CYNTHIA TURNER’S
Cynopsis: Kids!
03/15/06
Good morning. It’s Wednesday, March 15, 2006 and this is your first early morning Kids! briefing.
In addition to being able to select what they don’t want their kids to see, yesterday TiVo announced parents will be able to program their TiVo KidZone service to identify and record those shows that carry the Educational and Informational rating. TiVo has also added a partner in its new endeavor, the Parents’ Choice Foundation, a non-profit reviewer of kid’s media and toys, which will offer programming recommendations to parents. This partnership is in addition to TiVo’s announcement a couple of weeks ago that it would teamed with Common Sense Media and the Parents Television Council in the execution of its new KidZone service. TiVo KidZone is scheduled to start rolling out mid-year to subscribers with a TiVo Series2 box, and the service will be included under the regular TiVo subscription fee.
NEW PRODUCTION & DEVELOPMENT
Nerd Corps Entertainment has inked deals for two if its new original kid targeted comedy series with YTV. The Canadian broadcaster has picked up the comedy series Storm Hawks and will work with Nerd Corps to develop the comedy Teen Awethum!!!! Nerd Corps will be at MIP-TV next month offering both original properties among others.
- Storm Hawks (52 x 30 min): Set in a fantasy world a team of five mismatched teens and a crazy animal co-pilot. Upon discovering the remains of a famous Sky Knight squadron, the teens pick up where the squadron left off and go up against the various evil-doers, in a fearless and rockin’ sort of teen adventure to save their home.
- Teem Awethum!!!! (52 x 11 min): Four little enthusiastic nerds do battle against the forces of cool.
TLC will launch a new tagline on March 27: Live and Learn. The new tag replaces the long-used Life Unscripted tag which ushered in the network’s biggest series Trading Spaces which helped the network reach its most viewed era in 2003 with an average of 1.2 million viewers in primetime. So far this year, the average is in the 778,000 range, up from last year. Soon after the new tagline will come three new series — Honey, We’re Killing the Kids wherein a nutritionist visits a family to guide them on proper nutrition for the whole family. The second is called Shalom in the Home, with a Rabbi visiting the home and helping the family sort thru relationship issues with the kids as well as mom and dad. And the reality series, The Monastery which follows a group of people who go on a 40-day retreat.
MORE KIDS STUFF
The N will debut new episodes from season five of Degrassi: The Next Generation, beginning with a one-hour episode titled, The Lexicon of Love, bowing April 7 at 8p. In advance of the new episodes, the network has scheduled a bevy of Degrassi events:
- Countdown To Degrassi on its website (
- The Degrassi Weekend Marathon, March 31- April 1 from 6p-6a; and
- The Degrassi Video Year Book – a four-day retrospective of the senior class (Sunday, April 2, 8p-1a).
- Finally, in case you have slacked off on your Degrassi viewing and I know you haven’t, on April 6, from 8p-3a, The N will re-air the first 10 episodes of the first half season five.
www.the-n.com), a 21-day countdown beginning March 17, featuring previously unseen footage;
Degrassi airs regularly Friday nights at 8p and 10p.
Nickelodeon France has acquired the preschool series Pocoyo and the tween targeted series Darcy’s Wild Life from Granada International. Pocoyo is co-produced by Granada International and Zinkia Entertainment in association with Granada Kids and Cosgrove Hall. Darcy’s Wild Life, is produced by Temple Street Productions, the series airs in the US on Discovery Kids and Saturday mornings on the Discovery Kids on NBC programming block.
Canal J, France’s cable and satellite channel for K2-14, has picked up the teen series Girl’s In Love (seasons I & II) from Granada International. Produce by ITV Productions the series is based on author Jacqueline Wilson books Girl’s In Love.
MARKETING/LICENSING
Madacy Latino, a kid’s musical product company, is teaming up with Scholastic Media to create and market branded music products based on Scholastic’s preschool series Maya & Miguel, which airs on PBS Kids Go! Under the agreement Madacy Latino will release the first three English and Spanish-language music CDs titles, Best Friends, Party ¡Fiesta! (a 2-disc release) and Favorite Radio Hits on April 28, at various retailers and iTunes. Favorite Radio Hits features a split track allowing kids to hear and sing along with the songs regularly or sing them Karaoke style (a trick of the speaker balance dial). Madacy Latino, a division of Madacy Entertainment Group, Inc.
