FIRST LOOK
http://www.eonline.com/news
ON TELEVISION (THURSDAY 4/16/20)
CW: In The Dark (Premiere) at 9pm
ID: Predator at Large (Premiere) at 10pm
REVOLT: REVOLT Black News (Premiere) at 9pm
HISTORY: Swamp People (Finale) at 10pm
MOTORTREND TV: Chasing Classic Cars (Finale) at 11pm
OXYGEN: Killer Couples (Finale) at 8pm
WE TV: Waka & Tammy (Finale) at 10pm
The series premiere of HGTV’s Celebrity IOU attracted over 2.6 million viewers on Monday, in an episode featuring a renovation from Brad Pitt. The show delivered a 0.92 P25-54 Live+SD rating, a 60% increase over the prior six weeks and an 88% lift over year-ago levels. The episode also garnered a 1.19 rating among W25-54, a 62% increase over the previous six weeks and an 80% lift over year-ago levels.”It was a magical moment for HGTV,” said Jane Latman, President, HGTV. “The premiere episode was inspiring, moving and fun, and the numbers tell another amazing story.”
(Source: Cynopsis)
The Writers Guild of America East filed an unfair labor practices complaint with the National Labor Board related to NBCUniversal’s closing earlier this year of its in-house nonfiction production unit, Peacock Productions, which had a contract with the union. The guild says many of Peacock’s former writer-producers are now working with non-union NBC News Studios. “NBC News is continuing the work of Peacock Productions under a different banner, using Peacock Productions employees,” the guild alleges. An NBCU spokesperson responded to the news of the complaint by saying, “We have not seen the filing yet, but based on what’s in press reports, we strongly refute what’s being alleged. We have, in writing, requested to meet several times with the WGA East and they have not responded. We continue to welcome the opportunity to have a meaningful conversation with them.”
(Source: Cynopsis)
Dr. Anthony Fauci said baseball and football could possibly be phased in by fall. In an interview on Snapchat with Peter Hampy, the medical expert said the key was no spectators, and players well-surveilled, staying in big hotels with weekly testing. “People say, ‘Well, you can’t play without spectators,’” Fauci said. “I think you’d get enough buy-in from people who are dying to see a baseball game. Particularly me. I mean, I’m living in Washington. We have the world champion Washington Nationals. I want to see them play again.”
(Source: Cynopsis)
World Wrestling Entertainment is making cutbacks that include employee furloughs, talent expense and consulting fees to address the impact of the pandemic on its business. “Due to COVID-19 and current government mandated impacts on WWE and the media business generally, the company went through an extensive evaluation of its operations over the past several weeks,” said the WWE. “This analysis resulted in the implementation of various short-term cost reductions and cash flow improvement actions.” The news came the day after Florida made the decision to classify the WWE among “essential” businesses, able to hold events as long as they are closed to the public.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Bob Odenkirk (Better Call Saul) has launched a production company, Cal-Gold Pictures, based at Sony Pictures Television. Projects will be “as unique, distinct, and varied, as Bob Odenkirk’s career itself,” says the company, “all with an eye towards breaking through the clutter.” Ian Friedman, former VP of Talent & Development at Comedy Central, was named Head of Television.
(Source: Cynopsis)
ViacomCBS Networks International today announced two new series are being produced remotely bring audiences comedic relief during this not-very-funny time. MTV International greenlit Lockdown Laughs with Charlotte Crosby (working title), while Comedy Central International greenlit short-form digital series Comedians in Quarantine, launching across Comedy Central International’s Instagram, Facebook and Twitter accounts beginning Saturday, April 18. Both series encourage fans to continue to self-isolate as the world stays #AloneTogether.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Amazon Studios landed the screen rights to QCode podcast The Left Right Game. Executive producers will include Tessa Thompson, who headed the voice cast; Automatik’s Brian Kavanaugh-Jones; Fred Berger and Justin Levy; and QCode’s Rob Herting nd David Henning.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Crime drama series Nova Vita, set in the cryptocurrency business, will be “a plug and play series for the right outlet,” said USATV Productions’ and series co-creator Bagrat Sargsyan. “We decided to announce the completed project now as we believe Nova Vita will be a much welcomed escape for TV audiences around the world facing these difficult times. The high concept thriller is a very popular genre with viewers, both young and old. We can see what has resonated on Netflix, Amazon and HBO.”
(Source: Cynopsis)
SNL’s Bowen Yang has boarded Quibi’s Fire Island-set romcom series Trip, from Joel Kim Booster. Stephen Dunn (Closet Monster) is set to direct.
