The annual Broadway honors ceremony will be broadcast on CBS through 2026. The 2018 Tony Awards will take place at Radio City Music Hall on Sunday, June 10, the American Theatre Wing announced Thursday. A new broadcast agreement will keep the annual ceremony on the CBS through 2026. The Tony Awards broadcast has aired on CBS since 1978. "CBS has been an amazing and collaborative partner in bringing the live arts we honor, to their viewers,” Heather Hitchens, president of the American Theatre Wing, and Charlotte St. Martin, president of the Broadway League, said in a statement. “Their continued support has helped make the Tony Awards an acclaimed television event and has allowed us to bring Broadway to homes all over America.” “The Tony Awards give viewers across the country the opportunity to experience the excitement of Broadway theater from their very own living rooms," said Jack Sussman, executive vp, specials, music and live events, CBS Entertainment. … [Read more...] about Tony Awards Sets 2018 Dates, Extends CBS Deal Through 2026
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‘SEAL Team’ Gets a Full Season at CBS
CBS is deploying SEAL Team for a full season, ordering nine more episodes on top of its original commission after what's proven to be a strong first three weeks. The Navy drama, from CBS Television Studios, stars broadcast staple David Boreanaz — a man who, for those not keeping track, has been the lead on a TV drama (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Bones and now SEAL Team) every year since 1997. SEAL Team has made a strong impression on Wednesday nights, averaging 12 million viewers and a 2.0 rating among adults 18-49 during its first two episodes. The most recent live outing averages a 1.5 rating in the key demo and 8.9 million viewers. SEAL Team joins fellow CBS freshman Young Sheldon as one of the few new fall series to already receive a back-nine order. ABC gave a similar five-episode green light to The Good Doctor last week. What's most interesting about the moderate success of SEAL Team is that it's an outlier in the otherwise ho-hum narrative about military shows this … [Read more...] about ‘SEAL Team’ Gets a Full Season at CBS
MIPCOM: Entertainment One Sells ‘Ransom’ Worldwide
Season 2 of the hostage negotiator drama, starring Luke Roberts, has been licenced by the likes of NBCUniversal, Sony and AMC Networks globally. Entertainment One (eOne) has closed multiple sales for the second season of action procedural Ransom, inking deals for more than 100 territories worldwide. The show, which airs on CBS in the U.S. and Global in Canada, follows Luke Roberts as expert hostage negotiator Eric Beaumont as he leads a team around the world helping multinational corporations and government agencies with crisis situations and conflict resolution. Among the networks picking up the series' second season are NBCUniversal for its channels in the U.K. and Ireland, Foxtel for Australia, Sony for Central and Eastern Europe, AMC Networks for Spain and Portugal and Turner for its Nordic channels. Asian-based streamer Iflix grabbed Ransom rights for its services in Africa and the Middle East. Ransom was created by David Vainola (Combat Hospital) and Frank Spotnitz (The Man in … [Read more...] about MIPCOM: Entertainment One Sells ‘Ransom’ Worldwide
‘Ransom’ Renewed for Season 2 at CBS
In a surprise twist, CBS is bringing Ransom back for a second season. The international co-production starring Luke Roberts and produced by Frank Spotnitz was slotted on Saturdays starting in January in the network's attempt to revitalize the typically low-watched night. Its freshman season averaged 3.5 million total viewers and a 0.4 among the advertiser-coveted adults 18-49 demographic. The series will return for another round of 13 episodes. A premiere date has not yet been determined. Ransom is inspired by the professional experiences of crisis negotiator Laurent Combalbert, who, along with his partner, Marwan Mery, are among the top negotiators in the world. Roberts stars as expert hostage negotiator Eric Beaumont whose team is brought in to save lives when no one else can. Sarah Greene, Brandon Jay McLaren and Nazneen Contractor co-star. The drama was created by David Vainola and Spotnitz. It's a Canadian-Hungarian co-production that's produced by … [Read more...] about ‘Ransom’ Renewed for Season 2 at CBS
GOP Congressman Says He’s Happy CBS Fired Legal Exec Over Las Vegas Comments