Hidden City Games, LLC, has entered into a three-year licensing agreement with Marvel Entertainment, Inc. for the worldwide rights to publish a collectable throwing game and accessories featuring the Marvel Universe of Super Heroes. The products will be marketed under Hidden City Games’ Clout line of collectable throwing games. The products are slated for release in fall 2006.
EXECUTIVE MOVES
PopCap Games, has established a new game development studio in San Francisco, CA, with Dave Rohrl as GM. The new studio will serve as a regional hub for PopCap’s game design and development activities. PopCap already has divisions in Ireland and Washington State. PopCap Games is expected to grow its staff from five members to about 15 in the coming months.
Jack Sussman has been upped to the newly created position of EVP/Specials, Music and Live Events, CBS Entertainment. In his new role Sussman will serve as a liaison between the network and the music industry with the goal of integrating music into all CBS programs and digital media division. In addition, he will remain CBS’s Executive in Charge overseeing shows including The Grammy Awards and People’s Choice Awards as well as live event entertainment programming such as Survivor finales and reunion specials. Sussman reports to Nina Tassler, President/CBS Entertainment.
Marsha E. Williams has been promoted to SVP/Research and Planning, Nickelodeon Network. William is responsible for Consumer Insights for Nickelodeon and Nick Jr., including all brand, programming and production, merchandising, public affairs, online and other corporate consumer research for Nickelodeon. A nine-year veteran of the company, Williams will report to Pam Kaufman, EVP/Marketing and Worldwide Partnerships. Williams heads-up Nickelodeon’s Research Department with SVP/Research and Planning, Ron Geraci, who oversees programming and advertising sales research for Nick and its digital channels.
Elsewhere Nickelodeon has upped Sharon Chazin Lieblein and Jill Greenberg Sands to VP/Talent and Casting. Both will continue to report to Paula Kaplan, SVP/Talent. Based in LA, Chazin Lieblein will oversee casting for all Nickelodeon TV and on-air promotions projects. She will also head-up a team of in-house talent managers for all series regulars on Nickelodeon. Greenberg Sands will oversee the East Coast talent office and is responsible for all casting for Nick Jr., Noggin and The N efforts.
RATINGS
Cartoon Network’s new original series My Gym Partner’s a Monkey (Friday, 9p) was the number one primetime show for the night with Boys 2-11, earning a 5.0 rating and 1 million viewers. The series debuted last month.
Weekly Top Ten Basic Cable Ad Supported networks, Total Day and Primetime Rankings among K2-11 (000) 3/6-3/12/06:
Total Day (000) Primetime (000)
NICK: 1287 DSNY*: 1256
DSNY*: 837 CARTOON: 1002
CARTOON: 681 NAN**: 635
NAN**: 635 TOON DIS: 166
TOON DIS.: 136 BET: 81
NOG/THE N: 103 ANIMAL PLANET: 79
MTV: 52 MTV: 75
ANIMAL PLANET: 49 DISCOVERY: 73
NICKTOONS: 48 ESPN: 68
DISCOVERY: 47 NICKTOONS: 62
Source: Disney Research from Nielsen Media Research Data Live + SD Data
*Disney Channel is not an ad supported cable network, unlike the others in this listing.
**Denotes a network that broadcasts less than 51% of minutes in a 24hr day.
Weekly Top Ten Basic Cable Ad Supported networks, Total Day and Primetime Rankings among K6-11 (000) 3/6-3/12/06:
Total Day (000) Primetime (000)
NICK: 683 DSNY*: 962
DSNY*: 492 CARTOON: 659
NAN**: 475 NAN**: 475
CARTOON: 409 TOON DIS: 69
TOON DIS.: 59 MTV: 56
MTV: 38 ANIMAL PLANET: 53
ANIMAL PLANET: 33 BET: 52
DISCOVERY: 29 DISCOVERY: 50
NICKTOONS: 28 ESPN: 39
BET: 28 TLC: 33
Source: Disney Research from Nielsen Media Research Data Live + SD Data
*Disney Channel is not an ad supported cable network, unlike the others in this listing.
