CYNTHIA TURNER’S
CYNOPSIS

10/26/04

Good morning. It’s Tuesday, October 26, 2004, and this is your first early morning briefing.

As always with live sports programming, the ratings are time period averages, not program averages, and for the sports event itself, the numbers may be misleading since they don’t accurately represent the game across the various time zones.  Now with the disclaimer dealt with …  Fox kicked some serious bats with the second game of the World Series averaging a 8.1/19 A18-49 from 8-11pm, and the network averaging a 7.8/19 A18-49 from 7-11pm on Sunday according to Nielsen Media Research fast affiliate ratings.  ABC was second on the night with a 5.8/14 demo rating, followe in quick succession by CBS 3.2/8, NBC 3.0/7, and WB 1.0/3.  From 7-8pm Fox’s NFL Runover and the pregame for the World Series dominated with a 6.9/19, with the closest competitor being CBS’ 60 Minutes (3.5/10). At 8pm as the game started up on Fox, ABC won the non-sports category with Extreme Makeover’s 6.2/15, outpacing Cold Case on CBS (3.2/8). At 9pm Desperate Housewives had another strong night despite the baseball game, delivering a 9.7/21, up 2% vs. last week. At 10p ABC held tough with a 4.7/11 for Boston Legal, just a share point ahead of NBC 4.1/10 for Crossing Jordan. The CBS movie from 9-11p earned a 3.0/7.

Pappas Television in Sacramento has donated $325,000 of free airtime to Republican committees in 13 counties throughout California to be used to promote Republican candidates on television and radio.  As you might imagine, the donation has brought about a quick response from the Democratic candidates committees, demanding equal time. According to the Hollywood Reporter, Pappas says the FCC has looked at their donation of airtime and determined it does not require the broadcast group to provide in-kind service to all other candidates, in part because the donation was given to the county committees, not to the candidates.

A&E will launch a new cable network on January 1, 2005 on Australia’s Foxtel digital and satellite platform, called the Crime & Investigation Network, the first international network of this ilk.  The network will include series, documentaries and specials from A&E as well as acquired and locally produced programming. Among the in-house product carried on the new network will be Investigative Reports, Crime & Punishment, Cold Case Files, The Unexplained and City Confidential. Foxtel is available to more than 1.1 million homes on cable and satellite via retail and wholesale distribution.

In follow-up to the item above, Court TV responds to A&E’s news of its newest launch thusly:  “While we recognize that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, we are displeased that A&E would want to capitalize on our brand name, Court TV: the Investigation Channel, rather than demonstrate originality in creating a name of its own. We look forward either to A&E reconsidering its choice of a brand name or to seeing them in court….on Court TV!”  

Casting / Development / Production:

• Irwin Entertainment’s John Irwin has signed on as an executive producer for the half-hour scripted comedy pilot ordered by Fox, Midnightly News (Coquette Prods).
• Steven J. Cannell (A Team, Rockford Files, 21 Jump St) story The Dark (Warner Bros. TV/Cannell Prods) is currently in the sights of TNT for a drama pilot to be written by Paul Guyot, says Hollywood Reporter.  The Dark is about a specialist team of FBI agents who track down serial killers.
• NBC has ordered up a pilot script (commitment with penalty) for a new and as yet untitled drama with Donnie Wahlberg. The story is about a cop who goes undercover to root out bad cops. Jon Avnet and Jack Orman will exec prod, with Avnet directing.
• Sci Fi Channel has ordered a pilot of an adventure series called Painkiller Jane (NBC Universal TV/MGM), an action hero based on the event comic book series from Joe Queseda and Jim Palmiotti, according to Variety.  Jane, in the story, is a Marine who gets super healing powers after exposure to biochemical. NBC Universal TV/MGM will produce the project.
• Warner Bros. Television and Acme Prods are busy on a project for the WB called Heartland from exec producer Mark Perry (One Tree Hill). The story is about the complicated relationship between divorced parents of four kids, and the father’s coming out that he’s gay.
• WB has also given a pilot commitment to a project called I’ll Cuddle When I’m Dead (Sony Pictures Television) about a young couple who married a little too early. From writer Stacy Traub and producers Jamie Tarses and Karey Burke.
• Nick at Nite has ordered a full season of episodes of a new hidden camera show called Baloney (Banyan Prods) where fun-loving parents goof on their kids. Baloney is set to debut in March according to Daily Variety.

