Keely's Korner

Batwoman and Nancy Drew nabbed full-season, 22-episode orders from The CW after three airings each. The freshman series are seeing major boosts in delayed viewing – Batwoman’s ratings have risen 73% among A18-34 and 80% among A18-49 in Live+7 Nielsens, while Nancy Drew has seen increases of 94% among A18-34 and 114% among A18-49.
(Source: Cynopsis)

Former NBC News employees who signed nondisclosure agreements and believe they suffered sexual harassment will not be bound by the legal documents, said NBCUniversal. “Any former NBC News employee who believes that they cannot disclose their experience with sexual harassment as a result of a confidentiality or non-disparagement provision in their separation agreement should contact NBCUniversal and we will release them from that perceived obligation,” said the company in a statement. MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow reported the move on her show on Friday, before an interview with “Catch and Kill” author Ronan Farrow, who had reported on agreements reached with women at NBC. Farrow called NBCU’s move “a model for other companies.”
(Source: Cynopsis)

France’s Banijay Group is acquiring Endemol Shine Group (Big Brother, MasterChef) for a reported $2.2 billion. “Combining the resources of these two companies will instantly strengthen our position in the global market, and our capabilities across genres will further define us as a go-to provider of first class IP worldwide,” said Banijay CEO Marco Bassetti. “Welcoming the Endemol Shine brands and talents to our existing business will signal enhanced opportunities in the marketplace.” Endemol Shine, owned by Disney and Apollo Global Management, was created in 2014 through a merger between Endemol and Shine (The Biggest Loser).
(Source: Cynopsis)

A Democratic presidential candidate debate will take place at UCLA on December 19, hosted by PBS NewsHour and Politico. The next debate is slated for November 20, hosted by MSNBC and the Washington Post in Georgia.
(Source: Cynopsis)

Courtney Cox and soccer star David Beckham will guest on an upcoming episode of ABC’s Modern Family. The duo play themselves at a celebrity bowling tournament, where they get draw into Pritchett family shenanigans.
(Source: Cynopsis)

Facebook is attempting to stem the tide of misinformation by testing a “News” tab that gives users more tools to control the news items they see, and the ability to a view a wider range of news interests. The system supplements AI and algorithms with professional journalists. “We talked to news organizations about what they’d like to see included in a news tab, how their stories should be presented and what analytics to provide,” wrote Campbell Brown, VP, Global News Partnerships and Mona Sarantakos, Product Manager, News, in a blog post, adding that Facebook News will feature a wide of content across general, topical, diverse and local categories. “We hope this work aids in our effort to sustain great journalism and strengthen democracy,” they concluded.
(Source: Cynopsis)

Felicity Huffman was released from prison on Friday. The Desperate Housewives alum had served 11 of the 14 days she was sentenced to in the college admissions scandal, normal policy for inmates set to be released over the weekend.
(Source: Cynopsis)

Court TV debuts today on 19 stations, including New York (WPIX), LA (KTLA) and Chicago (WGN). The new launches of the multi-platform network reboot will push its over-the-air penetration to nearly 90% of the country, and nearly 40% on cable.
(Source: Cynopsis)

Netflix Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos will receive the Milestone Award from the Producers Guild of America, at its event Saturday, January 18 in LA. “He has provided a platform for producers to create new content that may not otherwise be seen, providing not only more opportunities for producers, but also more content and pleasure for audiences around the world,” said Gail Berman and Lucy Fisher, Presidents of the PGA.
(Source: Cynopsis)

Disney+ gave a series order to a puppet talk show. Earth to Ned, from The Jim Henson Company, is described as a comedic half-hour series that follows a blue-skinned alien and his lieutenant, sent to scout Earth for an invasion but instead hosting a talk show from the bridge of their spaceship. Series starts streaming in 2020.
(Source: Cynopsis)

Another forthcoming streamer, HBO Max, gave a series order to florist competition format Full Bloom, from Eureka Productions (Hole Moley). “Full Bloom will transport viewers into the intricate and fantastically colorful word of competitive floristry,” said Jennifer O’Connell, EVP, original content, HBO Max. “HBO Max is the trellis for this series to bloom and shine the light on this incredibly beautiful art form.” Series is not to be confused with upcoming Netflix competition, The Big Flower Fight. HBO Max also picked up season two of Rooster Teeth animated series gen:LOCK, voiced by Black Panther star Michael B. Jordan.
(Source: Cynopsis)

Comedy Central ordered animated comedy Loafy, about a marijuana-dealing manatee voiced by SNL alum Bobby Moynihan.
(Source: Cynopsis)

Redbox, the disc-rental company that launched streaming service Redbox On Demand two years ago, is getting into the production business. Redbox Entertainment will acquire and produce content, headed by Lionsgate vet Marc Danon. “The formation of Redbox Entertainment leverages our deep insights to bring projects that we know appeal to our audience to deliver additional value and entertainment,” said CEO Galen Smith. Projects will cross genres, with a focus on action, comedy and suspense/thrillers.
(Source: Cynopsis)

Urban Movie Channel renewed A House Divided for season two, and added LisaRaye McCoy (All of Us) and Parker McKenna Posey (My Wife and Kids) to the family drama’s cast in recurring roles.
(Source: Cynopsis)

HBO Max will be free to 10 million AT&T customers who are also HBO subscribers in the US, reports Reuters, citing a long-term HBO Max goal of helping AT&T retain wireless subscribers. The upcoming streamer is expected to cost more than services from Apple ($4.99), Disney ($6.99) and Netflix ($12.99).
(Source: Cynopsis)

The premiere of the final season of NBC’s Will & Grace drew 2.28 million viewers and 0.5 among A18-49, down from its prior season averages but up two tenths from the show it replaced in the timeslot, Sunnyside.
(Source: Cynopsis)

Fuse late-night show The Read with Kid Fury & Crissle was the best performing Fuse original TV series premiere in four years among A18-34^, and attracted a young, gender-balanced audience, with a median age of 33. Also on Fuse, week two of season five of Complex x Fuse grew its A18-49 audience an additional 28% above its week one premiere (which increased +23% from the season four premiere).
(Source: Cynopsis)