Research, based in Culver City.  Robin heads all research and related analysis for SPTI, reporting to Kim Hatamiya, SPTI EVP/Marketing, and will oversee a team performing quantitative and qualitative research for all SPTI businesses, including analyses of international TV ratings data, special studies for the international networks group, and focus group/panel testing of multi-platform digital content.

A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE FROM THE CABLE SHOW ’09

The Cable Show ’09 is the only industry event to unite leaders from the cable, content and online media sectors to deliver the insight you need to compete. Newly added speakers including Clearwire Chairman Craig McCaw and Time Warner Inc. President and CEO Glenn Britt join News Corp.’s Rupert Murdoch, Comcast’s Brian Roberts, Walt Disney Co.’s Robert Iger and other top industry executives in exclusive appearances.

This day in History: 1923 – The first issue of Time magazine was published.

Answer to Yesterday’s Trivia Question:   Who am I?  I am an aspiring writer and love first edition books.  I also love poetry.  I was raised in a wealthy family, and perhaps put on airs occasionaly.  I did eventually become a writer – tho long after I left my job (and the TV series I was on).  Who am I?  DIANE CHAMBERS on CHEERS  Kudos to: Jim Halterman-ProgressivePulse.com/New York; Deborah Skolnik-Parenting/NY; Monica Caraffa-RDR Promotions/Media, PA; Shara Levine/New York; John McInerney-WCIU/Chicago; Tom Boyd-WGN/Chicago; Mike Buzzelli-The Walt Disney Company/Burbank

Today’s Trivia Question: Burt Bacharach and Angie Dickenson did commercials for what alcoholic beverage? (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
03.03.09

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

JOB OPENING: MGR INT’L FINANCE/A&E Television Networks/NY: Acctg & fin reporting, budgeting, forecast, analysis. BS/Acctg; CPA + 3 yrs Pub Acctg. Media 7 entertainment exp in multinational. Apply: www.aetn.com/careers.html (3/10)

JOB OPENING: HR RECRUITER/Flashpoint Academy/CHI: Seek employ opps nationwide; film/TV prod, video game dvlpmnt, animation/special effects, recording arts & science, & dig. mktg ind. Creative field exp pref’d. Res:
(3/7)

JOB OPENING: ONLINE MKTG MGR/MusicChoice/NY: Resp for mgmt of content/mktg assets on website. Create/execute online mktg plans. 5+ yrs online exp required. Prefer exp w/12-24 demo. 
(3/7)

JOB OPENING: DIR NAT ACCTS/LA/Lifetime: Dist products & services w/aff cable/sat/telco/max dist to ntwrk & ntwrk media. 5+ yrs sles/cbl & new media sales pref’d. http://www.mylifetime.com/about-us/apply-jobs (3/7)

JOB OPENING: ON AIR MEDIA COORD/LA/Lifetime: Asst developing/sched’g, media plans/prfcnt onair pro, etc/liaison btw groups/BA, BS, equiv. http://www.mylifetime.com/about-us/apply-jobs (3/7)

JOB OPENING:   PROD/DIR /Jupiter Entertainment /Knoxville: Conceptualize, prd/dir a hosted pilot. Strong point of view; exp working w/ talent in challenging envir. Deliver high qual prgrmng on cable budget. Reel/res:
   (3/7)

JOB OPENING:  SALES DIR/BBC/NYC: Manage& coach sales team, direct selling, media licensing exp. Bring in new rev, est & implement strategy, grow biz. Apps to www.bbcamerica.com/employment.jsp (3/5)

JOB OPENING:  SNR MANAGER, DIGITAL SYNDICATION/BBC/NYC: Mng marketing & promo for BBCWW titles w/ partners, manage clients & program supply, coord clearance process. Apps to www.bbcamerica.com/employment.jsp (3/5)

JOB OPENING: DIRECTOR, BUSINESS AFFAIRS & PROGRAMMING LEGAL/MD: Handle production and talent negotiations for TLC. JD and 5+ yrs entertainment law exp is required. Apply: http://corporate.discovery.com/careers/ #8636 (3/4)

A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE

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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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: FREELANCE PUBLICIST 27 years experience in entertainment, personality, business PR creating & delivering campaigns on a range of clients. Will travel. Contact:
(3/10)

SITUATION WANTED: FREELANCE or Full-time MEDIA BUYER w/ over 25 yrs of buying exp. is newly available. Seeking F/T or Freelance wk from your office or my home (New York based) Please contact me @
  (3/10)

SITUATION WANTED: OFFICE OR SET PA/PERSONAL ASSNT/LA:3 yrs. exp, creative, well organized, pays attention, catches on quick. Will travel + can start asap. email:
323.605.2086 (3/6)

SITUATION WANTED: PROD. (TV, Print, Multimedia): Live/taped/field, booking, writing, editing, casting, on-camera, PR. News, biz, finance, entertainment, health, beauty, fashion & lifestyle.
(3/6)

SITUATION WANTED: CASTING PRODUCER/AP For Reality/Docs. Worked for NBC, CBS, ABC, TLC, E!, Reelz, and MTV. From Big personalities to experts/professors. Research galore. (In LA)
(3/5)

SITUATION WANTED: PRODUCER/WRITER/DIRECTOR (NY) Ultra-creative, award winning, all formats, all genres, all major networks and major cable. Fast, frugal and fun!
(3/5)

SITUATION WANTED: OFFICE OR SET PA/PERSONAL ASSNT/LA:3 yrs. exp, creative, well organized, pays attention, catches on quick. will travel + can start asap. email:
323.605.2086 (3/5)

SITUATION WANTED: 5 PRIME TIME EMMYS/ DOC. PROD, DIR., WRITER in L.A. Credits: National Geo, PBS, Discovery, History CH, TLC and MSNBC. Contact email:
(3/4)

SITUATION WANTED: MEDIA DIRECTOR: 15+ years exp, seeking freelance projects. All media TV, radio, print, OOH, digital, emerging. Expertise includes entertainment, packaged goods, tech, travel, auto. Email
(3/4)

SITUATION WANTED: TV PRODUCER- EDITOR Northeast 13 years exp, have produced 6 weekly magazine programs, I also write and shoot. Creative and tenacious, Freelance or full-time. Contact
(3/4)

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 (3/4)

SITUATION WANTED: CELEBRITY BOOKER & REALITY CASTING DIRECTOR: Extensive exp. w/TV Talk, Reality & Lifestyle Shows. Thousands of contacts to celebrities, experts, authors, real people, etc. Contact:
(3/4)

SITUATION WANTED: CASTING PRODUCER/AP For Reality/Docs. Worked for NBC, CBS, ABC, TLC, E!, Reelz, and MTV. From Big personalities to experts/professors. Research galore. (In LA)
(3/4)

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or call Trish Pihonak at 203.926.9878 for rates and specs for Job Openings.

Are you looking for a job? Post your Situation Wanted Ad here — Email
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WHAT’S ON TONIGHT –  TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2009

ABC: Homeland Security USA, Scrubs [r], Scrubs [r], The Bachelor: After the Final Rose
AZTECA: Los Que Callamos Las Mujeres Edicion Especial, Los 25 Mas, Al Extremo
CBS: NCIS [r], The Mentalist [r], Without a Trace [r]
CW: The Reaper [p ], 90210 [r]
FOX: American Idol
ION: Boston Legal, Boston Legal, Boston Legal
MNT: Street Patrol [r], Whacked Out Videos [r], Street Patrol [r], Whacked Out Videos [r]
NBC: Biggest Loser: Couples, L&O: SVU [r]
PBS: Nova, Pledge Programming
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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