CYNTHIA TURNER’S
CYNOPSIS

11/10/04

Good morning. It’s Wednesday, November 10, 2004, and this is your first early morning briefing.

CBS pulled ahead on Monday night according to the final national ratings from Nielsen Media Research, averaging a 6.1/15 A18-49 for the night. ABC was second with a 4.9/13, followed by NBC 4.7/12, Fox 3.4/8, WB 1.7/4, UPN 1.5/4. At 8pm NBC’s Fear Factor posted its traditional win with a 5.1/13, followed by Fox’s Trading Spouses (3.7/9). At 9pm Las Vegas on NBC held all of its lead-in share with a 5.8/13, but it was CBS’ 90m episode of CSI: Miami that put CBS over the top with a 8.1/20.  The football game scored a 6.6/17.

Fox is producing a spinoff of its drama series ’24’ that will produced solely for cell phones.  Called 24: Conspiracy with characters and actors separate from the television series, will also be produced with 24 episodes, each one minute long, made available on your cell phone weekly. Actually, they aren’t being referred to as episodes by Fox, but rather as ‘mobisodes’ – a term News Corp trademarked per Variety.  In the US, 24: Conspiracy will be available to Verizon users and is expected to launch next spring.  In the UK however, the cell phone series begins in January, at the same time the series is scheduled to make its 2004-05 season debut where the technology (called 3G) is available sooner via Vodafone.

ABC has effectively removed Life as We Know It from its Thursday night schedule for the remainder of the sweep – not by any big announcement, but by preempting it with various OTOs.  This week is the movie Saving Private Ryan (8-11:20p), next week a Primetime Live special edition focusing on The Clinton Legacy (an exclusive Peter Jennings intv with the former POTUS), and on November 25th, the live action feature film How The Grinch Stole Christmas is scheduled from 830-11pm.

Casting / Development / Production

• UPN has picked up a spinoff of its currently Monday night series One on One for midseason.  Cuts (Paramount TV Network/Greenblatt Janollari Studio/Daddy’s Girl Prods) has received a 6 ep order from the net and stars Marques Houston and Shannon Elizabeth, who jointly manage a barbershop.
• Per Hollywood Reporter, ABC has signed a talent holding deal with comic Greg Fitzsimmons who is also a writer/producer for The Ellen DeGeneres Show. The network has also signed former model and beach volleyball player Arlene Tur to a deal shared with Touchstone. Tur appeared in Univision’s Los Teens.

Baywatch – the movie.  A good thing?  DreamWorks SKG hopes so – they just spent $1.25 million on the rights fees.  This of course begs the second question – will David Hasselhoff, Carmen Electra, Pamela Anderson or any of the other beach patrolers going to be involved? So far, dunno, but suffice to say at this point none of them were part of the initial package deal.

The History Channel‘s Alexander the Great special delivered a 2.7 HH rtg with 3.1 million viewers for its premiere. Those numbers make this special the most watched and highest rated non-sports program on basic cable that evening, according to the network, as well as being the highest rated original program on the network in the past year.

Huff made its series debut on Showtime Sunday night at 10p and delivered a fairly modest 456,000 total viewers, despite the onslaught of promotion. The network certainly is hoping the show will gain some ground week to week, but in a position where its airing opposite the likes of Crossing Jordan on NBC and Boston Legal on ABC, it’s going to be a tough few of weeks until the sweep ends (12/1/04).

Top Ten Basic Cable Ad Supported Network Rankings among Total Viewers for the week of November 1-7, 2004:
Primetime       (000)   Total Pgm Day   (000)
FOX NEWS        3270    NICK    2157
TNT             2334    FOXNEWS 1793
ESPN            2265    NAN*            1594
USA             2006    CARTOON 1266
LIFETIME        2048    TNT             1215
NAN             1995    LIFETIME        1125
SPIKE           1806    USA             1048
CNN             1728    CNN             959
CARTOON 1714    ESPN            951
TBS             1602    TBS             942
Source Turner Research from Nielsen Media Research Data.
All ratings based on Total U.S. Television Universe of 108,400,000 homes
* = Network broadcasts less than 51% of minutes in a 24 hour day. Primetime listing only includes those networks broadcasting more than 51% of the primetime hours (M-Su 8p-11p)

