Paramount Network’s hit drama series Yellowstone will ride into the sunset with the debut of its fifth and final season on November 10, although it’s still unclear if series star Kevin Costner will saddle up for the final episodes.

The six-episode second half of Yellowstone season five debuts November 10, nearly two years after the premiere of the show’s eight-episode first half, and will continue to follow the exploits of the Dutton family as it continues to fight for its large Montana cattle ranch. 

Paramount did not indicate in its press release whether series star Kevin Costner would return to film the final episodes, amid a scheduling conflict with the Academy Award-winning star’s upcoming feature film Horizon. Costner, in a recent interview on NBC morning show Today to promote Horizon, indicated that he would like to return to Yellowstone.

"It’s been really important to me,” Costner said in the interview. “I would love to go back under the right circumstances I think that all of us want“For me, it really needs to be the right circumstances.”

Yellowstone also stars Kelly Reilly, Luke Grimes, Wes Bentley and Kelsey Asbille. The series is executive produced by Taylor Sheridan, John Linson, Art Linson, David Glasser, Bob Yari, Stephen Kay, Michasel Friedman, Christina Voros and Keith Cox.  

Yellowstone is Paramount Network’s most-watched original show. Paramount ‘s sister broadcast network CBS aired the first three seasons of the series to strong ratings returns, with the September 2023 debut of Yellowstone's series premiere averaging 6.6 million viewers, according to Nielsen.  

It might not have television's most friendly set these days, but production on the final six episodes of the Yellowstone flagship series is officially underway in Montana, distributor Paramount Global said Monday.

Part 2 of the fifth and final season of Yellowstone is set to premiere on the Paramount Network in November -- two full years after the debut of the eight-episode part 1.  

Production was delayed by last year's Hollywood guild strikes, as well as an acrimonious scheduling conflict centering around leading man Kevin Costner, who has been overseeing a multipart Western feature film epic, Horizon. 

Costner received a lengthy standing ovation at the Cannes Film Festival over the weekend after screening part 1, Horizon: An American Saga. (Critics weren't as kind, with one describing the three-hour film as "more Waterworld than Dances With Wolves.)

For his part, creator/producer Taylor Sheridan is moving the forward-looking edge of the franchise san Costner, with working-titled 2024 currently in pre-production. 

Sheridan, who has already launched three Yellowstone prequels, is also developing 6666, which is focused on a Texas ranch founded an operated by the Comanches. 

Sheridan's series empire, which also includes Mayor of Kingstown, Tulsa King and Lioness, could probably populate an entire menu bar on the Paramount Plus user interface.  

Indeed, it's been a powerful driver for multiple Paramount platforms, including CBS, which received some of its biggest audience ratings of the 2023-24 TV season when it ran five-year-old Yellowstone repeats last fall to fill in the blanks on its strike-bereft schedule. 

Everyone is just going to have to wait another year to get 'Stoned one last time. 

Paramount Global announced Thursday that the final six episodes of Yellowstone will finally premiere on the Paramount Network a year from now, in November 2024. That's a full 24 months following the debut of the first seven episodes of the show's final campaign, season 5. 

Paramount also said that series mastermind Taylor Sheridan is working on two more Yellowstone spinoffs, 1944 and 2024, both operating under working titles. The studio didn't release any details regarding the spinoffs, the latter of which has been widely rumored to star Matthew McConaughey. Ostensibly, both shows will debut on subscription streaming service Paramount Plus, but Paramount didn't specify that, either. 

“Within five years, we grew Yellowstone from a hit U.S. cable show with 5 million viewers into a global hit franchise with over 100 million fans around the world and multiple extensions — and we’re just getting started,” Chris McCarthy, president and CEO, Showtime and MTV Entertainment Studios, said in a statement. 

Season 5's final leg has been delayed by the WGA and SAG-AFTRA talent strikes, but also by amply reported tensions between Sheridan and series star Kevin Costner, not to mention the script delays that come with Sheridan single-handedly writing half a dozen Paramount series at once. 

Still unannounced is a premiere date for season 2 of 1923, the Yellowstone prequel series starring Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren. Lawmen: Bass Reeves, a spinoff of the original Yellowstone spinoff, 1883, debuts Sunday on Paramount Plus.

Sure, Yellowstone depicts rural Montana as a cesspool of murder and political corruption, while visitors are often stereotyped as Asian tourist nitwits, oblivious to the dangers all around them, natural and otherwise, or feckless Californians, looking to relocate and plunder yet another state. 

And Sheridan's "Yellowstone" empire may still be a few years away from maturing and expanding into the depth and breadth of say, "Star Trek." But the producer and the franchise are arguably the most vital creative forces in Paramount's arsenal right now. (You can observe that Thursday at 4:30 p.m. EST, when Paramount conducts its third-quarter earnings call. Sheridan's name will probably come up at least several times.)

Season 1 of Yellowstone, which originally debuted on the Paramount Network back in 2018, ran on strike-struck CBS over the fall, averaging an astounding 6.6 million viewers, 52% of which had never seen the show before. Outside of NFL and college football, the broadcaster has nothing in its own programming vault that can come close to pulling in that kind of audience. 

CBS just started in on season 2 last Sunday. 

"The global success of Yellowstone continues to thrill and excite us at 101 Studios and Bosque Ranch. This has been such an exhilarating ride with our partners at MTV Entertainment Studios and we can't wait to bring 1944 and 2024 to audiences everywhere,” said David Glasser, CEO of Sheridan's 101 Studios, which co-produces the Yellowstone franchise along with Paramount's MTV Studios.

Yellowstone will continue on CBS, as season two of the cable Western drama premieres on CBS Sunday, October 29. With scripted shows in short supply amidst the writers and actors strikes, Yellowstone premiered on CBS September 17. 

The season one finale runs on CBS Sunday, October 22. 

Close to 21.6 million viewers have watched at least one episode on CBS, according to the network, and 52% of them are new to the show. 

A Paramount Network original, Yellowstone has Kevin Costner as the head of the Dutton family, which faces endless battles around its enormous cattle ranch. The CBS/Paramount Network description mentions “shifting alliances, unsolved murders, open wounds, and hard-earned respect – the ranch is in constant conflict with those it borders – an expanding town, an Indian reservation, and vicious business rivalries.”

MTV Entertainment Studios and 101 Studio produce Yellowstone. Taylor Sheridan created it. 

The season one finale is called “The Unraveling: Pt. 2.” The season two premiere is called “A Thundering.”

Cable’s top-rated series, Yellowstone, has found a home on CBS’s fall broadcast schedule as the network looks to its cable and streaming partners to help fill programming slots impacted by the ongoing writers’ and actors’ strike.

Paramount Network’s Taylor Sheridan-produced drama series starring Kevin Costner will run on Sundays this fall, according to the network. The series will end its run on Paramount Network later this fall with the second half of its fifth season. The first half of Yellowstone's current season drew more than 17 million viewers, according to Paramount Network. 

CBS will also pick up the British version of comedy series Ghosts to air back-to-back with its U.S. version of the series, according to the network. CBS on Thursdays will bring back its drama series SEAL Team, which ran on the network for its first four seasons. Season five of the drama, which stars David Boreanaz, Max Thieriot, Neil Brown Jr, AJ Buckley and Toni Trucks, streamed on Paramount Plus. 

Paramount Plus original FBI True will air on CBS Tuesday nights, said the network. 

New CBS reality series joining the schedule include Buddy Games, Loteria Loca, and Raid The Cage. Reality shows Survivor and The Amazing Race will return on Wednesdays, each with 90-minute versions.

Also returning to the schedule are news programs 60 Minutes and 48 Hours. Overall, CBS will feature more than 185 hours of original programming this fall. The Paramount Global-owned network said premiere dates for the fall programming will be announced later. 

Paramount Plus has set a July 23 premiere date for Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan’s next project, Special Ops: Lioness.

The series, inspired by an actual U.S. military program, stars Zoe Saldaña as a CIA agent attempting to balance her personal and professional life. According to the streaming service, the show revolves around The Lioness Program, overseen by Kaitlyn Meade (Nicole Kidman) and Donald Westfield (Michael Kelly), which enlists "an aggressive Marine Raider named Cruz (Laysla De Oliveira) to operate undercover alongside Joe among the power brokers of State terrorism in the CIA's efforts to thwart the next 9/11.”

Special Ops: Lioness also stars Morgan Freeman, Dave Annable, Jill Wagner and LaMonica Garrett. The series is executive produced by Sheridan, Saldaña, Kidman, Wagner, David Glasser, Ron Burkle, Bob Yari, David Hutkin, Geyer Kosinski, Michael Malone and John Hillcoat.

Also: ‘Yellowstone’ To End After Season Five; Series Sequel Set

Peacock has finally dropped the first eight episodes of the fifth and final season of Yellowstone, nearly five full months after season 5, episode 8 of the mega-hit Montana-set, ultra-violent primetime sudser debuted on the linear Paramount Network back in early January. 

With the season 5 premiere delivering 12.1 million viewers via live and encore runs across Paramount cable channels Paramount Plus, CMT, TV Land and Pop, the Taylor Sheridan-produced melodrama is currently the most popular scripted show in the linear broadcast and cable universe. 

And in what has to rank as one of the worst strategic decisions of the streaming video era, Paramount licensed exclusive U.S. subscription streaming rights for the series to Peacock in early 2020, a year before it launched subscription streaming rival Paramount Plus. 

By the time Sheridan launched his two hit Yellowstone prequels, 1883 and 1923, as well as two other successful series, Mayor of Kingstown and Tulsa King, Paramount got wise and kept the shows' streaming rights for Paramount Plus. 

In the interim, Peacock is still experiencing the biggest boon since the Montana land grab. 

With Yellowstone star Kevin Costner engaging in a well-reported public feud with Sheridan and the production team, Yellowstone will wind down with the ongoing production of season 5, volume 2, which still doesn't have a linear premiere date on Paramount cable networks. 

Paramount plans to sunset Costner's Yellowstone and relaunch the modern-day edge of the Yellowstone Cinematic Universe in the construct of a new series, reportedly starring Matthew McConaghy. That series will almost undoubtedly stream on Paramount Plus.

But Peacock will also get those final eight season 5 episodes from the original Costner Yellowstone, whenever it is they're finally ready to drop. 

Paramount Network has officially announced the end to its highly-rated original series Yellowstone, but will develop a sequel to the Taylor Sheridan-created show.

Yellowstone will end with the second half of the fifth season, which is scheduled to debut later this fall. The series, starring Kevin Costner as John Dutton, the patriarch of a family that controls the largest contiguous cattle ranch in the country, has generated huge ratings for Paramount Network during its run. The show’s November 2022 record-setting season five premiere delivered 12.1 million viewers. Overall, the first half of the current season drew more than 17 million viewers, according to the network. 

The untitled sequel will launch in December on Paramount Network and will pick up where Yellowstone leaves off at the end of the fifth season, according to show producers MTV Entertainment Studios and 101 Studios. It’s unclear who from the current Yellowstone cast, which includes Kelly Reilly, Cole Hauser and Luke Grimes, will appear in the sequel.

“Yellowstone has been the cornerstone on which we have launched an entire universe of global hits — from 1883 to Tulsa King — and I am confident our Yellowstone sequel will be another big hit, thanks to the brilliant creative mind of Taylor Sheridan and our incredible casts who bring these shows to life,” Showtime/MTV Entertainment Studios president and CEO Chris McCarthy said in a statement. 

The Yellowstone announcement comes two months after reports surfaced that Costner and series producers bickered over production schedules for the series. 

In what appears to be a negotiating impasse with series star Kevin Costner, Paramount issued a staunch denial of a Deadline report that it plans to end its mega-hit modern Western show Yellowstone and launch a spinoff starring Matthew McConaughey.

“We have no news to report. Kevin Costner is a big part of Yellowstone, and we hope that's the case for a long time to come," Paramount said. "Thanks to the brilliant mind of Taylor Sheridan, we are always working on franchise expansions of this incredible world he has built.  Matthew McConaughey is a phenomenal talent with whom we’d love to partner." 

With the show currently in production on the back half of season 5, the Penske Showbiz Trade Conglomerate publication reported that creator Taylor Sheridan and his producing team have become impatient with star Kevin Costner's shooting schedule demands. 

With his own film projects said to be competing for his time, Costner, who plays patriarch John Dutton on Sheridan's flagship series, is said to have originally agreed to committing 65 days to shooting the eight front end episodes of Yellowstone: Season 5, but then demanded that the limit be brought down to 50 days. 

Also read: Paramount Orders a Second Season of '1923,' the Latest 'Unrelentingly Grim' Expansion to Taylor Sheridan's 'Yellowstone' Universe

For the six remaining season 5 episodes that are currently in production, Costner only wanted to commit to being on set for a week, Deadline reported. 

The producers are said to currently be in negotiations with McConaughey ... with whom, Paramount even admitted, it would love to partner up with. 

Launched on the Paramount Network in 2018, Yellowstone has grown into a ratings powerhouse and now serves as the hub on a growing wheel of spinoff shows, including recently launched hits 1883 and 1923. 

Sheridan's empire, meanwhile, has expanded into other realms of star-powered macho melodrama with Mayor of Kingstown and Tulsa King. 

Sheridan's Yellowstone spinoffs debut on Paramount Network and other Paramount pay TV channels before streaming on Paramount Plus. 

Notably, however, Paramount sold exclusive domestic streaming rights to Yellowstone to NBCUniversal and Peacock. So rebooting the modern, forward-looking component of the YCU (Yellowstone Creative Universe?) would enable Par to maintain the entire narrative on Paramount Plus. 

B+C has partnered with always-on TV ad measurement and attribution company iSpot.tv to bring you a weekly chart we call Promo Mojo: exclusive data showing TV’s most-promoted programming ranked by ad impressions. Our data covers the seven-day period through January 1.

Paramount Network’s Yellowstone is No. 1. (The hit drama’s midseason finale aired on January 1.)

The rest of the ranking is mostly made up of reality competitions: Fox hypes its celebrity-focused Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test in second place, NBC promotes the new “All-Stars” version of America’s Got Talent in fourth, and MTV gives some love to RuPaul’s Drag Race in fifth as the show makes its move from VH1.

Rounding out the list is a new drama from ABC: police procedural series Will Trent, in third place.

Notably, Yellowstone scores the highest iSpot Attention Index (112) in the ranking, meaning viewers were on average highly likely to watch its promos all the way through (vs. interrupting viewing by changing the channel, pulling up the guide, fast-forwarding or turning off the TV).

