FIRST LOOK
http://www.eonline.com/news
ON TELEVISION (WEDNESDAY 2/12/20)
CBS: Survivor (Premiere) at 8pm
DISCOVERY: Expedition X (Premiere)
SCIENCE CHANNEL: Richard Hammond’s Big! (Premiere) at 10pm
SMITHSONIAN CHANNEL: Big Cat Country (Premiere) at 8pm
VH1: Martha & Snoop’s Potluck Party Challenge (Finale) at 9pm
NBC renewed Superstore for season six. “We’re thrilled that Superstore continues to speak to many important and topical issues while simultaneously being hilarious,” said Lisa Katz and Tracey Pakosta, Co-Presidents of Scripted Programming, NBC Entertainment. The comedy is averaging a 1.1 rating in A18-49 and 3.8 million viewers in Live+7 Nielsens, and ranks as one of the net’s strongest digital performers, generating 50% of its Live+35 A18-49 average this season from digital sources.
(Source: Cynopsis)
A federal judge ruled in favor of the $26 billion merger between T-Mobile and Sprint, rejecting a lawsuit brought by states objecting to the deal. Unconvinced by economic theories that suggested the merger would harm service and pricing for users, the judge said he didn’t think the companies “would pursue anticompetitive behavior.” Sprint stock rose 70% on Tuesday morning, with T-Mobile shares enjoying a 12% lift. The current merger deal was proposed in April 2018, and has already won the approval of federal regulators.
(Source: Cynopsis)
As the race for the Democratic presidential nomination heats up, so is the traffic for fake news, according to DoubleVerify. In the states of Iowa and New Hampshire, home to the first caucus and primary events of the 2020 election, DV examined the usage of the “Inflammatory News & Politics” category by its clients in each state and found that the state of Iowa’s overall traffic rate on “Inflammatory News & Politics” content effectively doubled in the two weeks leading up to the caucuses. As of February 2, the fake news traffic rate for Iowa was 72% higher than the national average. Still, Iowa was second to New Hampshire, which had a rate 82% higher than the national average, the highest average fake and inflammatory news rate of any state since DoubleVerify started tracking it in October 2019.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Broadcast journalist Emerald Robinson has joined Newsmax TV as White House correspondent. Previously, Robinson served as the chief White House Correspondent for One America News Network.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Former CNBC anchor Michelle Caruso-Cabrera will be challenging Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in the Democratic primary. “I’m running for NY-14, to fight for the people of Queens & the Bronx, daughter of Cuban immigrants and living the American Dream,” she tweeted. She’ll be taking a leave from her role as a CNBC contributor during her campaign.
(Source: Cynopsis)
NBC Olympics and mobile-first video news outlet NowThis are partnering to shine a spotlight on US Olympic and Paralympic athletesin the lead up to the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games. NowThis will generate athlete-focused video content, including video profiles, sit-down interviews and opinion pieces, to be distributed across its young-skewing digital and social media outlets. “NowThis has a far-reaching and influential presence across the social media landscape, and a keen interest in the stories of Olympic and Paralympic athletes,” said Gary Zenkel, President, NBC Olympics. “In the lead up to the Tokyo Games, we are thrilled to come together with their talented producers to connect and excite America’s youth.”
(Source: Cynopsis)
Laura Chinn, creator and star of Pop TV’s Florida Girls, inked an overall TV deal with the show’s producer, Lionsgate. “Laura is the kind of fresh and singular creative voice who resonates with today’s television audiences, and we’re fortunate to be her chosen studio incubator,” said Kevin Beggs, Lionsgate Television Group Chairman.
Chinn will develop and produce scripted original series, as well as continue on Florida Girls.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Plimsoll Productions announced the launch of a scripted initiative and the appointment of producer Lisa Gilchrist (Appropriate Adult, Mo) as Head of Drama. In her new role, Gilchrist will be tasked with developing original scripted series with an initial focus on factual drama for the UK and international marketplace. The news follows Plimsoll’s recent announcement of their partnership with Lloyds Development Capital.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Netflix and Spin Master Corp. announced a new CG animated series, Mighty Express, from the creator and producers of PAW Patrol. Season one will feature 52, 11-minute episodes and debut on Netflix this September, executive produced by Spin Master Entertainment’s EVP, Jennifer Dodge, and Spin Master’s Co-Founder and Co-CEO, Ronnen Harary.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Canada’s CBC and NBCUniversal International Studios announced original drama series Lady Dicks, starring Meredith MacNeill (Baroness von Sketch Show) and Adrienne C. Moore (Orange Is The New Black). Co-created by Tassie Cameron (Mary Kills People) and Sherry White (Ten Days in the Valley), Lady Dicks portrays two radically different female detectives in their early 40s. Series is currently in pre-production and will begin shooting in Ontario this spring.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Agency The A Team: a creative (co)lab has launched to serve TV networks, streamers and consumer brands. The brainchild of Nikki Coloma-Blaszyk, Ben Frank, Marni Wagner and Luis Martinez, who worked together at 2C, the full-scale agency’s goal is to “allow the entire client/agency dynamic to be a true collaboration,” said Coloma-Blaszyk.
