FIRST LOOK
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ON TELEVISION (THURSDAY 6/26/25)
BRITBOX: The Good Ship Murder (Premiere)
PEACOCK: Nelly & Ashanti: We Belong Together (Premiere)
SUNDANCE: Butchers of LA (Premiere)
Layoffs at Paramount Global have hit BET. As it thins its ranks, BET will “further leverage Paramount’s scaled support functions in areas including linear research, finance, and business and legal affairs,” wrote network CEO Scott Mills in a memo to staff on Wednesday. Paramount announced earlier this month that it plans to reduce its US workforce by 3.5%.
(Source: Cynopsis)
At least one media expert believes Netflix’s next big bet should be on short-form content and exclusive, multi-year deals with creators. “Some of the bigger creators on YouTube have high production value content with huge, built-in audiences. Their annual viewing hours rival big Netflix originals,” wrote Wells Fargo analyst Steve Cahall in a research note. “Moving creators exclusively to NFLX could be an opportunity to add subscribers, engagement and ads, all at an attractive ROI.”
(Source: Cynopsis)
Warner Bros. Discovery, in connection with DC Studios’ “Superman,” has launched a social impact campaign with Best Friends Animal Society to bring awareness to adoptable pets around the country. “Superman” director James Gunn filmed a PSA encouraging viewers to join WBD in supporting the work of the organization. The multichannel marketing campaign will air on WBD platforms from sports and streaming to cable, broadcast and social media, and in AMC theaters the month of July.
(Source: Cynopsis)
HGTV has canceled “Married to Real Estate” after four seasons. Series stars Egypt Sherrod and Mike Jackson shared the news in an Instagram post, saying, “While the chain of events leading up to this is disheartening, we are deeply grateful. Grateful for four incredible seasons. Grateful for our amazing crew and supportive fans. Grateful that our businesses continue to thrive. And most of all-grateful that we are still very much married to real estate (and to each other).”
(Source: Cynopsis)
Fred Rogers Productions has extended its partnership with PNC Foundation,receiving a $1.4 million grant through PNC’s Grow Up Great® program. The grant supports both the animated series “Alma’s Way” and community events inspired by the series and ongoing Be My Neighbor Day initiatives.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Tamera Mowry-Housely (“Sister, Sister”) is hosting Hallmark baking competition “Baked with Love: Holiday,” following ten pairs of home bakers in a family bake-off. “This show is the perfect recipe for joy, combining the magic of baking for the holidays with the warmth, charm, and heartfelt connections that embody the Hallmark spirit,” said Hallmark Media head of unscripted David Stefanou. Production just wrapped on the show, which will make its debut later this year.
(Source: Cynopsis)
UConn’s women’s basketball champs have landed a Netflix docuseries.The show, now in production, will explore the team’s history, as well as its 2025 NCAA win.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Norway’s Rubicon TV landed the exclusive rights to Lars Mytting’s trilogy, commencing with supernatural thriller The Bell in the Lake. Development is now underway.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Season ten of OWN’s “Love & Marriage: Huntsville” kicks off Saturday, July 19 at 8p. This year, the reality show was Saturday night’s #1 original series across all key African American demos, leading OWN to be Saturday night’s #1 cable network (without sports) with African American W25-54.
(Source: Cynopsis)
The Africa Channel will mark its 20th anniversary with new original programming, including a documentary special recounting pivotal turning points in its history. “TAC 20: The Africa Channel Story” traces the journey of how the independent, Black-owned channel has contributed to evolving the narrative of Africa and its place in the world.
(Source: Cynopsis)
ESPN has renewed a five-year media rights deal with the Premier Lacrosse League that will span ESPN platforms. The deal begins with the 2026 season and includes all Premier Lacrosse League regular season, All-Star, Playoff and Championship games, Maybelline Women’s Lacrosse League games, and future PLL and WLL Drafts. “This renewed partnership with ESPN is a major milestone for the continued rise of both the PLL and WLL,” said Mike Rabil, Premier Lacrosse League co-founder/CEO. “It underscores the momentum behind both our men’s and women’s leagues and the demand from a growing, passionate fanbase — unlocking new opportunities for our players, partners, and fans alike.”
(Source: Cynopsis)
The 2025 NHL Draft begins Friday, June 27, with Round One coverage from 7-10p on ESPN and simulcast on ESPN+. “The Point,” ESPN’s hockey-focused studio show, will preview Round One and feature red carpet coverage beginning at 6p on ESPN2 and ESPN+. Day two Draft coverage of Rounds 2-7 will begin on Saturday, June 28, at noon on ESPN+ and the NHL Network.
(Source: Cynopsis)
MLB Network’s trio of Robert Flores, Lauren Shehadi and Mark DeRosa will celebrate 1,000 episodes together on today’s “MLB Central.” The regular season morning program launched in 2015, with Robert Flores joining Shehadi and DeRosa starting in 2018.
(Source: Cynopsis)
WTA Ventures and Tennis Channel have agreed to a new six-year media rights deal that has Tennis Channel platforms continue as the exclusive home of WTA tennis in the US through 2032. The deal covers all WTA 1000, 500 and 250 events (except tournaments in the US) through to the season-closing WTA Finals.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Media services provider NEP Group announced the launch mobile production facility Supershooter 10, designed to give production teams a standardized, familiar environment that streamlines workflows between shows and across locations. Like its predecessors, Supershooter 10 is powered by NEP’s TFC broadcast orchestration platform, delivering a fully IP-based infrastructure supporting 1080p and HDR production.
(Source: Cynopsis)
LIV Golf and MGM Resorts International have struck an agreement that calls for MGM Resorts to serve as the host venue and presenting partner for LIV Golf Week, an annual pre-season event which will relocate from Florida to Las Vegas in advance of the 2026 LIV Golf season. LIV Golf Week brings together players, team staff, and league officials for a range of pre-season activities across several days including content capture for broadcast and corporate partners; global press engagement with influencers and media from sports, entertainment and lifestyle outlets; league and team commercial campaigns, and more as players prepare for the upcoming season.
(Source: Cynopsis)
The season three premiere of HBO’s “The Gilded Age” drew 2.7 million cross-platform viewers in its first three days, up 27% from the season two debut and up 30% from the series starter.
(Source: Cynopsis)
NASCAR on Prime posted a season average of 2.16 million viewers across five events on Prime Video. Among all key adult demographics under the age of 55 (P18-34, P18-49, P25-54), Prime Video finished the season with double-digit, year-over-year gains, and delivered the youngest audience median age (56.1) among all NASCAR broadcasters in more than a decade.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Peacock’s “Love Island USA” ranked as the #2 streaming original title the week of June 9, and the #1 streaming reality title, based on preliminary Nielsen minutes viewed. Beyond Nielsen measurement, which predominantly captures viewership of content on the television screen, Peacock first party data reveals that “Love Island USA” season 7 has the platform’s biggest mobile audience of all time for an entertainment series with nearly 30% of usage occurring on mobile devices.
(Source: Cynopsis)
ABC News’ “Karen Read: The Verdict – A Special Edition of 20/20” ranked #1 on Wednesday among all of broadcast and cable programs in primetime in Adults 18-49 (397,000), based on Live+Same Day Nielsens (non-sports).
(Source: Cynopsis)
