Today’s Premieres
Netflix: Cunk on Earth
PBS: Fight the Power: How Hip Hop Changed the World at 9p

Today’s Finale
Food Network: Chef Dynasty: House of Fang at 9p

IN THE NEWS

Paramount Global is fully integrating Showtime into Paramount+ across streaming and linear platforms later this year, rebranding Showtime as Paramount+ with Showtime. “With Showtime’s content integrated into our flagship streaming service, and select Paramount+ originals joining the linear offering, Paramount+ will become the definitive multiplatform brand in the streaming space — and the first of its kind to integrate streaming and linear content in this way,” said Paramount Global CEO Bob Bakish. The merger will also “unlock operational efficiencies and financial benefits” for the company, noted Bakish.

As part of the move, Showtime will “divert investment away from areas that are underperforming,” said a note to staff from Chris McCarthy, CEO of Paramount Media Networks. “We have already begun conversations with our production partners about what content makes sense moving forward and which shows have franchise potential.” Not making the cut: New series “Three Women,” which has been completed, is not moving forward at Showtime, “Let the Right One In” and “American Gigolo, which will not be renewed.

“CNN Tonight” will include “Overtime” segments from HBO’s “Real Time with Bill Maher” on Friday nights, starting February 3 at 11:30p. “Overtime,” now posted online, features Maher continuing discussions with guests and answering viewer questions.

STARZ has renewed “Power Book II: Ghost” for a fourth season ahead of its March 17 season three premiere. Michael Ealy (“Barbershop”) is onboard as a new series regular.

Bilingual comedy “Acapulco” scored a season three order from Apple TV+. “We at 3Pas Studios are thankful to Apple TV+, the perfect home for ‘Acapulco,’ along with our production partner Lionsgate, filmmakers, and cast and crew,” said star and executive producer Eugenio Derbez. “We have always believed that the stories we tell about our communities and cultures can resonate with global audiences, so crank up the AC, it’s about to get a lot hotter at Las Colinas Resort.

Australia is placing content quotas on international streaming services, including Netflix, Prime Video and Disney+, starting July 1, 2024. “The ready availability of mass content produced in other countries, particularly the United States, risks drowning out the voices of Australian storytellers,” according to the Australian government’s “Revive” National Culture Policy.

Canada’s Rogers Communications and Shaw Communications have extended the deadline for their $15 billion merger to February 17 as they wait for government approval. The deal will create the county’s number two telecom operator.

In a follow-up to a 2021 report – and under the cloud of a possible writers strike in May – the WGA pointed to the Warner Bros. Discovery merger as an example of “the predictable harms of consolidation.” Said Laura Blum-Smith, the guild’s Director of Research and Public Policy, writers “have lost opportunities and future income, while consumers are left with reduced variety and choice of content.”

2023 Cynopsis Events Package

LAST DAY TO CLAIM YOUR SAVINGS!

Save up to $2,000 when you buy a 2023 Cynopsis events package:
April 18: Sports Media Awards
June 14-15: Measurement & Data Conference
September 27-28: That BIG TV Conference
October: Top Women in Media
November 1-3: EBS + Tempest Awards

CLAIM MY PACKAGE

PRODUCTION & DEVELOPMENT

Allen Media Group is launching a new court series, “Equal Justice with Judge Eboni K. Williams,” starring the former “The View” guest host and CBS News and Fox News correspondent. Williams also starred on season 13 of “The Real Housewives of New York City,” and has a show on Allen Media Group’s The Grio Television Network. The new court series is a daily one-hour strip for fall 2023, available to broadcast television stations, as well as global cable, network, and digital distribution platforms.

Deborah Riley Draper (“Olympic Pride, American Prejudice”) and wiip are producing a docuseries about the first HBCU gymnastics team to compete at an NCAA event. Fisk University’s history-making accomplishment this year “is the most aspirational coming-of-age sports story of the year,” said Riley Draper. “We have not seen this before and it’s happening in real time.” Working title: “Flipped.”

Phoebe Dynevor won’t playing Daphne in season three of “Bridgerton,” the actress told Screen Rant, saying “I’m just excited to watch as a viewer.” Dynevor and Regé-Jean Page were the main focus of season one, and while Page left the series in a burst of fame, Dynevor played a supporting role in season two. Dynevor did say she could “potentially” return “in the future.”

NEW & RETURNING SERIES

Season four of OWN’s “Put a Ring on It” kicks off Friday, March 17 at 9p. Average viewership of the reality series, which challenges couples to confront the question of whether they’re ready to get married, grew across each of its first three seasons, climbing +22% from Season 1 (364,000 P2+) to Season 3 (443,000 P2+).