The Simple Life #3 (Bunim/Murray Prods) will hit the road on Fox soon, only with a different type of vehicle than seasons #1 and #2.  This  time the girls will be taking the bus – the Greyhound Bus, according to the New York Post. And if you happen to take the bus and find Paris and Nicole on board, then you might want to smile for the camera. The bus trip will take the ladies through the northeast, followign the same sort of format as the previous seasons – staying with various people, doing various odd jobs, mostly badly.

NBC has pulled the promotional ads placed by TNT and have been running for four weeks, that seem to tell viewers to switch from the NBC program ER to CBS. Here’s how it works.  TNT has the cable repurpose rights to Without a Trace, a CBS program. TNT placed the ads on NBC during ER (which airs opposite Without a Trace on CBS) with copy that said in part, “If you’ve been watching ER on Thursday nights, you’ve missed the drama critics say is…Gripping. Stylish. Addictive.” The message then tells viewers to watch Without a Trace on TNT Mondays nights.  Typically you won’t see date and time promotion for a competing network/program, and according to today’s Wall Street Journal, NBC says you won’t see this ad on NBC again.        

Telemundo is set to provide election coverage as well as political commentary on November 2, starting at 7 pm ET.  Telemundo will bring election result analysis, reporting and more to its viewers for the Presidential, Senate, House and Gubernatorial races.  In addition, Telemundo News’ anchorman, Pedro Sevcec, will broadcast live from Rockefeller Center interactive Democracy Plaza exhibit as of this week.  On Election Day itself, Telemundo will air updates starting with its Hoy en el Mundo 7 am news program and continuing with the daily news Al Rojo Vivo con Maria Celeste at 5 pm and Noticiero Telemundo at 6:30 pm.

Casting Note:  Okay, ‘fess us – you’ve watched a few (or more) cooking shows and you’re thinking – hey, I could do that!  Time to put your apron where your mouth is – Food Network is looking for The Next Food Network Star and is conducting a national search for amateurs to professionals – though knowing a little something about cooking is probably a good idea. You’ll need to put together a 3m tape and submit it by the end of November – check out the details at www.foodnetwork.com. Eight finalists go to NYC to participate in various challenges (food fights, as it were) and the winner gets his/her own 6-ep show on Food Network, launching next September 2005.

The Viacom station group will acquire two new West Palm Beach properties – WWHB-CA and WTCN-CA from American Netcom, Inc. and American Netcom-WWHB Inc.  They are both Class A television stations serving the 39th largest DMA. WTCN is a true indy; WWHB is a Spanish-language station affiliated with TV AZteca. Both stations will be overseen by Brien Kennedy, VP/GM ofViacom’s WTVX in the market. Kennedy in turn reports to Michael Colleran, who had recently been promoted from VP/GM to President/GM of Viacom’s South Florida station group. As always, the terms were not disclosed and the deal is subject to FCC approval.

Shannon High-Bassalik, News Director for WFOR and WBFS, has been named VP/News Operations for the pair of Miami television stations.  The announcement was made by Michael Colleran, President/General Manager of Viacom’s South Florida Station Group.

NBC Universal Cable has upped Jean-Briac Perrette to SVP/New Media and CFO. As SVP/New Media, he will spearhead  the division’s worldwide strategy and development of new distribution businesses for NBC Universal’s TV and film content, including VPD, PPV and high definition. In this role he reports to David Zaslav, President/NBC Universal Cable.  As CFO, Jean-Briac is also responsible for the financial operations for distribution of NBC Universal’s leading portfolio of cable & broadcast assets, reporting to Lynn Calpeter, EVP/CFO of NBC Universal.
 
Eileen O’Neill has been promoted to VP/Affiliate Relations of Twentieth Television, reporting to Susan Kantor, SVP/Mktg and Creative. Eileen is responsible for overseeing affiliate relations for all of the company’s first-run and off-net syndicated programming.

Judith Orlowski has been named VP/Program Scheduling and Acquisitions for Home & Garden Television. In this newly created position, she will manage all aspects of the HGTV program schedule, and facilitate all program acquisitions for the network. Judith hails from WE: Women’s Entertainment where she was VP/Program Planning and Acquisitions.

