David Letterman announced he’s retiring from CBS‘s Late Show sometime next year. "For 21 years, David Letterman has graced our network’s air in late night with wit, gravitas and brilliance unique in the history of our medium," said CBS president and CEO, Les Moonves of late night’s longest-running talk show host. "It’s going to be tough to say goodbye."

Production of ABC limited series The Astronaut Wives Club has been put on hold and the premiere pushed from summer to fall midseason as the drama is "reconceived," reports  The Wrap. The Fake Empire/Groundswell Productions/ABC Studios project will be rewritten to include three space missions instead of one.

Fox News Channel anchor Bill Hemmer is staying put. Calling him "a consummate team player," CEO Roger Ailes announced that Hemmer, who’s been with the net since 2005, had inked a new, multi-year contract.

Tel Aviv-based cross media company Screenz will serve as exclusive global technology partner for Keshet International hit talent format Rising Star, providing cloud-based technology for the singing competition’s real-time voting. The show has been sold to over 25 territories to date, including to ABC in the U.S., premiering Sunday, June 22 at 9p.

The creator and COO of African American net Bounce TV is launching two more demo-specific networks in summer 2014. Escape will target women 25-54, while action-oriented Grit will aim for men 25-54. The two new networks will be part of Katz Broadcasting, a new company established by Jonathan Katz, who will serve as President and CEO while continuing as COO of Bounce TV.

El Rey‘s Matador has started production in Los Angeles; Tanc Shade is onboard in a lead role. Net founder Rober Rodriguez will direct the first thirteen episodes.

EPIX is airing a movie marathon featuring comic heroes. The likes of G.I. Joe, Jack Reacher, the Expendables and the Avengers will take over the net starting Saturday, April 12 at 7:30a.

Haylie Duff (7th Heaven) will star in a food show for Cooking Channel based on her blog and book, Real Girl’s Kitchen. 10-episode series premieres in June, after an Ora.TV online premiere Wednesday, April 9.

UP original movie Where’s the Love? tells the tale of a pair of not-so-happily-married TV talk show hosts, played by Lamman Rucker (Sugar Mommas) and Denise Boutte (Meet the Browns). Film premieres Saturday, May 3 at 7p.

Warner Bros. Television will offer exclusive screenings of upcoming episodes of CW‘s The 100 (Wednesdays at 9p) and Warner Bros. Animation’s Teen Titans Go! (Wednesdays at 6:30p on Cartoon Network) on Friday, April 18 at WonderCon 2014 in Anaheim. Panels and Q&A with the cast and producers of Teen Titans Go! and NBC’s Revolution (Wednesdays at 8p) take place the same day. On Saturday, April 19, the cast and producers of The 100 take the stage.

Marc Anthony, returning coach on Telemundo’s La Voz Kids Prince Royce, and this year’s Billboard Hall of Fame Award recipient, Franco de Vita join the performers on the 2014 Billboard Latin Music Awards presented by State Farm, airing Thursday, April 24 at 7p on Telemundo.

Countdown special MTV Movie Awards: Most WTF Moments, presented by T-Mobile, relives the franchise’s hottest moments in a 30-minute retrospective, including never-aired director’s cuts of Movie Awards footage, premiering Sunday, April 6 at noon.

Public television lifestyle channel Create TV will broadcast a 10-episode block of This Old House, featuring a NYC project from start to finish, on Saturday, May 17 and Sunday, May 18. 

Season two of Food Network‘s Guy’s Grocery Games launches Sunday, May 11 at 8p. The Mother’s Day-themed first ep tasks four moms with using only ingredients that start with the same letter.

New Great American Country series Moving Country debuts Wednesday, April 16 at 10p, following Americans who trade city life for small-town scenery.

Advertisers will have to be patient to buy time in AMC‘s Mad Men finale – the net is waiting for the potentially more lucrative scatter market, according to AdAge. "We will sell it almost like a sporting event," said Charlie Collier, president AMC Networks. "It’s going to be a pop culture moment and we’re coming to market as such."

E*Trade has enlisted SS+K to focus on the brand’s social media efforts, reports Adweek. Ogilvy & Mather remains the lead agency.

Zodiak Media and Mastiff Sweden announced that TV4 has commissioned a second season of adventure reality game show Dropped, which has Swedish sports stars dropped from a helicopter to face survival challenges. Production starts 3Q14.

Arts net Ovation completed a licensing deal with ITV Studios Global Entertainment for U.S. premiere rights to arts-centric programming focused on music, photography and animation, including Celebrity Exposed: The Photography of Richard Young, Viva Coldplay, An Audience with Lionel Richie, Disney/Pixar and Lang Lang.

