Search results matching tag 'Syndication'

Marketing Syndie’s ‘Office’

Anonymous — Sat, 30 May 2009 23:44:00 GMT

Affiliates airing NBC Universal’s “The Office” are rolling out the show’s syndication advertising campaign, ahead of the customary July pushes. NBC, without a new first-run program to advertise this year, is focusing its promotional energy on “The Office,” which is entering broadcast syndication in September. Under the banner “The Office is Branching Out,” NBC Universal is planning a multi-phase approach to get viewers up to speed about “Office” in broadcast syndication, Donna Mills, NBC Universal vice president of marketing and affiliate relations, said. The first phase contains mostly clip-driven spots from the show that are currently airing in some markets, Ms. Mills said. “The Office” promos launched early in part because Fox affiliates airing “The Office” wanted a spot to air during the finale of “American Idol” on May 20. Stations are also receiving custom promos from NBC Universal, with cast members discussing specific markets. The promo package includes call-letter jingles and behind-the-scenes clips. Subsequent phases of the advertising push include character-specific spots and highlighting the fact that “The Office” in syndication allows viewers to enjoy episodes from the beginning of the series, Ms. Mills said. Stations will also have access in August to a video content-management system developed by DG Entertainment that will allow affiliates to search clips of the show by keyword, giving them the ability to cut station-specific promos. For instance, stations can search for every instance the word “five” is said on “The Office” and use those clips to create a custom promo highlighting that “The Office” is airing five times a week. Ms. Mills said a Tampa station that is airing “The Office,” the independent WMOR-TV, started its promo push in March. The station has already requested talent to appear at a Tampa Bay Rays baseball game, and is pitching contest ideas to NBC Universal. “That just shows the excitement around this show, and how exciting stations are to have it, and how excited we are to push it,” she said.

MyNet Announces Fall Lineup

Anonymous — Wed, 27 May 2009 20:39:45 GMT

“Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader,” “Deal or No Deal” and “The Unit” are rounding out MyNetworkTV’s fall 2009-10 schedule, the network announced today. MyNet, which is moving away from original programming and toward a “programming service model” next season, announced a partial lineup earlier this year, with flagship “WWE Smackdown” remaining on Fridays, two hours of NBC Universal Domestic Television’s “Law and Order: Criminal Intent” on Monday and a movie night on Thursday. The new schedule will premiere Monday, Sept. 28. The syndicated versions of “Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader” and “Deal or No Deal” will air on Tuesdays in hour blocks, with two episodes of “Fifth Grader” at 8 p.m. and two episodes of “Deal” at 9 p.m. “Fifth Grader” is distributed by Twentieth Television, while “Deal” is distributed by NBC Universal Television Distribution. A two-hour block of “The Unit,” distributed by Twentieth Television, will air on Wednesdays. “The Unit” is entering syndication next season, and was recently canceled by CBS. Several specials are also planned for the season, including the “2009 World Music Awards,” the “2009 World Magic Awards” and the “2009 Hollywood Christmas Parade” in December.

Syndie Viewership Declines as Summer Nears

Anonymous — Wed, 27 May 2009 20:25:32 GMT

Syndication ratings slid south as warmer weather pushed more people away from their televisions during the week ending May 17th. As the third full week of the May sweep, levels of persons using televisions dropped by an average of 167,000 viewers from the previous week, helping with decline in ratings. Even with the dropoff, the entertainment newsmagazine genre held steady, as CBS Television Distribution’s “Entertainment Tonight” gained 2% from the previous week to a 4.2 household rating. CBS’ “Inside Edition” held flat with a 2.9, followed by Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution’s “TMZ,” which gained 5% to a 2.1. NBC Universal Television Distribution’s “Access Hollywood” (2.0) and CBS’ “The Insider” (1.7) were both flat. Warner Bros. “Extra” tied “Insider” with a 1.7, gaining 6%. In game shows, CBS’ “Jeopardy” was the only show to make a gain, up 2% to a 5.4. The rest of the field suffered. Disney-ABC Domestic Television’s “Millionaire” dropped to a season low, off 4% to a 2.2. For talk shows, CBS’ “The Oprah Winfrey Show” and “Dr. Phil” gained ground at the top of the heap, as “Oprah” lifted 2% to a 5.3, followed by “Phil,” up 3% to a 3.0. The only other show to make positive strides was Warner Bros. “The Tyra Banks Show,” which posted a 10% increase to a 1.1, bolstered by an episode featuring the cast of cycle 12 of “America’s Next Top Model.” All other talk shows either declined slightly or held steady from the previous week. There was little movement in the court genre, as Warner Bros. “Judge Mathis” was the only show to gain ground (up 7% to a 1.5), and Sony Pictures Television’s “Judge David Young” was the only show to lose ground (off 14% to a 0.6). For the rookie shows, CBS’ “The Doctors” nabbed its 17th week at the top of the first-year first-run pack, with a 1.7, off 6%. NBC Universal’s “Deal or No Deal” also dropped 6%, posting a 1.5. The rest of the field held steady, except for Debmar-Mercury’s “Trivial Pursuit: America Plays,” which lifted 20% to a 0.6.

