Cynopsis

11.18.09

Good morning. It’s Wednesday, November 18, 2009, and this is your first early morning briefing.  And as always, if you prefer to watch this morning’s news instead of reading it, click here.  

Tonight’s Finales:
The CW: America’s Next Top Model at 8p
Comedy Central: South Park at 10p

Viacom’s MTV Networks picked up the exclusive US television rights to air Michael Jackson’s This Is It from Sony Pictures Television. The concert film will be made available to MTV Networks in 2011 and continue through the full six-year network window. The agreement includes telecasts on all US MTV Networks’ channels MTV, VH1, VH1 Classic and Palladia as well as BET Networks and new channel Centric. Premiere dates specific to each network will be announced later. This Is It premiered theatrically in the US on October 28 and was #1 at the box office that weekend. The film depicts the behind-the-scenes footage during Michael Jackson’s rehearsals leading up to his comeback concerts at London’s O2 Arena from March through June 2009 just prior to his sudden death.

Planet Green introduces viewers to a new original enviro-crime drama series, Operation Wild beginning January 8 at 10p. The six-episode half-hour series follows officers employed at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission as they use boats, helicopters, airboats and patrol vehicles to help boaters in trouble, tracking poachers to rescuing wildlife. Operation Wild is a co-production of Greif Company and Planet Green. In addition, Planet Green premieres the limited series Ultimate Power Builders on December 4 at 10p with four one-hour episodes. Co-produced by Saint Thomas Productions and Planet Green, Ultimate Power Builders documents environmentally-friendly mega structures around the world. Furthermore, Planet Green announced it has renewed original series Wa$ted for a third season with ten 30m episodes opening next April as well as Greensburg for a third season with four one-hour episodes opening May 2. Greensburg is produced by Appian Way with Pilgrim Films and Television for Planet Green.

CMT is bringing back a second season of The Singing Bee starting January 15 at 9p with host Melissa Peterman. The weekly, one-hour competition series tests contestants’ knowledge of lyrics to well-known songs. The Singing Bee is produced by The Gurin Company and JUMA Entertainment. Full episodes from season one are available online at www.cmt.com/shows/series/singing_bee/episodes.jhtml .

Programming Note: NFL announced the week #12 schedule was finalized yesterday and there is no change with the NBC Sunday night game on November 29 starting at 820p between Pittsburgh and Baltimore. The November 29 afternoon games on FOX flip flop with the Arizona and Tennessee game moving from 1p to 415p and the Chicago at Minnesota game will start at 415p.

Discovery Channel’s epic 11-part series Life will debut next March, narrated by Oprah Winfrey. The natural history series, chronicling earth’s living creatures and behaviors is a co-production of Discovery Channel and BBC.

A new report from Mediaedge: cia (MEC) titled MEC’s Celebrity Endorsement SENSOR says 30% of respondents in the 18-34 age range try products especially if they are endorsed by admired celebrities. This finding contrasts with consumers in the 35-54 age bracket where only 14% say they are influenced by celebrities and even less with the 55+ age category where 11% say celebrity endorsements matter to them. Other findings from the report include:

• Most Americans view celebrity information via news outlets (58%) and information online (31%).
• A18-34 and men are more likely to engage with celebrities through digital related activities such as blogs, social networking sites or forwarding a celebrity link, photo or video to others online.
• As people age, their interest in celebrities dwindle.
• 35% of the report’s respondents think celebrity endorsements improve a brand’s overall awareness.
• However, 53% admitted to being confused as to which celebrity is endorsing which brand and only notice the brand if they are interested in the category. 

Clarification:   In an item regarding the MGM film studio in Cynopsis on Monday 11/16, I neglected to include all three options currently being considered by MGM.  In a statement by MGM sent to the news media, it says “[MGM is] beginning a process to explore various strategic alternatives including operating as a standalone entity, forming strategic partnerships and evaluating a potential sale of the Company.”   The first option in the statement – operating as a standalone entity – was inadvertently left out of our item on Monday.  I apologize for the confusion.

A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE FROM THE LUSTGARTEN FOUNDATION

Debmar-Mercury announced its syndicated The Wendy Williams Show was renewed on the Fox Television Stations through the 2011-2012 season. The daytime talk show was renewed on FOX O&Os in top markets including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia and Dallas.

Shaftesbury Films said its drama series The Listener was renewed for a sophomore season by Canada’s SPACE and CTV as well as Fox International Channels. Shine International distributes the one-hour drama about a telepathic paramedic (Craig Olejnik) as he goes from one crisis to another. The Listener is produced by Shaftesbury Films in association with SPACE, CTV and Fox International Channels.