1) Yellowstone, Paramount Network

• Impressions: 424,763,186
• Interruption Rate: 2.55%
• Attention Index: 112 (12% fewer interruptions than avg.)
• Imp. Types: National 94%, Local 2%, VOD/OTT 4%
• In-network Value: $1,265,238
• Out-of-network Est. Spend: $797,906

2) Special Forces: World's Toughest Test, Fox

• Impressions: 399,907,131
• Interruption Rate: 1.70%
• Attention Index: 106 (6% fewer interruptions than avg.)
• Imp. Types: National 92%, Local 6%, VOD/OTT 2%
• In-network Value: $2,898,493
• Out-of-network Est. Spend: $2,339,868

3) Will Trent, ABC

• Impressions: 387,351,001
• Interruption Rate: 1.52%
• Attention Index: 100 (0% fewer interruptions than avg.)
• Imp. Types: National 94%, Local 4%, VOD/OTT 2%
• In-network Value: $3,940,060
• Out-of-network Est. Spend: $1,107,588

4) America's Got Talent: All-Stars, NBC

• Impressions: 341,443,049
• Interruption Rate: 1.79%
• Attention Index: 102 (2% fewer interruptions than avg.)
• Imp. Types: National 96%, Local 3%, VOD/OTT 1%
• In-network Value: $2,235,473
• Out-of-network Est. Spend: $1,315,408

5) RuPaul's Drag Race, MTV

• Impressions: 302,211,298
• Interruption Rate: 3.58%
• Attention Index: 100 (0% fewer interruptions than avg.)
• Imp. Types: National 95%, Local 2%, VOD/OTT 3%
• In-network Value: $1,497,002
• Out-of-network Est. Spend: $1,234,143

* Data provided by iSpot.tv, TV Ad Measurement for Disruptive Brands *

For more information about Promo Mojo — including the chart positions of promos beyond the top five — contact mediapartnerships@ispot.tv.

Impressions: The total impressions within all U.S. households including National Linear (Live & Time-shifted), VOD plus OTT, and Local.

Attention Score: Measures the propensity of consumers to interrupt an ad play on TV. The higher the score, the more complete views. Actions that interrupt an ad play include changing the channel, pulling up the guide, fast-forwarding or turning off the TV.

Attention Index: Represents the Attention of a specific creative or program placement vs. the average in its respective industry. The average is represented by a score of 100, and the total index range is from 0 through 200. For example, an attention index of 125 means that there are 25% fewer interrupted ad plays compared to the average.

Impression Types: Impression types tracked include National (Live + Time-shifted), Local, VOD & OTT. See below for further details.

In-Network Value: Estimated media value of in-network promos.

Out-of-Network Spend: The estimated amount spent on TV airing time for this promo's spots during a given date range.

National: Live: A national promo which was viewed during live linear television broadcast or same day, via DVR or on-demand.

Local: A promo that was aired during a local ad break slot.

VOD: This includes promos that run in on-demand content past three days (i.e. do not contain the linear promo load).

OTT: On-demand streaming content (i.e. Hulu, Roku, Fire TV Stick, Chromecast). ■

Paramount Network announced that its hit Yellowstone will return with original episodes this summer.

Yellowstone aired its Season 5 mid-season finale Sunday. During the telecast, the network said the second half of the season was slated for the summer.

Season 5 of Yellowstone started in November with a record-setting premiere that delivered 12.1 million viewers. In addition to appearing on the Paramount Network, the Yellowstone season premiere was simulcast on Paramount Global sibling networks CMT, TV Land and Pop.

Created by Taylor Sheridan, Yellowstone chronicles the Dutton ranching family in Montana, headed by John Dutton, played by Kevin Costner. The cast also includes Luke Grimes, Kelly Reilly, Wes Bentley, Cole Hauser, Kelsey Asbille, Brecken Merrill, Forrie Smith, Denim Richards, Ian Bohen, Finn Little, Ryan Bingham and Gil Birmingham with Mo Brings Plenty, Wendy Moniz, Jen Landon and Kathryn Kelly along with Season 5 newcomers to the show Jacki Weaver, Kylie Rogers and Kyle Red Silverstein with Kai Caster, Lainey Wilson, Lilli Kay and Dawn Olivieri.

Yellowstone has spawned a successful Taylor Sheridan universe of shows for Paramount, with the latest, 1923, premiering to 7.4 million viewers in December. The other Sheridan series include Mayor of Kingstown, Tulsa King and the upcoming series Lioness and Land Man.  ■

SEE A TEASER BELOW

Paramount Plus's expansion of the Yellowstone universe with the launch of 1923 and a spinoff of the National Treasure movie franchise lead the list of shows debuting this week.

The series 1923 -- which debuts December 18  - is the second prequel to the Kevin Costner starrer Yellowstone, following the streamer's 1883 series which debuted on the streamer in 2021. Harrison Ford, Helen Mirren, Darren Mann and James Badge Dale star as members from an earlier generation of Yellowstone's Dutton family.  

On December 14, Disney Plus will debut National Treasure: Edge of History, an action-drama series based on  the National Treasure movie franchise starring Nicolas Cage. The Jerry Bruckheimer-produced series stars Lisette Alexis in the lead role as she searches for a lost treasure while seeking to unbury the truth about her family’s past, according to the streaming service. 

Below are video trailers and premiere dates for multiple shows debuting the week of December 12 to December 18 on cable networks and streaming services (for some videos, viewer discretion is advised):

December 12 – Baking It (returning series) – Peacock

December 13 – Kindred (drama) – Hulu

December 13 – Last Chance U: Basketball (sports reality) – Netflix

November 15 – The Game (returning series) – Paramount Plus

November 16 – If These Walls Could Sing (documentary) – Disney Plus

November 16 – Litvinenko (drama) – AMC Plus

November 16 – Nanny (horror movie) – Prime Video

November 16 – The Recruit (drama) – Netflix

B+C has partnered with always-on TV ad measurement and attribution company iSpot.tv to bring you a weekly chart we call Promo Mojo: exclusive data showing TV’s most-promoted programming ranked by ad impressions. Our data covers the seven-day period through November 27.

Fox’s FIFA World Cup Qatar is No. 1. The network also takes second place to hype upcoming celebrity reality competition Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test and fourth for College Football.

Rounding out the ranking are two cable networks: Hallmark Channel, which promotes A Holiday Spectacular in third, and Paramount Network, which gives some love to the fifth season of Yellowstone in fifth place.

Notably, Yellowstone scores the highest iSpot Attention Index (134) in the ranking, meaning viewers were on average highly likely to watch its promos all the way through (vs. interrupting viewing by changing the channel, pulling up the guide, fast-forwarding or turning off the TV).

1) 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar, Fox

• Impressions: 711,074,303
• Interruption Rate: 1.14%
• Attention Index: 96 (4% more interruptions than avg.)
• Imp. Types: National 97%, Local 2%, VOD/OTT 1%
• In-network Value: $12,816,591
• Out-of-network Est. Spend: $0.00

2) Special Forces: World's Toughest Test, Fox

• Impressions: 346,434,858
• Interruption Rate: 1.59%
• Attention Index: 81 (19% more interruptions than avg.)
• Imp. Types: National 95%, Local 3%, VOD/OTT 2%
• In-network Value: $7,390,402
• Out-of-network Est. Spend: $0.00

3) A Holiday Spectacular, Hallmark Channel

• Impressions: 343,634,890
• Interruption Rate: 2.46%
• Attention Index: 123 (23% fewer interruptions than avg.)
• Imp. Types: National 99%, Local 1%, VOD/OTT 0%
• In-network Value: $1,702,623
• Out-of-network Est. Spend: $764,094

4) College Football, Fox

• Impressions: 324,941,177
• Interruption Rate: 0.74%
• Attention Index: 92 (8% more interruptions than avg.)
• Imp. Types: National 97%, Local 2%, VOD/OTT 1%
• In-network Value: $4,316,707
• Out-of-network Est. Spend: $50,686

5) Yellowstone, Paramount Network

• Impressions: 291,139,420
• Interruption Rate: 2.26%
• Attention Index: 134 (34% fewer interruptions than avg.)
• Imp. Types: National 92%, Local 4%, VOD/OTT 4%
• In-network Value: $1,166,466
• Out-of-network Est. Spend: $0.00

* Data provided by iSpot.tv, TV Ad Measurement for Disruptive Brands *

For more information about Promo Mojo — including the chart positions of promos beyond the top five — contact mediapartnerships@ispot.tv.

Impressions: The total impressions within all U.S. households including National Linear (Live & Time-shifted), VOD plus OTT, and Local.

Attention Score: Measures the propensity of consumers to interrupt an ad play on TV. The higher the score, the more complete views. Actions that interrupt an ad play include changing the channel, pulling up the guide, fast-forwarding or turning off the TV.

Attention Index: Represents the Attention of a specific creative or program placement vs. the average in its respective industry. The average is represented by a score of 100, and the total index range is from 0 through 200. For example, an attention index of 125 means that there are 25% fewer interrupted ad plays compared to the average.

Impression Types: Impression types tracked include National (Live + Time-shifted), Local, VOD & OTT. See below for further details.

In-Network Value: Estimated media value of in-network promos.

Out-of-Network Spend: The estimated amount spent on TV airing time for this promo's spots during a given date range.

National: Live: A national promo which was viewed during live linear television broadcast or same day, via DVR or on-demand.

Local: A promo that was aired during a local ad break slot.

VOD: This includes promos that run in on-demand content past three days (i.e. do not contain the linear promo load).

OTT: On-demand streaming content (i.e. Hulu, Roku, Fire TV Stick, Chromecast). ■

B+C has partnered with always-on TV ad measurement and attribution company iSpot.tv to bring you a weekly chart we call Promo Mojo: exclusive data showing TV's most-promoted programming ranked by ad impressions. Our data covers the seven-day period through November 20.

ABC's telecast of the American Music Awards is No. 1. The network is joined by fellow traditional broadcaster Fox, which generates excitement for 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar in fourth place.

Rounding out the ranking are two cable networks: Paramount Network, which gives some love to the fifth season of Yellowstone in second place, and Hallmark Channel, which promotes two original TV movies: Three Wise Men and a Baby in third and Inventing the Christmas Prince in fifth.

Notably, Yellowstone scores the highest iSpot Attention Index (119) in the ranking, meaning viewers were on average highly likely to watch its promos all the way through (vs. interrupting viewing by changing the channel, pulling up the guide, fast-forwarding or turning off the TV).

1) 2022 American Music Awards, ABC

• Impressions: 322,011,482
• Interruption Rate: 1.11%
• Attention Index: 107 (7% fewer interruptions than avg.)
• Imp. Types: National 97%, Local 3%, VOD/OTT 0%
• In-network Value: $2,927,608
• Out-of-network Est. Spend: $289,857

2) Yellowstone, Paramount Network

• Impressions: 312,808,370
• Interruption Rate: 2.37%
• Attention Index: 119 (19% fewer interruptions than avg.)
• Imp. Types: National 92%, Local 4%, VOD/OTT 4%
• In-network Value: $1,060,514
• Out-of-network Est. Spend: $457,049

3) Three Wise Men and a Baby, Hallmark Channel

• Impressions: 309,313,504
• Interruption Rate: 2.66%
• Attention Index: 114 (14% fewer interruptions than avg.)
• Imp. Types: National 99%, Local 1%, VOD/OTT 0%
• In-network Value: $1,661,031
• Out-of-network Est. Spend: $381,573

4) 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar, Fox

• Impressions: 278,117,859
• Interruption Rate: 1.86%
• Attention Index: 80 (20% more interruptions than avg.)
• Imp. Types: National 93%, Local 5%, VOD/OTT 2%
• In-network Value: $5,595,264
• Out-of-network Est. Spend: $44,126

5) Inventing the Christmas Prince, Hallmark Channel

• Impressions: 244,918,741
• Interruption Rate: 3.69%
• Attention Index: 87 (13% more interruptions than avg.)
• Imp. Types: National 100%, Local 0%, VOD/OTT 0%
• In-network Value: $1,383,703
• Out-of-network Est. Spend: $0.00

* Data provided by iSpot.tv, TV Ad Measurement for Disruptive Brands *

For more information about Promo Mojo — including the chart positions of promos beyond the top five — contact mediapartnerships@ispot.tv.

Impressions: The total impressions within all U.S. households including National Linear (Live & Time-shifted), VOD plus OTT, and Local.

Attention Score: Measures the propensity of consumers to interrupt an ad play on TV. The higher the score, the more complete views. Actions that interrupt an ad play include changing the channel, pulling up the guide, fast-forwarding or turning off the TV.

Attention Index: Represents the Attention of a specific creative or program placement vs. the average in its respective industry. The average is represented by a score of 100, and the total index range is from 0 through 200. For example, an attention index of 125 means that there are 25% fewer interrupted ad plays compared to the average.

Impression Types: Impression types tracked include National (Live + Time-shifted), Local, VOD & OTT. See below for further details.

In-Network Value: Estimated media value of in-network promos.

Out-of-Network Spend: The estimated amount spent on TV airing time for this promo's spots during a given date range.

National: Live: A national promo which was viewed during live linear television broadcast or same day, via DVR or on-demand.

Local: A promo that was aired during a local ad break slot.

VOD: This includes promos that run in on-demand content past three days (i.e. do not contain the linear promo load).

OTT: On-demand streaming content (i.e. Hulu, Roku, Fire TV Stick, Chromecast). ■

B+C has partnered with always-on TV ad measurement and attribution company iSpot.tv to bring you a weekly chart we call Promo Mojo: exclusive data showing TV’s most-promoted programming ranked by ad impressions. Our data covers the seven-day period through November 13.

Paramount Network’s hit drama Yellowstone, now in its fifth season, is No. 1 for a second week in a row.

Paramount Network is joined by its cable peer Hallmark Channel, which gives some love to its original movie The Royal Nanny — part of its “Countdown to Christmas” programming block — in second place, plus Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, which celebrates its original movie Our Italian Christmas Memories in fifth.

The rest of the ranking is filled out by two traditional broadcasters: Fox, which generates excitement for 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar in third, and ABC, which hypes the 2022 CMA Awards in fourth.

Notably, Yellowstone scores the highest iSpot Attention Index (122) in the ranking, meaning viewers were on average highly likely to watch its promos all the way through (vs. interrupting viewing by changing the channel, pulling up the guide, fast-forwarding or turning off the TV).

