FIRST LOOK
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ON TELEVISION (TUESDAY 3/17/20)
COMEDY CENTRAL: Tosh.0 (Premiere) at 9pm
FOOD NETWORK: Supermarket Stakeout (Premiere) at 10pm
PBS: Niall Ferguson’s Networld (Premiere) at 8pm
PBS: Niall Ferguson’s Networld (Finale) at 10pm
TLC: I Am Jazz (Finale) at 9pm
Americans staying home during the coronavirus outbreak could lead to an almost 60% increase in the amount of media they watch, according to Nielsen. In addition to turning to media for news about the pandemic, viewers will be looking for ways to pass the time, noted Nielsen. “As COVID-19 continues to spread, this serious health threat has already shaken world markets and, no doubt, will affect the media ecosystem,” concluded the report. “Understanding, and potentially hedging ad and media investments could help buoy any shrinking margins, build awareness for public health messages and maybe even get consumers’ worried minds off a threat through the power of entertainment.”
(Source: Cynopsis)
Speaking of staying home, not surprisingly, the travel industry has whacked its ad spend. Comparing the first two weeks of March versus February, MediaRadar reports TV and digital spend have contracted by 69% and 62%, respectively. “While almost every industry will be damaged by the fast-spreading virus, the travel industry is one of the first to be impacted; they are the tip of the spear,” warned CEO Todd Krizelman.
(Source: Cynopsis)
CBS News foreign correspondent Seth Doane tested positive for COVID-19, and reported from quarantine in Rome with mild symptoms….A staffer on the third hour of Today tested positive for the virus, prompting co-hosts Craig Melvin and Al Roker to take time off….Hulu employees in the company’s Santa Monica are on alert after a co-worker tested positive for coronavirus. Hulu’s floors were closed to accommodate a deep cleaning…. Idris Elba tweeted that he has been diagnosed with coronavirus. The Luther star/Ford spokesperson said he has experienced no symptoms but has been isolated since finding out about his exposure to the virus.
(Source: Cynopsis)
NBC’s Saturday Night Live return from hiatus as planned on March 28. The show, slated to be hosted by John Krasinski, has been cancelled due to the coronavirus. It’s a double whammy for Krasinski; the opening of his movie, Quiet Place 2, has also been postponed, from March 18.
(Source: Cynopsis)
The outbreak also shut down New York City Television Week, originally slated to take place March 24-26. The event has been pushed to the week of June 22.
(Source: Cynopsis)
The COVID-19 crisis prompted Cox Media Group and Dish TV to call a truce in their retrans dispute. “Our nation is facing an unprecedented health challenge due to the COVID-19 outbreak. To help keep our communities safe, healthy and informed, Cox Media Group has worked closely with DISH Network to reach a mutual agreement to set aside the contractual retransmission dispute between the two companies,” said Cox. Stations in ten markets that had been blacked out by Dish since January have been restored.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Verily launched a COVID-19 screening site for residents of California’s Santa Clara and San Mateo counties. “Based on the responses and testing appointment availability, you will learn whether you qualify for testing,” said the Alphabet-owned company on its web site.
(Source: Cynopsis)
The 2020 iHeartRadio Music Awards, set for March 29 in LA, have been postponed after the Shrine Auditorium was shuttered over COVID-19 concerns. The event was to air on Fox. While winners will still be announced shortly after balloting ends March 23, iHeartMedia and Fox said they will go on with the show “at the appropriate time.”
(Source: Cynopsis)
Starting tonight, ABC’s Nightline will take over the Jimmy Kimmel Live! slot for four nights at 11:30p, and focus on COVID-19 coverage. Kimmel repeats will air at 12:05a.
(Source: Cynopsis)
DIGA Studios signed Teresa Sorkin and Frank Rainone’s Roman Way Productions to a pod deal for scripted and unscripted content development. Under terms of the deal, DIGA Studios will serve as the exclusive production partner for all projects the partnership takes on.
(Source: Cynopsis)
The season four premiere of FX’s Fargo has been moved from April 19 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The postponement means the season, starring Chris Rock this time around, will no longer be eligible for the 2020 Primetime Emmy Awards. A new date will determined after production resumes.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Good Eats: Reloaded returns to Cooking Channel for season two on Monday, April 13 at 9p. A one-week preview begins on Cooking Channel GO on April 6.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Season six of ID’s See No Evil premieres Wednesday, April 1 at 9p. The next night brings the debut at 9p of new series If I Should Die, centered on homicides that are solved with an assist from voices from the grave. Another new series, Raw Terror, arrives Sunday, April 12 at 9p, focused on the mysteries a murder spawns even after a perpetrator has been found.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Acorn TV is doing its part during a tumultuous time, offering an extended 30-day free trial for new subscribers, “for those looking for an escape as they are holed up at home.” Trial was previously seven days.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Lester Holt will host NBC New Special Report: Coronavirus Pandemic on Thursday, March 19 at 10p. Special will run across NBC, MSNBC, NBC New NOW and Telemundo Digital.
(Source: Cynopsis)
PBS has added programming aimed at helping viewers deal with the COVID-19 crisis. Confronting Coronavirus: A PBS NewsHour special premieres Thursday, March 19 at 8p followed by a repeat of Spillover: Zika, Ebola & Beyond at 10p; Frontline’s Coronavirus Pandemic debuts Tuesday, April 21 at 9p.
(Source: Cynopsis)
In lieu of its upfront event, originally scheduled for March 18, AMC Networks will have an upfront screening room that will include clips and episodes of new shows. Invitees can sort content by business segment according to their needs.
(Source: Cynopsis)
The Democratic debate on Sunday drew 10.87 viewers to CNN and Univision, according to early Nielsens. It’s the largest for a CNN debate this election cycle, but down from 15.3 million viewers for the last debate, on February 25.
(Source: Cynopsis)
No audience? No problem! Thursday’s audience-less late night shows saw a rise in viewership. NBC’s The Tonight Show was up 33% in total viewers and +34% among A18-49 versus the prior Thursday; CBS’s Late Show rose 21% in viewers and 31% in A18-49: and ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! – hosted by Pete Buttigieg – saw a 27% lift in viewers, and +30% in the demo.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Sunday viewership was up week to week, as more Americans stay home during the COVID-19 pandemic. CBS’s 60 Minutes drew 10.28 viewers, a high since early December, while ABC’s American Idol averaged 7.48 million viewers, up from 7.25 million the week prior.
(Source: Cynopsis)
The second episode of Food Network’s Tournament of Champions posted a .8 rating for P25-54 (.9 W25-54) and saw double-digit gains compared to both prior 6-weeks (+72%) as well as year-ago (+58%). The first two weeks of the competition is averaging a .7 P25-54.
(Source: Cynopsis)
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Today’s Jackpot is $90 million
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Keely's Korner 