ReelzChannel is now available via Comcast in Sarasota and the surrounding area.

A&E Network approved a new original real-life series starring well-known actor/host Bob Saget. In Bob Saget’s Strange Days (wt), Saget will travel around America discovering unique cultures and groups of people such as those in a survivalist cult to a fraternity rush process. Production is currently happening on seven 60m episodes slated to premiere next year. The series is produced for A&E by Tijuana Entertainment and Brillstein Entertainment Partners. Executive producers include Tijuana’s Troy Searer and John Foy; Brillstein Entertainment’s Peter Traugott; and Bob Saget. Robert Sharenow and Scott Lonker will executive produce for A&E.

Lorraine Bracco (HBO’s The Sopranos) was cast in TNT’s drama pilot Rizzoli produced by Warner Horizon, cites THR. Bracco will play mom Angela to police detective Jane Rizzoli (Angie Harmon).

Abigail Spencer (AMC’s Mad Men) will next appear in NBC’s drama pilot Rex Is Not Your Lawyer, per THR. Spencer will play Lindsey Steers, an ambitious lawyer at Rex’s firm and also his fiancee. Rex is played by David Tennant and UMS and BermanBraun are producing.

A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE FROM CYNOPSIS MEDIA

Note: The Nielsen data center in Oldsmar experienced a facility power outage on Tuesday morning.  As a result all data, systems, products and processing due to be released today (Tuesday, November 17, 2009) have been delayed for both local and national audience estimates.  Therefore, the weekend ratings below are based on overnight fast affiliate ratings from Nielsen, not national final numbers.  Additionally, Primetime National Ratings for Monday, November 16 and Weekly Cable and Network Program Rankers were not available and is expected to be available later today. We will include them in tomorrow’s edition.

Saturday A18-49 Analysis: FOX remained the Saturday night leader, posting a 1.6/5 among A18-49, according to overnight affiliate ratings from Nielsen. At 8p, FOX won with its “bad boys” in two Cops episodes averaging a 1.6/5, followed by ABC’s Saturday Night Football at 1.4/4. AMW: America Fights Back on FOX did best at 9p with 1.5/5, while college football on ABC held steady at 1.4/4. Then at 10p, ABC’s gridiron match between Notre Dame and University made it to #1 with 1.6/5 and NBC’s Law & Order: SVU repeat came next at 1.2/4.

Live + Same Day Household Ratings: Saturday, November 14, 2009 (November Sweep Day 17) time period averages. Source: Nielsen NPM

CBS: 4.0/7       Crimetime Saturday 4.3/7, Crimetime Saturday 3.8/7, 48 Hours Mystery 4.0/7

ABC: 3.5/6       Saturday Night Football: Notre Dame vs. University 3.5/6

FOX: 3.1/5        Cops 3.0/5, Cops 2 [r] 3.1/6, AMW: America Fights Back 3.1/5

NBC: 2.7/5        Mercy [r] 1.7/3, Law & Order [r] 2.9/5, Law & Order: SVU [r] 3.7/7

UNIV: 1.3/2       Sabado Gigante 1.3/2

ION: 0.6/1        Saturday Movie: Waterworld 0.6/1

TELE: 0.3/1       Futbol Estelar: Chivas vs. Cruz Azul 0.3/1, Futbol Estelar II: Atlante vs. Tecos UAG 0.6/1

A18-49: FOX 1.6/5, ABC 1.4/5, CBS 1.0/3, NBC 0.9/3, UNIV 0.8/2, ION 0.3/1, TELE 0.3/1

Sunday  A18-49 Analysis: NBC won by a long shot Sunday night, delivering a 6.0/15 A18-49, according to overnight affiliate ratings from Nielsen. FOX scored the highest ratings during 7p with its NFL Football at 6.6/18, while NBC’s Football Night in America placed second at 2.7/7. More NFL action won during 8p, as NBC delivered a 6.7/16 while the combo of FOX’s The Simpsons and The Cleveland Show averaged a 3.8/9 at #2. NBC’s Sunday Night Football tallied a winning 7.7/18 through 9p and ABC’s Desperate Housewives posted a respectable 5.0/11 in second place. NBC finished the evening at 10p with a 7.0/18 for the Patriots vs. Colts NFL match while ABC played second fiddle again, this time with Brothers & Sisters at 3.2/9.

Live + Same Day Household Ratings: Sunday, November 15, 2009  (November Sweep Day 18) time period averages. Source: Nielsen NPM.

