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Today’s Premieres
CBS: Young Sheldon at 8p; Ghosts at 8:30p; So Help Me Todd at 9p; CSI: Vegas at 10p
Facebook Watch: Yara Shahidi’s Day Off
Fox: Hell’s Kitchen at 8p; Welcome to Flatch at 9p; Call My Kat at 9:30p
Netflix: Eat the Rich: The GameStop Saga
PBS: This Old House at 8p; Ask This Old House at 8:30p
Peacock: Dragons Rescue Riders: Heroes of the Sky

Today’s Finales
CW: Bump at 8:30p; Great Chocolate Showdown at 9p
HBO: Hostages at 10p

IN THE NEWS

Linda Yaccarino, Chairman, Global & Advertising Partnerships for NBCUniversal, has issued an industry-wide call to action for service. “Culture of service is more than just talking about values like empathy and unity—we need to dig deep, reach down into our souls, and find the courage to act,” said Yaccarino during her honoree remarks at the 2022 She Runs It “Women of the Year” event. “Many of us in this room are in the business of creating culture. But let’s be clear: it’s not just the CEOs, celebrities, and influencers. We all can create culture. In a million ways, we can shape how the people around us act, and feel, and treat each other.” Her challenge? “Put in the effort. Extend the hand. Uncross your arms. Build those relationships. Choose empathy, unity, and courage. Commit to service. And I promise you, if you accept that challenge, and build this culture–I’ll be the first person in your corner.”

MGM linear and streaming service Epix is rebranding as MGM+ on January 15, in conjunction with the season three premiere of “Godfather of Harlem.” “MGM is one of the most iconic and beloved brands from the golden age of entertainment,” said Michael Wright, head of MGM+. “This rebrand is a promise to existing and new viewers that MGM+ is the place to find television that reflects and celebrates the legacy of the iconic MGM brand – cinematic programming with sophisticated storytelling that entertains, delights, surprises, and transports. MGM is television for movie lovers.”

In more Epix news, “Bridge and Tunnel” has hit the end of the road after two seasons. The dramedy starred and was written, directed and produced by Ed Burns.

“We are not for sale,” Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav told employees at a company Zoom town hall on Wednesday, according to several attendees. “We have everything we need to be successful to be the biggest entertainment media company in the world.” Zaslav acknowledged the industry is going through major change, and urged patience.

Game Show Network is returning to Dish Network after a carriage dispute led to a three-week blackout. “We’re pleased to have reached a multi-year agreement that benefits all parties, especially our customers,” said Brian Neylon, EVP and Group President, Dish TV. “I want to thank our customers for their patience and understanding as we worked through the negotiations.”

Despite volatile market conditions, Lionsgate confirmed it still plans to split its Starz and studio businesses. “As negotiations progress we have increased our focus on the possibility of spinning our studio business, creating a number of financial and strategic benefits,” said the company in an SEC filing Wednesday. “In that regard, we are continuing productive negotiations with prospective strategic and financial partners on both sides of our business.”

Lionsgate also announced the rebrand of its StarzPlay streaming platform as Lionsgate+ in 35 markets outside the US. “We recognized the potential of the global OTT market early, and over the last few years we have built an incredible global streaming service,” said Jeffrey Hirsch, President and CEO of Starz. “Operating under Lionsgate+ internationally brings a distinct and differentiated identity in an increasingly crowded international marketplace.”

Google is the most-trusted news source on digital platforms, according to a study from the Reuters Institute. The tech company was cited by 53% of US survey respondents. YouTube was trusted by 40%, followed by Facebook (29%), Twitter and Instagram (both 26%), and WhatsApp and TikTok (20%). “Audiences do perceive news on different platforms differently and say they use them for sometimes distinct purposes,” noted the authors of the study. “That insight is an important one for news organizations that seek to engage with audiences in these spaces.”

TV shows and movies inspired by video games averaged 20 per year from 2013-21, according to Ampere Analysis, up from an average of 10 per year from 2000-2012. Shows related to games hit a high of 28 in 2016; last year there were 21, including 14 on linear TV.