‘Wendy Williams’ Hires Gabel, Bass as Producers

Anonymous — Tue, 26 May 2009 21:53:24 GMT

“The Wendy Williams Show” hired Jason Gabel and Suzanne Bass as supervising producers, while Deb Miller is returning as director of the talk series premiering in July. Mr. Gabel previously served as a senior producer on Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution’s “The Ellen DeGeneres Show.” Ms. Bass was previously with NBC Universal’s “The Martha Stewart Show” as a coordinating producer. Ms. Miller served as director during “Williams’” test market run last year. Deirdre Dod and James Avenell round out the production team as talent executives. Ms. Dod recently worked on “Rosie Live” as a talent producer, while Mr. Avenell is arriving from “The Bonnie Hunt Show,” where he was a talent producer. Producers Joelle Dawson-Calia, Lorraine Haughton and Alia Zamel are returning as producers. Liza Persky has been named producer, while Tristan Zimmerman has been named Web producer. “Williams” is produced and distributed by Debmar-Mercury. Rob Dauber, Kevin Hunter and Ms. Williams serve as executive producers. (Editor: Baumann)

Warner Bros.’ Bart to Oversee Operations at Debmar-Mercury

Anonymous — Tue, 26 May 2009 19:34:50 GMT

Lenny Bart, formerly of Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution, has joined Debmar-Mercury in the newly created post of executive vice president and general manager, the distribution company announced today. In this role, Mr. Bart will oversee all of Debmar’s operations, including domestic and international business operations, financial analysis, accounting and contracts. Mr. Bart was with Warner Bros. for 22 years, most recently as executive VP of Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution. “Lenny is an outstanding executive with an intrinsic understanding of every aspect of this business,” said Mort Marcus, co-president of Debmar-Mercury. “He will play a vital role in managing our new and existing programming assets as we move forward on multiple fronts.”

Twentieth Clears ‘Unit’ in 56% of U.S. for Fall 2010

Anonymous — Tue, 19 May 2009 23:03:54 GMT

Twentieth Television’s “The Unit,” formerly on CBS, is hitting broadcast syndication in fall 2010 and is currently cleared in 56% of the country, the distribution company announced today. “Unit” is cleared in the top 15 markets of the country, sold to the Fox owned-and-operated stations and stations owned by CBS, Scripps, Tribune, Hearst-Argyle, Meredith, Journal, Block, Freedom and Gray. The show will air as a weekend hourlong strip. This announcement came shortly after this morning’s news that CBS passed on a renewal for the fifth season of the Special Forces action drama, which stars Dennis Haysbert. “As syndication will soon welcome a program that epitomizes the very best of edge-of-your-seat drama on television, we are thrilled with the significant interest we are already garnering from stations across the country,” Bob Cook, president and chief operating officer of Twentieth Television, said in a statement.

‘Marie’ Set for Fall Daytime Syndie Bow in at Least 80% of U.S.

Anonymous — Fri, 15 May 2009 00:25:41 GMT

Program Partners’ “Marie,” a talk show hosted by Marie Osmond, is a go for daytime syndication for the fall and is currently cleared in 80% of the country, a syndication source familiar with the situation said. “Marie,” which announced clearances in New York and Los Angeles during NATPE 2009, has been on the fence about a definite go for the coming season since January. Distributor Program Partners said it couldn’t confirm the report, however. “Marie” will be produced in Las Vegas.