(Source: Cynopsis)
WarnerMedia inked a deal with Charter Communications that will make its streaming service, HBO Max, available to Charter customers when it launches next month. All of Charter’s existing HBO subscribers, including subscribers in its Spectrum Silver and Gold video packages, will automatically be given access to HBO Max for no additional charge and with no action required other than signing into the HBO Max app. All remaining and new customers will be able to purchase HBO Max directly from Charter.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Among people who are aware of NBCUniversal’s just-launched streaming service Peacock, 26% said they are likely to subscribe, according to a study from TV Time. Current series are the biggest draw, with 51% of respondents saying they were most interested in access to current NBCU shows. Most respondents said they would choose Peacock Free (45%), versus a paid tier.
(Source: Cynopsis)
TV news consumption on Sling TV has risen 164% over the last month during the coronavirus pandemic, reports the service, with viewers switching from news to entertainment starting at 6p.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Andrea Bocelli’s Easter Sunday Music for Hope concert on YouTube drew over 28 million views worldwide in its first 24 hours, trending at #1 on YouTube in North America, Italy, the UK and Latin America. Universal Music said one million viewers were in the waiting room before the show started. “I am moved and delighted to have received such an overwhelming reaction, that has gone beyond our highest expectations,” Bocelli said. ” It was an immeasurable honor and privilege to lend my voice to the prayers of millions of people, gathered in a single embrace – a small, great miracle of which the whole world was the protagonist and which confirms my optimism about the future of our planet.”
(Source: Cynopsis)
Google is supporting local news publishers globally with awards ranging from “low thousands of dollars” for small hyper-local newsrooms to low tens of thousands for larger newsrooms, the company said in a blog post. “Local news is a vital resource for keeping people and communities connected in the best of times,” said Google VP of News Richard Gingras. “Today, it plays an even greater function in reporting on local lockdowns or shelter at home orders, school and park closures, and data about how COVID-19 is affecting daily life. But that role is being challenged as the news industry deals with job cuts, furloughs and cutbacks as a result of the economic downturn prompted by COVID-19.” The support falls under Google’s Journalism Emergency Relief Fund.
(Source: Cynopsis)
There’s a new iPhone in town, and you can afford it. Apple’s iPhone SE is a compact 4.7” with Touch ID, a single rear-facing camera, the fastest chip in a smartphone – and a $399 starting price. “The first iPhone SE was a hit with many customers who loved its unique combination of small size, high-end performance and affordable price; the new second-generation iPhone SE builds on that great idea and improves on it in every way — including our best-ever single-camera system for great photos and videos — while still being very affordable,” said Phil Schiller, Apple’s SVP of Worldwide Marketing. Phones come in black white and red, and will be available for pre-order on Friday, April 17.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Semcasting announced a new partnership and integration with video ad serving platform SpringServe that provides SpringServe clients with cookie-free data onboarding and activation, and Semcasting data targeting into the CTV space. “By integrating with Semcasting, CTV audience targeting will be even more seamless,” said Ian Tattenham, VP of Partner Development with Semcasting. “Our longtime commitment to cookie-free audience targeting is destined to disrupt the identity resolution space with a higher reach and quicker time to market.”
(Source: Cynopsis)
Instagram is teaming with restaurant ordering platform ChowNow to make photos and stories from local restaurants shoppable. “Order Food” buttons and stickers will link to ChowNow, and followers can re-share stickers on their own Stories. “During this unprecedented pandemic, ChowNow has mobilized all its resources to help local restaurants survive and ultimately thrive, launching new products and services in record time,” said Chris Webb, ChowNow’s CEO and co-founder. “This Instagram feature is yet another valuable tool we’re offering our restaurant partners — at no cost to the restaurants — to help them drive more revenue and boost order volume without suffering the outrageous commissions and fees imposed by other delivery apps.”
(Source: Cynopsis)
Disney+ is celebrating May 4, Stars Wars Day (“May the fourth be with you”) with the premiere of eight-part, making-of docu-series Disney Gallery: The Mandalorian, hosted by The Mandelorian creator and showrunner Jon Favreau, as well as the series finale of Star Wars: The Clone Wars.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Disney Channel will commemorate the 50th anniversary of Earth Day (and the 25th anniversary of the Disney Conservation Fund) with special interstitials highlighting the animal care and wildlife conservation efforts at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park beginning Monday, April 20. The channel will also feature a full day of Earth Day programming on Wednesday, April 22, with a new National Geographic special, Born Wild: The Next Generation, the Disneynature films Monkey Kingdom and Penguins, and environmentally-themed episodes of BUNK’D, Big City Greens, Coop and Cami Ask the World, Raven’s Home and Sydney to the Max.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Netflix interactive special Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy Vs. The Reverend will premiere Tuesday, May 12. Among those joining original cast members Ellie Kemper, Jon Hamm, Tituss Burgess, Jane Krakowski and Carol Kane will be Daniel Radcliffe, Amy Sedaris, Fred Armisen, Jack McBrayer and Johnny Knoxville.