Top Ten Basic Cable Ad Supported Network Rankings among A18-49 for the week of November 1-7, 2004:
Primetime       (000)   Total Pgm Day   (000)
ESPN            1146    TNT             656
TNT             1115    NAN*            652
FOXNEWS 1032    FOXNEWS 595
USA             1025    TBS             570
SPIKE           968     LIFETIME        551
TBS             960     USA             537
LIFETIME        891     ESPN            528
COMEDY  601     NICK            507
CNN             600     SPIKE           381
AMC             578     CNN             346
Source Turner Research from Nielsen Media Research Data.
All ratings based on Total U.S. Television Universe of 108,400,000 homes.
* = Network broadcasts less than 51% of minutes in a 24 hour day. Primetime listing only includes those networks broadcasting more than 51% of the primetime hours (M-Su 8p-11p)

Two of this season’s biggest box office films have been deemed ineligible for Golden Globe nominations by the Hollywood Foreign Press Assoc. in the Best Drama category.  Michael Moore’s Fahrenheit 911 as a documentary is ineligible, and they don’t give awards to docs.  The other, Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ is also out of the Best Drama category because it was produced in Latin and Aramaic, and therefore considered to be a foreign language film.  However, the movie is eligible for the Best Foreign Film category.  The actors, director and screenwriter are eligible in their respective categories.

Cynopsis Question for you:  Colin Farrell says he’s not interested in being the next Bond, James Bond.  Apparently others names have been tossed about in the hopper, but the question to you is, who do you think would be the next best Bond?  Send in your pick here and check back tomorrow for your insightful ideas.

Chris Schembri has been named VP/Media for Discovery Networks, US, reporting to Ken Dice, EVP/Marketing.  Chris will oversee the media planning and strategy efforts across Discovery’s 13 U.S. networks, and is responsible for media positioning and cross-network promotion in accordance with major campaigns and company initiatives.  He is also charged with the creation and execution of media partnerships and management of the Discovery Networks media planning teams and an external media agency.

Amy Friedman has been named SVP/Development and Creative Director, Nickelodeon Digital Television, overseeing the development and creative direction of Nick’s digital television networks. The announcement was made by Tom Ascheim, EVP/GM, Nickelodeon Digital Television.

Betsy Wagner Hoffman will join Goodman Media International, Inc. as President of its new Los Angeles office, it was announced today by Tom Goodman, President & CEO. Betsy is a pr professional with more than 20 years experience, with senior stints at Fox, CBS and People Magazine. 

Chris McCumber has been upped to SVP/Marketing and Brand Strategy at USA Network, per the announcement by Bonnie Hammer, President of USA Network and Sci Fi Channel. Chris will oversee the strategic and creative vision for USA Network marketing as well as all expressions of the USA brand including consumer marketing and media planning, on and off-air creative advertising/promotion, network packaging, consumer promotions, interactive, interstitial programming, plus those initiatives created by outside partners to ensure that they meet the strategic, creative and business needs of the brand.

Monday, November 8, 2004. FINAL National Ratings for all Networks – program averages.  Source Nielsen Media Research. Time Period Averages Only. [p] = Premiere; [o] = Original; [r] = Repeat

CBS     11.4/17 Still Standing 7.2/11, Listen Up 7.1/10, 2-1/2 Men 10.7/16, CSI Miami (90m) 14.4/22

ABC     9.2/14  Life of Luxury (OTO) 4.2/7, Monday Night Football 11.6/19 (game ended at 12:02am)

NBC     7.3/11  Fear Factor 7.4/11, Las Vegas 9.5/14, $25 million Hoax [p] 5.1/8

FOX     5.0/7   Trading Spouses 5.4/8, The Swan 4.5/7

WB      2.9/4   Movie Special:  Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (part 2)  2.9/4

UPN     2.4/3   One on One 2.3/3, Half and Half 2.4/4, Girlfriends 2.7/4, Second Time Around 2.2/3

A18-49  CBS 6.1/15, ABC 4.9/13, NBC 4.7/12, Fox 3.4/8, WB 1.7/4, UPN 1.5/4

A MESSAGE FROM WARNER BROS. DOMESTIC CABLE DISTRIBUTION

Source: NTI Explorer, 11/1-11/7/04, A12-34 US 000.  Ranker excludes movies and specials.
Smallville=M-F 7p, Gilmore=M-F 5p, 7th Hvn=M-F 6p. 