‘Children,’ ‘Lives,’ ‘Bold’ Vie for Drama Series Honors at Daytime Emmys

Anonymous — Thu, 14 May 2009 22:26:49 GMT

The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences today announced nominations for the 36th annual Daytime Entertainment Emmy Awards. The drama series nominees are “All My Children,” “Days of Our Lives” and “The Bold and the Beautiful.” “Cristina’s Court,” “Judge Hatchett,” “Judge Judy,” “Family Court With Judge Penny” and “The People’s Court” were nominated for legal/courtroom program. In the talk show categories, “Live With Regis and Kelly,” “Rachael Ray” and “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” were nominated for the entertainment category, while “Dr. Phil,” “The Doctors” and “The Tyra Banks Show” received informative category nominations. The talk show host nominees were Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa, Rachael Ray, Ellen DeGeneres and “The View” co-hosts Whoopi Goldberg, Barbara Walters, Elisabeth Hasselbeck, Joy Behar and Sherri Shepherd. A full list of nominees can be found here. The awards ceremony, hosted by “Ugly Betty’s” Vanessa Williams, will air on The CW Aug. 30 from the Orpheum Theater in downtown Los Angeles.

‘Bonnie Hunt’ Gets Kellison as Executive Producer

Anonymous — Mon, 11 May 2009 19:09:47 GMT

Daniel Kellison, co-creator of “The Man Show” and “Crank Yankers,” is stepping in as executive producer of Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution’s “The Bonnie Hunt Show” next season. Mr. Kellison also co-created and served as executive producer of ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live.” Mr. Kellison, along with Ms. Hunt, Don Lake and Jim Paratore will serve as executive producers on the show next season. David Perler, who served as executive producer of the show’s pilot and during the first season, is leaving “Hunt.” "Daniel's broad experience and his tremendous creativity and comedic chops will help elevate the show as we enter into its second season,” Hilary Estey McLoughlin, president of Telepictures Productions said in a statement. “Daniel has a proven track record in daytime and late night and a shared sensibility with Bonnie whose authenticity, relatability and spontaneous humor will create a winning combination for our sophomore season.” “Hunt” is produced by Telepictures Productions, Bob & Alice Productions and paraMedia inc. and is distributed by Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution. (Editor: Baumann)

‘Beyond Twisted’ Takes Test Marketing to Next Level

Anonymous — Mon, 11 May 2009 04:20:00 GMT

With syndication challenged by the rough economy, distribution companies are looking beyond the current business model for ways to pare spending and make their product more affordable for stations. Larger distribution houses like Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution and NBC Universal Television Distribution are initiating moves that would have seemed unthinkable a year ago, including test-market runs and moving production out of California and New York. Warner Bros. is dipping its toe into the test-marketing pond this summer with Telepictures Productions’ “Beyond Twisted.” In an eight-week preview starting July 8, the show will air Monday through Friday on Fox Television Stations in New York, Los Angeles, Dallas/Fort Worth, Detroit, Phoenix and Minneapolis/St. Paul. Executive producer Harvey Levin said the show uses “TMZ”-inspired storytelling devices using clips culled from around the world, including the Internet. The cast will be smaller than “TMZ’s,” he said, adding that they will provide commentary on the clips. Mr. Levin declined to provide more specifics. “Beyond Twisted” shows the expansion of test marketing as a marketing tactic, one that has been used recently by other, smaller syndicators. Debmar-Mercury has heavily pursued test marketing, with last year’s test run of “The Wendy Williams Show” landing the program on the Fox Television Stations in July. “My friends in distribution would probably disagree with me, but this [test marketing] is syndication. … This is the future of syndication.” said Frank Cicha, senior vice president of programming for the Fox Television Stations. Mr. Cicha said mistakes in programming are more costly now than ever, meaning producers and stations need to mitigate risk. Production costs also are being examined. NBC Universal announced late last month that “Deal or No Deal” would be produced at a new facility in Waterford, Conn., rather than in Culver City, Calif., where its primetime counterpart is shot. NBC Universal declined to comment on the future of the primetime “Deal.” Bill Carroll, vice president and director of programming with Katz Television Group, said that a year ago, leaving the production nest of Los Angeles would have been surprising. Now it’s all fair game, he said. “The viewer doesn’t know where you produce the show,” he said. “What’s the difference of a show that’s produced in New York or California?” “Deal” joins NBC Universal’s “Maury,” “The Jerry Springer Show” and “The Steve Wilkos Show” as programs making the move to Connecticut next season to take advantage of healthy tax incentives on production. Cost pressures on production reflect the difficulties stations will have affording expensive shows as their advertising business contracts. Mr. Carroll said shows that aren’t generating the ratings stations are anticipating are going to have to make changes in order to remain lucrative for broadcasters. “There’s going to have to be some adjustment,” he said. “Those who adjust will survive. And those who don’t adjust, won’t.”