Deals for 6-part thriller The Code, from Playmaker, have been made with DirecTV for the States, Sundance Channel Latin America and DR in Denmark ahead of the series’ international launch at MIPTV.

Off the Fence is bringing 900 hours of factual programming to market, including newly acquired titles Barinia, Sisters with Voices Reunited and Cruise Ship Down: Saving Concordia. Also ready for MIPTV: Mystery of the Lost Ship and World’s Wildest Cities: Manaus.

Electus announced it will offer 10-part documentary series Operation Change at in Cannes.The series premieres in the U.S. on OWN Monday, June 23 at 10p.

Among the highlights:

Discovery Channel‘s 2014-2015 Upfront slate boasted live events, including Everest Jump Live and Skyscraper Live with Nik Wallenda, natural history programs Girl Gang of Talia and Dolphin: Spy in the Pod, new series such as Tree People, American Muscle and Siberian Cut, and returning favorites like Deadliest Catch, Fast N’ Loud, Gold Rush, Naked and Afraid, Bering Sea Gold, Moonshiners and (of course!) cable’s longest-running programming event, "Shark Week." The net will premiere all-motor themed Monday night programming with Motor Mondays, and is prepping scripted series The West with Executive Producer Robert Redford. And multi-platform, viewer interactive reality event Survival Live will feature eight survivalists streamed live 24/7 as they struggle to make their way back to society.

"I am excited about Discovery’s Upfront programming slate with even bigger live events, including our follow up to Skywire Live," said Eileen O’Neill, Group President, Discovery, Science and Velocity networks. "The past year has been filled with history making live events, landmark original programming, scripted programs, compelling characters and amazing storytelling. Our next year will be epic."

On track to have one of its best years ever, TLC is planning more than 500 hours of original programming in 2014, including 44 new and returning series – and "It’s all about heart and family," said Discovery CEO David Zaslav.

Family-centered shows in the lineup include specials A Duggar Leaves Home and Kate Plus 8 Special (wt), as well as series (to name just a few) The Leah Remini Project (wt; the show proves "that real life is a lot funnier than fiction," said Remini), real estate-set Listed Sisters (wt), reunion show Long-Lost Family and off-the-grid docuseries Risking It All. Added to the net’s wedding-themed programming are Curvy Girls Bridal and Heidi to the Rescue, while relationship series Psychic Matchmaker and The One That Got Away make their debuts.

Destination America‘s slate of new programs includes an addition to its popular "Buying" franchise, Buying the Beach, which attract real estate, insurance and retail advertisers. "We have a ‘Buying’ episode on every week, a new episode on every week of the year," said GM Marc Etkind, the network’s general manager. Buying The Beach is set to launch in 2Q14. Other upcoming series include competition series BBQ Pit Wars, Swamp Monsters and a special about the country’s most iconic landscapes, America the Beautiful. Hit series Hillbilly Blood, Monsters & Mysteries in America and Buying the Bayou helped DA recorded its best quarter ever in Prime, with double digit growth for 1Q14 versus 1Q13 among all key demos.

Following its best year ever, Animal Planet, announced scripted as well as unscripted new series, including a two-hour retelling of Moby Dick – from the whale’s point of view; Martin Sheen hosts the BBC co-production. "We always are exploring new stories that both entertain and challenge how we view the natural world and our place in it," said Marjorie Kaplan, group president, Animal Planet and TLC. Other upcoming series include Deadly Islands, exploring harsh conditions in remote areas; survivalist series Ice Lake Rebels; pool design series Poolmaster; carpentry docuseries Redwood Kings; six-part Rocky Mountain Bounty Hunters, and dog-training show My Tiny Terror (wt). Among a slew of specials are Last North, about polar explorer; true tale Revenge of the Whale (wt); and two-hour expedition Walking the Nile. Returning events: "Holiday Best Fest," "Monster Week 3" and Puppy Bowl XI.

After a record-setting quarter, Investigation Discovery unveiled a most-ever slate of 11 new series, and 22 returning shows. The net will produce over 700 hours of original content, including new shows Vanity Fair Confidential, in partnership with the magazine; mini-series Heartbreakers; crime show Young, Hot & Crooked; Momsters with Roseanne Barr (self-confessed ID addict Roseanne Barr was on hand to introduce it), and crime investigation teaser, Did He Do It?