A defamation lawsuit filed last year, alleging that Majed Khalil was defamed on “Lou Dobbs Tonight” and in tweets, can proceed to trial, ruled a judge. Fox Corp., Fox News Network and Dobbs are named in the suit, which claims the Venezuelan businessman was unfairly accused of trying to corrupt the 2020 U.S. presidential election. Fox argued that it couldn’t be held liable for statements made by Dobbs and attorney Sidney Powell.

The Hollywood Foreign Press Association has expanded the Golden Globes categories for actors in supporting roles to Best Supporting Actor in a Television Series/Musical-Comedy or Drama; Supporting Actress in a Television Series/Musical-Comedy or Drama; Supporting Actor in a Limited Series/Anthology or Motion Picture Made for Television; and Supporting Actress in a Limited Series/Anthology or Motion Picture Made for Television. Nominations will be announced December 12.

CNN cut eight staffers from its audio division, according to Business Insider. “Audio is an important growth area for the company. Over the last several years we’ve learned a lot about the topics and productions that most resonate with our audiences,” said a network spokesperson. “As a result, we’ve refined our strategy to focus our resources more specifically in those areas.”

2022 Top Women in Media

October 11th is right around the corner!

We are proud to invite you to register and attend Top Women in Media Awards, a ceremony that celebrates and honors the best women in the industry- those who are capable, creative, and collaborative, and go above and beyond in their roles. Join us in NYC on October 11th for a celebration of leadership and determination in the media industry!

ATTEND TOP WOMEN

PRODUCTION & DEVELOPMENT

“Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire” has been renewed for a second season, ahead of the October 2 series premiere on AMC and AMC+. “We look forward to sharing the final product of this extraordinary effort with audiences in just a few short days and are thrilled that this story will continue,” said Dan McDermott, President of Original Programming for AMC Networks and AMC Studios. “This is only the beginning of an entire Universe featuring enthralling stories and characters that capture the spirit of Anne Rice’s amazing work.”

Speaking at the AMC Networks Summit on Wednesday, McDermott noted that “curation and quality, not clutter and quantity,” is the priority for AMC’s 2023 lineup. Next year’s roster includes “Orphan Black: Echoes,” “The Walking Dead,” “Moonhaven,” and “Anne Rice’s Mayfair Witches,” along with “Vampire.”

Actor Colman Domingo, who stars in AMC’s “Fear the Walking Dead” and adapted his play, “Dot,” as “West Philly Baby” for AMC Studios, was also at the AMC Summit. Domingo said “stories that are embedded in who we are, not as a response to whiteness,” are his hope for the future of television content, with a spotlight on Black stories and Black love.

Epix greenlit four scripted series that will be added to its lineup after its relaunch as MGM+. Series include crime thriller “Cocaine,” following a CIA operative and manager of a Miami hotel; “Belgravia: The Next Chapter,” picking up 25 years after the events of the 2020 limited series; an untitled docuseries chronicling the Amityville murders; and two-part “San Francisco Sounds” (wt), tracking the San Francisco music scene from 1965-75.

Kevin Costner’s Territory Pictures, Morgan Freeman and Lori McCreary’s Revelations Entertainment and Big Dreams Entertainment are partnering to produce “The Gray House,” a Civil War-set limited series for Paramount Global.

The comeback story of Vanessa Williams, who overcame the scandal of having to return her 1984 Miss America crown after nude photos of her appeared in Penthouse, is being developed as a limited series by Sony Pictures Television. Neil Meron is producing. Zadan/Meron Productions’ Meron and Mark Nicholson will executive produce with Stephen Roseberry and Jon Carrasco of Encore Endeavor 1.

Disney+ and National Geographic announced casting for “Genius: MLK/X”. The ensemble includes Kelvin Harrison Jr. (“The Trial of the Chicago 7”) as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Aaron Pierre (“The Underground Railroad”) as Malcolm X, Weruche Opia (“I May Destroy You”) as Coretta Scott King, and Jayme Lawson (“The Batman”) as Betty Shabazz. Principal photography will begin in October in Atlanta.