NBC: 10.3/16     Football Night in America 4.0/7, Football Night in America 5.1/8, NBC Sunday Night Football: Patriots vs. Colts 12.1/18

ABC: 6.9/11       America’s Funniest Home Videos 4.9/8, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition 6.9/10, Desperate Housewives 9.0/13, Brothers & Sisters 6.9/11

CBS: 6.7/10       60 Minutes 8.0/13, The Amazing Race 7.1/11, Three Rivers 5.4/8, Cold Case 6.1/10

FOX: 6.6/10        NFL Football 10.5/16, The Simpsons 5.2/8, The Cleveland Show 4.2/6, Family Guy 4.7/7, American Dad 3.5/5

UNIV: 1.3/2     Maria de Todos los Angeles 0.9/1, Viva El Sueno 1.4/2, Quien Tiene la Razon? 1.2/2

TELE: 0.5/1     Cine En Casa 0.5/1, Cine Millonario 0.5/1

ION: 0.4/1       Sunday Night Movie: Heist 0.4/1

A18-49: NBC 6.0/15, FOX 4.6/12, ABC 3.5/9, CBS 2.4/6, UNIV 0.8/2, TELE 0.4/1, ION 0.1/0

Wayne Roche has been appointed Director/Business Development and Sales at Cynopsis Media. Wayne was Director/Luxury Brand Sales and Sponsorships at The Hollywood Reporter and has held senior management positions at Stagebill Media and Variety Inc.  Wayne will be based in the Cynopsis Summit, NJ office, and can be reached via email at
.   Additionally, Mike Farina has been upped to Senior Director/Business Development & Sales at Cynopsis.  Mike has been with the company for 12 months and is also based in Summit.  His email is
.   Congratulations Mike and welcome aboard Wayne! 
 
Sir Groovy named the following executives to its Board: Morgan J. Freeman, director on Dawson’s Creek and other productions; Gill Holland, CEO of The Group Entertainment; Tom Carroll, CEO of Carroll Strategies and the previous president of New Mexico-based DW Turner; and Newton Aird was appointed CTO of Sir Groovy. Newton was formerly the Senior Systems Architect for Deutsche Bank, ING Barings and the former Senior Technical Consultant for Standard & Poors, Oracle and Amgen.

BBC Worldwide elevated Helen Jurado to VP/Sales and Distribution, Latin America to supervise the multi-platform sales activities of 50,000+ hours of programming, digital media and home entertainment in this region. Additionally, Helen will continue to head the BBC Showcase Latin America event based in Rio de Janeiro. Helen reports to Matt Forde, EVP/Sales and Co-Productions, Americas.

Discovery Communications-Hasbro Joint Venture hired four senior executives for the upcoming children’s television network, slated to launch late next year. The yet-to-be-named network added:

• Amber Fredman-Tarshis was named CMO, joining from Victoria’s Secret where she worked as VP/Marketing. In her new role, Amber will work directly with Margaret Loesch, President and the Senior Joint Venture Team to develop the network’s brand identity including its name, logos and brand persona.
• Dan Pimentel joins as CFO to supervise financial planning and analysis. Dan has had stints at Walt Disney Company and most recently as VP/Finance for Discovery’s Commerce Division.
• Brooke Goldstein becomes SVP/Ad Sales to head the sales team for the new network. Brooke will report to Margaret Loesch and receive support from Joe Abruzzese, Discovery Communications’ President/Ad Sales and Discovery’s Senior Ad Sales Leadership Team. Previously, Brooke served as Managing Partner at Mediacom Communications.
• Lorrie Copeland will take on the role of SVP/Consumer Insights and Research to offer qualitative and quantitative research tools to aid the multi-platform, multi-media business efforts across the joint venture among other duties. Prior to this appointment, Lorrie was at Hasbro as SVP/Head of Consumer Insights.

Bill Carey was appointed News Director at PIX/New York, the CW affiliate owned by Tribune Broadcasting. Bill begins his new position on November 30, joining most recently from WQAD-TV, the ABC affiliate in Illinois owned by Local TV LLC, a Tribune Company partner, where he served as Station Manager/News Director.

WNET.ORG, parent company of THIRTEEN, WLIW21 and Creative News Group in New York promoted Ranfi Rivera as Executive Director/Business Development and Institutional Strategy. Ranfi, reporting to Josh Nathan, VP/Business Development and Institutional Strategy, will be in charge of negotiating agreements for the financing, acquisition, production and distribution of content. Furthermore, WNET.ORG upped Richard Siegmeister to Director/Business Development and Institutional Strategy and Kellie Castruita Specter to Senior Director/Communications.

