Videoage International May 2019

12 May 2019 V I D E O A G E (Continued from Cover) Meanwhile, here’s the report on the recent event: CBS Marc DeBevoise, president and COO of CBS Interactive, talked to journalists about expanding. “Domestically, throughout the year, we’ve continued to make sure we’re distributed across all forms of devices and major device platforms, now including Vizio-connected TVs [the app that CBS has on Vizio Smart TVs to watch CBS All Access]... We’re seeing tremendous growth across these types of platforms.” CBS Interactive has more than 10,000 TV episodes, which includes the CBS network’s current and classic primetime series, as well as daytime and late-night shows. “This is meaningfully more overall content than the leading premium TV networks have on their subscription services,” noted DeBevoise. Overseas, CBS Interactive launched 10 All Access, a localized version of the service in Australia, with Network Ten, the CBS-owned network there. “We’re very happy with our growth internationally and continue to add new content and expand to additional platforms in both Australia and Canada,” he said. The division is also working on its first 24/7 hyper-local news channel, CBSN New York, which will be followed up by the launch of CBSN Los Angeles, with plans to add more markets in the future. ABC Karey Burke, the new president of ABC Entertainment, acknowledged that the network has lost female viewers. “ABC has a long history of being number one with women. We lost that mantle this season, and I am determined to get it back. Luckily, programming for women has long been a passion of mine. It’s always been my personal goal to create the best opportunities for women in front of and behind the camera, and I know what’s possible when women come together and share their vision. That’s a big part of what’s going to lead us back to the top.” Burke met with the scheduling and research departments when she was hired to find out the network’s strengths and weaknesses. “NBC just came on really strong and took that mantle away with shows like This Is Us and we slipped a little bit. And some of our returning shows came back softer than predicted.” Burke pointed to the extra attention given to The Good Doctor that has made the show a success story. “The team here positioned it to come back in January [2019]. We put more marketing behind it, didn’t take the show for granted, and it’s doing very, very well and better than it was in the fall.” The newly appointed president was adamant about the future and relevancy of broadcast television. “Look at a show like [FOX’s] The Masked Singer coming on just a month ago and doing those bonanza numbers. What [NBC’s] This Is Us did last year when everybody was saying a big drama couldn’t come on broadcast television anymore, and captured the imagination of an entire country. When broadcast television gets that right, there’s nothing more exciting, and it’s relevant because there still is joy in watching television day and day with your friends, with Bros., Sony, and eOne, among others.” Waxing philosophic, Collier has high hopes for the network, pointing out that sometimes “the best bet is on that seemingly crazy, highly focused, well-positioned little guy, the risk-takers.” Collier tried to assure critics that the Murdochs and the management team are as “curious and strategic” as ever. “And we are going to redouble our efforts in the creative community to remind them why FOX is the very best place to showcase their passion projects.” He added: “We value creating the right environment and the right culture and the right creative relationships with which to succeed, well-funded and strategic enough to act fast, small enough to remain scrappy, and nimble enough to fit in the corners that others can’t or just simply won’t. And the broadcast network is just one part of FOX Entertainment.” PBS Paula Kerger, president and CEO of U.S. public television network PBS, was elated about the results of a national survey, which stated that people trust the network’s news and public affairs programming more than any other. “Everywhere I go, people talk to us about the fact that they realize that public television is very important in their lives, and particularly right now,” Kerger told reporters. “They worry about our ability to succeed in this environment. They worry about, in this now- multiplatform world, how we’re going to fare, and they really want to rally behind us. They’re watching more of us in news and public affairs. They’re counting on us for the kids’ programming. And so I think as other different types of nonprofit organizations have also seen, this is a time where people have looked around and recognize the organizations that they care for, and have stepped up. And our stations across the country are seeing very good support from viewers.” your family, whether you’re together in a room, or you’re texting each other while you’re on, and you want to talk about it right then with them.” She continued: “Not ‘Hey, did you catch it? Have you seen it yet? Did you stream the first 33 episodes, or the whole thing?’ It’s a different kind of viewing opportunity and relevance that broadcast television still is fearless at.” FOX While FOX was in transition getting ready for the Disney deal to close, Charlie Collier, (pictured on the front cover), the new CEO at FOX Entertainment, remained enthusiastic. “We are the only broadcast network to post year over year growth,” he stated. “We’ve entered into relationships that largely were not possible before for FOX, co-productions across multiple studios, for instance, and relationships with talent and partners that are completely new to our business,” Collier said. “And while we’ll continue our truly valued partnership with 20th Century Fox TV, this season already you’ll start to see our slate filled with partners as diverse as Universal and Warner TCA Tour Review Gotham , a Warner Bros. series for FOX. Pictured, l. to.r.: Cory Michael Smith, Robin Lord Taylor, Erin Richards, Donal Logue, Ben McKenzie, executive producer John Stephens, executive producer/director Danny Cannon, David Mazouz, Camren Bicondova, and Cameron Monaghan Karey Burke of ABC Entertainment Paula Kerger of PBS Collier tried to assure critics that the Murdochs and the management team are as “curious and strategic” as ever. “And we are going to redouble our efforts in the creative community to remind them why FOX is the very best place to showcase their passion projects.”