FIRST LOOK
http://www.eonline.com/news
ON TELEVISION (TUESDAY 4/30/24)
CW: Police 24/7 (Premiere)
CW: Hostage Rescue (Premiere) at 9pm
FX on Hulu: The Veil (Premiere)
MAGNOLIA: Restoring Galveston (Premiere) at 8pm
MTV: Catfish: The TV Show (Premiere) at 8pm
NETFLIX: Fiasco (Premiere)
NETFLIX: My Next Guest Needs No Introduction With David Letterman (Premiere)
Paramount Global made it official Monday afternoon, with the announcement that CEO Bob Bakish is out. George Cheeks, President and CEO of CBS; Chris McCarthy, President and CEO, Showtime/MTV Entertainment Studios and Paramount Media Networks; and Brian Robbins, President and CEO of Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon, will comprise the Office of the CEO. “The creation of the Office of the CEO will enable the Company to accelerate growth and strengthen operations. We look forward to working with George, Chris and Brian as they execute on key initiatives to enhance performance and value creation at Paramount Global,” said Board of Directors CFO Naveen Chopra. But how will the new leaders get along? “We’re true partners,” said McCarthy in remarks during the company’s earnings call, adding they have “a deep respect for each other.”
(Source: Cynopsis)
As for those quarterly earnings results – on the streaming front, Paramount+ subscribers topped 71 million, with 3.7 million net additions in the quarter, and streaming losses narrowed to $288 million from $510 in the year-ago period. Advertising revenue rose 17% with a Super Bowl boost. “It was a record-setting quarter for Paramount+ in engagement and revenue, and in the DTC segment as we continued to substantially narrow streaming losses,” said Naveen Chopra. “CBS dominated with its powerful combination of sports and the return of a delayed fall slate that launched to massive audiences. As we look ahead, we remain focused on execution and transforming our cost base to best position Paramount for the future.”
(Source: Cynopsis)
In what it described as its best and final offer, Skydance, which has been talking merger with Paramount for months, sweetened the deal with at $3 billion cash infusion that can be used to pay down debt and buy back stock, reports The New York Times. Skydance also offered to give Paramount shareholders a larger stake in the combined company, a change aimed at assuaging investors who objected to a deal they felt prioritized the interests of controlling shareholder Shari Redstone over others.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Google took to the stage at NewFronts to announce partnerships with companies using its Display & Video 360 tools, including Disney, Warner Bros. Discovery and Paramount Global. In another update, Google reported it is one of the first partners to directly integrate into Disney’s Real-time Ad Exchange (DRAX).
(Source: Cynopsis)
Gray Television continued its rollout of NextGen TV in its markets with several key initiatives to advance the transition and bring more of the benefits of the new standard to viewers in Gray’s local communities. Among other consumer benefits, NextGen allows broadcasters to deliver superior picture quality and immersive sound. “For many years, broadcasters have been promising to use NextGen TV to bring superior picture quality and immersive sound to viewers,” said Pat LaPlatney, Gray’s president and co-CEO. “Gray is proud to be among a handful of leading broadcasters who are now delivering on that promise. Our stations in Louisville and Las Vegas are just the beginning of Gray’s efforts to launch more of its NextGen TV stations with these innovative, consumer-pleasing features throughout the summer and into the fall.”
(Source: Cynopsis)
The price of NBCU streaming service Peacock is going up by $2/month, to $7.99 for Peacock Premium starting July 18 for new customers. That’s eight days before the start of the Paris Olympics.
(Source: Cynopsis)
The US ad market rose 4.3% in March versus March 2023, its 11th consecutive month of expansion, according to Guideline’s US Ad Market Tracker. Smaller ad categories were the biggest winners – while the top 10 increased spending 1.9% year-over-year, all other categories grew by 7.9%.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Heads are rolling at multiplatform media outlet TheGrio, in a restructuring that is touching many areas. “Allen Media Group is making strategic changes to better position the company for growth that will result in expense and workforce reductions across all divisions,” said the company in a statement. “We are aligning these changes to drive future business opportunities and support our growth strategies in our rapidly evolving industry.”
