Programming

Fox’s fresh take on America’s Most Wanted, features new host Elizabeth Vargas and uses technology like 3D avatar of suspects to enlist viewers to help solve crimes and identify perpetrators.

Michael Wright, who is president of cable network Epix, is to take over MGM’s scripted television duties following the departure of Steve Stark. Wright, who is extending his contract with the company, becomes President of MGM Scripted Television and will serve a dual role, continuing in his position as boss of Epix.

Hockey will return in a big way to Walt Disney’s ESPN in a new seven-year deal that breaks NBCUniversal’s dominance of the sport’s TV rights and makes some National Hockey League games available for streaming in broader fashion. ESPN’s new deal with the NHL will last from the 2021-22 season through the 2027-28 season, the network announced today.

NBC says that America Ferrera will return for the series finale of Superstore on March 25. Details about her return are being kept quiet, although the network shared a first photo of Ferrera in the finale wearing the familiar blue vest of Cloud 9 workers. Ferrera, who was also a producer of Superstore, departed the series at the beginning of the current season (and before NBC announced it would end after six years).

CBS Media Ventures said it is teaming up with NuTime Media to help advertisers looking to reach Black viewers who watch CBS’s syndicated shows. NuTime Media, formerly Related Media Inc., is a Minority Business Enterprise certified ad sales rep. Under the new agreement, NuTime, led by CEO Morris McWilliams, will work closely with Scott Trupchak, EVP of media sales and partnerships at CBS Media Ventures. Above, Hot Bench is one of the CBS syndicated shows with a large Black audience.

NBC’s The Voice drew 6.7 million total viewers and a 0.9 demo rating on Tuesday, holding steady week-to-week and leading the night in the demo. On CBS, NCIS (9.6M/0.8) was steady and easily copped Tuesday’s largest audience.

The three participants’ ties to Netflix and Apple, along with Winfrey’s desire to reach a big live-viewing audience, paved the way to an old-school deal with CBS.

Powered by Oprah Winfrey and royals Prince Harry and Meghan, CBS won last week with an average of 6 million viewers in primetime. ABC had 3.5 million, NBC had 3.2 million, Fox had 2.5 million, Univision had 1.3 million, Ion Television had 1.1 million and Telemundo had 1 million. Fox News led the cable networks, averaging 2.37 million viewers in primetime. MSNBC had 1.88 million, TNT had 1.41 million, CNN had 1.25 million and HGTV had 1.11 million.

President Biden is giving a primetime address on Thursday night and the networks are shuffling their schedules accordingly. The president will mark the one-year anniversary of the shutdowns linked to the Covid pandemic in the U.S., which has led to the death of over 525,000 Americans. ABC, NBC and Fox have confirmed that they are airing the address, which is set to start at 8 p.m. ET, and is expected to last 15-30 minutes. CBS has yet to confirm but is likely to.

This year’s Super Bowl lead-out program, CBS’s The Equalizer, has scored a touchdown in the form of an early Season 2 renewal.

After 13 weeks in a tie as No. 2 or in a tie with Live with Kelly and Ryan, Dr. Phil returned to the top of the chat pack despite giving back 5% to a 1.9.

NBC’s The Voice this Monday drew 7.4 million viewers and a 1.0 demo rating, dipping week-to-week yet dominating the night in total audience. Leading out of that, Debris (3.4M/0.4) dropped 23% and 33% in Week 2.

“They’re only going to get more serious over time,” Greg Maffei told an investors conference about the e-commerce giant eyeing live sports agreements, including with the NFL in the U.S. market.

Two major moves will happen over the next six weeks — the WWE Network’s move to Peacock on March 18, along with the search for a new home for the ThunderDome, which is where Raw and Smackdown are being held due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The network orders original U.S. versions of British series Would I Lie To You? and Killer Camp. Additionally, the CW has acquired episodes of British edition of Would I Lie To You? for broadcast in the U.S.

President Joe Biden will deliver his first primetime address this Thursday night, to discuss the nearly year-old coronavirus pandemic and the state of the vaccination rollout.

The Directors Guild of America has revealed this year’s TV nominees for its 73rd annual DGA Awards, including achievement in drama, comedy, limited/TV movie, variety, reality, children’s and commercials. Also announced on Monday were the nominees for this year’s directorial achievement in documentaries.

Sean McManus kicks off the new event covering live sports production, the rise of sports gambling, esports, the importance of sports to local broadcasters and more.

Emmy-nominated Jesse Collins has had success over the years with the BET Awards, the Grammy Awards and various TV specials, and now he’s bringing his magical touch to the 2021 Academy Awards, thanks to a co-sign from the queen of all media, Oprah Winfrey.

Oprah, Harry and Meghan reigned supreme on Sunday night, as CBS’s broadcast of Winfrey’s sitdown with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex absolutely dominated in both total viewers and in the demo. All told, the two-hour conversation averaged north of 17 million viewers along with a 2.6 demo rating.

To glimpse the future of entertainment on the internet, pay attention to where we can watch football.