Village Soapbox: Trump TV 2.0, Horizon Media Partners with TikTok, The CW Strategy, "Wonder Woman," Xmas Movies & More

Congratulations to Devika Bulchandani on her appointment to the role of CEO of Ogilvy North America.

Digital cross-device graph company Tapad has been acquired by Experian for $280m.

Independent media agency, Horizon Media has entered into a partnership with TikTok to provide unique collaborative offerings to its clients. Reports suggest that this is the largest agency partnership to date for TikTok which remains in limbo around its ability to operate in the U.S. under its current ownership structure.

The original Wonder Woman movie with Gal Gadot earned over $800M worldwide. Expectations were high that the sequel, Wonder Woman: 1984 would surpass that. So, it was a shock when WarnerBros. announced this week that, following several release date delays, the film will open on December 25, in whichever theaters are open, but also, at no additional cost, to HBO Max. That’s a huge bet to drive HBO Max subscriptions; especially given the option they could have had to follow the model that Disney used with Mulanto do the simultaneous release but charge a $30-$40 fee to watch (and subsequently own) the film.

When Wonder Woman: 1984 is released on HBO Max, there will be more platforms to view it on. This week, HBO Max came to Amazon Fire TV.

This Week in MediaVillage

Given that we are headed into Black Friday, our newest columnist, industry veteran Tamara Alesi, takes a look at stats from YouGov that point to markedly different shopping behaviors this year that will make holiday shopping very different. Get all the facts in her piece, How COVID Changed Shopping This Year.

Tis the season to watch Christmas movies and now you have the option to watch UPtv’s selections on more devices than ever. Just download their new UPtv Movies app. Our Alli Romano did, and she tells you if it’s naughty or nice in My UPtv Movies App Helps Deliver Holiday Cheer.

When you are one of the top comedies on television, but your entire premise centers around the understanding of Black lives, how do you return for a new season acknowledging the Black Lives Matter movement and recent events, while maintaining your comedic tones. Ed Martin reviews the season premiere of CBS’ The Neighborhoodwith his thoughts on how they achieved this balance. CBS’ The Neighborhood Returns With a Powerful Episode About Racial Injustice.

It is being widely reported that Donald Trump has an interest in starting his own news network (or purchasing an existing one, such as One America News Network.) Former CIA Analyst and MediaVillage columnist, Kent M. Harrington takes a deep look at what that could mean for journalism and the country. This is a piece you should not miss. Trump TV 2.0: The News Media Can’t Ignore the Debut.

In light of election day, err...election month results, In Terms of ROIcolumnist and research expert Bill Harvey takes a look at the on-going debate of whether census data or small-sample that is representative data is more effective. His thoughts may turn around some of your preconceptions. Find out in Research Cooperators (Polls, Surveys, Panels) are Different from Non-Cooperators.

With Hollywood production dramatically disrupted by COVID, there has been little of what counts as a “traditional” season of new content. With a unique content acquisition model that was actually in place prior to the pandemic, The CW has been able to keep fresh content that is completely in-synch with its audience. Find out how they did it in How the CW’s Acquisition Strategy Has Redefined Its Business Model by Ed Martin.

In our continuing HISTORY’s Moments in Media series, A+E Networks looks back at the 73 year old stalwart show, Meet the Press. Learn its rich history in HISTORY’S Moments in Media: Meet the Press -- TV’s Longest Running ProgramNeeds No Introduction.

This year, Comcast’s Effectv embarked on an ambitious three-part research study on television’s impact on consumer relationships with brands. Learn the insights of the final part of the study, conducted in partnership with the VAB from TV ecosystem expert Simon Applebaum in Halo Effect 3’s Lesson: TV Delivers Longer-Lasting Digital Life for Brand Advertising.

Over the past few years, many brands have jumped on the social responsibility bandwagon, and that’s a good thing. However, in an age of cynicism, there may be a right way and a wrong way to do that. Dr. Christopher Boulton takes a look at the latest research that may provide some guidelines for brands in Memo to Woke Advertisers: Don’t Try too Hard.

Steve Gidlow was able to get a few minutes with stars of The CW’s hit show Supernatural. The series finale aired this week. Kudos to the entire cast, crew, and writers for finding ways to creep us out for 15 years. Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles Reflect on a Remarkable 15 Seasons of Supernatural.

If the winter chill has got you in the mood this weekend, check out Hallmark Channel’s “A Nashville Christmas Carol”. Steve Gidlow sat down for an exclusiveinterview with Hallmark star Jessy Schram and you can hear all the inside scoop around the filming of their newest classic holiday movie in Jessy Schram on A Nashville Christmas Carol Hallmark’s New Take on the Classic Tale of Scrooge.

Steve Gidlow is a huge fan of Christmas movies and Hallmark, so he had a good week. Read Steve’s take on A Godwink Christmas: Second Chance, First Love,a title that personifies the Hallmark Channel brand. Sam Page joins Hallmark’s “Godwink” Franchise with A Godwink Christmas: Second Chance, First Love.

Oriana Schwindt had the opportunity to chat with Jason Hermes, vice president branded entertainment and partnerships for The Weather Channel and Entertainment Studios. Learn how Hermes is able to navigate the tricky path between advertiser and content needs in For the Weather Channel’s Brand Integrations, the Sky’s the Limit.

The Village Soapbox will be taking a week off for Thanksgiving (and perhaps watch the Saved by the Bell reboot on Peacock.) We are thankful for your readership and hope that you enjoy a safe, healthy, and meaningful Thanksgiving holiday. A special thank you to all the front-line, essential, medical, and vaccine research workers that have been working non-stop since the pandemic started. We are deeply grateful for your service.

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The opinions expressed here are the author's views and do not necessarily represent the views of MediaVillage.com/MyersBizNet.