Sunday, October 24, 2004. FINAL National Household Ratings for all Networks – Time period Averages only, particular for Live Sports Programming. Fast affiliate numbers which reflect time period data, not program data, and can change slightly once the finals come in, particularly for LIVE programming (i.e. Football). Source Nielsen Media Research. Time Period Averages Only. [p] = Premiere; [o] = Original; [r] = Repeat

CBS     8.1/12  60 Minutes 9.8/16, Cold Case 9.9/14, Movie: The Dead Will Tell 6.4/9

FOX     13.7/21 NFL Runover 11.5/20, World Series Pregame 11.3/18, World Series Game #2 14.5/21

NBC     6.2/9   Dateline 4.7/8, American Dreams 4.2/6, Law & Order: CI 7.9/11, Crossing Jordan 7.9/12

ABC     8.4/13  AFV 4.5/7, Extreme Makeover Home Edition 8.5/13, Desperate Housewives 13.3/19, Boston Legal 7.4/11

WB      1.4/2   Steve Harvey 1.4/2, Charmed 1.9/3, Jack & Bobby 1.1/1

A18-49  Fox 7.8/19, ABC 5.8/14, CBS 3.2/8, NBC 3.0/7, WB 1.0/3

A MESSAGE FROM COURT TV

The History Channel presents This Day in History:
1825:  Governor DeWitt Clinton of New York formally opens the Erie Canal, which connects the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean via the Hudson River.  It took more than two years for an army of poorly paid and equipped Irish laborers to dig the canal, which was just four feet deep.

Answer to Friday’s Trivia Question:   Who is the only actor to play the same regularly appearing character with the same job in two different series on two different networks? RICHARD ANDERSON as OSCAR GOLDMAN on Six Million Dollar Man (ABC) and then on The Bionic Woman (NBC).  – OR – ALAN ROSENBERG as ELI LEVINSON on Civil Wars (ABC) and then on L.A. Law (NBC). Seems the trick here was the distinction the two had to be on two different networks. Kudos to:  Marianne O’Leary-CBS/NY; Simon Kaplan-Yankelovich/Chapel Hill; Tom Giarrosso-SCTV/Salem NH; Daniel Whitford-RPA/Chicago; Tim Hess-KPTH/Sioux City; Arthur Greenwald-Arthur Greenwald Prods/LA; Susan Goldberg-Beverly Park Prods/LA; Jeffrey Rattner, Esq-Kajan, Mather and Barish/Beverly Hills; Jim McKairnes-CBS/LA.

Today’s Trivia Question:  For a while, this popular news anchor closed out his newscasts with the single word, “Courage.”  Who was this guy?  (click
to respond to the trivia question and please be sure to include with your answer your name, company, city and time zone. Only the second four correct responses from each time zone will be listed in tomorrow’s kudo list.)

A MESSAGE FROM COURT TV

Later — Cyn

Cynthia Turner’s Cynopsis
10/26/04  5:32am

To subscribe, unsubscribe, or change a subscription for any Cynopsis edition: www.cynopsis.com

Archived Editions: www.Cynopsis.com
Cynopsis Ad Sales 203-526-8978
Press Release Fax: 203-381-9318

A MESSAGE FROM GALAVISION

All outgoing e-mails are scanned and sent out virus free.
Copyright Cynthia Turner 2004

CYNOPSIS CLASSIFIEDS

JOB OPENING:   MKTG DIRECTOR mtvU/New Products. 5+ yrs mktg exp. Create/execute mktg (grassroots/events) to drive sign-ups for subsc based products to college mkt. Financial or subscription mktg exp. Resumes:

   (11/2)

JOB OPENING:  SALES RESEARCH ANALYST, CBS NETWORK SALES/NYC. Min 2+ yrs agency planning &/or network research exp. Strong comp. skills/media research database exp. nec. Exc. career opp. Email
(subject MKT).   (11/2)

JOB OPENING:  SR. PUBLICIST, CONSUMER & TRADE. Leading NY agency specializing in TV accounts seeks enthusiastic self starter w/exc writing skills, strong contacts across the brd. Min 5 yrs exp. Sal. neg. Apply:
   (11/2)

JOB OPENING:  TV RESEARCH MANAGER/ANALYST-PARAMOUNT, LA. Write sales pres, analyze trends for net, syn, cable & int’l series. Analytical & writing skills, knowledge of software. Cable/stn exp A+. Fax resume (323)862-1134 attn#594RL   (11/2)

JOB OPENING:  INTERACTIVE SCREEN MEDIA NETWORK–ACCT EXEC/NY. Exp selling adv TV/Cable/Online. Req. recent agency/client contacts. Base+Strong Comm structure (target $150k) w/mgmt growth opps-No Cap. Resume:
   (11/2)