On Monday, CBS parted ways with an executive over a comment she made on Facebook. Rep. Steve Scalise, who was shot and seriously injured while playing softball in June, has no sympathy for the CBS executive who was fired Monday for writing on Facebook that she was "not sympathetic" to the victims of the mass shooting in Las Vegas. "I think that's disgraceful," Scalise said on Fox News Tuesday night. "I'm glad she was fired, because there's no place in our society for that kind of hate. I mean that is hate." The executive, Hayley Geftman-Gold, worked in the network's legal department. Before her post was deleted, she had written in a private discussion thread on Facebook that "country music fans often are Republican gun toters." And, she said that she doubted Republicans "will ever do the right thing" and seek to enact gun control legislation. After the right-leaning Daily Caller news site published the executive's messages, the story spread on conservative media platforms, … [Read more...] about GOP Congressman Says He’s Happy CBS Fired Legal Exec Over Las Vegas Comments
CBS Fires Legal Exec Over Comments About Las Vegas Shooting Victims
The network announced that Hayley Geftman-Gold is no longer with the company following her comments that she is "not sympathetic" to the victims of the Las Vegas shooting. CBS has parted ways with a legal executive that drew the ire of conservative media channels for commenting on Facebook that, following the mass shooting at a country music concert in Las Vegas, she is "not sympathetic" because "country music fans often are Republican gun toters." The executive, Hayley Geftman-Gold, wrote the comment in a discussion thread that was later deleted. CBS, following outrage about her comments, released the following statement: "This individual, who was with us for approximately one year, violated the standards of our company and is no longer an employee of CBS. Her views as expressed on social media are deeply unacceptable to all of us at CBS. Our hearts go out to the victims in Las Vegas and their families.” Referring to congressional Republicans, Geftman-Gold also wrote, "If … [Read more...] about CBS Fires Legal Exec Over Comments About Las Vegas Shooting Victims
Media, Entertainment Stocks Non-Participants in Soaring Market
While the Dow Jones Industrial Average climbs, the entertainment industry is caught in a downward trend. Donald Trump has pointed to a soaring stock market as an early victory in his presidency, as most sectors have seen a dramatic rise through the first three quarters of the year, which ended Friday. One notable laggard? The entertainment-media industry. While the Dow Jones Industrial Average has surged 13 percent so far this year, 32 of the 50 media stocks tracked by The Hollywood Reporter have not matched that gain, with the carnage spread mostly among the companies focused on movies and television. As to the former, movie theater chain AMC Entertainment is faring the worst, down a whopping 55 percent as audiences have thus far failed to show up for movies at the same pace they did a year ago. The other two big theater owners, Regal Entertainment and Cinemark, are off 20 percent and 3 percent through the third quarter, while giant-screen operator Imax is down 28 percent. National … [Read more...] about Media, Entertainment Stocks Non-Participants in Soaring Market
Media, Entertainment Non-Participants in Soaring Stock Market
While the Dow Jones Industrial Average climbs, the entertainment industry is caught in a downward trend. Donald Trump has pointed to a soaring stock market as an early victory in his presidency, as most sectors have seen a dramatic rise through the first three quarters of the year, which ended Friday. One notable laggard? The entertainment-media industry. While the Dow Jones Industrial Average has surged 13 percent so far this year, 32 of the 50 media stocks tracked by The Hollywood Reporter have not matched that gain, with the carnage spread mostly among the companies focused on movies and television. As to the former, movie theater chain AMC Entertainment is faring the worst, down a whopping 55 percent as audiences have thus far failed to show up for movies at the same pace they did a year ago. The other two big theater owners, Regal Entertainment and Cinemark, are off 20 percent and 3 percent through the third quarter, while giant-screen operator Imax is down 28 percent. National … [Read more...] about Media, Entertainment Non-Participants in Soaring Stock Market