(Source: Cynopsis)
BBC America is also celebrating Earth Day, with a 24-hours-per-day, four-day event. “Now, more than ever, many of us have come to appreciate the extraordinary beauty and deep benefits of the natural world,” said Courtney Thomasma, Executive Director of BBC America. “So at a time when we’re all staying at home, we wanted to give viewers a chance to escape into the wonders of nature as we celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day, with landmark favorites from BBC Studios and brand new documentary specials.” The Earth Day Celebration kicks off with a marathon of the original Planet Earth series beginning Monday, April 20 at 1p and ending Tuesday, April 21 at 11a.
(Source: Cynopsis)
A new live show, REVOLT Black News, debuts on REVOLT TV tonight, April 16 at 9p. Episodes will feature conversations with experts, artists, and elected officials discussing COVID-19’s impact on the Black community. First up: Congresswoman Maxine Waters, Big Sean, Angela Yee, Styles P, and more in “Health Is Wealth.”
(Source: Cynopsis)
Litton Entertainment is launching The Daily Splash, an online hub designed to give kids and families access to entertaining and uplifting stories themed around a common idea on topics including nature, animals, travel, social innovators, health, civic engagement, diversity and more. “Litton has created The Daily Splash newsletter at no cost to parents,” said Dave Morgan, CEO and President of Litton Entertainment. “It taps into our library of 3,000-plus episodes of educational programming seen weekly for 30 years on NBC, CBS and ABC TV Stations, as well as Telemundo and The CW.”
(Source: Cynopsis)
HGTV viewers voted on the second “Fan Favorite Friday” marathon for April 17, and it was too close to call. So the net will air marathons of two shows: Nate and Jeremiah: Save My House from 6-11a, and Flea Market Flip from 11a-6p.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Three-part series H2O, The Molecule That Made Us premieres on Earth Day, April 22, on PBS (check local listings). The documentary takes viewers from South Africa, where beautiful resurrection plans are brought back to full bloom, to California, where a town that was once a booming vacation spot has run out of water.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Special quarantine episodes of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives: Takeout, begin on Food Network on Friday, April 24 at 9p. In each installment, Guy Fieri checks in with four past Triple D chefs from across the country via video-chat, to see how they are holding up, and how they have transformed their businesses to keep serving customers.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Her Campus, the media brand for college women, launched “I’m Still Graduating,” a live, virtual, graduation ceremony for the nation’s Class of 2020, taking place on Friday, May 15 at 12p for free on ImStillGraduating.com. Commencement speakers will be made up of politicians, CEOs, athletes, authors and celebrities who will share their words of hope, promise, and encouragement for the Class of 2020.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Millennial-focused broadcaster Insight TV will air special One World: Together At Home live in 4K UHD across all of its platforms in over 45 countries on Saturday, April 18 at 8p.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Rainbow announced 44 Cats will add to the partnership with Vertical Licensing for the distribution of the preschool series across Brazil.
(Source: Cynopsis)
UK independent production company Icon Films and Fremantle are partnering to distribute documentary film, Okavango – A Flood of Life worldwide.Commissioned by Japanese broadcaster NHK last year, Okavango – A Flood of Life sees veteran natural history filmmaker Brad Bestelink and his team at Natural History Film Unit use the latest technology to film a full seasonal cycle on the Delta.
(Source: Cynopsis)
APC Kids has secured a deal with France Télévisions for new live action comedy Hardball, distributed by Australian Children’s Television Foundation.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Fox News Digital wrapped 1Q20 with its highest quarter ever among average monthly multiplatform unique visitors (119.8 million), total multiplatform views (5.7 billion), and total multiplatform minutes (13.2 billion minutes), according to Comscore.
(Source: Cynopsis)
CNBC Digital claimed the top spot in the Business News category with a record 115 million unique visitors in March, an increase of 98% year-over-year. It’s the first time CNBC has ranked number one in the category.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Keely's Korner 