**Denotes a network that broadcasts less than 51% of minutes in a 24hr day.
Weekly, Top Ten Basic Cable Ad Supported Networks, Total Day and Primetime Rankings among Tweens 9-14 (000) 3/6-3/12/06:
Total Day (000) Primetime (000)
NAN**: 522 DSNY*: 849
NICK: 509 NAN**: 522
DSNY*: 398 CARTOON: 505
CARTOON: 291 MTV: 191
MTV: 129 COMEDY: 100
COMEDY: 53 DISCOVERY: 86
BET: 49 BET: 78
DISCOVERY: 45 ESPN: 64
ESPN: 36 ANIMAL PLANET: 50
TOON DIS.: 33 TLC: 49
Source: Disney Research from Nielsen Media Research Data Live + SD Data
*Disney Channel is not an ad supported cable network, unlike the others in this listing.
**Denotes a network that broadcasts less than 51% of minutes in a 24hr day.
Live + Same Day Ratings Kids Cable Network Averages (000) for Saturday, March 11, 2006, 6am-11pm, ranked by K2-11:
NICKELODEON: K2-11 1355; K6-11 943; TWEENS 9-14 780
DISNEY CHANNEL: K2-11 980; K6-11 555; TWEENS 9-14 412
CARTOON NETWORK: K2-11 845; K6-11 556; TWEENS 9-14 382
TOON DISNEY: K2-11 157; K6-11 66; TWEENS 9-14 26
Source: MTVN Research from Nielsen Media Research Data
Live + Same Day Ratings Kids Cable Network Averages (000) for Sunday, March 12, 2006, 6am-11pm, ranked by K2-11:
NICKELODEON: K2-11 1284; K6-11 880; TWEENS 9-14 707
DISNEY CHANNEL: K2-11 948; K6-11 554; TWEENS 9-14 403
CARTOON NETWORK: K2-11 758; K6-11 502; TWEENS 9-14 327
TOON DISNEY: K2-11 176; K6-11 84; TWEENS 9-14 41
Source: MTVN Research from Nielsen Media Research Data
Live + Same Day Ratings Kids Cable Network Averages (000) for Monday, March 13, 2006, 6am-11pm, ranked by K2-11:
NICKELODEON: K2-11 1308; K6-11 576; TWEENS 9-14 401
DISNEY CHANNEL: K2-11 817; K6-11 481; TWEENS 9-14 447
CARTOON NETWORK: K2-11 668; K6-11 412; TWEENS 9-14 274
TOON DISNEY: K2-11 149; K6-11 78; TWEENS 9-14 44
Source: MTVN Research from Nielsen Media Research Data
Answer to Yesterday’s trivia question: This animated three year old girl with very cool hair, teaches family and friends about life. Her brother is Rondo and best friend and puppy is Lindi. What tv show was this? ALLEGRA’S WINDOW Kudos to: Carin Greenberg Baker/NY; Martha Ripp-Discovery Kids/NY; Pamela Ross-Discovery Kids/NY; Julie Stowell-Tribune Media/Glen Falls; Ginger Sorvari-Best Buy
Today’s Trivia Question: This loveable Irish vagabond lived in a mythical, magical place called Hobo Junction. She sported a floppy green hat, red hair, and a face full of greasepaint as she entertained a generation of children. Who was she? (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 — Gwen
Gwen Billings for Cynthia Turner’s Cynopsis Kids!
03.15.06 – 3:53a
Ad Sales – Barbara Shapiro – 203-583-1224 / barbaracynopsis@yahoo.com
Classifieds – Trish Pihonak – 203.926-9878 (new number!) / cynops4@optonline.net
Cynopsis : In Your Ear podcast available for download at iTunes and/or Yahoo Podcast at http://podcasts.yahoo.com/ .
Subscribe, unsubscribe, or change a subscription for any Cynopsis edition: www.cynopsis.com
Archived Editions: www.Cynopsis.com
Press Release Fax: 203-926-9865 (new number!)
All outgoing e-mails are scanned and sent out virus free.
