PRODUCTION & DEVELOPMENT
Hulu gave a direct-to-series order to a Veronica Mars revival starring Kristen Bell, who will reprise her role as the title character. The series is set to debut in 2019. As part of the deal, the streamer struck and agreement with Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution for SVOD rights to all past episodes of the original series, which will be available in the summer of 2019.
HGTV ordered a third season of Flip or Flop Vegas. The Sin City series follows Bristol Ma, a licensed contractor and MMA fighter, and his wife Aubrey, a real estate agent and designer, as they transform desert homes from dilapidated to dazzling.
WE tv renewed Hustle & Soul for a third season. The series, set in and around the Pink Teacup soul food restaurant, wrapped its second season having increased its audience by 10% among A25-54, 9% among W25-54 and 7% in Total Viewers, compared to season one.
Everyone’s favorite Jersey girls will soon be back. Bravo Media’s The Real Housewives of New Jersey returns for its ninth season on Wednesday, November 7 at 9p.
Lifetime greenlit My Great Big Live Wedding with David Tutera, to join its “Real Love Tuesdays” lineup. Reality show centers on eight couples who will work with the wedding and event planner to receive the nuptials of their dreams.
OWN is bringing three new unscripted series, centered on love, relationships and marriage, to its Saturday night lineup. Chad Loves Michelle, featuring Michelle Williams of Destiny’s Child and Pastor Chad Johnson, is set to bow Saturday, November 3 at 9p. Family of Fiance focuses on newly engaged couples whose families have concerns over their proposed marriages. And Rocket City Revival (wt) brings together three high-powered African-American couples who have returned to Huntsville, AL to help revitalize the region through their joint real estate venture.
FOX is developing 100 Days Without Fear, a drama inspired by the life and blog of Michelle Poler. Series hails from Oscar-winning screenwriter Akiva Goldsman and his Weed Road Pictures, and 20th Century Fox TV.
Thomas Kail’s Old 320 Sycamore optioned Georgia Hunter’s best-selling novel We Were the Lucky Ones with plans to adapt it for television. Kail is attached to direct the project, which was inspired by Hunter’s grandfather and tells the story of a Jewish family separated at the start of World War II.
Crypt TV is producing a 15-episode series based on the Webby Award winning short, The Birch, for Facebook Watch. It centers around the dark relationship between a monster protector in the woods and a pure-hearted teen who summons her in a time of crisis.
NEW & RETURNING SERIES
TLC’s 90 Day Fiance returns for its sixth season on Sunday, October 21 at 8p.
OWN set a two-night premiere date, Tuesday, October 23 and Saturday, October 27 at 10p, for Will Packer’s Ready to Love dating series.
LadyGang, inspired by the popular podcast The LadyGang, bows Sunday, October 28 at 10:30p on E!. Newbie follows Keltie Knight, Becca Tobin and Jac Vanek and their celebrity guests for unfiltered discussions with no topic off limits.
Investigation Discovery explores violence and racism in Love & Hate Crime: A Murder in Mississippi. The second installment of three-part BBC documentary premieres Saturday, October 13 at 8p on ID.
COMING UP
Comedy Central announced premiere dates for its slate of Comedy Central Stand-Up Presents… half-hour specials. Series kicks off with back-to-back episodes on Friday, September 28 with Langston Kerman at 11p and Megan Gailey at 11:30p.
SHORT FORM
CBS All Access announced that Star Trek: Short Treks, four stand-alone short stories, will begin rolling out on Thursday, October 4 in anticipation of the early 2019 return of Star Trek: Discovery. Each short will be approximately 10 to 15 minutes and offer fans an opportunity to dive deeper into key themes and characters that fit into the Star Trek’s expanding universe.
ADVERTISING
U.S. ad spending is expanding at a greater rate than anticipated, increasing 5.8% in the second quarter after rising 6.5% in the first quarter. Spending is currently on pace to reach an all-time high for full year 2018, according to a release by IPG Mediabrands’ Magna unit. Magna projects the U.S. ad market will top $200 billion for the first time, this year; wrapping up at around $207 billion for all four quarters – a 6.9% expansion over 2017.
CASTING
Jordan Peele was tapped to host and narrate The Twilight Zone reboot set at CBS All Access… TGIF alum Jaleel White and Los Angeles Lakers greats Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Michael Cooper guest star on the season premiere of ABC’s Fresh Off the Boat on Friday, October 5… Alan Tudyk (Con Man, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story) was tapped to star in the title role of drama pilot, Resident Alien…Brec Bassinger (Bella & the Bulldogs) will play the title character in Stargirl, one of the new series to be featured on Warner Bros. Digital Networks and DC Entertainment’s streaming sites aimed at superhero fans… Variety reports that Kadeem Hardison (A Different World) will recur on upcoming Showtime comedy Black Monday.
USA Network and Universal Cable Prods. rounded out the cast of its Suits spinoff. Joining as series regulars are Bethany Joy Lenz (One Tree Hill), Chantel Riley (Wynonna Earp), Isabel Arraiza (The Oath) and Eli Goree (Riverdale).
DIGITAL DATA
Pinterest is opening its content marketing API to third-party influencer marketing platforms. The move will give brands more visibility into various stats like monthly views, followers, impressions, click-throughs and “saves;” information that should make it easier for brands to separate the truly influential from influencers in name only. The move comes amid a growing market for influencers and increasing competition by platforms to attract them.
“Post-cable” news network Cheddar is making the jump to the gas pump. The company is set to provide content to GSTV, which programs content to screens at more than 18,000 gas stations across the U.S. Under the deal’s terms Cheddar will provide new segments, each about 20 seconds long and focused on topics like technology and entrepreneurship, to GSTV. They will rotate in and out a couple of times per day.
ESPN’s direct to consumer strategy appears to have hit the mark. Disney’s ESPN+ streaming service has reached 1 million subscribers in its first five months. The sports giant’s $5-a-month service, which debuted in April, ended speculation about how ESPN planned to address the decline in its traditional video subscriber numbers.
ABC’s Localish, a new digital media brand that brings out the good in America’s cities through locally sourced stories, debuted on Thursday. Drawing on the demand for authentic local storytelling, it launched three new series. Secretly Awesome uncovers unusual local finds. My Go-To offers influencers tips into their favorite local hangouts. Worth the Wait braves the long lines at hotspots to see if it’s worth it.
Dish Network inked a deal with Nielsen for digital TV measurement of Sling TV, its digital live linear TV network. Sling will be measured by Nielsen’s Digital Ad Ratings, comparable to TV measurement, for measuring target demographics. In addition, Sling is being included in Nielsen Digital in TV Ratings, which will be added into overall TV C3/C7 measurement. Sling joins other digital streaming services, including YouTubeTV and Hulu with Live TV, which signed up over a year ago.
CBSN, CBS News’ 24/7 streaming network, presents Puerto Rico, the Exodus: After Hurricane Maria on Sunday, September 23 at 8p. Program examines the aftermath of the disaster. The special will also be available across CBS News’ digital properties, as well as air on CBS affiliates across the country beginning Monday, September 24.
Season 3 of Marvel’s Daredevil has a launch date. The series, led by Charlie Cox, begins streaming on Netflix on Friday, October 19.
GOING GLOBAL
Banjay Rights’ hit format The Legacy was picked up in Belgium. Locally titled Les Associes, the game will air on RTBF’s free-to-air channel La Une beginning Monday, September 24. Banjay Rights will launch a host of new formats at MIPCOM including entertainment show The Duo and cookery series Taste of the Nation.