Programming

Disney’s sale of 21 regional sports networks is heating up yet again — thanks to comedian-turned-media mogul Byron Allen jumping into the already crowded and contentious race. Allen, 58, is joining forces with Sinclair Broadcast Group to bid on the RSNs.

The current version of FS1 is geared toward studio shows with a mix of debate, interviews and analysis and it’s finding traction among viewers. Last year’s studio programming generated a 28% increase in viewers over 2017.

It’s also rolling out its own audience measurement and new blacklist policy.

NCIS scored an across-the-board ratings win Tuesday night, leading in both adults 18-49 and total viewers. The veteran CBS drama even tied for the lead among adults 18-34 on the broadcast networks, along with The Voice and Masterchef Junior. It was the only network show to break a 1.0 in the 18-49 demographic, finishing with a 1.1 (even with last week), and its 11.57 million viewers led the field by a wide margin.

The 13-game package will stream on the MLB channel on YouTube platforms globally. The games will include pre- and post-game shows, and will be produced by MLB Network.

Producer 20th Century Fox TV has extended embattled actor Jussie Smollett’s option, but his character on the Fox hip-hop drama is not currently slated to return in the newly ordered season.

The Big Bang Theory episode taped Tuesday will air as the last half of a two-part finale on May 16. Also airing that night is Unraveling the Mystery: A Big Bang Farewell, with stars Johnny Galecki and Kaley Cuoco hosting a behind-the-scenes look back at the show.

Sunday’s big-battle episode, the third of the final season, drew 17.8 million viewers either live on HBO at 9 p.m., streamed, on-demand or in a rerun that aired later that night. CBS shows dominated the rest of the week’s top 10, with The Big Bang Theory second, Young Sheldon third and 60 Minutes fourth.

What’s left for the media empress and icon of inspiration? In a wide ranging interview, Winfrey explains her streaming strategy (including a possible interview series), who she’s eyeing for 2020 (“I’d like to see what’s up with Butta” — aka Pete Buttigieg) and the creative fire that fuels her now.

The network has renewed all five of its daytime shows — soaps The Young and the Restless and The Bold and the Beautiful and game shows The Price Is Right and Let’s Make a Deal along with The Talk — for 2019-20. The lineup collectively earned 56 Daytime Emmy nominations and is set to be the most-watched network daytime slate for the 32nd straight year.

The amazing run of James Holzhauer propels the game into first place for syndication overall, knocking Judge Judy out after 40 straight weeks as No. 1.

The Voice and 911 claimed Monday night’s top ratings numbers, as they were the only two broadcast shows to climb above a 1.0 rating among adults 18-49. The Voice drew a 1.2 in the key ad-sales demographic, even with last week’s performance. Fox’s 911 was the top scripted show in adults 18-49 at 1.1, although it slipped a little bit versus last week’s numbers.

CBS announced Monday that after the Big Bang finale on May 16, the network will air Unraveling the Mystery: A Big Bang Farewell, a half-hour special in which stars Johnny Galecki and Kaley Cuoco take viewers behind the scenes of the longest-running multi-camera comedy series in television history.

AMC Networks CEO Josh Sapan saw his 2018 compensation fall 30% from the previous year to $20.5 million. Sapan earned a salary of $2 million and a bonus of $4.6 million, according to AMC Networks’ annual proxy filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The test of the new weekday series premieres June 10 in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston, Phoenix, Minneapolis and Charlotte