FIRST LOOK
http://www.eonline.com/news
ON TELEVISION (THURSDAY 7/30/26)
A&E: Accused: Guilty or Innocent? (Premiere) at 9pm
HALLMARK+: Paris Is Always a Good Idea (Premiere)
NETFLIX: The Bombing of Pan Am 103 (Premiere)
That’s a yes from me, dawg. “American Idol” has been renewed for a landmark 25th season, kicking off next year.
-“American Idol” launched on Fox in 2002 and ran for 15 seasons. ABC revived the show in 2018.
-The “American Idol” Season 24 finale ranks as the No. 1 reality episode in primetime year-to-date 2026, earning 3.2 million interactions.
–Auditions launch Tuesday, Aug. 25 this year with the return of Idol Across America, the virtual nationwide talent search.
-Open-call dates are also on the table, and for the first time, worldwide eligibility opens the door beyond U.S. borders.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Hollywood won. Ottowa blinked. Canada is dropping requirements that force foreign streaming services to make financial contributions to the country’s domestic entertainment industry, according to a July 17 court filing.
-Last month, Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government ordered the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission to reconsider a rule that would have required Netflix, Disney+ and Amazon Prime Video to direct 15% of their Canadian revenue to domestic programming, up from 5%.
-U.S. officials had characterized the 15% threshold as a new trade barrier.
-A Canadian Justice Department lawyer told the Federal Court of Appeal the government intends “to “eliminate the base contribution requirement on streaming services and to provide government funding to replace those contributions.”
-The government said it will formally disclose its intentions through a regulatory notice in the Canada Gazette, the government’s official publication.
–The Takeaway: Canada is reversing nearly a decade of policy aimed at making foreign digital platforms financially support the domestic film and television industry — pivoting instead to direct government funding. The retreat signals the Carney government’s broader effort to reduce friction with U.S. trade partners over digital platform regulation.
(Source: Cynopsis)
New York sports fans, start spreading the news. MSG Networks and YES Network are exiting their joint venture streaming service, Gotham Sports, and have tapped DAZN as the exclusive direct-to-consumer streaming home for both regional sports networks during the 2026-2027 NBA and NHL seasons. The deal gives subscribers within each network’s coverage territory access to live Yankees, Knicks, Nets, Rangers, Devils, Islanders and Sabres games, plus 24/7 linear feeds of MSG, MSG Sportsnet and YES, and on-demand content including highlights, behind-the-scenes programming and originals. Existing pay TV subscribers who receive either network will access DAZN at no additional cost.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Anime fans and premium drama devotees, this one’s for you. Starz and Sony’s Crunchyroll have launched a joint bundle through Prime Video, priced at $16.99/month — representing savings of more than 23% versus subscribing to each service individually. The deal marks Crunchyroll’s first U.S. bundle partnership. The rollout coincides with new and returning titles across both platforms, spanning anime, action, thrillers, sci-fi, adventure, and female-driven dramas.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Season four of Hulu’s “Betrayal,” based on the true crime podcast of the same name, debuts Tuesday, Aug. 4. The latest installment — titled “Betrayal: Dirty Secrets” — follows the story of a husband who abused his authority as a police officer to pursue a secret sexual life.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Hulu’s “Chad Powers” is back for a second season on Thursday, Sept. 3. Glen Powell stars as a disgraced star college football player who disguises himself to play for a small-town team.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Discovery’s Shark Week is back, and it came in hot. The July 26 premiere night pulled a 0.94 Live + Same Day rating with Adults 25-54, the best opening night the franchise has seen since 2023. Discovery Channel also claimed the #1 spot among all cable networks that Sunday, topping both the Adults 25-54 and Men 25-54 demos.
(Source: Cynopsis)
The WNBA all-star game drew an historic Saturday crowd. The Chicago showcase averaged 3.2 million viewers on ABC — the fifth-largest audience in league history, trailing only the 2024 All-Star Game, the 1999 Finals’ decisive Game 3, and two games from the league’s opening weekend in 1997.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Keely's Korner 