More casting notes: Lisa Kudrow (“Friends”) will star in Apple TV’s adaptation of “Time Bandits.”…Marla Gibbs (“The Jeffersons”) has joined the season 19 cast of ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy” in a multi-episode arc. She’ll play the grandmother of new resident Simone Griffith….Kevin Alves has been elevated from recurring to series regular on season two of Showtime’s “Yellowjackets.”

NEW & RETURNING SERIES

Season two of “Hello, Jack! The Kindness Show”, starring Jack McBrayer (“30 Rock”) debuts Friday, October 7 on Apple TV+. Among the visitors to Clover Grove will be Tony Hale (“Veep”), Gillian Jacobs (“Community”), Joe Lo Truglio (“Brooklyn Nine-Nine”), Stephanie Beatriz (“Brooklyn Nine-Nine”), D’Arcy Carden (“A League of Their Own”), Kristen Schaal (“What We Do In The Shadows”), Beth Dover (“Orange Is the New Black”), Kumail Nanjiani (“The Big Sick”), and Emily V. Gordon (“Little America”).

“Hip Hop Homicides” premieres Thursday, November 3 at 9p on WE tv. The true-crime procedural takes an in-depth look at shocking crimes in the hip hop community, with the hope of providing loved ones and fans with closure.

Korean stars shrug off the stresses of global fame and head to the country for a surprise trip in “IN THE SOOP: Friendcation,” streaming on Disney+ starting October 19. Featuring Park Seo-jun (“The Marvels”), rapper Peakboy, Choi Woo-shik (“Parasite”), Park Hyung-sik (“Soundtrack #1”) and V of BTS, the travel reality show gives audiences an up-close look at the lives of five celebrity friends.

Animated series “Rosie’s Rules,” focusing on an inquisitive 5-year-old Mexican American girl, premieres October 3 on PBS Kids.

All eight episodes of season three of “Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan” drop Wednesday, December 21 on Prime Video. The action thriller starring John Krasinski has already been renewed for season four.

SPORTS

Monday Night Football continues to deliver for ESPN this season, with this week’s outing setting records for the Cowboys/Giants game, which was seen by 19.3 million viewers across its platforms. That ranks as the most-watched MNF Week 3 game in the ESPN era, and is up 29% over last year’s comparable tally. In Week 3, Monday Night Football with Peyton and Eli drew 1.4 million viewers.

The YES Network’s Yankees/Blue Jays telecast on Tuesday peaked at 901,000 Total Viewers and averaged 708,000 Total Viewers in the New York DMA. The game was YES’ most-viewed telecast in eight years, since Derek Jeter’s final home game on September 25, 2014, which averaged 1.2 million Total Viewers.

Formula 1 will host a Launch Party at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas on November 5, from 11a-11p, just over a year before the race on November 18. Several Formula 1 race teams and drivers will be represented at this event, along with activities such as the Formula 1 Pit Stop challenge – where they get a hands-on experience and can attempt to swap a Formula 1 car’s wheels in under three seconds – as well as Formula 1’s Esports simulators – which offer fans the chance to race head-to-head on the official Formula 1 game – along with additional activations, car and trophy photo opportunities, and giveaways.

Meanwhile, the National Women’s Soccer League announced the full slate of events surrounding the 2022 NWSL Championship, presented by Budweiser in Washington, D.C. In addition to the league’s primetime championship match on October 29, the NWSL, its partners and fans will celebrate the culmination of the 10th anniversary season and 50 years of Title IX.

The American Cornhole League and Legends struck a strategic multi-year partnership centered around driving commercial growth for the league. As part of the new partnership, Legends will manage a global, data-driven partnership strategy for ACL and provide business intelligence with actionable insights to drive revenue across all areas of the burgeoning league.

JustBaseball.com expanded into football courtesy of a partnership with PrizePicks to launch @JustGridironFans. The platform features JustBaseball’s Peter Appel and his unique take on what he considers “Not Gambling Advice.”