“El Colapso” premieres Friday, February 10 on Vix+. An adaptation of a French dystopian drama, the series narrates from the perspectives of different characters what happens when a society collapses.

EstrellaTV is launching a new weekly news magazine series, “Buenas Noticias,” on Sunday, February 5 at 6:30p. Hosted by EstrellaTV and Estrella News anchor Abel Álvarez, the program will feature feel-good news stories of the week from across the U.S., Mexico, and Latin America.

COMING UP

“Titanic: 25 Years Later with James Cameron” debuts Sunday, February 5 at 9p on Nat Geo. The documentary, an update of “Titanic: 20 Years Later with James Cameron,” features the story of how the long-lost ship was found, and comes ahead of the remastered theatrical release of “Titanic” on February 10.

Fox Nation special “Roseanne Barr: Cancel This!” premieres Monday, February 13. It’s the “Roseanne” star’s first stand-up special in nearly 20 years.

Travel Channel Shock Doc special “Michigan Hell House” uncovers the source of evil that terrorized a farmhouse in the ‘70s, on Sunday, February 19 at 9p.

Focus Features’ “Spoiler Alert,” based on the Michael Ausiello bestseller, will stream exclusively on Peacock starting Friday, February 3. The film stars Jim Parsons (“The Big Bang Theory”) as a man who discovers the family he never had.

Romantic comedy “Atrapadas en Familia” premieres Wednesday, February 1 on ViX+. The film follows a long-term couple as they figure out the next steps in their relationship.

STREAMING

FOX Entertainment and Hulu inked a new muti-year content deal giving Hulu in-season streaming rights to Fox’s primetime series. In addition to Fox shows continuing to stream the day after their linear airing, Fox and Hulu branding will appear across Fox marketing efforts. “Our long-standing, valued partnership with Hulu consistently generates impressive results and creates an important pathway for our scripted, unscripted and animated series to maximize viewer reach,” said Rob Wade, CEO of FOX Entertainment. “Under this new deal, FOX solidifies its longer-term streaming strategy, while harnessing the power and strength of both Hulu and FOX to better serve our audiences and bring visibility to premium content across our streaming and linear platforms.”

SPORTS ROUNDUP

FOX Sports’ lead NFL announce team of play-by-play announcer Kevin Burkhardt and three-time Pro Bowl tight end Greg Olsen will call Super Bowl LVII, marking the duo’s first Super Bowl in their second season together. Erin Andrews and Tom Rinaldi will report live from the field. Mike Pereira, former NFL Vice President of Officiating will work his fifth Super Bowl with FOX and 17th overall, offering expert rules analysis throughout the game.

Hockey great Bobby Hull died January 30. He was 84. “When Bobby Hull wound up to take a slapshot, fans throughout the NHL rose to their feet in anticipation and opposing goaltenders braced themselves,” said longtime NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman. ”During his prime, there was no more prolific goal-scorer in all of hockey.”

YES Network aims to launch its service direct-to-consumer by Yankees Opening Day on March 30, reports the New York Post, assuming all systems are go. Yankees President and YES Chairman Randy Levine said last summer that a YES direct-to-consumer product was coming “very soon.”

GOING GLOBAL

Sky documentary “Zuckerberg: King of the Metaverse” (wt) will chronicle the life of Facebook creator Mark Zuckerberg. The doc from Rogan Productions is one of several on Sky’s factual slate.

Gestmusic, part of Banijay Iberia, has unveiled a new Barcelona-based production venue for creating virtual environments. Gestmusic’s studio integrates virtual environments in which to design and record audio-visual projects across fiction and entertainment.

Netherlands-baed Any Moment Media Group has acquired the TV and FAST channel producer/distributor Dutchess Media and has added additional services to its client offering, including co-productions with channels and brands, Web3 news and entertainment and additional FAST channels. Arun Maljaars, formerly of Dutchess Media and Insight TV, is AMMG’s CEO, with Linn Adolfsson joining as Chief Creative Officer.

SynProNize, the Dubai-based content distribution and production company, has signed a deal with evision, the media and entertainment division of e& life, for seven MX Player Original Series. The deal gives evision the exclusive SVOD rights for the MENA region.

2023 Measurement & Data Bootcamp

Bootcamp now LIVE – REGISTER TODAY

In the wake of economic downturn, effective media measurement in 2023 has never been more important. Join us on June 13th at Edison Ballroom in NYC for high-level discussion and a deep-dive education into the basics of media measurement. Priced at only $225, register today – limited spots available!