1) Yellowstone, Paramount Network

• Impressions: 921,972,277
• Interruption Rate: 1.83%
• Attention Index: 122 (22% fewer interruptions than avg.)
• Imp. Types: National 95%, Local 3%, VOD/OTT 2%
• In-network Value: $2,971,549
• Out-of-network Est. Spend: $8,316,356

2) The Royal Nanny, Hallmark Channel

• Impressions: 302,875,967
• Interruption Rate: 3.50%
• Attention Index: 96 (4% more interruptions than avg.)
• Imp. Types: National 100%, Local 0%, VOD/OTT 0%
• In-network Value: $1,693,915
• Out-of-network Est. Spend: $328,976

3) 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar, Fox

• Impressions: 295,844,334
• Interruption Rate: 1.11%
• Attention Index: 79 (21% more interruptions than avg.)
• Imp. Types: National 94%, Local 5%, VOD/OTT 1%
• In-network Value: $4,454,229
• Out-of-network Est. Spend: $0.00

4) 2022 CMA Awards, ABC

• Impressions: 279,265,509
• Interruption Rate: 1.57%
• Attention Index: 86 (14% more interruptions than avg.)
• Imp. Types: National 95%, Local 4%, VOD/OTT 1%
• In-network Value: $1,387,390
• Out-of-network Est. Spend: $848,329

5) Our Italian Christmas Memories, Hallmark Movies & Mysteries

• Impressions: 223,364,239
• Interruption Rate: 3.29%
• Attention Index: 107 (7% fewer interruptions than avg.)
• Imp. Types: National 100%, Local 0%, VOD/OTT 0%
• In-network Value: $1,234,453
• Out-of-network Est. Spend: $0.00

* Data provided by iSpot.tv, TV Ad Measurement for Disruptive Brands *

For more information about Promo Mojo — including the chart positions of promos beyond the top five — contact mediapartnerships@ispot.tv.

Impressions: The total impressions within all U.S. households including National Linear (Live & Time-shifted), VOD plus OTT, and Local.

Attention Score: Measures the propensity of consumers to interrupt an ad play on TV. The higher the score, the more complete views. Actions that interrupt an ad play include changing the channel, pulling up the guide, fast-forwarding or turning off the TV.

Attention Index: Represents the Attention of a specific creative or program placement vs. the average in its respective industry. The average is represented by a score of 100, and the total index range is from 0 through 200. For example, an attention index of 125 means that there are 25% fewer interrupted ad plays compared to the average.

Impression Types: Impression types tracked include National (Live + Time-shifted), Local, VOD & OTT. See below for further details.

In-Network Value: Estimated media value of in-network promos.

Out-of-Network Spend: The estimated amount spent on TV airing time for this promo's spots during a given date range.

National: Live: A national promo which was viewed during live linear television broadcast or same day, via DVR or on-demand.

Local: A promo that was aired during a local ad break slot.

VOD: This includes promos that run in on-demand content past three days (i.e. do not contain the linear promo load).

OTT: On-demand streaming content (i.e. Hulu, Roku, Fire TV Stick, Chromecast). ■

The midterm elections proved to be a ratings boondoggle for Fox News, which swept both the primetime and total day charts last week.

Fox News averaged 3.2 million viewers for the week of November 7 to November 13, stopping ESPN’s two-week winning streak, according to Nielsen. Fox News drew the most viewers across 13 networks providing election day coverage on November 8, drawing 7.4 million total viewers in primetime, reported Nielsen.

ESPN finished second for the week with 2.2 million views, followed by MSNBC with 1.7 million viewers.

Paramount Network -- bolstered by the more than 8 million viewers who tuned into the November 13 fifth season debut of its original drama series Yellowstone -- finished fourth for the week with 1.4 million viewers, while Hallmark Channel rode its holiday-themed programming to a fifth place tie with CNN with 1.2 million watchers.

Also: 'Yellowstone' Season 5 Has Year's Biggest Scripted Premiere with 12.1 Million L+SD Viewers

HGTV finished seventh with 737,000 viewers, followed by TLC (713,000 viewers), Food Network (681,000) and TBS (661,000).

Fox News extended its total day streak to 45 weeks with an average of 1.9 million viewers, followed by MSNBC (986,000 viewers), ESPN (818,000) CNN (767,000) and Hallmark Channel (670,000), said Nielsen.■  

The Fox Nation streaming service will celebrate the 150th anniversary of Yellowstone National Park in a four-part documentary debuting November 20, according to a new trailer for the series.

The series, Yellowstone: One-Fifty, is hosted by Kevin Costner -- star of Paramount Network's Yellowstone original series -- and will chronicle the history and wildlife of the national park, according to Fox Nation. Throughout the series Costner looks to discover whether it's still as wild and untouched as it was on the day of its inception and looks back in time at the events that led to its preservation, according to the streaming service.

The first episode of Yellowstone: One Fifty will debut on Fox News December 11, according to the company.

Also: 'Yellowstone' Season 5 Has Year's Biggest Scripted Premiere with 12.1 Million L+SD Viewers

The season 5 premiere of Yellowstone delivered 12.1 million live+SD viewers, making it the biggest launch yet for the mega-hit red state drama as well as the most-watched scripted series premiere of 2022.

For its initial run on the Paramount Network Sunday evening, season 5, episode 1 of Yellowstone, which features Wyoming rancher John Dutton (Kevin Costner) being sworn in as mayor, drew 8.8 million viewers. Simulcast runs on sibling Paramount Global networks CMT, TV Land and Pop, added to encore telecasts, upped the total to 12.1 million viewers.

The performance represented a 7% uptick in viewers over the previous record, the season 4 debut of Yellowstone. Viewers ages 18-34 were up a whopping 52%, while watchers 18-49 increased by 22%.

Samba TV, which said Yellowstone delivered 5 million L+SD households, said the Season 5 premiere was the "No. 1 scripted television premiere of 2022." ■

Yellowstone, one of Paramount Network’s biggest hits, returned for its fifth season on November 13. The drama, starring Kevin Costner, Luke Grimes and Kelly Reilly, has spawned multiple spin-offs including the limited series 1883 and the upcoming 1923, and the season four finale in January broke records with more than 10 million viewers, “making it the most-watched cable show since the season three premiere of The Walking Dead in 2017,” as Broadcasting + Cable’s Jon Lafayette reported at the time.

According to Inscape, the currency-grade smart TV ACR data provider and data technology division of Vizio with insights from a panel of more than 20 million opted-in TVs, Yellowstone was the second most-watched show on November 13. Including reruns leading up to the two-hour season five premiere, the show in total accounted for 6.16% of all live, linear minutes watched during the day — behind only the NFL (27.24% of watch-time). 

At the network level, Paramount Network captured 3.31% of all minutes watched on November 13, putting it in fifth place for watch-time, behind only the big four broadcast networks.

Measuring viewership across the full time period that Yellowstone season four covered (November 7, 2021 through January 2, 2022), the show was the No. 11 most-watched program, and accounted for nearly 64% of all minutes watched on Paramount Network during the season run. 

Over the summer, while the show was between seasons, Paramount milked its popularity through a few weekend rerun marathons, which clearly engaged viewers: Inscape data for May 28 through September 5 reveals that it was the No. 1 most-watched program on Paramount Network, capturing 24.5% of all minutes watched. Each time a marathon aired, the show jumped into the top 50 ranking of programs on live, linear TV by watch-time across all networks for that TV week. 

A week ahead of the season five premiere, Paramount used the marathon approach to get people excited for Yellowstone’s return: From November 5-6, the network aired hours of old episodes, capturing 1.12% of all minutes watched on TV that weekend, putting it solidly in sixth place for most-watched shows, behind only sports and reruns of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. ■

Paramount Plus offered an early look at its Yellowstone prequel 1923, starring Helen Mirren and Harrison Ford.

The series, from Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan, features a new generation of Duttons and explores the early 20th century when pandemics, historic drought, the end of Prohibition and the Great Depression all plague the mountain west and the Duttons who call it home, according to Paramount Plus.

Along with Mirren and Ford, 1923 stars Brandon Skelnar, Darren Mann, Michelle Randolph, James Badge Dale, Marley Shelton, Brian Geraghty, Aminah Nieves, Julia Shlaepfer and Jerome Flynn. 

The 1923 series is produced by MTV Entertainment Studios and executive produced by Sheridan, John Linson, Art Linson, David Glasser, Ron Burkle, David Hutkin, Bob Yari and Ben Richardson. ■

B+C has partnered with always-on TV ad measurement and attribution company iSpot.tv to bring you a weekly chart we call Promo Mojo: exclusive data showing TV's most-promoted programming ranked by ad impressions. Our data covers the seven-day period through November 6.

Paramount Network's hit drama Yellowstone — which kicks off its fifth season on November 13 — is No. 1.

Paramount Network is joined by its cable peer Hallmark Channel, which gives some love to Lights, Camera, Christmas — part of its "Countdown to Christmas" programming block — in fourth.

The rest of the ranking is filled out by traditional broadcasters: NBC, which promotes sitcoms Lopez vs. Lopez and Young Rock in second place; ABC, which hypes the 2022 CMA Awards in third; and Fox, which generates excitement for the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar in fifth.

Notably, Yellowstone scores the highest iSpot Attention Index (125) in the ranking, meaning viewers were on average highly likely to watch its promos all the way through (vs. interrupting viewing by changing the channel, pulling up the guide, fast-forwarding or turning off the TV).

1) Yellowstone, Paramount Network

• Impressions: 420,459,267
• Interruption Rate: 2.22%
• Attention Index: 125 (25% fewer interruptions than avg.)
• Imp. Types: National 95%, Local 2%, VOD/OTT 3%
• In-network Value: $3,610,513
• Out-of-network Est. Spend: $1,717,912

2) Lopez vs. Lopez | Young Rock, NBC

• Impressions: 418,700,041
• Interruption Rate: 1.41%
• Attention Index: 106 (6% fewer interruptions than avg.)
• Imp. Types: National 96%, Local 3%, VOD/OTT 1%
• In-network Value: $2,113,371
• Out-of-network Est. Spend: $2,241,089

3) 2022 CMA Awards, ABC

• Impressions: 334,159,081
• Interruption Rate: 1.45%
• Attention Index: 101 (1% fewer interruptions than avg.)
• Imp. Types: National 95%, Local 4%, VOD/OTT 1%
• In-network Value: $3,659,306
• Out-of-network Est. Spend: $594,015

4) Lights, Camera, Christmas, Hallmark Channel

• Impressions: 270,119,127
• Interruption Rate: 3.34%
• Attention Index: 98 (2% more interruptions than avg.)
• Imp. Types: National 100%, Local 0%, VOD/OTT 0%
• In-network Value: $1,585,193
• Out-of-network Est. Spend: $292,801

5) 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar, Fox

• Impressions: 268,074,668
• Interruption Rate: 1.71%
• Attention Index: 91 (9% more interruptions than avg.)
• Imp. Types: National 92%, Local 7%, VOD/OTT 1%
• In-network Value: $4,932,642
• Out-of-network Est. Spend: $0.00

* Data provided by iSpot.tv, TV Ad Measurement for Disruptive Brands *

For more information about Promo Mojo — including the chart positions of promos beyond the top five — contact mediapartnerships@ispot.tv.

Impressions: The total impressions within all U.S. households including National Linear (Live & Time-shifted), VOD plus OTT, and Local.

Attention Score: Measures the propensity of consumers to interrupt an ad play on TV. The higher the score, the more complete views. Actions that interrupt an ad play include changing the channel, pulling up the guide, fast-forwarding or turning off the TV.

Attention Index: Represents the Attention of a specific creative or program placement vs. the average in its respective industry. The average is represented by a score of 100, and the total index range is from 0 through 200. For example, an attention index of 125 means that there are 25% fewer interrupted ad plays compared to the average.

Impression Types: Impression types tracked include National (Live + Time-shifted), Local, VOD & OTT. See below for further details.

In-Network Value: Estimated media value of in-network promos.

Out-of-Network Spend: The estimated amount spent on TV airing time for this promo's spots during a given date range.

National: Live: A national promo which was viewed during live linear television broadcast or same day, via DVR or on-demand.

Local: A promo that was aired during a local ad break slot.

VOD: This includes promos that run in on-demand content past three days (i.e. do not contain the linear promo load).

OTT: On-demand streaming content (i.e. Hulu, Roku, Fire TV Stick, Chromecast). ■

Cable TV’s most-watched drama series returns to the small screen, Netflix returns one of its popular Emmy-Award winning drama series, and Sylvester Stallone debuts in his first scripted series during the Election Day and Veteran's Day holiday week.

Paramount's Yellowstone launches its fifth season on November 13 as it continues to follow the exploits of the Dutton family, who control the largest contiguous cattle ranch in the United States and are in constant conflict with an expanding town, an Indian reservation, and business rivalries, said the network. The season four finale of Yellowstone, which stars Kevin Costner, drew more than 10 million viewers -- the most-watched cable show since the season three premiere of The Walking Dead in 2017, according to Nielsen.

Netflix drops the fifth season premiere of its Emmy-winning series The Crown on November 9. The series, set in the early to mid-1990s, will continue to explore the actions of The Queen, as well as the breakdown of the marriage between Prince Charles and Princess Diana, according to Netflix.

On November 13, Paramount Plus will debut Tulsa King, starring Stallone who plays a mobster who relocates to Oklahoma after being released from prison.

Below are video trailers and premiere dates for multiple shows debuting the week of November 7 to November 13 on cable networks and streaming services (for some videos, viewer discretion is advised):

November 8 – Say Hey, Willie Mays! (sports documentary) – HBO

November 9 – Zootopia+ (animation) – Disney Plus

November 30 – The Calling (drama) – Peacock

November 10 – Warrior Nun (drama) – Netflix

November 11 - Circuit Breakers (sci-fi) – Apple TV Plus

November 11 – The English (drama) – Prime Video

November 11 – Is That Black Enough for You?!? (documentary) – Netflix

November 11 – Mammals (dramedy) – Prime Video

November 11 – Mythic Quest (returning series) – Apple TV Plus

November 13 – Rogue Heroes (drama) – Epix

B+C has partnered with always-on TV ad measurement and attribution company iSpot.tv to bring you a weekly chart we call Promo Mojo: exclusive data showing TV's most-promoted programming ranked by ad impressions. Our data covers the seven-day period through October 30.

Hallmark Channel's new original movie Jolly Good Christmas -- part of the network's "Countdown to Christmas" programming block -- is No. 1.

Paramount Network takes second place to promote the upcoming fifth season of Yellowstone. Traditional broadcast networks round out the ranking, with Fox hyping the eighth season of The Masked Singer in third, NBC giving some love to sitcoms Lopez vs. Lopez and Young Rock in fourth, and CBS promoting a new episode of Ghosts in fifth.

Notably, Jolly Good Christmas scores the highest iSpot Attention Index (116) in the ranking, meaning viewers were on average highly likely to watch its promos all the way through (vs. interrupting viewing by changing the channel, pulling up the guide, fast-forwarding or turning off the TV).