World Chase Tag USA revealed plans for the next U.S. Championship, featuring the best of the best in freerunning and parkour disciplines. WCT6 U.S. Championship starts on October 7 at the Esports Stadium Arlington, where 16 U.S.-based teams will compete for the title of U.S. Champion of World Chase Tag. The championship will be integrated with an esports event, “The Battle for Texas, Dallas Fuel vs. Houston Outlaws.” There will also be a women’s event with four teams battling it out in the inaugural Women’s WCT U.S. National Championship. Erin Ashley Simon joins Dan Dawson, who will call play-by-plays in the booth. ESPN will air the U.S. Championships in November and December with seven, one-hour episodes throughout the month.

Sports Video Group has teamed with YOSY Media to engage qualified students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities in careers in sports broadcasting, production, and other industry opportunities. The new initiative, “HBCU Bridge,” will help connect broadcasters, leagues, teams, and production companies with students who want to enter the industry via paid internships, apprenticeships, or full-time employment.

STREAMING

FOX Weather has expanded its distribution to Fios, and was also recently added to the Amazon Freevee. “As we approach the one-year anniversary of FOX Weather, we are pleased to see a continued demand for our innovative weather service,” said Sharri Berg, president of the service. “With the expanded distribution … FOX Weather now has a strong foothold across major platforms.”

TECH TALK

A+E Networks has launched The History Channel NFT Marketplace, designed for history buffs, NFT enthusiasts, and The History Channel fans. “A+E Networks is future-focused and we see great opportunity to utilize NFT technology to bring unique interpretations and extensions to our IP,” said Paul Buccieri, President & Chairman, A+E Networks Group. “We’re excited to engage enthusiastic fans and celebrate some of the most indelible moments of our collective history in new creative ways.”

Ad organizations are taking issue with the FTC’s proposed updated guidance regarding testimonials, including redefining endorsement to include tags on social media. “Tags should not automatically be considered endorsements,” wrote the Association of National Advertisers said in a letter. “The FTC should retain the idea that there needs to be an advertiser sponsoring the message in order for there to be an endorsement.”

A proposal from the Federal Communication Commission should get a big thumbs up from consumers – the FCC is calling for wireless carriers to block texts from numbers that are invalid or unallocated. “Scam text messaging has become a growing threat to consumers’ wallets and privacy,” said FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel. “More can be done to address this problem and today we’re starting an effort to take a serious, comprehensive, and fresh look at our policies for fighting unwanted robotexts.”

Asked if they were familiar with interactive live video features, 83% of Gen Z consumers said yes, in a survey by Agora. Asked to identify the types of mobile apps that typically deliver interactive live video features:
· 75% said entertainment apps, like YouTube and TikTok
· 74% said social media apps, like Facebook and Instagram
· 51% said communication apps, like FaceTime and WhatsApp
· 50% said gaming apps, like Twitch and Discord
“To no one’s surprise, entertainment and social media are leading the way on interactive live video features,” said Tony Zhao, Co-founder and CEO of Agora. “They have mainstreamed interactivity in live streaming, with Gen Z now expecting it across all live video experiences.”

COMING UP

BBC News doc “Trump: The Comeback?” debuts today, September 29 on BBC Select. The film follows BBC News’ US Special Correspondent Katty Kay as she speaks to voters in Arizona, Georgia, Pennsylvania and Wyoming to better understand the impact Trump’s potential run for the Presidency in 2024 may have on American democracy.

Fuse and the Universities Allied for Essential Medicine are teaming for the TV premiere of “White Coat Rebels,” the latest installment of the Fuse Docs franchise, on Tuesday, October 18 at 9p. The film looks at the corrupting influence of Big Pharma on the medical profession and the young doctors and students fighting back to improve inequities in healthcare.

Coinciding with the five-year anniversary of the Las Vegas shooting massacre, Court TV will air “Court TV Presents: Rampage Killers,” a documentary executive produced by anchor Ted Rowlands on Sunday, October 2 at 8p.

GOING GLOBAL

Banijay announced four new adaptations of reality show “The Bridge,” with Meter Television, Mastiff Norway, Metronome and Endemol Shine Finland producing local versions for Prime Video in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Finland.

