PRODUCTION & DEVELOPMENT
OWN ordered more episodes of docu-series Black Love, following an August 29 debut that garnered 1.2 million total viewers and a 0.89 rating for W25-54. That makes it the most-watched unscripted series debut in the net’s history. Show bows in its regular timeslot, Saturdays at 9p, beginning September 2.
Disney Channel’s Stuck in the Middle, BUNK’d and Disney XD’s Walk the Prank have all been renewed for a third season. Production on each begins this fall.
The latest project from Dan Harmon (Rick and Morty) involves esports. For the goods on Good Game check out the latest Cynsiders.
NEW & RETURNING SERIES
AXS TV’s Docs That Rock bows Tuesday, September 12 at 10p with The Song Remains the Same. Other highlights to air throughout the fall include Stevie Ray Vaughan – 1984-1990: Lonestar, Bad Company, The US Generation and more.
Disney Junior’s Miles from Tomorrowland debuts Monday, October 16 on Disney Channel at 9:30a, Disney Junior at 6p and the Disney Junior App.
COMING UP
TV One presents a special edition of Unsung: Hollywood focused on rapper/actor Ice-T on Sunday, September 3 at 10p.
Grammy Salute to Music Legends 2017 honors Shirley Caesar, Ahmad Jamal, Charley Pride, Jimmie Rodgers, Nina Simone, Sly Stone and The Velvet Underground, on PBS’ Great Performances on Friday, October 13 at 9p (check local listings).
ADVERTISING
Fox Networks Group is bringing the six-second ad format to FOX Sports portfolio. Ads will appear during NFL and MLB coverage on FOX, as well as college football and MLS on FS1. Quick takes debut during “America’s Game of the Week” on Sunday, September 10.
Raycom Sports announced that Mellow Mushroom will return for a second season as Presenting Sponsor of ACC Network Football telecasts. In addition, University of Georgia star, D.J. Shockley, will debut as sideline reporter.
CASTING
Chicago Justice star Monica Barbara is reprising her role as ASA Anna Valdez on an episode of NBC cop drama Chicago PD…Brenton Thwaites (Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales) landed the lead in Titans, slated to premiere in 2018 as part of a new DC-branded direct-to-consumer digital service….CBC’s Frankie Drake Mysteries added Rebecca Liddiard, Sharron Matthews and Emmanuel Kabongo as series regulars…. Courtney Ford (True Blood) nabbed a recurring role on The CW’s Legends of Tomorrow… .Another True Blood alum, Lynn Collins, landed a recurring assignment on Fox’s Lethal Weapon….Amazon tapped Cara Delevinge (Suicide Squad) to star opposite Orlando Bloom in Carnival Row. The eight-episode straight-to-series drama is described as a fantasy noir set in a neo Victorian city.
KID STUFF
Amazon Alexa welcomed Nickelodeon’s The SpongeBob Challenge kid skill, available on Amazon Echo and other Alexa-enabled devices. The memory game transports children into the center of the SpongeBob SquarePants series.
DIGITAL DOINGS
Hulu struck a deal with Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution for exclusive streaming rights to Cartoon Network’s Teen Titans Go! All past seasons will be available starting today.
Discovery Communications is developing mid-form shows for Watch, the new platform for shows on Facebook. The first to launch, next week, is Animal Planet’s Celebrity Animal Encounters. Investigation Discovery’s Still a Mystery and TLC’s Say Yes to the Dress Spinoff bow this fall, followed by shows from additional Discovery networks. “We’re thrilled to be partnering with Facebook because the new Watch platform shares our commitment to engage passionate fans and create communities through video,” said Paul Guyardo, CCO, Discovery Communications.
Smithsonian explores the hidden ecosystems of abandoned castles in Wild Castles. The five-episode series begins streaming on Friday, September 1 on Smithsonian Earth, available on Apple, Roku, Amazon and SmithsonianEarthTV.com.
YouTube Red is moving forward with Dallas & Robo, an animated space adventure and buddy comedy featuring the voices of WWE champ John Cena (Trainwreck, Sisters) and Kat Dennings (2 Broke Girls).
Red Bull TV launches Social Fabric on Friday, September 1. Hosted by streetwear designer Kyle Ng, it reveals the stories behind every day fabrics and how they are styled, individualized and made iconic around the world.
GOING GLOBAL
Banjay Rights signed deals in the US, Europe, CEE and South Africa for Diana’s Death: The Search for the Truth. The one-hour special uncovers the untold story of the death of a global icon.
French Cinema Now celebrates six years of partnership with TV5Monde. This year, eight of the 20 films playing during the week-long event will debt on TV5Monde Cinema On Demand after the festival.
