FIRST LOOK
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ON TELEVISION (TUESDAY 12/23/25)
CBS: Kennedy Center Honors (Premiere) at 8pm
Netflix: King of Collectibles: The Goldin Touch (Premiere)
Paramount and Netflix saw double-digit month-over-month growth in Nielsen’s November 2025 Media Distributor Gauge. Paramount rose to number three on the chart, with its CBS affiliates and Paramount+ each climbing over 18%. Hallmark saw a 28% viewing gain in November, for the highest percentage viewing increase of the month. But YouTube and Disney retained the top two rankings with 12.9% and 10.5% of TV, respectively. YouTube’s share of TV remained unchanged month-over-month, while Disney dropped 0.9 share points, largely due to ABC affiliates and ESPN declines attributable to the carriage interruption from the YouTube TV dispute.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Paramount says billionaire Larry Ellison will personally guarantee all $40.4 billion of the equity he is putting up to finance the company’s $108 billion hostile takeover bid for Warner Bros. Discovery. WBD’s board has rejected Paramount’s past bids, questioning the legitimacy of the deal’s proposed financing, and accepted an offer from Netflix. Ellison, father of Paramount CEO David Ellison, also agreed not to revoke his family trust, which could have complicated the deal. Additionally, Paramount raised its breakup fee should the deal fall through to $5.8 billion, matching Netflix’s terms.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Allen Media Group has entered a strategic partnership with Infillion to bring Infillion’s interactive video and programmatic ad technology to AMG’s digital portfolio, advancing the company’s ongoing digital transformation. “Partnering with Infillion brings a more efficient, engagement-driven ad experience to streaming,” Byron Allen. “This technology strengthens the value we deliver to advertisers while advancing our mission to serve communities with quality, localized content.”
(Source: Cynopsis)
CBS News editor in chief Bari Weiss defended her decision to pull a planned “60 Minutes” segment on the Trump administration’s deportation of migrants to El Salvador’s CECOT prison, saying the piece was “not ready” and lacked new reporting. Correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi accused the network of political interference, noting the segment had cleared standards and legal review. The last-minute move drew criticism amid heightened scrutiny of CBS following its $16 million settlement with President Donald Trump and questions over corporate pressure tied to Paramount Global’s Skydance merger.
(Source: Cynopsis)
As the 2025 TV season wraps, Warner Bros. Discovery reports its portfolio of cable networks captured nearly 30% of viewing among Adults 25-54 and averaged more than 142 million monthly viewers. WBD owned four of the year’s top 10 ad-supported cable networks — TNT, TBS, Food Network, and TLC — and delivered eight of the top 10 unscripted freshman or limited series, led by TLC’s “Baylen Out Loud.” “Our networks create the shows fans love,” said WBD’s Chief Creative Officer-US Networks Howard Lee.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Over at Telemundo, the network notes it delivered the top Spanish-language specials, including “Miss Universe,” and dominated primetime reality with “La Casa de los Famosos,” “Top Chef VIP,” and “Exatlón.” Telemundo also ranked #1 on Sunday primetime and maintained daytime leadership with strong growth among Adults 18-49.
