Since its founding in 2006, CBS Entertainment’s first-run distribution division has been known as CBS Television Distribution. But starting today, in an attempt to fuse with an evolved media landscape and CBS’s brand strategy to-date, the syndication company has been rebranded to CBS Media Ventures. With a new name comes a new brand identity, which includes a logo that draws on the iconic CBS Eye and a remix of CBS’ current five-note mnemonic on its programming.
Tom Zappala will be responsible for developing and executing programming strategy for the new Scripps networks. He will report to Jonathan Katz, chief operating officer and head of entertainment for Scripps networks.
NBC’s broadcast of the NFL Wild Card game between the Browns and Steelers dominated Sunday primetime with 21.5 million total viewers and a 6.3 demo rating. On ABC, The Rookie drew series lows of 3M and a 0.4.
The 2022 PGA Championship will not be played at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster in New Jersey, according to an announcement from PGA of America President Jim Richerson Sunday night. “The PGA of America Board of Directors voted tonight to exercise the right to terminate the agreement to play the 2022 PGA Championship at Trump Bedminster,” Richerson said in a written statement.
Queen Latifah is an enigmatic hero in the 30-second teaser for CBS’s The Equalizer, which is a reimagining of the 1980s series of the same name starring Edward Woodward. Latifah stars in the series as Robyn McCall, a single mother with a mysterious background who uses her skills to protect and defend those who cannot do so for themselves. Set to premiere Feb. 7 after the Super Bowl, the series marks the second reboot of The Equalizer franchise, following the 2014 film starring Denzel Washington and its 2018 sequel.
Exclusives
The new, 10-episode chapter from Michael Patrick King will feature Sarah Jessica Parker, Kristin Davis and Cynthia Nixon all reprising their roles.
The 90-second montage, set to Hugh Jackman singing the Peter Allen song Once Before I Go, is a lighthearted and laughter-filled remembrance showing Trebek’s changing look through his 36 years as host, with moustache and without, with black hair and with grey, with suits from several decades.
Stirr, Sinclair Broadcast Group’s over-the-top service, is exclusively streaming the late Alex Trebek’s last episodes as host of Jeopardy. The episodes are available on demand in markets where Sinclair stations air the syndicated show. And they will only be available until five more episodes air. At that point, the new episodes will be available on demand.
Roku created its business solely as a hub for other streaming services, but has recently begun piling up content for its free Roku Channel. With the acquisition, Roku will acquire 75 staccato-style programs with some very big names attached. Idris Elba, Kevin Hart, Liam Hemsworth, Anna Kendrick, Nicole Richie, Chrissy Teigen and Lena Waithe have all been in Quibi shows. That includes more than 12 shows that never aired on Quibi before it was shuttered.
‘Celebrity Wheel’ Rolls Over The Rest
ABC’s first spin of Celebrity Wheel of Fortune dominated Thursday in both the demo (with a 1.1 rating) and in total audience (drawing 7.8 million viewers).
The syndicated talk show from WB’s Telepictures Productions stayed dark this week rather than returning to production as scheduled because of the surge in coronavirus cases in Los Angeles County. Ellen has been airing reruns since Dec. 10 after the host was diagnosed with COVID-19. The plan had been to resume production on Jan. 4, but that was untenable given the health risk and the fact that Southern California’s hospitals are already over-extended.
Johnny Gilbert, 92, started on the game show with Trebek in 1984. Now, he must imagine a Jeopardy without his longtime colleague.
Broadcast Coverage Of Capitol Riot Tops Wed.
Both NBC and ABC shifted from their regularly scheduled programming to air primetime coverage of the violence in the nation’s capital city on Wednesday afternoon. In the overnight ratings, NBC topped all of its competitors across primetime, averaging a 1.0 rating in adults 18-49 and 5.4 million viewers. ABC was second in viewers with 4.2 million and tied for second in the demo with a 0.7 rating.
For the week of Dec. 7, the cringe comedy and mockumentary about the lives of office employees at a drab Pennsylvanian paper manufacturer blasted past the mysterious Mandalorian and weirdly endearing Grogu (aka, Baby Yoda), settling into first place in Nielsen’s Top 10 SVOD programs list. It is the seventh time The Office takes the gold, a record-breaker.
NBCUniversal Television and Streaming Chairman Mark Lazarus will be the opening opening keynoter of the virtual gathering. He will be joined on stage by Hoda Kotb, co-anchor of NBC News’ Today, who will moderate the fireside conversation.
Ho, Ho, Ho-Hum Syndie Ratings
Reruns and preemptions during the session ending Dec. 27 depressed the majority of shows.
On Saturday, Jan. 9, starting at 3 p.m. Cozi TV will air a three-hour special of Charlie’s Angels in remembrance of the late Tanya Roberts, who died this week at the age […]
The most important 30-day stretch of the year for the television industry begins this weekend on the gridiron. The 14 most-watched U.S. TV broadcasts of 2021 could take place over the next month: 13 NFL playoff games (up from 11 due to expansion) and Monday’s College Football Playoff National Championship.
Brad Samuels, Damian Riordan and Yvonne Haugh will report to Jeffrey Wolf in overseeing distribution of the national networks on platforms including broadcast, cable, satellite, over-the-top and streaming.
The former Today co-anchor will be among a series of fill-ins after the final Alex Trebek episodes air this week.
The Oscar winner has joined the network’s drama Prodigal Son for its second season. She’ll be a series regular and foil for Michael Sheen’s character in the series. It’s her first series role on a U.S. broadcast network.