Copyright Cynthia Turner 2006
Cyn opsis CLASSIFIEDS
JOB OPENING: SR MGR ONLINE ADVERTISING, CSTV/NY: Test & traffic ad campaigns, max. ad server functionality, dev reports on performance, revenue & inventory forecasting; min. 3-5 yrs exp; See: www.cstv.com Resumes: jobs1@cstv.com (3/22)
JOB OPENING: ASSOC BRAND MGR/SIMON & SCHUSTER/NY: Primary liaison at S&S & will mng Nickelodeon/S&S relationship. 2yrs+ publishing exp. w/ licensor. Mrkt/sales exp a +. Knwlg PP/ Excel a must. Res: ssjobs3@simonandschuster.com (3/22)
JOB OPENING: SR MKTG MGR/IGN ENT, BRISBANE CA. 5+ yrs ent or media mkt exp to create mktg & collateral materials, provide strat/research support. Resume to: staffing@ign.com (3/21)
JOB OPENING: ONLINE SALES COORD/IGN ENT, Brisbane CA and NY. Provide logistical & admin support to sales team, perform mkt research, asst in proposal dev, track campaign activity. Resume: staffing@ign.com (3/21)
JOB OPENING: DIRECTOR-SUBSCRIPTION & ACQ MKTG/IGN ENT, Costa Mesa CA. Drive external awareness and cons. Acq for subsc, digital distrib and e-commerce services. 8+ yrs relevant exp req. Resume: staffing@ign.com (3/21)
JOB OPENING: MGR, PLANNING & INV/A & E TV NETS/NY:Inv and planning mgmt & pricing analysis. Min2 yr planner exp a must, plus strong analytical/prob solv skills. Gabriel knldg a +. E-mail res & sal reqs: recruiter3@aetn.com(3/21)
JOB OPENING: WRITER-PRODUCER/SUNDANCE CHANNEL/ NYC Highly creative, experienced producer to play integral role in On Air Promo Dept. Strong writing skills, shoot experience, Final Cut editing. Resume to: jobs@sundancechannel.com (3/21)
JOB OPENING: RESEARCH MGR/Comcast Spotlight-Harrisburg, PA: 5 yrs media res exp. Manage res effort for local/reg/nat’l cable ad sales. Strong Nielsen, Scarb. Knowl. http://careers.comcast.com/choices/searchjobs.asp Req # 27915 (3/21)
JOB OPENING: SALES ASST, Superstation WGN, Los Angeles office. Support Cable & Affiliate Sales. Requires detail-oriented team player w/excellent communication skills & proficiency in Excel&Word. Resume to wgnnyjobs@tribune.com (3/21)
JOB OPENING: MRKTNG SPEC/SPANISH MRKTS:LeapFrog/CA: 3-4 yrs brand mgmt/mktg exp. Resp for coord & completing intl pkg/product projects& other intl mrkting projects.Native Spanish speaker req’d. CPG exp a+. Click here to apply (3/18)
JOB OPENING: WRITERS WANTED FOR PRESCHOOL TV SERIES/NYC: prominent writer/producer seeks grads w/ background in psych and/or education. Fax cover letter/resume/2 pg writing sample to 212-764-7275, Attn: Preschool TV, by 04/01/06 (3/18)
JOB OPENING: AD SALES ASST/Food Network/LA:BA preferred.Exp in cable TV ad sales/MS Office a+.Detail oriented, ability to multitask, strong interpersonal/communication skills. Email: jobsla@scrippsnetworks.com (3/18)
JOB OPENING: EXEC ASST/L’Oreal/NYC: Support GM &VP.5+ yrs exp. req. & proven track record. BA, high PC prof., PP, grt phone skills, travel planning, meeting coord. French a +. Email resumes: ttobin@tuttleagency.com (3/18)
JOB OPENING: DIRECTOR-AD SALES/Cynopsis. 7+ yrs exp in TV-related ad sales, w/add’l exp and extensive contacts in int’l, multi-cultural & kids mkts. Forward creative thinker, proven track record. Email: cynopsis@optonline.net (3/18)
JOB OPENING: RESEARCH STRATEGIST, AD SALES Discovery Nets, NY: Min 4+ yrs exp, support Ad Sales/Estimates Group. Strong command of Nielsen appls req’d. Top comm/analytical/math skills. Apply at www.discovery.com Job req #3368 (3/18)
JOB OPENING: DIR, AFFIL MRKTNG/IFC/L.I. sportskool& Mag Rack/NY: Support affil sales team. Prov strat mktg to drive operator rev, increases viewership & brand awareness of ntwrks. 8+yrs mktg exp. Res. to RNSjobs@cablevision.com (3/17)
JOB OPENING: FINANCE MGR/Cablevision’s IFC/NYC: BS/BA req’d, MBA a plus. 4+ yrs exp, pref in entertainment industry. Send res to corpjobs@cablevision.com w/Job ID 0308CYN16896MRK in subject (3/16)