The History Channel presents This Day in History:
1969:  National Educational Television, the precursor to PBS, debuts a new children’s television program called Sesame Street.  Of the show’s many familiar and beloved characters, only Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch (who at the time sported orange fur) were present at the show’s creation.

Answer to Yesterday’s Trivia Question:  What sitcom character has relatives in Poplar Bluff? CHARLENE on DESIGNING WOMEN.  Kudos to:  Tim Swenson-West Wayne/Atlanta; Jen Hayoun-Saatchi & Saatchi/NY; Barbara Flam-Turner Latin America; Christianna Edwards-Initiative/Atlanta; Natalie DePriest-KPLR/St. Louis; Christina Mejia-KCEN/Temple TX; Katie Murphy-KMOT/Minot; Jennifer Cooke-The Richards Group/Dallas; Maria Notaras/LA; Heidi Flydal-KFMB/San Diego; Paula Hinkel-TNS/LA; Tom Kilgallon-KTTV, KCOP/LA; Amy Hilker-Warner Bros. Studio Facilities/Burbank;

A MESSAGE FROM CYNOPSIS

In January 2005, this daily edition will introduce brand new ad space as well as make available previously sold out space.  New space includes Top of Page above the title (only Thursdays available). And becoming avail in 2005 for the first time in more than 4 years is Space A, immediately following the daily Nielsen Media Research household ratings chart. 

If you’d like to see a Media Kit outlining the demographics of the Cynopsis sub base as well as 2005 rates, send me a note at

Today’s Trivia Question:  If you were to travel down I-90 and get off at Exit 119 in Blue Earth, Minnesota, you’d come across  a 55′ statue of what?   (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
11.10.04  5:07am

In 2005, Cynopsis will offer new ad space. Interested?

Archived Editions: www.Cynopsis.com
Cynopsis Ad Sales 203-526-8978
Press Release Fax: 203-381-9318
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Copyright Cynthia Turner 2004

CYNOPSIS CLASSIFIEDS

JOB OPENING:  SALES PLANNER/GSN, NY~2+ yrs cable experience  Must have prior experience in planning client maintenance delivery & presentation skills Thorough knowledge of excel and powerpoint a must email resume to
  (11/17)

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:
  (11/17)

JOB OPENING:  GENERAL SALES MANAGER/Comcast Spotlight, Berlin, CT. 5 + yrs of media  sales mgmt exp. with proven ability to lead and motivate a 35+ member sales team to achieve & exceed sales goals. Apply at www.comcast.com (11/17)

JOB OPENING:  LOCAL MANAGER/Comcast Spotlight, Middlebury, CT. 2+ yrs of media sales mgmt exp. with proven ability to lead and motivate a sales team to achieve & exceed sales goals. Apply at www.comcast.com (11/17)

JOB OPENING:  GREAT! MARKETING ASSISTANT in Atlanta. If you are passionate and enthusiastic about promotion, help our team create buzz and wow our TV and entertainment clients. Email
for entry-level position info.  (11/16)

JOB OPENING:  MTV Networks: MANAGER, MARKET DEVELOPMENT/NY. Manage sales efforts/renewals for Spike TV for all Canadian Affiliates. Develop distrib strategies to maximize Spike TV distrib in Canada.Apply: www.mtvncareers.com EOE  (11/16)

JOB OPENING:  SUPRV PRODUCER, ONAIR GRAPHICS, MTV/NYC. 5yrs exp. motion graphics/design, Strng leader, Strg exp in TV, prod & large budgets, Able Knowledge intellectual property law A+, EOE/M/F/D/AAP. Apply www.mtvncareers.com
(11/16)

JOB OPENING:  HEAD OF LICENSING/LA: 3+ yrs exp of managing entertainment/children’s cross-category licensing programs. Good licensee and retail contacts; self starter. Email resume
  (11/16)

JOB OPENING:  VP/MEDIA SALES, Growing, NYC “out of home” media co. Seeks 8-10 yrs exp & proven track record in cable, outdoor, or print ad sales a must. Strong comm & orgz skills. Excl comp. package. Reply:
  (11/13)