(Source: Cynopsis)
One America News Network has retracted a March 27 story that said former Donald Trump lawyer Michael Cohen had an affair with porn star Stormy Daniels, and apologized for “any harm the publication may have caused him.” The retraction is part of a settlement deal with Cohen, who said, “The notion that right before the election I would extort the man I fervently supported and believed was about to become president, all to make $130,000 that I did not even keep for myself, is beyond absurd. It’s just plain stupid.”
(Source: Cynopsis)
The British are coming! The BBC is planning multi-platform coverage of the 2024 US Presidential Election, including live coverage and in-depth analysis across BBC.com and the BBC app, the BBC News channel, newsletters, and audio platforms. The organization announced the launch of BBC Verify US, a dedicated unit to counter disinformation in the run up to Election Day. “In this critical election year, the BBC will rise above the divides to deliver even more of our unique brand of trusted news across new platforms and in new formats,” said Deborah Turness, CEO of BBC News. “Where disinformation brings chaos and confusion, the BBC will bring clarity and accuracy, facts not opinion, analysis consumers can trust. We are investing in the tools, techniques, and talent to combat fake news.”
(Source: Cynopsis)
August Peters signed an agreement with Outdoor America to utilize the network’s producer portal IP platform to manage his shows’ production assets, as well as provide and distribute new video content to industry social media platforms. Peters serves as Director of Productions for “Texas Trophy Hunting TV,” as well as “Guide Tails,” airing on Outdoor America.
(Source: Cynopsis)
The Roku Channel greenlit a docuseries starring Keanu Reeves and Gard Hollinger. “The Arch Project” will follow the friends and Arch Motorcycle co-founders as they meet people who have changed the world. The project is produced by Venture 10 Studio Group. “Through a genuine drive to better understand human creativity, Gard Hollinger and Keanu Reeves will bring audiences a series that inspire us all to dream bigger and bolder,” said Sean Boyle, Roku Originals, who is overseeing the project.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Upcoming Magnolia Network content includes new seasons of “Design Down Under,” debuting Saturday, May 18 at 2p on Magnolia, and “Diary of an Old Home,” launching Friday, May 24 on Max and discovery+.
(Source: Cynopsis)
On the way to Discovery Channel is a new season of “Caught,” starting Thursday, May 2 at 9p, as well a new season of “Naked and Afraid” (Sunday, May 12 at 8p) followed by new series “Expedition From Hell: The Lost Tapes” at 10p. A fresh season of “Ghost Adventures” kicks off Wednesday, May 15 at 9p.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Original documentary “Faye,” the first feature documentary focused on Faye Dunaway, will debut on HBO later this year. Directed and produced by Laurent Bouzereau (“Natalie Wood: What Remains Behind”), the film will have its world premiere at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show” franchise “Indecision 2024” will offer on-the-ground coverage from the Republican and Democratic national conventions. The late-night series has offered comprehensive coverage of the events since 2000.
(Source: Cynopsis)
The first round of artists set to perform at the 59th Academy of Country Music Awards includes Jason Aldean, Kane Brown, Jelly Roll, Cody Johnson, Miranda Lambert, Thomas Rhett, Chris Stapleton, and Lainey Wilson. The show airs Thursday, ay 16 at 8p on Prime Video.
(Source: Cynopsis)
“The Billboard Latin Women in Music” will air Sunday, June 9 on Telemundo. The two-hour music special, which celebrates Latin female artists working for positive change, inclusion, and gender parity in the music industry, will once again be hosted by Mexican actress and television host Jacqueline Bracamontes.
(Source: Cynopsis)
BET+ original film “The Deadly Getaway” premieres on the streamer Thursday, May 9. The thriller tells the tale of a romantic glamping trip in the remote woods gone terribly wrong.
(Source: Cynopsis)
HBO released the entire first season of “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver” on YouTube. A post on X said seasons 2-8 of the weekly show will drop on Sundays when a new episode doesn’t air. “Trust us, some of this is still completely relevant,” said the post.
(Source: Cynopsis)
During its first 16 days, Prime Video’s “Fallout” has amassed over 65 million viewers. Based on the game series, the show draws 60% of its audience from outside the US.
(Source: Cynopsis)
MEGA MILLIONS
Today’s Jackpot is $257 million.
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