JOB OPENING: DIR, ACQUISITIONS & PLANNING/NY/LIME, healthy living w/ a twist to license brand-defining content for multiple media platforms incl. TV, brdband & VOD. Resp for strategic plan’g across all platforms. jobs@lime.com (3/16)
JOB OPENING: VP, DEV. Award-winning east coast prod. co. Spearhead creative dev. Reality/docs/kids for bcast, cable, new media. Must have exc’lnt writing skills, client contacts, and proven track record. hr@tapestry.tv (3/16)
JOB OPENING: GENERAL MANAGER – INDY TV PRODUCTION. For nationally known indy prod co. 10+ years experience in production mgt, legal/biz affairs and general mgt. a must. NY-based. Resume in confidence (attach & paste): gmtvny@yahoo.com (3/16)
JOB OPENING: AFFIL RES MGR/FOX/CA-LA/CONTRACT Analyze, present affiliate perf.Strong comm, writing, analytical & PC skills; BA; 5+ yrs media/brdcst res; Nielsen/WRAP/SNAP sftwr & MS appl’s prof. www.foxcareers.com, FNG2197 (3/16)
JOB OPENING: ONLINE SALES COORD/IGN ENT, Brisbane CA and NY. Provide logistical & admin support to sales team, perform mrkt research, asst in proposal dev, track campaign activity. Resume: staffing@ign.com (3/16)
JOB OPENING: PRODUCER/EDITOR “PREDITOR” NYC Prod. Co. Extensive prod of reality hrs. a must, shoot, edit, produce/cast. Be able to identify compelling characters & tell their stories. Min 5 yrs. in reality. tvprod8226@hotmail.com (3/16)
JOB OPENING: DIR, INTEGRATED PROMOS: Dev consumer/sponsorship promotions, retail tie-ins, cross promot’l opps, dev partships that lev brdband, wireless, & VOD. BA and 5+yrs mktg cable/brdc st/ent. Apply www.FoxCareers.com , FNG2098 (3/16)
JOB OPENING: DIR, DIGITAL MEDIA: Mng the internet & new media projects, oversee exec of online & new media campgns on FX networks.com/ major portals. BA & 5-10′ yrs exp in ent/ youth/ trad / dig media. Apply www.FoxCareers.com , FNG2116 (3/16)
SPRING INTERNSHIPS – These positions are for credit only – nobody gets paid here. They are posted for free, and students work for school credit only. For more information on the specs for posting an Internship ad, email Trish at cynops4@optonline.net .
SPRING INTERNSHIP CREDITS ONLY: BURBANK based TV production co. has two (2) RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT INTERN positions for students with desire to learn show development & participate in the pitch process. Please e-mail your resume to jobs@jumatv.com (3/22)
SITUATION WANTED ADS, POSTED BY THOSE LOOKING TO BE HIRED —
SITUATION WANTED: ASSOCIATE PRODUCER with heavy Reality exp seeks work in NY. Experience includes field and office, pre-prod and production, casting, liaising with talent, research, locations, etc. Avail immed. assocprodnyc@gmail.com (3/22)
SITUATION WANTED: TELEVISION PRODUCER/NYC: 4+ years in Sports and
News. Strong bkgd in video production/tape cutting. Seeking job with studio or station. jdrubinstein@hotmail.com (3/22)
SITUATION WANTED: PR professional seeking situation at NYC public relations firm. Highly organized with great media contacts in entertainment, lifestyle, children and education. For further info, please contact nicky348@tmail.com (3/18)
SITUATION WANTED: Harvard Business School student seeking SUMMER INTERNSHIP oppty. in a sales or mrkting role for Network, Cable, or Studio. 5+ yrs fin & mrkting exp. Strong backing in TV and Film Prod. Please contact: 131moffat@gmail.com (3/17)
SITUATION WANTED: CAMERAMAN/STEADICAM OPERATOR/CA: Highly experienced, HD, 24p, DV cameras included. Available for independent film productions, corporate, and commercial. www.fentonproductions.com (3/17)
SITUATION WANTED: 1st yr MBA Wants: 12 wk SUMMER INTERNSHIP w/Ntwk, Radio or Agency, Mktg/Advert. 3 yr. exp Radio DJ, creative & prod.Transform creativity into sales connect products to Hispanic mrkt victorvillasenor@rice.edu (3/17)
E-mail Cynopsis@optonline.net for rates and specs for Job Openings.
Are you looking for a job? Post your Situation Wanted Ad here — Email Cynopsis@optonline.net for specs.