JOB OPENING:  RESEARCH ANALYST-Nat’l Ad Sales-AMC, NYC. 2+ yrs media research exp, pref at a cable net. Analysis of data/materials for ad sales, mktng,  pgming, p.r., affiliate / local ad sales.  Apply:
  (11/13)

JOB OPENING:  DIR OF SALES/CLTV News, Oak Brook IL. 5+ yrs bcst/media sales mgmt; proven sales success w/agencies, retail. Resp: aggr sales goals/share, long term vision/planning. Resume:

, Info: www.cltv.com (11/12)

JOB OPENING:  SALES & SERVICES COORD./MTV Networks, CA. detail oriented self starter (1-2 yrs exp in sales/proj mgmt pref). Interaction w/clients, exc comm skills a must. Team player w/ “can do” attitude. Apply www.mtvncareers.com (11/12)

JOB OPENING:  New York, NY. Experienced SENIOR PRODUCER to help launch and run weekly one-hour series on faith, culture and current events for national cable channel.Content is multi-faith.E-mail:
  (11/12)

JOB OPENING:  DIR, INTEGRATED MRKTG, CMT/NYC. 6yrs Integ. Mrktg in TV/Adv., Xcellent mrktng/creative abilities, Strng knwldge music, leadership, Strng writing/comm. skills BA/BS req, EOE/M/F/D/AAP. Apply www.mtvncareers.com (11/11)

JOB OPENING:   MGR ADV/AETN, NY. Manage advertising and marketing projects. BA/BS req’d. 5 yrs exp in mktg, pr or adv within media environment. E-mail res & sal reqs:
  (11/11)

JOB OPENING:   ACCT REP, AFF SALES/AETN, NY. Support NE Aff Sales thru presentations, client events, trade shows.BA/BS req’d. 2 yrs aff or local ad sales or cable op exp. Significant Travel req. Resume/Sal req:
  (11/11)

JOB OPENING:  ADMIN ASST, PRODUCTION & OPERATIONS/OLN-Stamford, CT.Entry-level, supporting busy VPs.Proficiency in Excel, strong numbers aptitude, attention to detail req. More info: www.olntv.com. Resume/salary:
  (11/11)

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

SITUATION WANTED: CREATIVE POSITION/ PRODUCTION:  MTV Asia Senior Producer (6 yrs) & film director of TV commercials, music videos, promos, drama.  Work experience in Asia/ UK/ US.

. NYC  (11/17)

SITUATION WANTED: Experienced EP/SENIOR PRODUCER with outstanding credentials & impeccable references seeking a senior creative position in BROADCAST OR CABLE NEWS. please email hawtreyandthedeafaids
  (11/13)

SITUATION WANTED: 4 yrs exp. FINAL CUT/AE EDITING, SHOOTING, ENCODING, PRODUCING for National TV, MSN, Nokia, etc.  Tired of being a one-man studio -Wanna’ be a team player!  Based in NYC. Willing to move! 
msn
  (11/13)

SITUATION WANTED: SAVVY MARKETER with 15+ years exp. managing$20 million+ mktg. budgets for Fox, Spelling, Paramount, NBC and others.  Expert in mgt. effectiveness, budget efficiency, strategic positioning.  E-mail:
  (11/13)

SITUATION WANTED: SEEKING SENIOR ENTERTAINMENT EXECUTIVE MENTOR interested in sharing insights and counseling an ambitious junior executive with programming, sales, and production experience. email:

  (11/13)

SITUATION WANTED:  PRODUCTION PROFESSIONAL with 20 yrs experience in US Hispanic market seeks a network television or cable position – Creative Services/Producer in LA, but will consider relocating. Contact: Maria Botta;
  (11/13)

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A MESSAGE FROM CYNOPSIS AD SALES

WHAT’S ON TONIGHT:  NOVEMBER 10, 2004:

ABC             Lost, The Bachelor, Wife Swap
CBS             60 Minutes, King of Queens, Center of the Universe, CSI NY
FOX             That 70’s Show, Quintuplets, Nanny 911
NBC             LAX, West Wing, Law & Order
PAX             Doc, Sue Thomas F.B.Eye, Early Edition
UPN             Top Model, Kevin Hill
WB              Smallville, Jack & Bobby
TELE            Anita No Te Rejas, Prisionera, Noticiero Telemundo
UNIV            Rubi, Amor Real, Don Francisco Presenta