NFL Protests Could Hurt CBS, Wall Street Analyst Says
"We view this weekend's viewership results as a ... proxy in determining whether the anthem debate may be a larger issue for the NFL." A Wall Street analyst is advising his clients to bet against CBS in the short term, predicting that NFL ratings will fall this weekend due to the controversy involving players protesting the national anthem and the stock will fall. Shawn Quigg of JPMorgan is recommending the purchase of CBS "puts" at $57.50, meaning he believes the stock will fall to less than that, while it closed Wednesday at $58.21. The NFL's protest came to a head last week when President Donald Trump used the term "son of a bitch" to describe a random player who chooses not to stand during the anthem, and called on owners to fire such players. In response, hundreds of players knelt during the anthem before games on Sunday and Monday. Quigg's thesis involves a spike in sales of fan gear related to Pittsburgh Steeler player Alejandro Villanueva, who stood with his hand over his … [Read more...] about NFL Protests Could Hurt CBS, Wall Street Analyst Says
CBS Names Yelena Chak Head of Drama Development
A CBS Entertainment exec for a decade, Chak succeeds recently departed Christina Davis and will report to programming topper Thom Sherman. CBS Entertainment has named Yelena Chak head of drama development. Chak's new appointment, her latest promotion after a decade-long tenure with the TV's most-watched network, comes after the July news that former drama topper Christina Davis was departing. Chak will report to Thom Sherman, who joined the network as senior executive vice president of programming at the end of May. “I’ve had the pleasure of seeing Yelena in action for the last three months, and it quickly became clear that she is the right person for the job,” said Sherman. “She has excellent relationships in the community, as evidenced by the overwhelming number of calls I’ve received singing her praises not only as a great executive, but a great person. I’m excited to watch her thrive in this expanded role.” Sherman will oversee development … [Read more...] about CBS Names Yelena Chak Head of Drama Development
‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Main Title Sequence Revealed Ahead of Premiere
The CBS All Access digital series will introduce a new Starfleet when it premieres Sunday night. Star Trek: Discovery is gearing up for its return to the small screen by releasing the main title sequence ahead of CBS' Sunday night premiere. Rough designs of the Discovery, blades and phaser weapons take form in the opening spot along with black smoke that turns into the Vulcan hand salute. The theme song, composed by Jeff Ruso, takes cues from Star Trek: The Original Series. Discovery will follow the voyages of Starfleet aboard the USS Shenzou led by Walking Dead alum Sonequa Martin-Green. The cast also includes Doug Jones, Jason Isaacs, Anthony Rapp, Michelle Yeoh, James Frain and Rainn Wilson, among others. Star Trek: Discovery premieres on CBS and CBS All Access September 24 at 8:30 p.m. E.T. The show is CBS All Access' first digital series. Watch the main title sequence below. … [Read more...] about ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Main Title Sequence Revealed Ahead of Premiere
Dick Wolf FBI Drama Lands Straight-to-Series Order at CBS
In a surprise twist, Dick Wolf is headed to CBS. The prolific producer behind NBC's Law & Order and Chicago drama franchises has landed a straight-to-series 13-episode order at CBS for his latest drama. The series, F.B.I. (working title), is a scripted drama about the inner workings of the New York office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Craig Turk (The Good Wife) will pen the pilot and will serve as showrunner. He and Wolf will exec produce with Wolf Films veterans Peter Jankowski and Arthur W. Forney. Universal Television, where Wolf has a rich overall deal through 2020, will produce the series with CBS Television Studios. The drama will launch during the 2018-19 TV season. Wolf had previously expressed interest in doing an FBI-centered drama in 2016 when he had a similar project in development at NBC. Wolf's interest stemmed from his relationship with then-director James Comey, whom he called "one of the most interesting people I've met in the last 10 years." … [Read more...] about Dick Wolf FBI Drama Lands Straight-to-Series Order at CBS