1) Jolly Good Christmas, Hallmark Channel

• Impressions: 235,963,613
• Interruption Rate: 3.07%
• Attention Index: 116 (16% fewer interruptions than avg.)
• Imp. Types: National 98%, Local 1%, VOD/OTT 1%
• In-network Value: $1,409,044
• Out-of-network Est. Spend: $166,272

2) Yellowstone, Paramount Network

• Impressions: 234,159,300
• Interruption Rate: 2.61%
• Attention Index: 101 (1% fewer interruptions than avg.)
• Imp. Types: National 95%, Local 2%, VOD/OTT 3%
• In-network Value: $1,258,907
• Out-of-network Est. Spend: $37,976

3) The Masked Singer, Fox

• Impressions: 220,615,381
• Interruption Rate: 0.70%
• Attention Index: 92 (8% more interruptions than avg.)
• Imp. Types: National 90%, Local 8%, VOD/OTT 2%
• In-network Value: $2,105,653
• Out-of-network Est. Spend: $574,990

4) Lopez vs. Lopez | Young Rock, NBC

• Impressions: 211,554,360
• Interruption Rate: 1.58%
• Attention Index: 113 (13% fewer interruptions than avg.)
• Imp. Types: National 94%, Local 5%, VOD/OTT 1%
• In-network Value: $1,835,002
• Out-of-network Est. Spend: $617,674

5) Ghosts, CBS

• Impressions: 206,847,088
• Interruption Rate: 1.40%
• Attention Index: 102 (2% fewer interruptions than avg.)
• Imp. Types: National 93%, Local 4%, VOD/OTT 3%
• In-network Value: $2,132,490
• Out-of-network Est. Spend: $0.00

* Data provided by iSpot.tv, TV Ad Measurement for Disruptive Brands *

For more information about Promo Mojo — including the chart positions of promos beyond the top five — contact mediapartnerships@ispot.tv.

Impressions: The total impressions within all U.S. households including National Linear (Live & Time-shifted), VOD plus OTT, and Local.

Attention Score: Measures the propensity of consumers to interrupt an ad play on TV. The higher the score, the more complete views. Actions that interrupt an ad play include changing the channel, pulling up the guide, fast-forwarding or turning off the TV.

Attention Index: Represents the Attention of a specific creative or program placement vs. the average in its respective industry. The average is represented by a score of 100, and the total index range is from 0 through 200. For example, an attention index of 125 means that there are 25% fewer interrupted ad plays compared to the average.

Impression Types: Impression types tracked include National (Live + Time-shifted), Local, VOD & OTT. See below for further details.

In-Network Value: Estimated media value of in-network promos.

Out-of-Network Spend: The estimated amount spent on TV airing time for this promo's spots during a given date range.

National: Live: A national promo which was viewed during live linear television broadcast or same day, via DVR or on-demand.

Local: A promo that was aired during a local ad break slot.

VOD: This includes promos that run in on-demand content past three days (i.e. do not contain the linear promo load).

OTT: On-demand streaming content (i.e. Hulu, Roku, Fire TV Stick, Chromecast). ■

B+C has partnered with always-on TV ad measurement and attribution company iSpot.tv to bring you a weekly chart we call Promo Mojo: exclusive data showing TV's most-promoted programming ranked by ad impressions. Our data covers the seven-day period through October 23.

Hallmark Channel's new original movie We Wish You a Married Christmas — part of the network's "Countdown to Christmas" programming block — is No. 1. Last week's chart-topper, ABC's new drama Alaska Daily, takes second place.

Cable networks have the edge in the ranking, with Hallmark Channel joined by TBS, which gives some love to MLB Postseason 2022 in third place, and Paramount Network, which promotes the upcoming fifth season of Yellowstone in fourth.

Rounding out the ranking is CBS, which hypes new drama Fire Country in fifth.

Notably, Yellowstone scores the highest iSpot Attention Index (124) in the ranking, meaning viewers were on average highly likely to watch its promos all the way through (vs. interrupting viewing by changing the channel, pulling up the guide, fast-forwarding or turning off the TV).

1) We Wish You a Married Christmas, Hallmark Channel

• Impressions: 208,797,532
• Interruption Rate: 3.05%
• Attention Index: 103 (3% fewer interruptions than avg.)
• Imp. Types: National 99%, Local 1%, VOD/OTT 0%
• In-network Value: $1,235,945
• Out-of-network Est. Spend: $84,786

2) Alaska Daily, ABC

• Impressions: 205,041,409
• Interruption Rate: 1.40%
• Attention Index: 102 (2% fewer interruptions than avg.)
• Imp. Types: National 93%, Local 5%, VOD/OTT 2%
• In-network Value: $1,296,057
• Out-of-network Est. Spend: $521,071

3) MLB Postseason 2022, TBS

• Impressions: 175,407,279
• Interruption Rate: 1.16%
• Attention Index: 116 (16% fewer interruptions than avg.)
• Imp. Types: National 99%, Local 0%, VOD/OTT 1%
• In-network Value: $858,618
• Out-of-network Est. Spend: $344,720

4) Yellowstone, Paramount Network

• Impressions: 172,606,328
• Interruption Rate: 2.79%
• Attention Index: 124 (24% fewer interruptions than avg.)
• Imp. Types: National 95%, Local 2%, VOD/OTT 3%
• In-network Value: $1,040,108
• Out-of-network Est. Spend: $0.00

5) Fire Country, CBS

• Impressions: 147,603,879
• Interruption Rate: 1.35%
• Attention Index: 109 (9% fewer interruptions than avg.)
• Imp. Types: National 91%, Local 6%, VOD/OTT 3%
• In-network Value: $1,502,592
• Out-of-network Est. Spend: $131,227

* Data provided by iSpot.tv, TV Ad Measurement for Disruptive Brands *

For more information about Promo Mojo — including the chart positions of promos beyond the top five — contact mediapartnerships@ispot.tv.

Impressions: The total impressions within all U.S. households including National Linear (Live & Time-shifted), VOD plus OTT, and Local.

Attention Score: Measures the propensity of consumers to interrupt an ad play on TV. The higher the score, the more complete views. Actions that interrupt an ad play include changing the channel, pulling up the guide, fast-forwarding or turning off the TV.

Attention Index: Represents the Attention of a specific creative or program placement vs. the average in its respective industry. The average is represented by a score of 100, and the total index range is from 0 through 200. For example, an attention index of 125 means that there are 25% fewer interrupted ad plays compared to the average.

Impression Types: Impression types tracked include National (Live + Time-shifted), Local, VOD & OTT. See below for further details.

In-Network Value: Estimated media value of in-network promos.

Out-of-Network Spend: The estimated amount spent on TV airing time for this promo's spots during a given date range.

National: Live: A national promo which was viewed during live linear television broadcast or same day, via DVR or on-demand.

Local: A promo that was aired during a local ad break slot.

VOD: This includes promos that run in on-demand content past three days (i.e. do not contain the linear promo load).

OTT: On-demand streaming content (i.e. Hulu, Roku, Fire TV Stick, Chromecast). ■

The Duttons are taking over Montana politics according to the latest trailer for the new season of Paramount Network's original drama series Yellowstone, which debuts November 13.

Yellowstone stars Kevin Costner as  John Dutton, who -- in the series' fifth-season trailer -- is sworn in as Governor of Montana. The trailer also previews the ensuing chaos that immediately follows, according to the network. 

Yellowstone, cable's most watched scripted series, also stars Luke Grimes, Kelly Reilly, Wes Bentley, Cole Hauser, Kelsey Asbille, Brecken Merrill, Forrie Smith, Denim Richards, Ian Bohen, Finn Little, Ryan Bingham and Gil Birmingham.

The series, created by Taylor Sheridan, follows the exploits of the Dutton family, who control the largest contiguous cattle ranch in the United States and are in constant conflict with an expanding town, an Indian reservation, and business rivalries, said the network. 

Yellowstone is executive produced by Sheridan, Costner, John Linson, Art Linson, David C. Glasser, Bob Yari and Stephen Kay.■

Paramount Network hosts a Yellowstone marathon across Labor Day Weekend. The stunt happens Friday, September 2 to Monday, September 5, starting at 11 a.m. ET/PT each day.

Taylor Sheridan created the western series. Season five premieres Sunday, November 13.

Kevin Costner, Luke Grimes, Kelly Reilly, Wes Bentley, Cole Hauser, Kelsey Asbille, Brecken Merrill and Jefferson White are in the cast. Season five will feature the return of Josh Lucas as young John Dutton.

Yellowstone chronicles the Dutton family, led by John (Kevin Costner), which controls the largest contiguous cattle ranch in the United States. There are shifting alliances and unsolved murders. The ranch is in constant conflict with its neighbors, including an expanding town and a Native American reservation.

The season four premiere of Yellowstone drew over 14 million total viewers, according to Paramount Network, and the season finale drew over 10 million viewers.

MTV Entertainment Studios and 101 Studios produces the show. Sheridan and John Linson created Yellowstone. They executive produce with Art Linson, Kevin Costner, David C. Glasser, Bob Yari and Stephen Kay. ■

Paramount Plus is splitting producer Tyler Sheridan's mega-fruitful Yellowstone lentil again with yet another prequel, 1932, and it has enlisted onscreen heavyweights Helen Mirren and Harrison Ford for this one.

Following the big debut of Sheridan's 1883 back in September, this latest origins-based series will track yet another prior generation of Duttons, as they deal with the Great Depression, a historic draught and other calamities. The project was announced back in February, simultaneous with the Season 2 order of 1883.

The addition of Oscar winner Mirren, and Star Wars and Indiana Jones series lead man Ford reveal just how much gravitas the YSU (Yellowstone Universe) has achieved. 

Also read: Paramount Plus Orders More ‘1883’ and New Taylor Sheridan Series ‘1932’

Yellowstone, the sudsy Paramount Network drama built around Kevin Costner as modern Montana ranch owner John Dutton, has spawned an empire for Sheridan that now also includes Mayor of Kingstown and Lioness, among other Paramount originals. 

Paramount just announced that Yellowstone, which debuted back in 2018 and quietly built to a powerful audience of around 11 million viewers, on average, by the recently completed Season 4, just began production on Season 5 this week. 

In December, Paramount debuted a 10-episode first season of 1883, starring Sam Elliot, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill in an origins story tracking the Duttons as they crossed the Great Plains to settle the West. The Sunday night debut of 1883 averaged a robust 4.9 million viewers on cable channel Paramount Network, while also drawing the biggest audience ever for streaming service Paramount Plus. 

In fact, parent company Paramount Global even called out 1883 by name during its Q1 earnings report earlier this month, when it revealed impressive growth of 6.8 million subscribers for Paramount Plus from January through March. 

As for 1932 (which is a working title at this point), it's being produced by MTV Entertainment Studios, 101 Studios and Bosque Ranch Productions. The executive producers are Sheridan, John Linson, Art Linson, David C. Glasser, Ron Burkle, Bob Yari and Ben Richardson.  

Paramount Plus said that it has ordered more of 1883, the hit series from Taylor Sheridan, but didn’t specify how many seasons or episodes.

At the same time, Paramount Plus said it ordered 1932, which it called the next chapter in Sheridan’s Yellowstone origin story.

1932 will be produced by MTV Entertainment Studios and 101 Studios and follow a new generation of the Dutton family during Western expansion, Prohibition and the first Depression.

Other Sheridan series are on the way, with stars including Sylvester Stallone, Billy Bob Thornton and Zoe Saldana. 

Saldana will executive produce Paramount Plus's Lioness, about a CIA anti-terror program, along with Nicole Kidman. Production begins in June. Thornton will lead a new series, Land Man, based on the podcast series Boomtown and set to go into production next year for Paramount Plus.

Paramount Plus also ordered Season 2 of Halo, based on the XBox game. Season 1 is set to launch on March 24 exclusively on Paramount Plus.

Also: ViacomCBS Changing Company Name to Paramount

1883 has been Paramount Plus’s most watched title globally. 

“While most shows franchise near the end of their run, we seized the opportunity to franchise in real time, to drive record growth for both streaming and linear properties, proving the power of ViacomCBS’ differentiated model,” said Chris McCarthy, president and CEO of ViacomCBS Media Networks and MTV Entertainment Studios. “With the brilliant mind and gifted storytelling of Taylor Sheridan, we have created an entirely new world to explore with 1883 while expanding Yellowstone, and with 1932 we will open up a new chapter in this rapidly growing universe.”

Created by Sheridan, 1883 is the prequel to Yellowstone and stars Sam Elliott, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Billy Bob Thornton, Isabel May, LaMonica Garrett, Marc Rissmann, Audie Rick, Eric Nelsen and James Landry Hébert.

Halo series stars Pablo Schreiber as the Master Chief, Spartan-117; Natascha McElhone as Dr. Halsey, the brilliant, conflicted and inscrutable creator of the Spartan super soldiers; and Jen Taylor as Cortana, the most advanced AI in human history, and potentially the key to the survival of the human race.

Halo is produced by Showtime in association with 343 Industries, along with Amblin Television. The first season of Halo is executive produced by Steven Kane, alongside Steven Spielberg, Darryl Frank and Justin Falvey for Amblin Television in partnership with 343 Industries, Otto Bathurst and Toby Leslie for One Big Picture, and Kyle Killen and Scott Pennington for Chapter Eleven. Kiki Wolfkill, Frank O’Connor and Bonnie Ross serve as executive producers for 343 Industries. The series is distributed internationally by ViacomCBS Global Distribution Group. ■ 

Yellowstone, the top-rated scripted series on TV, has been renewed for a fifth season on ViacomCBS’s Paramount Network in one of the easiest decisions a television executive has ever made.

Yellowstone’s season-four premiere drew more than 14 million total viewers and the finale delivered more than 15 million total viewers.

Yellowstone also served as a launch pad for the new Paramount Plus series Mayor of Kingstown and 1883, both of which are two of the top titles on the streaming service. Yellowstone reruns are also doing gangbusters for Comcast’s Peacock, which acquired streaming rights before the show took off.

Production on the new season is expected to begin in May and the network announced that guest stars Jen Landon and Kathryn Kelly have been promoted to series regulars.

They join a cast headed by star Kevin Costner, along with Luke Grimes, Kelly Reilly, Wes Bentley, Cole Hauser, Kelsey Asbille, Brecken Merrill, Jefferson White, Forrie Smith, Denim Richards, Ian Bohen, Finn Little, Ryan Bingham and Gil Birmingham, all of whom are returning.

Also: Younger Viewers Are Riding With New-Look Westerns

“Yellowstone’s record-breaking performance proves we’ve tapped a cultural nerve and unleashed a passionate audience from the center of the country to each of the coasts,” said Chris McCarthy, president and CEO, ViacomCBS Media Networks. “Kevin Costner leads our incredible cast who make the Duttons America’s favorite family and this new season is sure to be another one fans won’t want to miss.”