JOB OPENING:  TRADE PUBLICIST/AMC, IFC, WE:Women’s Ent, NY. Min 3 yrs exp., exec trade p.r. activities. Strong verbal/written skills; aggressive, proactive, strategic. Knwldg of cable/ent industry.  Apply:
   (11/2)

JOB OPENING:  SR WRITER/PRODUCER, HGTV Creative Services. 5+ yrs exp; strong writing skills, film bkgnd. Resume/Reel: Scripps Networks, HR- Job #3973-U, 9721 Sherrill Blvd, Knoxville, TN 37932. Details: www.scrippsnetworks.com (10/30)

JOB OPENING:  RESEARCH MGR (SR), Screenvision NY (Cinema) Mng daily research for mkting/sales with Analysts.  Bcst/cable bkgnd ideal.  Knwldg of Nielsen and MRI/Simmons required.  5+ yrs exp.  Resumes to:
   (10/30)

JOB OPENING:  REVENUE MGMT PLANNER/AD SALES/BET, NY. 5+ yrsplanning exp at cable network/agency. Seasoned, detailed, organized, multitasker, exc comm skills.Prof w/excel,media math, BA/BS. Email resume:
HINES
    (10/30)

JOB OPENING:  VP, INT’L DEVELOPMENT/Discovery Networks Intl, MD. 10 yrs managerial producer exp. Oversee all aspects of pgm dev for lifestyle/factual content on Discovery Lifestyle Networks. Apply www.discovery.com. Job req#1674   (10/30)

JOB OPENING:  PUBLICIST/OLN, Stamford, CT. Exceptional verbal and written skills,3 yrs PR exp req’d; cable or sports industry a +. See www.olntv.com for more info. Resume/salary:
   (10/29)

JOB OPENING:  SR. PUBLICIST TRADE & BUSINESS/NY. Exc writing skills, proven track record w/press placement; self-starter, strategic & creative thinker. Min5 yrs exp. Cable industry exp a +. Apply:  www.courttv.com/about/careers (10/28)

JOB OPENING:  RESEARCH COORD/Nielsen Media Research-NY. Sr. level research position. Analyze impact of changes in measurement/reporting.Expert knwldg Excel, N-Power, MktBreaks, Ad*views. www.Nielsenmedia.com ref. Job# 200402212-JL  (10/27)

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

SITUATION WANTED:  PERFORMING SINGER/SONGWRITER BASED IN NYC.  Looking for song placement in Film and TV. Listen at www.jodyfriedman.com/songs.html. All songs are ASCAP. If interested, please email
jodyfriedman
  (11/2)

SITUATION WANTED: SPECIAL EFFECTS MAKE-UP, PROPS or PRODUCTION for TV or FILM POSITION SOUGHT. Experienced, eager and a great team player. Portfolio and references available upon request. Please email –

  (10/30)

SITUATION WANTED:  MARKETING/MEDIA SALES: Former National Sales Manager for Cable Network (9 yrs), NBC, Fox: Local Sales (8yrs). Consistent Top Biller and Inspirational Leader. Email:
  (10/30)

SITUATION WANTED:  Looking for a job in ANY MEDIA FIELD; SPECIFICALLY BROADCAST. Exp’d in: TV Production, Sales, Editing, Directing, Final Cut. Specifically California or Arizona. Email:
  (10/30)

SITUATION WANTED: Young professional seeking AFFILIATE SALES & MARKETING position in L.A.  3+ yrs. sales success. Enthusiastic team player ready to thrive in cable.  Contact Bill at
  (10/30)

SITUATION WANTED:  Organized, efficient, multi-tasker seeks position in TV SALES, PROMOTIONS,OR MKTG–NYC. Please email:
, or call 908-687-5765    (10/30)

E-mail
for rates and specs for Job Openings. Your ad will be read by 85,430+ Cynopsis & Cynopsis Kids! readers every day. No wonder Cynopsis ads get results.

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

A MESSAGE FROM CYNOPSIS AD SALES

WHAT’S ON TONIGHT:  TUESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2004:

ABC             It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown, George Lopez, According to Jim, Rodney, NYPD Blue
CBS             NCIS, NCIS, Judging Amy
FOX             World Series, Game #3
NBC             The Biggest Loser, Father of the Pride, Scrubs, Law & Order: SVU
PAX             World Cup Comedy, Cold Turkey, Cold Turkey
UPN             All of Us, Eve, Veronica Mars
WB              Gilmore Girls, One Tree Hill
TELE            Prisonera, Gitanas, Te Voy a Ensenar a Querer
UNIV            Rubi, Amor Real, Cristina