Fox’s broadcast of the 2018 MLS Cup final between Atlanta United and the Portland Timbers drew 1.56 million total viewers in primetime Saturday night, making it the most-watched MLS title game since 1997, the U.S. pro soccer league’s second year of existence.
To Win At OTT, Think Programming
ASU’s Frank Mungeam: TV stations “can have all kinds of great delivery, and the technology can get better, but it could expose the weakness of our underlying content. We have to start by working backwards from the audience, understanding what this new ecosystem is and the quality of some of the programming that we’re competing with on Netflix and Hulu.” (Photo: Jill Altmann)
Arrow’ Jumps With Batwoman, ‘Voice’ Goes Low
Arrow spiked to season highs on Monday as it aired the middle portion of The CW’s “Elseworlds” crossover. NBC’s The Voice, however, is currently in danger of matching its season low. The middle episode of “Elseworlds” — featuring the debut of Ruby Rose as Batwoman — propelled Arrow to a 0.7 rating among adults 18-49 and 2.04 million viewers. Both are season highs by a wide margin
Some Very Old Favorites Reappear On TV
ABC’s showing of A Charlie Brown Christmas was the most-watched of a handful of holiday specials that aired in primetime last week, reaching 5.3 million viewers. It’s a tradition in many households that was first on television in December 1965. Two other old favorites, Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer and Frosty the Snowman, were both seen by more than 4 million people on CBS Saturday night. Rudolph dates to 1964, while Frosty made his debut in 1969.
Exclusives
Zack Hernandez, SVP of U.S. syndication sales for the western region, will lead U.S. syndication sales for Sony Pictures Television, said Flory Bramnick, EVP, distribution, to whom he will report. Hernandez is replacing Philip Martzolf who is stepping down as EVP, U.S. syndication sales at the end of February.
NEW YORK (AP) — The Golden Globe Awards will introduce a new TV special achievement trophy at next month’s telecast and name it after its first recipient — comedic icon […]
Modern Family is on its way to an 11th season on ABC, as the show’s six adult stars are negotiating to continue their roles. Julie Bowen, Ty Burrell, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Ed O’Neill, Eric Stonestreet and Sofia Vergara are in talks with producer 20th Century Fox TV to continue their roles in 2019-20.
‘Dr. Phil’ Tops Big Post-Sweep Syndie Rebound
Led by Dr. Phil, most of the top syndicated shows came roaring back from a soft holiday frame in the session ending Dec. 2. Phil was the biggest gainer among […]
Warner Bros. TV executive Craig Hunegs will exit his role at the end of the year, capping a more than 20-year-career at the studio. Most recently president of business and strategy at Warner Bros. TV Group and president of Warner Bros. Digital Networks, Hunegs managed all of the studio’s television production and oversaw its portfolio of digital brands.
Jon Champion is making a Brexit of his own, leaving England to become ESPN’s lead announcer for Major League Soccer. The 53-year-old has been broadcasting British matches since 1988 and […]
LOS ANGELES (AP) — “Modern Family” star Sarah Hyland says she had a second kidney transplant last year, replacing a kidney from her father with another from her brother. Hyland […]
NEW YORK (AP) — Quarter-by-quarter pricing has launched on NBA League Pass, allowing fans to purchase games at reduced costs after each period. Single games are $6.99, and that price […]
He is a former IMG chief content officer who also previously worked for ESPN and Dick Clark Productions.
Fox’s Sunday lineup reached or tied season highs across the board thanks to a big lead-in from the network’s late-afternoon NFL game. The Simpsons earned a 2.8 rating among adults 18-49, a full point better than its previous high for the season. Bob’s Burgers (1.8) was half a point ahead of its best outing of the season. Family Guy‘s 1.5 was also a season high, topping the 1.2 for last week and the season premiere, while Rel tied its high of 0.8.
The new multiplatform network, to debut in May 2019, has secured over-the-air distribution agreements with major local TV station group owners including Tribune, Scripps and Univision, giving Court TV coverage of more than 50% of U.S. television households at launch. Vinnie Politan will be the network’s lead anchor.
NBC’s Saturday Night Live, with host Jason Momoa, musical guest Mumford & Sons and Robert de Niro returning as Robert Mueller, averaged a 4.3 live+same day household rating in the metered markets and a 1.7 adults 18-49 rating in the markets with local people meters. That was up from the previous week’s show.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Tim Rossovich, a consensus All-America defensive end at Southern California who played in the NFL before going on to an acting career, has died. He was […]
ESPN plans to announce it will move up the starting time of the nationally televised game by one hour, with the first pitch planned for shortly after 7 p.m. ET. The network intends to make the announcement on Monday at the winter meetings, a person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press.
Ellen DeGeneres has a new place to spin her favorite tunes: The talk-show host/comedian struck a content and promotion deal with Spotify, under which The Ellen DeGeneres Show and the music-streaming service partnership will promote each other.