Yellowstone comes from MTV Entertainment Studios and 101 Studios. It was co-created by Taylor Sheridan and John Linson. Executive producers include John Linson, Art Linson, Taylor Sheridan, Kevin Costner, David C. Glasser, Bob Yari and Stephen Kay. ■ 

ESPN kicked off 2022 on a ratings high note, ending Fox News Channel’s dominance of the weekly cable total day charts in winning both the primetime and total day races. 

The sports network, fueled by its New Year’s Eve college football playoffs telecasts, averaged 8.4 million primetime viewers to top all cable networks for the week of December 27 to January 2, according to Nielsen. For its Dec. 31 College Football Playoff semifinal games, ESPN averaged 17.2 million viewers for Georgia-Michigan and 16.6 million watchers for Cincinnati-Alabama, according to Nielsen.  

Fox News finished a distant second with 1.7 million viewers, followed by Paramount Network, which finished third with 1.5 million watchers, aided by the 9.3 million viewers the network generated for the January 2 finale of its original series Yellowstone.

Hallmark Channel finished fourth with 1.3 million viewers, followed by HGTV with 1 million viewers. TLC (932,000 viewers), TBS (851,000), MSNBC (774,000), INSP (753,000), and USA Network (751,000) rounded out the top 10 most-watched networks for the week.

ESPN also captured the top spot on the total day chart, averaging 3.1 million viewers to end Fox News’ winning streak at 45 weeks. Fox News finished second with 1.2 million viewers, followed by Hallmark Channel (783,000 viewers), Paramount Network (686,000) and HGTV (634,000), according to Nielsen. ■ 

The season four finale of Yellowstone drew more than 10 million viewers, making it the most-watched cable show since the season three premiere of The Walking Dead in 2017, according to Nielsen figures released by ViacomCBS.

The finale of Yellowstone was simulcast on the Paramount Network and CMT and had 9.3 million total viewers on The Paramount Network alone.

Season four’s finale was up 81% from the season three finale, indicating the show is still building its audience, which is unusual for a show in its fourth season.

Also: Younger Viewers Are Riding With New-Look Westerns

Season four of Yellowstone averaged 1.9 million viewers in the 18-49 demo, up 95% from season three, and 2.6 million viewers in the 25-54 demo, up 100%. That makes it the top series of 2021 for broadcast, cable and premium networks, ViacomCBS said.

Yellowstone is the foundation of ViacomCBS’s strategy to build a franchise of shows created by Taylor Sheridan to bolster its Paramount Plus streaming service. In addition to Yellowstone, the franchise includes 1883 and Mayor of Kingstown.

Also: Paramount Plus Says ‘1883’ Became Service’s Most-Watched Original Series

“Yellowstone continues to shatter records with more than 11 million viewers tuning into the season finale, proving we've hit a cultural nerve - from the center of the country to each of the coasts - and still have lots of room to grow on linear,” said Chris McCarthy, president and CEO, ViacomCBS Media Networks. “Our strategy to franchise Yellowstone into a universe of series to fuel growth for Paramount Plus is already exceeding expectations with 1883 and Mayor of Kingstown proving to be two of the top titles.” ■ 

B+C has partnered with always-on TV ad measurement and attribution company iSpot.tv to bring you a weekly chart we call Promo Mojo: exclusive data showing the top five TV promos ranked by ad impressions. Our data covers the seven-day period through January 2.

An NBC promo for its new sitcom American Auto is No. 1. NBC is joined on the chart by fellow traditional broadcaster Fox, which promotes its new crime drama ​​The Cleaning Lady in second place and 9-1-1: Lone Star, now in its third season, in third place.

A couple of cable networks round out the ranking: Hallmark Channel — which dominated the top five in December with multiple ads for its original Christmas movies — serves up a general network promo with the tagline “Where love happens” in fourth place. And Paramount Network hypes the season finale of Yellowstone (which aired on January 2) in fifth.

Notably, the 9-1-1: Lone Star spot has the week’s highest iSpot Attention Index (117), meaning viewers were on average highly likely to watch it all the way through (vs. interrupting it by changing the channel, pulling up the guide, fast-forwarding or turning off the TV).

1) American Auto, NBC

Impressions: 404,714,982

Interruption Rate: 1.35%

Attention Index: 111 (11% fewer interruptions than avg.)

Imp. Types: National 97%, Local 2%, VOD/OTT 1%

In-network Value: $1,223,447

Out-of-network Est. Spend: $2,466,896

2) The Cleaning Lady, Fox

Impressions: 391,255,742

Interruption Rate: 1.48%

Attention Index: 101 (1% fewer interruptions than avg.)

Imp. Types: National 90%, Local 8%, VOD/OTT 2%

In-network Value: $1,331,731

Out-of-network Est. Spend: $2,616,259

3) 9-1-1: Lone Star, Fox

Impressions: 376,210,139

Interruption Rate: 1.40%

Attention Index: 117 (17% fewer interruptions than avg.)

Imp. Types: National 92%, Local 6%, VOD/OTT 2%

In-network Value: $2,260,264

Out-of-network Est. Spend: $1,768,544

4) Hallmark Channel general network promo

Impressions: 364,381,967

Interruption Rate: 4.31%

Attention Index: 95 (5% more interruptions than avg.)

Imp. Types: National 99%, Local 1%, VOD/OTT 0%

In-network Value: $1,745,460

Out-of-network Est. Spend: $606,085

5) Yellowstone, Paramount Network

Impressions: 364,148,351

Interruption Rate: 4.05%

Attention Index: 98 (2% more interruptions than avg.)

Imp. Types: National 93%, Local 4%, VOD/OTT 3%

In-network Value: $1,372,610

Out-of-network Est. Spend: $440,001

* Data provided by iSpot.tv, TV Ad Measurement for Disruptive Brands *

Impressions: The total impressions within all U.S. households including National Linear (Live & Time-shifted), VOD plus OTT, and Local.

Attention Score: Measures the propensity of consumers to interrupt an ad play on TV. The higher the score, the more complete views. Actions that interrupt an ad play include changing the channel, pulling up the guide, fast-forwarding or turning off the TV.

Attention Index: Represents the Attention of a specific creative or program placement vs. the average in its respective industry. The average is represented by a score of 100, and the total index range is from 0 through 200. For example, an attention index of 125 means that there are 25% fewer interrupted ad plays compared to the average.

Impression Types: Impression types tracked include National (Live + Time-shifted), Local, VOD & OTT. See below for further details.

In-Network Value: Estimated media value of in-network promos.

Out-of-Network Spend: The estimated amount spent on TV airing time for this promo's spots during a given date range.

National: Live: A national promo which was viewed during live linear television broadcast or same day, via DVR or on-demand.

Local: A promo that was aired during a local ad break slot.

VOD: This includes promos that run in on-demand content past three days (i.e. do not contain the linear promo load).

OTT: On-demand streaming content (i.e. Hulu, Roku, Fire TV Stick, Chromecast).

B+C has partnered with always-on TV ad measurement and attribution company iSpot.tv to bring you a weekly chart we call Promo Mojo: exclusive data showing the top five TV promos ranked by ad impressions. Our data covers the seven-day period through Dec. 19.

A Hallmark Channel spot for The Christmas House 2: Deck Those Halls is No. 1 — the third week in a row the network tops our chart to promote one of its original holiday movies. Hallmark Channel also grabs fourth place to celebrate ’Tis the Season To Be Merry.

Meanwhile, NFL Network hypes NFL Football in second place, and Paramount Network gives some love to Yellowstone in fifth. The only traditional broadcaster in our top five, NBC, promotes its new sitcom Grand Crew in third place.

Notably, the Yellowstone spot has the week’s highest iSpot Attention Index (125), meaning viewers were on average highly likely to watch it all the way through (vs. interrupting it by changing the channel, pulling up the guide, fast-forwarding or turning off the TV).

Also: Holiday 2021 TV Premiere Dates

1) The Christmas House 2: Deck Those Halls, Hallmark Channel

Impressions: 261,563,565

Interruption Rate: 5.61%

Attention Index: 99 (1% more interruptions than avg.)

Imp. Types: National 100%, Local 0%, VOD/OTT 0%

In-network Value: $1,864,686

Out-of-network Est. Spend: $0.00

2) NFL Football, NFL Network

Impressions: 245,685,381

Interruption Rate: 0.95%

Attention Index: 111 (11% fewer interruptions than avg.)

Imp. Types: National 98%, Local 1%, VOD/OTT 1%

In-network Value: $1,055,290

Out-of-network Est. Spend: $9,625,462

3) Grand Crew, NBC

Impressions: 236,822,046

Interruption Rate: 2.08%

Attention Index: 99 (1% more interruptions than avg.)

Imp. Types: National 96%, Local 3%, VOD/OTT 1%

In-network Value: $2,514,103

Out-of-network Est. Spend: $218,072

4) 'Tis the Season to Be Merry, Hallmark Channel

Impressions: 235,476,519

Interruption Rate: 5.13%

Attention Index: 114 (14% fewer interruptions than avg.)

Imp. Types: National 100%, Local 0%, VOD/OTT 0%

In-network Value: $1,385,898

Out-of-network Est. Spend: $0.00

5) Yellowstone, Paramount Network

Impressions: 209,554,721

Interruption Rate: 1.79%

Attention Index: 125 (25% fewer interruptions than avg.)

Imp. Types: National 92%, Local 5%, VOD/OTT 3%

In-network Value: $1,339,820

Out-of-network Est. Spend: $130,533

* Data provided by iSpot.tv, TV Ad Measurement for Disruptive Brands *

Impressions: The total impressions within all U.S. households including National Linear (Live & Time-shifted), VOD plus OTT, and Local.

Attention Score: Measures the propensity of consumers to interrupt an ad play on TV. The higher the score, the more complete views. Actions that interrupt an ad play include changing the channel, pulling up the guide, fast-forwarding or turning off the TV.

Attention Index: Represents the Attention of a specific creative or program placement vs. the average in its respective industry. The average is represented by a score of 100, and the total index range is from 0 through 200. For example, an attention index of 125 means that there are 25% fewer interrupted ad plays compared to the average.

Impression Types: Impression types tracked include National (Live + Time-shifted), Local, VOD & OTT. See below for further details.

In-Network Value: Estimated media value of in-network promos.

Out-of-Network Spend: The estimated amount spent on TV airing time for this promo's spots during a given date range.

National: Live: A national promo which was viewed during live linear television broadcast or same day, via DVR or on-demand.

Local: A promo that was aired during a local ad break slot.

VOD: This includes promos that run in on-demand content past three days (i.e. do not contain the linear promo load).

OTT: On-demand streaming content (i.e. Hulu, Roku, Fire TV Stick, Chromecast).

ViacomCBS said that 1883, the Yellowstone prequel from Taylor Sheridan, has become Paramount Plus’ most-watched original series ever.

Paramount Plus did not disclose specific viewing metrics, but said its audience was double the previous record on owned and operated platforms. Other viewing is expected once data from third-party reporting checks in.

ViacomCBS let viewers sample 1883 on its Paramount Network cable channel and it drew 4.9 million total viewers leading out of Yellowstone, becoming the biggest new series premiere on cable since 2015.

Also: Younger Viewers Are Riding With New-Look Westerns

“The results of 1883’s debut are truly phenomenal,” said Tanya Giles, chief programming officer, ViacomCBS Streaming. “The day one streaming numbers coupled with the results of the linear sampling effort, and social response from our audience show the tremendous promise for this series. We look forward to continuing on this epic journey with our subscribers.”

Ultimately the most important metric will be whether or not 1883 is able to bring new subscribers to Paramount Plus.

Other numbers are encouraging. ViacomCBS said that 1883 is tracing ahead of the season one premiere of Yellowstone by 125% among people 18-49 and 135% among 25 to 54.

“The success of Taylor Sheridan’s 1883 is another proof point of our unique model to leverage our linear platforms and franchise our biggest hits to supercharge Paramount Plus. We went big with 1883 -- the Yellowstone prequel -- and it delivered big and shattered all records,” Chris McCarthy, president and CEO ViacomCBS Media Networks, said in a release. “Given the tremendous viewership on Paramount Network, I’m confident our strategy of sampling on the Paramount Network will drive awareness and viewers to Paramount Plus.”

Paramount Plus also launched another Taylor Sheridan series, Mayor of Kingstown, on November 14. That show, too, outperformed Yellowstone's series premiere, the network said in declaring Kingstown the streaming service's top original scripted drama to date.

Created by Academy Award Nominee Taylor Sheridan and produced by MTV Entertainment Studios and 101 Studios, 1883 is the prequel to the Emmy nominated series Yellowstone. The original series stars Academy Award nominee Sam Elliott, Grammy Winner Tim McGraw, Grammy Winner Faith Hill, Academy Award winner Billy Bob Thornton, Isabel May and LaMonica Garrett, Audie Rick, Marc Rissmann, Eric Nelsen and James Landry Hébert. 

1883 is executive produced by Sheridan, John Linson, Art Linson, David Glasser, Ron Burkle and Bob Yari. ■

Viewers are saddling up to contemporary Western-themed series and movies as the classic TV genre looks to lasso viewers from a new generation.

Led by record-setting ratings for the November 7 season premiere of Paramount Network’s Yellowstone, cable and streaming services are rustling up shows that showcase the traditions and romance of the old West, often seen through diverse and unique perspectives that have broadened the appeal of the genre for today’s audience. 

“What you have to deal with are new sensibilities with your audience — you can’t do the John Wayne-type westerns of the past,” TV analyst Bill Carroll said. “You can set things in what used to be called the old west but deal with it in a different, contemporary way.”

The genre has ebbed and flowed on the small screen almost from the debut of television into the 1960s, with shows such as Gunsmoke, Bonanza, The Lone Ranger and The Wild Wild West. Over the last 20 years, Western-themed shows like HBO’s Deadwood and Westworld, as well as Longmire on A&E (and Netflix), have found critical and ratings success, but such shows have been few and far between.

‘Yellowstone’ Sparks a Revival

The genre’s recent renaissance can be traced to the ratings success of Paramount Network’s Yellowstone, starring Kevin Costner. The series, about conflicts among Montana cattle ranchers, land developers and residents of tribal lands, drew more than 8 million viewers for its Nov. 7 fourth-season debut and 14.3 million viewers in Nielsen live-plus-3 ratings, making it cable’s most-watched scripted show of the year. Through the first four episodes the series is averaging 10.6 million viewers (on a live-plus-3 basis), up from 6 million viewers for the same period during the show’s  third season, Nielsen said.

“Yellowstone has a premium scripted feel with heartland appeal,” ViacomCBS chief programming officer for streaming Tanya Giles said. “You have this universal appeal of a family drama and family conflict mixed with some criminal elements amid beautiful landscapes and an A-list movie actor and a great cast. It’s great to see more people embracing it.” 