(Source: Cynopsis)
A&E docu-series Accused: Guilty or Innocent?, following the stories – as they unfold – of people facing trial for serious crimes, premieres on Tuesday, April 21 at 10p. “We have been granted unprecedented access to the accused’s legal defense preparation and to intimate moments with their families before, during and after the trial,” said Elaine Frontain Bryant, EVP and Head of Programming, A&E. “The stories are incredibly dramatic, and as evidence is presented throughout the episode, viewers will continually debate if the accused is guilty or innocent.”
(Source: Cynopsis)
Year of the Rabbit has been renewed for season two on IFC and UK’s Channel 4. Six-episode second run will once again focus on booze-hound Detective Inspector Rabbit (Berry), his hapless partner Strauss (Freddie Fox) and the country’s first female police officer Mabel (Susan Wokoma). The renewal news comes ahead of the comedy’s IFC debut on Wednesday, February 19 at 10:30p.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Season 17 of Bravo’s Top Chef kicks off Thursday, March 19 at 10p. In “All Star LA,” chefs compete across iconic locations in the City of Angels. Digital companion series Top Chef: Last Chance Kitchen returns for season nine with eliminated chefs getting a chance to cook their way back into the competition on Thursday, March 26 on Bravotv.com.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment and Edison Nation announced that the fifth season of the Everyday Edisons will debut exclusively on Crackle in March. The reboot connects inventors with a team of mentors who provide advice in advance of their pitch before a panel of judges. Series originally ran on PBS for four seasons beginning in 2006.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Makers, Verizon Media’s brand dedicated to accelerating the women’s movement, announced a new documentary, Not Done, set to premiere June 30 at 8p on PBS. Hour-long film will feature conversations with leaders and advocates including America Ferrera, Natalie Portman, Shonda Rhimes, Jill Soloway, Tina Tchen, and more women and their male allies working for change.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Comedian Gabriel Iglesias and Will Arnett (Arrested Development, Lego Master) are on the guest host list for season three of Fox’s The Masked Singer. They join a roster that includes Jamie Foxx, Jason Biggs (Outmatched) and Leah Remini. Singing competition airs Wednesdays at 8p.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Viacom sibs Comedy Central and Paramount Network aim to make a splash at SXSW 2020. Among the events is “The Women Who Run the Shows” session on Saturday, March 14, with executive producer/creator Phoebe Robinson from her upcoming Comedy Central series; executive producer/showrunner Jen Flanz (The Daily Show); and executive producer/showrunner Karey Dornetto (Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens). The same day, Paramount Network’s Yellowstone takes over Banger’s on Rainey Street.
(Source: Cynopsis)
An hour-long documentary focused on one Amazon tribe’s dangerous fight to protect their ancestral homeland, Guardians of the Amazon, premieres Friday, February 14 at 8p on streaming news channel ABC News Live.
(Source: Cynopsis)
To pay tribute to the life and career of Robert Conrad, FETV is airing a The Wild Wild West marathon on Sunday, February 16 from 2-8p. The marathon will feature six episodes from the show, including behind-the-scenes information about the series and Conrad’s life and career.
(Source: Cynopsis)
JanLuis Castekkanos (Marvel’s Runaways) landed a series regular role on the fourth and final season of Netflix drama 13 Reasons Why…Jonathan Tucker (City on a Hill) will play the male lead in NBC sci-fi drama pilot Debris…Odette Annable (House) is set to star in ABC pilot thirtysomething(else), reports Deadline.
(Source: Cynopsis)
The series launch of Bravo’s Below Deck Sailing Yacht delivered 1.85 million total viewers in Live+3 Nielsens, the net’s biggest unscripted series premiere in over two years.
(Source: Cynopsis)
The week of February 3, Fox News delivered its highest-rated week in total viewers since January of 2017, with 2.3 million viewers and 413,000 among A25-54 in total day. In primetime, Fox News garnered 4.4 million viewers and 803,000 in the news demo, for its highest-rated week since the 2016 election.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Access Hollywood (1.4, up 17%) shot up 40% in the W25-54 demo and clocked the largest ratings gain in national syndication ratings the week of January 27. TMZ (1.1, unchanged) was unable to improve, but Extra (1.0, up 11%) was strong, matching its season high. Among talkers, Dr Phil (2.1, up 5%) was tops for the 174th time in the last 178 weeks.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Hallmark Channel’s Saturday night original movie premiere of Matching Hearts, part of the net’s “Love Ever After” programming event, was the highest-rated and most-watched non-news program of the week among Households and W18+, averaging a 2.7 HHd rating, 2.5 million total viewers, and 282,000 W25-54.
(Source: Cynopsis)
HGTV’s Unsellable Houses attracted more than 3 million viewers with back-to-back premiere episodes on Tuesday, February 4. The series delivered a .59 and .67 Live+3 rating among P25-54 at 9p and 9:30p, respectively, with the two episodes averaging a 47% ratings increase among P25-54 over the prior six weeks.
(Source: Cynopsis)
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