This day in History:  1928 – The first successful sound-synchronized animated cartoon premiered in New York. It was Walt Disney’s “Steamboat Willie,” starring Mickey Mouse.

Answer to Yesterday’s Trivia Question:   Which show opened with this exchange: 

CRAZY LIKE A FOX WITH JACK WARDEN AND JOHN RUBENSTEIN  Kudos to: Sandra Manley-Corp Shorts/NY; Andrew Goldman-HBO/NY; Wendi Friedman Tush-The Lexicomm Group/NY; David DeVita-Montclair State University/Montclair NJ; Larry Glazer-WTTW/Chicago; Tim Rank-Cox Reps/St. Louis; John Amato-KTTV/LA; Lorrie Shilling-DirecTV/El Segundo; Rob Chatlin-FX Network/LA

Today’s Trivia Question:   Who was the very first woman to host a late night show — permanently or as a substitute?    (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.)

A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE

Later — Cyn
11.18.09

Cynopsis Media Facebook Page here – all of our Job Listings and Top Stories reported here first!

Cynopsis Ad Sales:
Chuck Bolkcom, Pres/COO – 646-468-6180 /

Classifieds – Trish Pihonak- 203-926-9878 /

Member of Interactive Advertising Bureau (iab)

To subscribe to any Cynopsis edition(s) click here . 
To unsubscribe , click here or click the button at the end of this email.

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

JOB OPENING: SYNDICATION PROFESSIONAL/Danny Lipford Media: Exp placing nationally syndicated tv show. Must have established contacts w stations/groups. Some travel. No ad sales. Benefits/Salary/Commission.
(11/25)

JOB OPENING: SR. COUNSEL, PROGRAMMING, CABLEVISION/NY:Negotiate draft transactions, handle diverse legal programming issues. Needs JD, 6+ yrs relevant inhouse or law firm experience. Apply:
(11/24)

JOB OPENING: NETWORK SALES/ION Media Networks/NY: Highly motivated and creative network sales acct exec w/ established relationships and proven track record. EOE. Apply to
(11/24)

JOB OPENING: EP OF DEVELOPMENT to lead new dev dep’t for cable/non-fict/reality. Big ideas, attaching talent, pitching, lots of showrun/EP exprnce a must. We’re moving from docus to reality/non-fiction.
(11/24)

JOB OPENING: DIR PRGRMNG/HGTV/NY: Mng all aspects of commiss’d shows. Maintains & evolves ongoing series. Showrunning Exp req’d along w/6 yrs cable nets exp in program prod or mngmnt w/sig creative input. www.scrippsnetworks.com #1241 (11/24)

JOB OPENING: DIR AFFILIATE SALES & MARKETING/HALLMARK CHANNEL/NY: Increase distribution for Hallmark Channels; please see full posting and apply at http://www.hallmarkchannel.com/ConsumerWeb/JobOpening/Default.aspx (11/21)

JOB OPENING: MGR DIGITAL ADSALES FINANCE/FNC.com min. 5 yrs ad sales financial exp. Respon. for fin. analysis of digital metrics. Strong business partner exp. Ad Servers/Yield systems req. Res + CL to
. EOE (11/21)

JOB OPENING: STRATEGIC MKTG MGR/(USA)/NBCU/NY: Devel. & execute revenue generating, multi-platform mktg opportunities for potential & current clients, support USA network’s sales goals. BA 5 yrs exp. www.nbcjobs.com , #1109143 (11/20)

JOB OPENING: DIRECTOR, MARKETING PARTNERSHIPS/Nat’l Geo Channel, DC. Lead/develop promo partnerships. BA & 7yrs exp & cable network pref. Apply www.FoxCareers.com job# FNG17451 (11/20)

JOB OPENING: EXEC PROD/NYC: Proven track rec to lead prod arm of NYC post shop. Resp for successful completion of projs across all mediums. Bring proven leadership skills to all phases of prod thru post. Res:
(11/19)

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
.