Science Channel‘s Upfront programming slate builds on the network’s most-watched year in primetime and total day in 2013, its most-watched primetime quarter in 1Q14, and its most-watched primetime month in March 2014. "Science has never been a bigger part of the social consciousness," said Eileen O’Neill, "generating widespread buzz and conversation." New shows at the net include the net’s second scripted film, Spies of Los Alamos; Craig Ferguson series I F-cking Love Science; Alien Universe with Brian Cox and My Life As a Satellite, first-person under-celebrated stories about NASA and the science of the universe.

There was lots of excitement – and red white and blue, and music – for American Heroes Channel, rebranded from Military. "There are so many stories about real heroes that are going to be on this network," said David Zaslav, promising 17 new series ant specials. "It’s a great time for heroes."

Velocity‘s presentation followed a record-breaking 1Q14, in which the fast-growing brand for men had its top delivery quarter in net history in prime and total day across all demos. "Velocity is the home for automotive programming on television. But our viewers recognize that we offer much more than just cars," said Robert Scanlon, GM, Velocity. "Our programming resonates with our audience because it evokes the timeless feelings of adventure, independence and freedom that you experience when you first get behind the wheel." In addition to more than 300 hours of programming including 12 shows and seven all-new series, Velocity is now the exclusive television home of Barrett-Jackson, the world’s greatest collector car auto auctions. New shows include Crash!; comedic Wheels that Fail; car competition Versus; Junkyard Hustle (wt) and auto restoration show Wheeler Dealer USA (wt)

Toni Braxton’s not the only celeb headed for OWN, Oprah Winfrey announced. Justin Timberlake will appear in the fourth season of Oprah’s Master Class, along with Whoopi Goldberg, singer Tim McGraw, Robin Roberts, Lionel Richie, Vanessa Williams and Billy Bob Thornton.

But Winfrey said it is Belief, a television event exploring humankind’s search to connect with something greater than ourselves, "that made me want to put my name on a network." The seven-part series premieres in 2015.

OWN ordered 20 eps of Single Moms Club (wt), from Tyler Perry, set to premiere in fall 2014, and added 20 new eps of hit series The Haves and the Have Nots (its March 11 show drew 3.6 million viewers), for a total of 56 through 2015, the cast, along with Perry, joined Winfrey onstage.

Go to Cynopsis.com/upfronts for more Upfronts coverage.

Estrella TV is up 19 percent year-over-year among A18-49, up 31 percent with W18-49 and up 14 percent with M18-49. "By focusing completely on Hispanics living here in the U.S., instead of re-purposing programming from other countries, we have been able to, and will continue to, grow our audience every year. Hispanics’ taste in programming is changing as the acculturation levels rise," said Lenard Liberman, CEO of Liberman Broadcasting.

Bravo Media is on pace to earn its best quarter in network history among all key demos. After eight consecutive years of growth in total viewership, the net averaged 1.1 million total viewers and 629,000 A18-49 this past quarter, up 7 percent and 1 percent respectively vs. 1Q13. Sunday night’s lineup, including The Real Housewives of Atlanta, Blood Sweat and Heels and Thicker Than Water, gave Bravo its best night ever among all key demos (1/5/14).

ABC‘s Good Morning America was number one in 1Q14 in both total viewers (5.91 million) and A25-54 (2.34 million), according to Nielsen, for its first back-to-back first quarter victories in 20 years in total viewers and in 21 years in A25-54.

CBS‘s Criminal Minds on Wednesday beat Fox‘s American Idol for the first time among A18-49 and A25-54 in head-to-head competition, 2.6/7 to 2.2/6.

Wednesday’s return of American Pickers on History was the number one show on cable, averaging 3.5 million total viewers.

Bravo’s Million Dollar Listing New York delivered 1.2 million total viewers and 649,000 P18-49 on Wednesday, up 50 percent and 51 percent, respectively, from the prior season premiere, according to Nielsen. Immediately following, Flipping Out drew 1.1 million viewers, up 30 percent from the week prior.

Cineflix Media, Inc. has named Brandon Killion its Executive Vice President of Programming and Development, North America. Killion had been a Vice President at Gurney Productions.

Sports television director Sandy Grossman died after a long battle with cancer. He was 78. Grossman served as director for John Madden and Pat Summerall at CBS and Fox. "Sandy was part of the original heart and soul of Fox Sports," said Fox Sports president and COO Eric Chanks. "He was a brilliant and thoughtful colleague."

Roberta Caploe: Editorial Director @robertacaploe
Diane K Schwartz: Senior Vice President, Media Communications Group 

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