(Source: Cynopsis)
“Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr”. returns to PBS for its 12th season on January 6. Ten new episodes follow Gates and his team as they use genealogical research and advanced DNA analysis to uncover the family histories of 20 guests, including Darren Criss, America Ferrera, Kristin Chenoweth, Lizzo and Spike Lee.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Hallmark is returning to the Biltmore Estate with a new original film set for 2026’s Countdown to Christmas. Holland Roden and Niall Matter will star as acquaintances whose romance spans the Gilded Age and present day, while Jonathan Frakes reprises his role from 2023’s “A Biltmore Christmas.” Directed by Dustin Rikert and written by Marcy Holland, the film begins production next month on location in Asheville, North Carolina. “When ‘A Biltmore Christmas’ premiered, it immediately became a fan favorite and an instant classic,” says Michelle Vicary, Hallmark Media’s head of programming.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Disney+’s “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” has cast Holt McCallany in Season 3 as the Titan Atlas, a major villain freed to lead Kronos’ forces. McCallany will appear in six episodes. Season 3 adapts The Titan’s Curse by Rick Riordan. David Costabile joins as Dr. Thorn, while Jesse L. Martin plays Annabeth’s father, Frederick Chase. Season 3 is currently in production in Vancouver.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Turner Classic Movies will honor the life and career of filmmaker Rob Reiner with a special programming tribute on January 28. The look back at Reiner’s popular films will begin with “The Princess Bride” at 8p, followed by “When Harry Met Sally” at 10p, “Stand by Me” at 12a and “This is Spinal Tap” at 1:45a.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Family Movie Classics will get “All Shook Up” on January 8 as the network celebrates Elvis Presley’s birthday with a movie marathon that includes “Blue Hawaii,” “Viva Las Vegas,” “Girls! Girls! Girls!”, “Paradise – Hawaiian Style” and “Charro.”
(Source: Cynopsis)
Following PBS’s debut in the Nielsen Streaming Top 10, the free streaming window for the 12-hour Ken Burns documentary series “The American Revolution” has been extended through December 31 on PBS.org and the PBS app. The series, directed by Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein, and David Schmidt, will then move to PBS Passport and the PBS Documentaries Prime Video Channel. PBS will also rebroadcast the series over six consecutive Fridays from January 9 through February 13, with additional airings tied to the country’s 250th anniversary, including runs from April 20–May 5 and a marathon June 27–28, leading into July 4, 2026.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Following its Love of a Lifetime slate this past fall, which reached 5.6 million Total Viewers, Lifetime announced the premiere date for “Toni Braxton’s Breathe Again,” the second film in the network’s multi-picture partnership with Braxton (“He Wasn’t Man Enough”). The film debuts Saturday, January 24 at 8p.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Prime Video’s “Game of the Season” delivered a massive win Thursday night as the Rams-Seahawks thriller ended with a dramatic overtime two-point conversion, averaging 15.36 million viewers — up 39% from last year’s comparable game. With one Christmas night matchup remaining, the 2025 Thursday Night Football season on Prime Video is on pace to become the most-watched in the franchise’s 20-year history, averaging 14.96 million viewers and posting a third consecutive year of double-digit growth. The season has driven gains across all key demographics, attracted audiences nearly seven years younger than linear NFL broadcasts, and fueled strong growth for “TNF Tonight” and “TNF Nightcap.”
(Source: Cynopsis)
Fubo Sports Network is celebrating its commitment to combat sports with “Merry Fistmas,” a week-plus fight marathon running December 22–31. The event features top fights and highlights from Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, Bellator, Glory Kickboxing — including appearances by UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Alex Pereira — the Professional Fighters League, Claressa Shields bouts, and more. As part of the lineup, Fubo Sports Network will livestream the Rajadamnern World Series Muay Thai 80th anniversary special on December 27 at 6a, a five-hour event featuring three title fights.
(Source: Cynopsis)
iHeartMedia announced a long-term, multiplatform partnership with veteran sports media personality and best-selling author Jon “Stugotz” Weiner. Beginning in January 2025, Stugotz will host a new weekday afternoon show on FOX Sports Radio, airing Monday through Friday from 3-5 p ET on more than 270 stations nationwide and streaming on iHeartRadio.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Britain’s Channel 4 has tapped Jimmy Kimmel to deliver its Alternative Christmas Message, citing a year dominated by U.S. politics. Channel 4’s alternative broadcast, which has aired since 1993 opposite the monarch’s message on BBC One and ITV, airs Christmas Day at 12:45p ET.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Craig Tennis, the former head of talent coordinator on “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson,” died at 85. Notable names booked during his six-year stint included Billy Crystal, Freddie Prinz and Tiny Tim.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Bill Bracken has joined Dick Clark Productions as EVP of Production. The Emmy-winning producer’s credits include “Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade,” “Christmas in Rockefeller Center” and “The NAACP Image Awards,” among others.
(Source: Cynopsis)
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