Keith Cox, president of scripted content for MTV Entertainment Studios, which produces Yellowstone, said the show — and its Paramount Plus prequel series 1883 (starring Tim McGraw, Faith Hill and Sam Elliott) debuting Dec. 19 — showcase a sliver of American culture that has resonated with television audiences for decades. 

Independently-owned network INSP’s mix of classic Westerns and new original series has landed the network in the top 10 most watched cable networks in primetime for the last two months. Originals Wild West Chronicles and competition-based series Ultimate Cowboy Showdown (hosted by Trace Adkins) mesh well with reruns of Gunsmoke and The Big Valley, INSP chief operating officer Dale Ardizzone said. 

“Westerns feature compelling characters and storylines, and they all have themes of right prevailing over wrong,” Ardizzone said. “There are a lot of heroic characters there, and I think we’re going through a time where I think people enjoy that type of character on screen and seeing justice have its day.” 

ViacomCBS’s Giles said the pandemic has helped endear viewers to Western-themed content and stories of pioneers entering unfamiliar territories to face unknown dangers. 

“We spent time at home in the pandemic and looking at things very internally, but like the Western frontier, when we come out it’s like starting a new journey,” Giles said. “I think there’s some appeal to that from an audience perspective.” 

Adding Modern Perspective

A key to the genre’s newfound success, according to Carroll, is in mixing Western themes with unique and diverse perspectives that reflect today’s audience. Netflix’s recent original film The Harder They Fall, about relatively unknown African-American gunslingers from rival 19th-century gangs, generated 1.2 billion minutes of viewing during its debut week from Nov. 1-7, making it the streaming service’s most-watched show over that timespan, according to Nielsen figures.

The film — executive produced by Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter and starring Idris Elba, Regina King and Jonathan Majors — outperformed among viewers under 34 and Black viewers, Samba TV reported. 

Joe Pickett, a Spectrum Originals series based on C.J. Box’s books about a small-town Wyoming game warden, premiered December 6. And ViacomCBS and Yellow­stone creator Taylor Sheridan have another spinoff in the works. Paramount Plus will stream 6666, centered on the Four Sixes Ranch, a huge ranch owned by a group that includes Sheridan.

Starz is developing for 2022 Billy the Kid, an eight-episode series starring Tom Blyth as the famed outlaw, while AMC Plus last month acquired rights to Western drama series That Dirty Bag, starring Dominic Cooper. 

Streaming service Paramount Plus will look to capitalize on the ratings success and popularity of Paramount Network’s Yellowstone series with the December 19 premiere of prequel series 1883.

The MTV Entertainment Studios-produced series, created by Yellowstone’s Taylor Sheridan and starring Sam Elliott, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill and Billy Bob Thornton, follows the ancestors of Yellowstone’s Dutton family as they embark on a journey west through the Great Plains toward the last bastion of untamed America, according to the service.

The debut of 1883 comes on the heels of the strong ratings performance of Yellowstone, which drew more than 8 million viewers for its Nov. 7 fourth-season debut and 14.7 million viewers in Nielsen live-plus-3 ratings, making it cable’s most-watched scripted show of the year.  

MTV Entertainment Studios president of scripted content Keith Cox spoke to Multichannel News about 1883, the ratings success of Yellowstone and the reemergence of the Western genre in an interview, an edited version of which appears below. 

Multichannel News: Does Yellowstone prequel 1883 stand on its own as a series? 

Keith Cox: If it wasn't a Yellowstone prequel, it really would be its own show. Just looking at the march over the Oregon trail trying to find a better life before ending up in Montana is a compelling story. If you add in the violence and the people they run into, along with the romance elements and everything, it’s really its own show. It's great that it's attached to Yellowstone’s origin story, but it really stands on its own.

MCN: Can you see 1883 appealing to a younger audience than Yellowstone?

KC: It can appeal younger because it's basically narrated through [country music stars] Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, which I think will be very appealing to younger viewers. Also much like Yellowstone, 1883 is super cinematic – it's like watching episodic movies – which is very different from what we currently see on TV. 

MCN: Were you surprised by Yellowstone’s recent record ratings performance?  

KC: I'm not surprised. I think actually during COVID a lot of people watched it on iTunes, on Peacock or certainly during all of our marathons. The viewers came for the new season and they came big. We have the number one show of the year on Paramount Network. It’s kind of cool.

MCN: What is it about Western-themed shows like Yellowstone and 1883 that appeals to producers as well as to audiences? 

KC: I believe that Westerns are just so American. They speak to who we are as Americans and our values. That comes through especially in 1883, the values of hard work and morals and the just passion to succeed. It's really a shout out to the people ahead of us and the hell they went through for a better life. It's very inspirational – we just got it done. Even the immigrant story is fascinating. They come here because America is free, and we see what they went through for a better life. Certainly there were ups and downs and controversies, but at the end of the day it's a good story.

MCN: With the success of Yellowstone and the launch of 1883, do you feel other producers and networks will look to jump on the Western bandwagon? 

KC: I think it’s already happened. The difference between those shows and ours is that they don’t have Taylor writing the shows. That’s like the secret sauce for us. He’s written every episode of both shows and he just knows this world so well. It’s all so authentic, especially the whole Native American storyline which I think is very powerful in both series.

MCN: Is MTV Studios working on any other Western-themed shows? 

KC: We have [6666] coming up, which has already been hinted at in season four of Yellowstone. A couple of characters will be leaving the Yellowstone ranch and going to that Texas [Four Sixes] ranch. There are also a few others that Taylor is noodling around with. ■

The final season of TNT's Claws drama series as well as Paramount Plus's Yellowstone prequel series 1883 highlight a busy week of series and movie premieres on cable and streaming services.

The fourth season of Claws, which stars Niecy Nash, continues to chronicle the lives of workers and friends at a Florida nail salon. The final season launches Dec. 19.

Also on tap Dec. 19 is the debut of 1883, a prequel to Paramount Network's popular series Yellowstone. The Paramount Plus series follows Yellowstone's the Dutton family as they crossed the Great Plains during the late 19th century. Tim McGraw, Faith Hill and Sam Elliot star in 1883.

Below are video trailers and premiere dates for several shows debuting the week of Dec. 13 to Dec. 19 on cable networks and streaming services (for some videos, viewer discretion is advised):

December 13 -- The Larkins (drama) -- Acorn TV

December 13 -- Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street (documentary) -- HBO

December 14 -- The Murders at Starved Rock (documentary) -- HBO

December 15 -- Rumble (animated movie) -- Paramount Plus

December 16 -- Close To Me (drama) -- Sundance Now

December 16 -- Finding Magic Mike (competition series) -- HBO Max

December 16 -- Juce WRLD: Into the Abyss (documentary) -- HBO

December 16 -- MacGruber (comedy) -- Peacock

December 16 -- Station Eleven (drama) -- HBO Max

December 17 -- Mother/Android (thriller) -- Hulu

December 17 -- Swan Song (sci-fi movie) -- Apple TV Plus

December 17 -- The Witcher (returning series) -- Netflix

December 17 -- With Love (comedy) -- Prime video

December 18 -- When Hope Calls (drama) -- GAC Family ■ 

ESPN retook first place in the weekly primetime cable ratings race during the last full week of November.

The sports network averaged 2.9 million viewers during the week of Nov. 22 to Nov. 28 to retake the crown from Fox News Channel, who finished first the prior week, according to Nielsen. 

Fox News, on the strength of a record-setting ratings week for Tucker Carlson Tonight, finished second with 2.1 million viewers, followed by Hallmark Channel with 2 million viewers. Paramount Network, riding the continued strong performance from its Yellowstone original series, finished fourth with 1.1 million viewers, followed by HGTV’s 885,000 watchers. 

TBS (872,000 viewers), MSNBC (850,000), TNT (830,000), TLC (785,000), and Food Network (762,000) rounded out the top 10 most watched shows for the week.

Fox News won the weekly cable total day race for the 41st consecutive week with 1.3 million viewers, followed by Hallmark Channel (1 million viewers), ESPN (977,000), MSNBC (583,000) and Paramount Network (552,000), said Nielsen. ■  

Kent Gibbons and Michael Malone chat about Paramount Network's Yellowstone, Katie Couric’s new book Going There, and Get Back on Disney Plus.

Also: Why the Traditional TV Season Still (Mostly) Matters

Mayor of Kingstown, the new series from Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan, made its debut as the top original scripted series on Paramount Plus since the streaming service was rebranded earlier this year, ViacomCBS said.

The premiere was simulcast on the Paramount Network cable channel, where it drew 2.6 million total viewers, the biggest original scripted premiere on cable since Yellowstone started up in June of 2018.

Also: 'Yellowstone' Season 4 Premiere Delivers Huge 14.7 Million L+3 Audience, ViacomCBS Declares it Bigger Than 'Game of Thrones'

Surveys have found that hit shows drive subscriber additions and ViacomCBS is counting on Mayor of Kingstown to make Paramount Plus stand out in the race among the streaming subscription services chasing Netflix and Disney Plus.

“Mayor of Kingstown is the number one original scripted drama on Paramount Plus since its rebrand and the number one new scripted cable premiere since Yellowstone in 2018,” said Chris McCarthy, president and CEO, MTV Entertainment Group. “More importantly, it’s already outpacing Yellowstone in key demos, which is why we’re confident our franchise strategy is working and Mayor of Kingstown will continue to thrive after it moves exclusively to Paramount Plus Plus on Nov. 28th.”

Compared to the premiere of season one of Yellowstone, starring Kevin Costner, Mayor of Kingstown, starring Jeremy Renner, drew 32% more adults 18 to 49 and 31% more adults 25-54.

Mayor of Kingstown is produced by MTV Entertainment Studios and 101 Studios.

The series stars Renner, Dianne Wiest, Hugh Dillon, Pha’rez Lass, Tobi Bamtefa, Emma Laird, Derek Webster and Taylor Handley.

Mayor of Kingstown is executive produced by Sheridan, co-creator Hugh Dillon, Jeremy Renner, Antoine Fuqua, David C. Glasser, Ron Burkle, Bob Yari and Michael Friedman. 

Everyone is 'Stone'd at ViacomCBS headquarters in West Hollywood today, and they're loving every minute of it. 

Yellowstone, the steadily growing Paramount Network series starring Kevin Costner as a wealthy but embattled Montana ranch owner, has exploded into a rare water-cooler linear TV hit, with ViacomCBS announcing Friday that the show's Season 4 premiere drew a linear TV audience of 14.3 million viewers in its first three days (aka "L+3"), according to Nielsen. 

Not for nothing, but in its press note today, ViacomCBS said that Yellowstone is on a "trajectory higher" than HBO's mega-popular Game of Thrones, which had a 8.1 million L+3 viewers in for its fourth season debut in HBO's premium cable universe back in April 2014. 

OK, as Vincent Vega might say, that's a bold statement. GOT ended its eight-season run in 2019 with a Live+Same Day audience of 19.3 million viewers. 

But ViacomCBS isn't wrong to get excited about a series that has seen audience growth of 135%, higher than any other top 15 scripted show over the last five years. The Yellowstone Season 4 premiere, which was simulcasts across ViacomCBS channels Paramount Network, CMT, Pop and TV Land,  bested the L+3 debut of Season 3 (9.3 million viewers) by 58%. 

Yellowstone debuted to a Live+Same Day audience of 8.3 million viewers, making it the second most watched show on broadcast, basic cable and premium cable so far in the 2021-22 TV season. The L+3 audience was the biggest performance in basic cable since AMC's premiere of The Walking Dead in 2017. 

Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan has already been given green lights by ViacomCBS for two new shows, Mayor of Kingstown and Yellowstone spinoff series 1883.

“Over 14 million viewers tuned in for our Yellowstone premiere which will now serve as massive launch pad as we sneak episodes of Taylor Sheridan’s new series Mayor of Kingstown, whose full season will be rolling out exclusively on Paramount Plus starting Sunday,” said Chris McCarthy, president and CEO of MTV Entertainment Group. “Taylor has created a cinematic experience that our remarkable cast led by Kevin Costner brings to life in a way audiences can’t get enough of and we are excited to deepen our relationship with him and capitalize on this tremendous momentum by building out the Yellowstone franchise together.”

B&C has partnered with always-on TV ad measurement and attribution company iSpot.tv to bring you a weekly chart we call Promo Mojo: exclusive data showing the top five TV promos ranked by ad impressions. Our data covers the seven-day period through Nov. 7.

A Paramount Network promo for the fourth season of Yellowstone is No. 1.

With the exception of ABC, which hypes the 2021 CMA Awards (the annual Country Music Association shindig, airing Wednesday night at 8 p.m. ET) in fourth place, cable networks dominate the list. Hallmark Channel makes two appearances to celebrate festive original movies: Next Stop, Christmas in second place and A Christmas Treasure in third. And Food Network promotes the fifth season of Christmas Cookie Challenge in fifth place.

Notably, the Christmas Cookie Challenge spot has the week’s highest iSpot Attention Index (107), meaning viewers were on average highly likely to watch it all the way through (vs. interrupting it by changing the channel, pulling up the guide, fast-forwarding or turning off the TV).

Also Read: Fall 2021 Premiere Dates

1) Yellowstone, Paramount Network

Impressions: 469,044,401

Interruption Rate: 2.39%

Attention Index: 100 (0% fewer interruptions than avg.)

Imp. Types: National 91%, Local 7%, VOD/OTT 2%

In-network Value: $1,415,051

Out-of-network Est. Spend: $3,939,533

2) Next Stop, Christmas, Hallmark Channel

Impressions: 297,906,358

Interruption Rate: 6.45%

Attention Index: 94 (6% more interruptions than avg.)

Imp. Types: National 100%, Local 0%, VOD/OTT 0%

In-network Value: $1,929,825

Out-of-network Est. Spend: $67,688

3) A Christmas Treasure, Hallmark Channel

Impressions: 240,435,903

Interruption Rate: 5.87%

Attention Index: 99 (1% more interruptions than avg.)

Imp. Types: National 100%, Local 0%, VOD/OTT 0%

In-network Value: $1,587,043

Out-of-network Est. Spend: $0.00

4) 2021 CMA Awards, ABC

Impressions: 237,772,934

Interruption Rate: 1.22%

Attention Index: 99 (1% more interruptions than avg.)

Imp. Types: National 94%, Local 5%, VOD/OTT 1%

In-network Value: $1,477,418

Out-of-network Est. Spend: $621,931

5) Christmas Cookie Challenge, Food Network

Impressions: 202,233,542

Interruption Rate: 1.21%

Attention Index: 107 (7% fewer interruptions than avg.)