2022 Esports Business Summit

EBS partners with big names

Esports Business Summit is proud to partner with The Business of Esports, DKC, World Esports IESF, and World Esports Consortium (WESCO) for what is shaping up to be an elite program that will provide you with valuable experiences and exposure to carefully selected speakers and senior-level participants. Early registration will close in 2 weeks, so act fast and…

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RATINGS

NBC was tops in viewers and the A18-49 demo for the first week of the 2022-23 season, September 19-25, averaging 6 million viewers and 1.1 in the demo (down from 1.3 the year prior). ABC averaged 4.5 million viewers (up from 3 million last year) and 1.0 (versus 0.6 last year), while Fox averaged 4 million viewers (up 15%) and 0.9 among 18-49 (versus 0.8), and CBS drew 3.9 million viewers (down 13%, albeit without season premieres for its popular Thursday lineup) and 0.4.

In cable news for the third quarter, Fox News was #1 in primetime with an average 2.19 million total viewers (down 8% versus the same period last year), followed by MSNBC (1.28 million, flat) and CNN with 717,000 (down 13%). Among A25-54, Fox News averaged 294,000 (down 23%), followed by 150,000 for CNN (down 21%) and 127,000 for MSNBC (down 22%).

EXECUTIVE MOVES

Mac Budill, President, Content Distribution, has decided to step down after 10 years. He will be succeeded in the same role by Matt Schnaars, currently SVP, Content Distribution. “Matt Schnaars is a well-respected leader with the clear vision and right relationships across our industry to guide our team as we continue to grow our streaming footprint, build on new capabilities like FAST channels and continue our longstanding network partnerships,” said Matt Bond, Chairman, Content Distribution, NBCUniversal. “I also want to thank Mac Budill for his undeniable leadership over the past decade. His impact is felt throughout the distribution landscape, and we wish him the best on whatever he chooses to tackle next.”

Marco Antonio Gonzalez has launched MaGo! PR, a bilingual PR/Communications firm. Gonzalez most recently served as VP of Public Relations and Corporate Affairs at Estrella Media.

Rollercoaster Television has appointed Sarah Boyce as its Head of Production. Boyce joins from Remarkable, where she was Head of Production for Entertainment.

Digital ad platform Choozle has named Adam Woods as CEO. Woods was previously the company’s Chief Client Officer.

The Ink Factory has upped Michele Wolkoff to Creative Director. Formerly Head of Film and TV, LA, Wolkoff takes over from previous Creative Director Katherine Butler, who stepped down from the role this summer. Ian Spence has also been promoted, to Head of Finance and Operations.

Insights and strategy group Cassandra has appointed Claire Richland as Manager, Cassandra Report. Previously, Richland served as Manager, Cultural Insights & Impact with Talk To Jess.

FCB New Zealand has promoted Leisa Wall and Peter Vegas to Co-Chief Creative Officers. Wall and Vegas have been creative partners for 24 years.

IN MEMORIAM

Actor Robert Cormier died September 23 after sustaining injuries in a fall. He was 33. Cormier’s television credits include “Heartland,” Designated Survivor,” “Ransom” and “American Gods.”

This Day in History
1920 – The Yankees’ Babe Ruth set the then-MLB home run season record of 54.

Answer to Our Last Trivia Question
On which 1980s drama did the son of the series’ star, who played a police officer, have a regular role as a detective? Two answers are correct: “In the Heat of the Night,” (1988-95) starring Carroll O’Connor and his son, Hugh; and “Stone” (1980), starring Dennis Weaver and his son, Robby. Kudos to: Aaron Paquette-AccelerateSG/Fort Worth, TX; Phyllis McQuillan-MSG Networks/NYC/; Scott Deaner-Horizon Media/NYC; Ted Linhart-NBCU/NYC; Greg West-WATC/Atlanta; Tom Moore-Kalt Productions/LA

Today’s Trivia Question
Which three animated series, based on 1994 films starring the same actor, premiered in 1995? (Email [email protected] with your answer and be sure to include your name, company, city and time zone. Unofficial rules: a limit of four answers per time zone.)

Cynopsis Team