REGISTER TO ATTEND

RATINGS

Two new true crime series, “The Playboy Murders” and “Death by Fame,” drove ID’s highest rated series premieres since September 2020, each reaching 1.9 million viewers on premiere night. The two programs made ID the #1 cable network in the time period without sports or news among P25-54. “For 15 years, ID has brought impactful crime and justice programming into the homes of millions and last Monday night’s strong prime ratings performance…further cements our #1 ranking as the best in true crime television,” said Jason Sarlanis, President, Turner Networks, ID and HLN, Linear & Streaming. “After a decade and a half, our brand is stronger than ever.”

Food Network’s “Chopped Casino Royale XL” tournament drew a .7 P18+ / .95 W18+ Live+3 rating, up +27% and +34%, respectively, from the prior six weeks, as well as up vs. year-ago (+71% and +86% respectively); and ranked as the #1 non-news/sports cable program in its timeslot among W18+ (#2 non-news/sports for P18+).

Top 10 Streaming Shows for the week of January 23
The Boys (Prime Video), 908k, 11, 82,536, 3.3m
Ginny & Georgia (Netflix), 558k, 6, 92,944, 1.3m
The Chosen (Prime Video), 513k, 24, 21,390, 1.2m
You (Netflix), 463k, 15, 30,887, 2.0m
Gossip Girl (HBO Max), 266k, 33, 8,072, 16m
Get Organized with the Home Edit (Netflix), 210k, 20, 10,522, 7.1m
Springwatch (Prime Video), 191k, 97, 1,974, 2.0m
The Mandalorian (Disney+), 187k, 2, 93,597, 2.6m
The Summer I Turned Pretty (Netflix), 184k, 3, 61,366, 1.3m
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO Max), 182k, 8, 22,786, 6.2m
Source: Comscore Social Powered by Shareablee

Broadcast Nielsen Ratings for Thursday, January 26
Show, P2+ 000s, (A18-49)
ABC: Celebrity Jeopardy! 4.44 (0.6), The Parent Test 1.89 (0.3), Jimmy Kimmel Live! 2.08 (0.3)
CBS: Young Sheldon 4.74 (0.40), Ghosts 3.91 (0.3), So Help Me Todd 3.04 (0.2), FBI 2.67 (0.2)
CW: Walker .76 (0.1), Walker: Independence 0.46 (0.1)
FOX: Hell’s Kitchen 2.72 (0.4), Welcome to Flatch 0.92 (0.2), Call Me Kat 1.21 (0.2)
ION: Chicago PD 0.93 (0.1), Chicago PD 0.93(0.2), Chicago PD 0.85 (0.1)
NBC: Law and Order 5.38 (0.5), Law and Order: Special Victims Unit 5.77 (0.73), Law and Order: Organized Crime 4.16 (0.5)
Telemundo: La Casa de los Famosos 1.23 (0.3), El Señor de los Cielos 1.76 (0.7), Amor y Traición 0.97 (0.3)
Univision: Vencer la Ausencia 1.57 (0.5), Mi Camino es Amarte 1.51 (0.4), Cabo 1.43 (0.4)
Source: Nielsen live + same day time period averages

EXECUTIVE MOVES

Saloon Media announced the promotions of Paul Kilback to Creative Director of Factual Programming and Matt Faulknor to Senior Development Producer.

Brain Power Studio has tapped Jasmine Gard to serve as VP, Finance and Operations. Gard joins from Netflix.

IN MEMORIAM

Actress Annie Werschling died January 29 of cancer. She was 45. Among Werschling’s numerous credits were roles in “24,” “Bosch” and “Marvel’s Runaways.”

Actress Cindy Williams, who played Shirley Feeney on “Laverne & Shirley,” died January 25 after a brief illness. She was 75. “She was one of a kind, beautiful, generous and possessed a brilliant sense of humor and a glittering spirit that everyone loved,” said a statement from her children, Zak and Emily Hudson.

Actress Lisa Loring passed away January 28 after suffering a stroke. She was 64. Loring, who plays Wednesday Addams on TV’s original “The Addams Family” series, also had roles on “The Pruitts of Southampton” and “As the World Turns.”

This Day in History
1949 – TV’s first daytime soap opera, “These Are My Children,” premiered.

Answer to Our Last Trivia Question
How many years were there between seasons one and two of HBO’s “The Comeback”? Nine. Kudos to: Rev. Mark Wajda/Clermont, FL; Heather Allen-WWE Corporation/Stamford, CT; Gerry Bixenspan-TV Marketing Inc./NYC; Samantha Salvatore-The WNET Group/NYC; Steve Callahan-Screen Engine/ASI/LA; Tom Moore-Kalt Productions/LA; David Westberg-SAG-AFTRA Credit Union/Burbank

Today’s Trivia Question
The title character in which short-lived sitcom was a conservative TV personality who wrote a book titled, I’m Right. I’m Right. I’m Right. Shut Up.? (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