Imp. Types: National 97%, Local 3%, VOD/OTT 0%

In-network Value: $686,423

Out-of-network Est. Spend: $119,758

* Data provided by iSpot.tv, TV Ad Measurement for Disruptive Brands *

Impressions: The total impressions within all U.S. households including National Linear (Live & Time-shifted), VOD plus OTT, and Local.

Attention Score: Measures the propensity of consumers to interrupt an ad play on TV. The higher the score, the more complete views. Actions that interrupt an ad play include changing the channel, pulling up the guide, fast-forwarding or turning off the TV.

Attention Index: Represents the Attention of a specific creative or program placement vs. the average in its respective industry. The average is represented by a score of 100, and the total index range is from 0 through 200. For example, an attention index of 125 means that there are 25% fewer interrupted ad plays compared to the average.

Impression Types: Impression types tracked include National (Live + Time-shifted), Local, VOD & OTT. See below for further details.

In-Network Value: Estimated media value of in-network promos.

Out-of-Network Spend: The estimated amount spent on TV airing time for this promo's spots during a given date range.

National: Live: A national promo which was viewed during live linear television broadcast or same day, via DVR or on-demand.

Local: A promo that was aired during a local ad break slot.

VOD: This includes promos that run in on-demand content past three days (i.e. do not contain the linear promo load).

OTT: On-demand streaming content (i.e. Hulu, Roku, Fire TV Stick, Chromecast).

Below is a snapshot of TV by the numbers for the week of Nov. 1-7, showcasing the most-watched shows and networks using glass-level data from Vizio’s Inscape, and the top shows and networks by TV ad impressions with insights via iSpot.tv.

Most-Watched Shows and Networks

Via Inscape, Vizio’s TV data product with glass-level insights from a panel of more than 17 million active and opted-in smart TVs. Data is linear, live TV only and includes all episode types (new and reruns). Rankings are by percent share duration (i.e., time spent watching).

The National Football League is responsible for the most-watched programming on TV once again, with 5.82% of minutes watched during the week of Nov. 1-7. However, the bigger story this week is Paramount Network’s Yellowstone, which nabs 1.14% of watch-time via its season four premiere.

Some additional insights about the top programming on TV:

• College football jumps back up to No. 2, with 3.89% of minutes watched (up from 3.76% the previous week).
• The Atlanta Braves’ World Series-clinching win in game six was enough to take home 0.98% of watch-time on the week, despite it being just one game.
• Week-over-week, MTV’s Ridiculousness jumps from No. 22 to No. 12 by minutes watched, while HGTV’s Love It or List It rockets up from No. 25 to No. 13.
• Beyond Yellowstone, Two and a Half Men and America Reports With John Roberts & Sandra Smith are the other week-over-week newcomers among the 25 most-watched programs.

Also: Fall 2021 TV Premiere Dates

Fox stays atop the network rankings by minutes watched, with 8.60% of watch-time, largely thanks to live sports (NFL, college football and the decisive sixth game of the World Series).

More insights around the most-watched networks during the week:

• Paramount Network flies from No. 42 to No. 11 thanks to the aforementioned Yellowstone season-four premiere.
• There are no changes among the top 10, with the order staying exactly the same week-over-week.
• Hallmark Movies & Mysteries can thank holiday movies for more minutes watched, netting 1.29% from Nov. 1-7 (up from 1.13% the previous week).
• Food Network jumps one spot week-over-week, while increasing watch-time from 1.19% to 1.34% as the network starts leaning into more holiday-themed programming.

Also: Fox Is Selling 2023 Super Bowl Spots as Sports Ad Market Heats Up

Top Shows and Networks by TV Ad Impressions

Via iSpot.tv, the always-on TV ad measurement and attribution company. Rankings are by TV ad impressions, for new episodes only. 

The NFL reigns supreme yet again with nearly 7.0 billion TV ad impressions for the week of Nov. 1-7. Despite just one game (the Braves’ game six win) appearing on TV during the week, the World Series still places third, with nearly 1.6 billion impressions.

More data about the top programs by TV ad impressions during the week:

• A weekend full of ranked upsets led to college football TV ad impressions increasing to 4.3 billion on the week (No. 2 among all programming).
• La Casa de los Famosos continues to be a hit on Telemundo, as the Spanish-language Celebrity Big Brother is No. 25 by impressions on the week, with over 319 million.
• Live National Basketball Association games move up from No. 9 to No. 7 by impressions—one of four sports programs among the top seven.
• On the week, three different Fox News shows appear in the top 25: Fox & Friends (No. 14), America's Newsroom With Bill Hemmer & Dana Perino (No. 15) and The Five (No. 22).

Fox and CBS swap places atop this week’s ad-impressions-by-network ranking. While both networks aired plenty of football over the weekend, CBS takes the lead thanks in part to The Young and the Restless and The Price Is Right.

Additional insights around the top networks by impressions from Nov. 1-7:

• With just one World Series game on the week, Fox falls to No. 2, with over 8 billion TV ad impressions.
• Cable news networks Fox News (4.4 billion), MSNBC (1.9 billion) and CNN (1.6 billion) are all top 10 by impressions on the week.
• USA Network moves into the top 25 (at No. 25) by impressions as parent company Comcast starts moving NBC Sports Network content to USA in preparation for shuttering NBCSN at the end of the year.
• The CW moves up from No. 22 to No. 17 week-over-week, with Tamron Hall contributing over 13% of all impressions for the network.

Paramount Plus Sunday debuted a first look trailer for its upcoming Western series 1883 during the season four premiere of Yellowstone.

The series, a prequel to the Yellowstone series, debuts on the streaming service Dec. 19 and stars Sam Elliott, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill and Billy Bob Thornton. The show follows the Dutton family as they embark on a journey west through the Great Plains toward the last bastion of untamed America, according to the service.

The 1883 series is executive produced by Taylor Sheridan, John Linson, Art Linson, David Glasser, Ron Burkle and Bo Yari.

 The premieres of three high-profile cable TV franchises help usher in the month of November.

On Sunday (Nov. 7) Paramount Network brings back its top-rated series Yellowstone for a fourth season. The western-themed series stars Kevin Costner.

Also on Sunday, Showtime revives its classic drama series Dexter. The miniseries, Dexter: New Blood, finds former forensic technician/serial killer Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall) returning as a shopkeeper in a small upstate New York town, trying hard to keep his former identity and murderous impulses in check.

Lifetime on Nov. 6 resurrects NBC's classic inspirational-themed show Highway to Heaven as a series of movies. Actress Jill Scott takes over the role of an angel who helps troubled people that was originally played by Michael Landon in the original 1980s version of the series.

Read Also: Programmers Put Their Faith in Faith-Friendly Shows 

Below are video trailers and premiere dates for several shows debuting the week of Oct. 25-Oct. 31 on cable networks and streaming services (for some videos, viewer discretion is advised):

Nov. 1 -- Temple (returning series) -- Spectrum

Nov. 3 -- The Harder They Fall (western movie) -- Netflix

Nov. 4 -- Dr. Brain (foreign sci-fi) -- Apple TV Plus

Nov. 4 -- Frayed (dramedy) -- HBO Max

Nov. 4 -- Head of The Class (comedy) -- HBO Max

Nov. 4 -- Gen:Lock (returning series) -- HBO Max

Nov. 4 -- Sacrifice (drama) -- BET Plus

Nov. 5 -- Animaniacs (returning series) -- Hulu

Nov. 5 -- Big Mouth (returning series) -- Netflix

Nov. 5 -- Dickinson (returning series) -- Apple TV Plus

Nov. 5 -- Tampa Baes (reality) -- Prime Video

Nov. 5 -- Finch (drama movie) -- Apple TV Plus

Nov. 6 -- Arcane (animation) -- Netflix

Nov. 6 -- Attica (documentary) -- Showtime

Nov. 7 -- Condor (drama) -- Epix

Paramount Network's drama series Yellowstone will premiere its fourth season Nov. 7 while also serving to help launch two new Paramount Plus series, Mayor of Kingstown and 1883. 

Yellowstone, starring Kevin Costner, will continue to follow the Dutton family’s battle to maintain the largest contiguous cattle ranch in the U.S. amid shifting alliances, unsolved murders, open wounds, and hard-earned respect, according to the network.

The new season of Yellowstone will also serve as a launchpad for the new Paramount Plus series Mayor of Kingstown, which will debut on Nov. 14 and 1883, which bows Dec. 19. Paramount Network will air a special simulcast event for both Mayor of Kingstown and 1883 following Yellowstone to promote the new series, said the network.

Mayor of Kingstown follows the McLusky family, which Paramount Plus describes as “power brokers in Kingstown, Michigan where the business of incarceration is the only thriving industry.” The series stars Jeremy Renner, Dianne Wiest, Hugh Dillon, Pha’rez Lass, Tobi Bamtefa, Emma Laird, Derek Webster and Taylor Handley.

Yellowstone prequel, 1883, follows the Dutton family as they embark on a journey west through the Great Plains toward the last bastion of untamed America. The series stars Sam Elliott, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill.

All three series were created by Taylor Sheridan, with Mayor of Kingstown and 1883 the first projects created under Sheridan's multi-year production deal with MTV Entertainment and ViacomCBS signed earlier this year.

Also Read: MTV Entertainment Studios Teams with Angela Bassett, Courtney B. Vance on Slavery Project 

Paramount Network will bring back its western-themed series Yellowstone for a fourth season this fall, the network said Thursday.

The series follows the exploits of the Dutton family, led by John Dutton (Kevin Costner), who control the largest contiguous cattle ranch in the United States, according to Paramount Network. Joining the cast for season four of the series is Jacki Weaver, Piper Perabo, Kathryn Kelly and Finn Little. 

Paramount Network will air all episodes from the first three seasons over the July 4 holiday weekend, beginning with season one on July 3, season two on July 4 and season three on July 5.

This is a quick snapshot of TV by the numbers for the week of Nov. 16-22, revealing the most-watched shows and networks using glass-level data from Vizio’s Inscape, and the top shows and networks by TV ad impressions with insights via iSpot.tv.

Most-Watched Shows and Networks 

Via Vizio’s Inscape, the TV data company with insights from a panel of more than 16 million active and opted-in smart TVs. Data is linear, live TV only and includes all episode types (new and reruns). Rankings are by percent share duration (i.e., time spent watching).

NFL reclaimed first place for watch-time with 6.99% share duration, while college football came second (2.49%), followed by Good Morning America (0.86%). Notably, Paramount’s Yellowstone broke into the top 10 most-watched shows (0.58%), thanks to the network’s “Every Episode Feast” weekend marathon. Oxygen’s true-crime series Snapped (0.46%) made the ranking for the second week in a row, while the 2020 American Music Awards were No. 18 with 0.44% share duration.

On the network side of things, NBC took first place with 8.70% of the minutes watched, followed by Fox (7.87%) and ABC (6.70%). Thanks in part to Christmas movies, Hallmark Movies & Mysteries and Lifetime both rose up the ranking (Hallmark itself stayed steady), while Paramount Network, fueled by its Yellowstone weekend marathon, made an appearance at No. 22 (1.03%).

Top Shows and Networks by TV Ad Impressions

Via iSpot.tv, the always-on TV ad measurement and attribution company. Rankings are by TV ad impressions, for new episodes only. 

Commercials during NFL games generated over 8 billion TV ad impressions, a 13.63% week-over-week increase. College football had a nearly identical week-over-week increase as NFL games (13.64%); its 3.2 billion impressions put it solidly in second place. One notable new addition to the ranking is the new season of CBS’ The Price Is Right, which racked up 535.2 million TV ad impressions to secure ninth place. It’s also worth pointing out that the holiday advertising season is officially in full force: At least one of the most-seen spots for many of the top programs were Black Friday or holiday-related.

Thanks to NFL games, broadcast networks led the ranking once again. Fox took first place this time with over 6.5 billion impressions, up from 5.7 billion the previous week. The bulk (4.4 billion) came from NFL games — but college football, The OT and The Masked Singer also delivered top impression-counts for the network. New entrants to the ranking include ESPNU, with its 316.1 million impressions propelled by college football, and USA Network (302.9 million), which generated impressions thanks to WWE and broadcasts of The Twilight Saga movie series.

B&C has partnered with always-on TV ad measurement and attribution company iSpot.tv to bring you a weekly chart we call Promo Mojo: exclusive data showing the top five TV promos ranked by ad impressions. This is the programming the networks have been promoting most heavily to drive tune-in (our data covers the seven-day period through June 28).

On the strength of 186.1 million TV ad impressions, a promo for Paramount Network’s Kevin Costner-led drama Yellowstone is No. 1 for the second week in a row.

Cable networks once again dominate our ranking, with Paramount joined by Disney Channel, which promotes Mickey Mornings; Nickelodeon, which serves up a #KidsTogether Team Umizoomi-themed promo for sister brand Noggin; Investigation Discovery, which hypes true-crime series The Murder Tapes; and HGTV, which gives some love to new show Hot Mess House. 

Notably, the ID spot has the highest iSpot Attention Index (152) in our ranking, getting 52% fewer interruptions than the average promo (interruptions include changing the channel, pulling up the guide, fast-forwarding or turning off the TV).

1) Yellowstone, Paramount Network

Impressions: 186,069,352

Attention Score: 92.34

Attention Index: 78 (22% more interruptions than avg.)

Imp. Types: National 86%, Local 11%, VOD/OTT 3%

In-network Value: $1,214,332

Out-of-network Est. Spend: $570,281

2) Mickey Mornings, Disney Channel

Impressions: 166,607,519

Attention Score: 95.45

Attention Index: 124 (24% fewer interruptions than avg.)

Imp. Types: National 97%, Local 1%, VOD/OTT 2%

In-network Value: $1,464,424

Out-of-network Est. Spend: $0.00

3) #KidsTogether, Nickelodeon

Impressions: 164,617,759

Attention Score: 96.40

Attention Index: 140 (40% fewer interruptions than avg.)

Imp. Types: National 98%, Local 1%, VOD/OTT 1%

In-network Value: $5,874,381

Out-of-network Est. Spend: $43,529

4) The Murder Tapes, Investigation Discovery

Impressions: 136,112,913

Attention Score: 97.12

Attention Index: 152 (52% fewer interruptions than avg.)

Imp. Types: National 98%, Local 1%, VOD/OTT 1%

In-network Value: $735,124

Out-of-network Est. Spend: $0.00

5) Hot Mess House, HGTV

Impressions: 133,031,959

Attention Score: 91.74

Attention Index: 72 (28% more interruptions than avg.)

Imp. Types: National 99%, Local 0%, VOD/OTT 1%

In-network Value: $1,038,543

Out-of-network Est. Spend: $0.00

*Data provided by iSpot.tv, TV Ad Measurement for Disruptive Brands*

Impressions - The total impressions within all US households including National Linear (Live & Time-shifted), VOD+OTT, and Local.