SPRING INTERNSHIP CREDITS ONLY: MKTG INTERN/Smithsonian Channel/NYC: Min 12-15 hrs/wk, Must be JR/SR, Projects incl Copywriting, Rsrch, Sales Support, Social Mktg. Mgrs provide guidance. http://www.sho.com/site/about/careers.do . The Job ID is 2556BR (11/24)

SPRING INTERNSHIPS CREDIT ONLY: Rock Ridge Music/Newark NJ: call tour promoters & retail stores, work directly w/RRM staff & artists, Internet promo/research, computer savvy, familiar w/social networking sites
(11/20)

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: PRODUCER/WRITER/DIRECTOR (NY) Ultra-creative, award winning, all formats, all genres, all major networks and major cable. Fast, frugal and fun!
(11/25)

SITUATION WANTED: MARKETING, SALES, BUS DEV, STRATEGY, REV GEN, ROI, CHANNELS, MATRIX MGT., BRANDING, ADVERTS, COMM (NYC)+25 yrs mgt/hands-on. LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/ellencrich Email:
(11/24)

SITUATION WANTED: EIC/LINE PRODUCER with 10+ yrs exp. Variety, Docu-Reality, Game Show, Scripted, Live, Competition- Mngd biz of Prod. Co’s. for major TV & cable nets. MM/EPB budgets, union&non
(11/24)

SITUATION WANTED: RESEARCH DIR/STRATEGIST – See what 20+ yrs media, Nielsen, Hisp, research, sales, presentation experience can do for you.Email:
(11/24)

SITUATION WANTED: 20+ yrs. experience in TV Broadcasting & Cable ACCOUNTING/FINANCE. Seeking FT/PT or Temp-to-Perm position:
(11/24)

SITUATION WANTED: DESIGN, ILLUSTRATION & ART DIRECTION (NYC)20 years experience working concept through completion. Portfolio: www.baerdavis.com Email:
(11/21)

SITUATION WANTED: DESIGN, ILLUSTRATION, WEBSITE, VIDEO EDITING & ART DIRECTION (LA) Extensive industry experience.  Portfolio: http://www.unlaccess.com / Email:
(11/21)

SITUATION WANTED: EXPERIENCED FINANCIAL AND TURNAROUND EXECUTIVE – Over 20 years experience. Seeks challenging situation at broadcast/internet/print media company.
(11/20)

SITUATION WANTED: PRODUCER/WRITER/EDITOR(LA)10+ yrs in news, reality, features, docs, clip shows w/ ESPN, HBO, E! Ent., NFL Net, TruTV. Field and story producer, final cut/avid exp, great w/ deadlines & talent
(11/20)

SITUATION WANTED:CONTRACT MANAGER/ADMINISTRATOR: 10 yrs exp.in Contract/Sales Admin: avails, reporting, etc.; looking to work out of home office, or in the NY area. Contact e-mail:
(11/20)

SITUATION WANTED:CAMERA OPERATOR/LA Based… MTV, TRUTV, ABC, Watch my reel at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxsrcWAvvKw. Contact email:
(11/20)

SITUATION WANTED: BIZ & LEGAL AFFAIRS ATTY: seeks studio position/10+ yrs exp/new media, content licensing, IP, rights mgt, use of name & likeness/
(11/20)

SITUATION WANTED: MARKETING MANAGER/LA with exp in independent film, home entertainment, television and entertainment partnerships seeks opportunity to make a difference for the right company. Email for resume.
(11/20)

SITUATION WANTED:  EIC/Line Prod/Dir.Ops. 10+yrs Versed in: live, synd, news, reality, lg. event sports & Ent. Budgeting Lg & sm. Exc. org. skills, Movie Magic, & union contracts.  At ease in fast paced control room envir.
(11/19)

E-mail
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
for specs.

WHAT’S ON TONIGHT –  WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2009

ABC:  Modern Family [r], The Middle, Modern Family, Cougar Town, In the Spotlight with Robin Roberts
AZTECA: Laura de Todos, Lo Que Callamos Las Mujeres Edicion Especial, Al Extremo
CBS: New Adv of Old Christine, Gary Unmarried, Criminal Minds, CSI: NY
CW:  America’s Next Top Model, [f ], America’s Next Top Model [season highights]
FOX: So You Think You Can Dance, Glee
ION:  Ghost Whisperer, Ghost Whisperer, Criminal Minds
NBC: Mercy, Law & Order: SVU, Jay Leno Show
PBS:  Secrets of Shangri-La, Lost Cave Temples of the Himalaya, Mustang: Journey of Transformation; In Search of Myths and Heroes
TELE: Mas Sabe el Diablo; Ninos Ricos Padres Pobres, Victorinos
UNIV: En Nombre del Amor, Sortilegio, Don Francisco Presenta

Cynopsis Media LLC
One Corporate Drive, Suite 724
Shelton, CT 06484
203.926.9878

All outgoing e-mails are scanned and sent out virus free. Copyright Cynopsis 2009