Attention Score - Measures the propensity of consumers to interrupt an ad play on TV. The higher the score, the more complete views. Actions that interrupt an ad play include changing the channel, pulling up the guide, fast-forwarding or turning off the TV.

Attention Index - Represents the Attention of a specific creative or program placement vs. the average in its respective industry. The average is represented by a score of 100, and the total index range is from 0 through 200. For example, an attention index of 125 means that there are 25% fewer interrupted ad plays compared to the average.

Imp. Types - Impression types tracked include National (Live + Time-shifted), Local, VOD & OTT. See below for further details.

In-network Value - Estimated media value of in-network promos.

Out-of-network Spend - The estimated amount spent on TV airing time for this promo's spots during a given date range.

National: Live - A national promo which was viewed during live linear television broadcast or same day, via DVR or on-demand.

Local - A promo that was aired during a local ad break slot.

VOD - This includes promos that run in on-demand content past three days (i.e. do not contain the linear promo load)

OTT - On-demand streaming content (i.e. Hulu, Roku, Fire TV Stick, Chromecast).

B&C has partnered with always-on TV ad measurement and attribution company iSpot.tv to bring you a weekly chart we call Promo Mojo: exclusive data showing the top five TV promos ranked by ad impressions. This is the programming the networks have been promoting most heavily to drive tune-in (our data covers the seven-day period through June 21).

On the strength of 400.8 million TV ad impressions, a promo for Paramount Network’s Kevin Costner-led drama Yellowstone is number one.

Cable networks once again dominate our ranking, with Paramount joined by Nickelodeon, which promotes a Loud House/The Casagrandes marathon; Disney Channel, which declares that “We stand for humanity” in a spot that calls attention to its support of Black Lives Matter; CNN, with its continuing “Facts First” campaign; and HGTV, which hypes its new series Design at Your Door. 

Notably, the Nick spot has the highest iSpot Attention Index (148) in our ranking, getting 48% fewer interruptions than the average promo (interruptions include changing the channel, pulling up the guide, fast-forwarding or turning off the TV).

1) Yellowstone, Paramount Network

Impressions: 400,834,587

Attention Score: 90.37

Attention Index: 61 (39% more interruptions than avg.)

Imp. Types: National 88%, Local 10%, VOD/OTT 2%

In-network Value: $2,786,534

Out-of-network Est. Spend: $1,862,304

2)  The Casagrandes | The Loud House, Nickelodeon

Impressions: 194,084,113

Attention Score: 96.92

Attention Index: 148 (48% fewer interruptions than avg.)

Imp. Types: National 98%, Local 1%, VOD/OTT 1%

In-network Value: $8,154,589

Out-of-network Est. Spend: $8,591

3) Black Lives Matter, Disney Channel

Impressions: 187,809,450

Attention Score: 95.81

Attention Index: 129 (29% fewer interruptions than avg.)

Imp. Types: National 97%, Local 1%, VOD/OTT 2%

In-network Value: $1,498,207

Out-of-network Est. Spend: $0.00

4) Facts First, CNN

Impressions: 163,355,103

Attention Score: 96.54

Attention Index: 141 (41% fewer interruptions than avg.)

Imp. Types: National 98%, Local 1%, VOD/OTT 1%

In-network Value: $541,288

Out-of-network Est. Spend: $0.00

5) Design at Your Door, HGTV

Impressions: 161,075,572

Attention Score: 96.08

Attention Index: 133 (33% fewer interruptions than avg.)

Imp. Types: National 100%, Local 0%, VOD/OTT 0%

In-network Value: $1,012,996

Out-of-network Est. Spend: $0.00

B&C has partnered with always-on TV ad measurement and attribution company iSpot.tv to bring you a weekly chart we call Promo Mojo: exclusive data showing the top five TV promos ranked by ad impressions. This is the programming the networks have been promoting most heavily to drive tune-in (our data covers the seven-day period through June 21).

On the strength of 400.8 million TV ad impressions, a promo for Paramount Network’s Kevin Costner-led drama Yellowstone is number one.

Cable networks once again dominate our ranking, with Paramount joined by Nickelodeon, which promotes a Loud House/The Casagrandes marathon; Disney Channel, which declares that “We stand for humanity” in a spot that calls attention to its support of Black Lives Matter; CNN, with its continuing “Facts First” campaign; and HGTV, which hypes its new series Design at Your Door. 

Notably, the Nick spot has the highest iSpot Attention Index (148) in our ranking, getting 48% fewer interruptions than the average promo (interruptions include changing the channel, pulling up the guide, fast-forwarding or turning off the TV).

1) Yellowstone, Paramount Network

Impressions: 400,834,587

Attention Score: 90.37

Attention Index: 61 (39% more interruptions than avg.)

Imp. Types: National 88%, Local 10%, VOD/OTT 2%

In-network Value: $2,786,534

Out-of-network Est. Spend: $1,862,304

2)  The Casagrandes | The Loud House, Nickelodeon

Impressions: 194,084,113

Attention Score: 96.92

Attention Index: 148 (48% fewer interruptions than avg.)

Imp. Types: National 98%, Local 1%, VOD/OTT 1%

In-network Value: $8,154,589

Out-of-network Est. Spend: $8,591

3) Black Lives Matter, Disney Channel

Impressions: 187,809,450

Attention Score: 95.81

Attention Index: 129 (29% fewer interruptions than avg.)

Imp. Types: National 97%, Local 1%, VOD/OTT 2%

In-network Value: $1,498,207

Out-of-network Est. Spend: $0.00

4) Facts First, CNN

Impressions: 163,355,103

Attention Score: 96.54

Attention Index: 141 (41% fewer interruptions than avg.)

Imp. Types: National 98%, Local 1%, VOD/OTT 1%

In-network Value: $541,288

Out-of-network Est. Spend: $0.00

5) Design at Your Door, HGTV

Impressions: 161,075,572

Attention Score: 96.08

Attention Index: 133 (33% fewer interruptions than avg.)

Imp. Types: National 100%, Local 0%, VOD/OTT 0%

In-network Value: $1,012,996

Out-of-network Est. Spend: $0.00

B&C has partnered with always-on TV ad measurement and attribution company iSpot.tv to bring you a weekly chart we call Promo Mojo: exclusive data showing the top five TV promos ranked by ad impressions. This is the programming the networks have been promoting most heavily to drive tune-in (our data covers the seven-day period through June 21).

On the strength of 400.8 million TV ad impressions, a promo for Paramount Network’s Kevin Costner-led drama Yellowstone is number one.

Cable networks once again dominate our ranking, with Paramount joined by Nickelodeon, which promotes a Loud House/The Casagrandes marathon; Disney Channel, which declares that “We stand for humanity” in a spot that calls attention to its support of Black Lives Matter; CNN, with its continuing “Facts First” campaign; and HGTV, which hypes its new series Design at Your Door. 

Notably, the Nick spot has the highest iSpot Attention Index (148) in our ranking, getting 48% fewer interruptions than the average promo (interruptions include changing the channel, pulling up the guide, fast-forwarding or turning off the TV).

1) Yellowstone, Paramount Network

Impressions: 400,834,587

Attention Score: 90.37

Attention Index: 61 (39% more interruptions than avg.)

Imp. Types: National 88%, Local 10%, VOD/OTT 2%

In-network Value: $2,786,534

Out-of-network Est. Spend: $1,862,304

2) The Casagrandes | The Loud House, Nickelodeon

Impressions: 194,084,113

Attention Score: 96.92

Attention Index: 148 (48% fewer interruptions than avg.)

Imp. Types: National 98%, Local 1%, VOD/OTT 1%

In-network Value: $8,154,589

Out-of-network Est. Spend: $8,591

3) Black Lives Matter, Disney Channel

Impressions: 187,809,450

Attention Score: 95.81

Attention Index: 129 (29% fewer interruptions than avg.)

Imp. Types: National 97%, Local 1%, VOD/OTT 2%

In-network Value: $1,498,207

Out-of-network Est. Spend: $0.00

4) Facts First, CNN

Impressions: 163,355,103

Attention Score: 96.54

Attention Index: 141 (41% fewer interruptions than avg.)

Imp. Types: National 98%, Local 1%, VOD/OTT 1%

In-network Value: $541,288

Out-of-network Est. Spend: $0.00

5) Design at Your Door, HGTV

Impressions: 161,075,572

Attention Score: 96.08

Attention Index: 133 (33% fewer interruptions than avg.)

Imp. Types: National 100%, Local 0%, VOD/OTT 0%

In-network Value: $1,012,996

Out-of-network Est. Spend: $0.00

*Data provided by iSpot.tv, TV Ad Measurement for Disruptive Brands*

Impressions - The total impressions within all US households including National Linear (Live & Time-shifted), VOD+OTT, and Local.

Attention Score - Measures the propensity of consumers to interrupt an ad play on TV. The higher the score, the more complete views. Actions that interrupt an ad play include changing the channel, pulling up the guide, fast-forwarding or turning off the TV.

Attention Index - Represents the Attention of a specific creative or program placement vs. the average in its respective industry. The average is represented by a score of 100, and the total index range is from 0 through 200. For example, an attention index of 125 means that there are 25% fewer interrupted ad plays compared to the average.

Imp. Types - Impression types tracked include National (Live + Time-shifted), Local, VOD & OTT. See below for further details.

In-network Value - Estimated media value of in-network promos.

Out-of-network Spend - The estimated amount spent on TV airing time for this promo's spots during a given date range.

National: Live - A national promo which was viewed during live linear television broadcast or same day, via DVR or on-demand.

Local - A promo that was aired during a local ad break slot.

VOD - This includes promos that run in on-demand content past three days (i.e. do not contain the linear promo load)

OTT - On-demand streaming content (i.e. Hulu, Roku, Fire TV Stick, Chromecast).

B&C has partnered with always-on TV ad measurement and attribution company iSpot.tv to bring you a weekly chart we call Promo Mojo: exclusive data showing the top five TV promos ranked by ad impressions. This is the programming the networks have been promoting most heavily to drive tune-in (our data covers the seven-day period through June 21).

On the strength of 400.8 million TV ad impressions, a promo for Paramount Network’s Kevin Costner-led drama Yellowstone is number one.

Cable networks once again dominate our ranking, with Paramount joined by Nickelodeon, which promotes a Loud House/The Casagrandes marathon; Disney Channel, which declares that “We stand for humanity” in a spot that calls attention to its support of Black Lives Matter; CNN, with its continuing “Facts First” campaign; and HGTV, which hypes its new series Design at Your Door. 

Notably, the Nick spot has the highest iSpot Attention Index (148) in our ranking, getting 48% fewer interruptions than the average promo (interruptions include changing the channel, pulling up the guide, fast-forwarding or turning off the TV).

1) Yellowstone, Paramount Network

Impressions: 400,834,587

Attention Score: 90.37

Attention Index: 61 (39% more interruptions than avg.)

Imp. Types: National 88%, Local 10%, VOD/OTT 2%

In-network Value: $2,786,534

Out-of-network Est. Spend: $1,862,304

2)  The Casagrandes | The Loud House, Nickelodeon

Impressions: 194,084,113

Attention Score: 96.92

Attention Index: 148 (48% fewer interruptions than avg.)

Imp. Types: National 98%, Local 1%, VOD/OTT 1%

In-network Value: $8,154,589

Out-of-network Est. Spend: $8,591

3) Black Lives Matter, Disney Channel

Impressions: 187,809,450

Attention Score: 95.81

Attention Index: 129 (29% fewer interruptions than avg.)

Imp. Types: National 97%, Local 1%, VOD/OTT 2%

In-network Value: $1,498,207

Out-of-network Est. Spend: $0.00

4) Facts First, CNN

Impressions: 163,355,103

Attention Score: 96.54

Attention Index: 141 (41% fewer interruptions than avg.)

Imp. Types: National 98%, Local 1%, VOD/OTT 1%

In-network Value: $541,288

Out-of-network Est. Spend: $0.00

5) Design at Your Door, HGTV

Impressions: 161,075,572

Attention Score: 96.08

Attention Index: 133 (33% fewer interruptions than avg.)

Imp. Types: National 100%, Local 0%, VOD/OTT 0%

In-network Value: $1,012,996

Out-of-network Est. Spend: $0.00

B&C has partnered with always-on TV ad measurement and attribution company iSpot.tv to bring you a weekly chart we call Promo Mojo: exclusive data showing the top five TV promos ranked by ad impressions. This is the programming the networks have been promoting most heavily to drive tune-in (our data covers the seven-day period through June 21).

On the strength of 400.8 million TV ad impressions, a promo for Paramount Network’s Kevin Costner-led drama Yellowstone is number one.

Cable networks once again dominate our ranking, with Paramount joined by Nickelodeon, which promotes a Loud House/The Casagrandes marathon; Disney Channel, which declares that “We stand for humanity” in a spot that calls attention to its support of Black Lives Matter; CNN, with its continuing “Facts First” campaign; and HGTV, which hypes its new series Design at Your Door. 

Notably, the Nick spot has the highest iSpot Attention Index (148) in our ranking, getting 48% fewer interruptions than the average promo (interruptions include changing the channel, pulling up the guide, fast-forwarding or turning off the TV).

1) Yellowstone, Paramount Network

Impressions: 400,834,587

Attention Score: 90.37

Attention Index: 61 (39% more interruptions than avg.)

Imp. Types: National 88%, Local 10%, VOD/OTT 2%

In-network Value: $2,786,534

Out-of-network Est. Spend: $1,862,304

2)  The Casagrandes | The Loud House, Nickelodeon

Impressions: 194,084,113

Attention Score: 96.92

Attention Index: 148 (48% fewer interruptions than avg.)

Imp. Types: National 98%, Local 1%, VOD/OTT 1%

In-network Value: $8,154,589

Out-of-network Est. Spend: $8,591

3) Black Lives Matter, Disney Channel

Impressions: 187,809,450

Attention Score: 95.81

Attention Index: 129 (29% fewer interruptions than avg.)

Imp. Types: National 97%, Local 1%, VOD/OTT 2%

In-network Value: $1,498,207

Out-of-network Est. Spend: $0.00

4) Facts First, CNN

Impressions: 163,355,103

Attention Score: 96.54

Attention Index: 141 (41% fewer interruptions than avg.)

Imp. Types: National 98%, Local 1%, VOD/OTT 1%

In-network Value: $541,288

Out-of-network Est. Spend: $0.00

5) Design at Your Door, HGTV

Impressions: 161,075,572

Attention Score: 96.08

Attention Index: 133 (33% fewer interruptions than avg.)

Imp. Types: National 100%, Local 0%, VOD/OTT 0%

In-network Value: $1,012,996

Out-of-network Est. Spend: $0.00