NETworks News

CMT Revs Up Programming Slate with Series Greenlight and Season Renewal

 Fresh off its best year since 2014, CMT today announced a series order for “Racing Wives”. The eight-episode, hour-long unscripted series from Executive Producer Jenny Daly and T Group Productions follows the never-before-seen private lives of captivating women who are married to world famous race car drivers. CMT has also renewed “Music City,” hit docuseries from “The Hills” creator Adam DiVello and Lionsgate, for a ten-episode second season. Both shows will premiere early next year.

WE tv today announced the renewal of its signature series 'Bridezillas' for another season of wedding-planning dysfunction. The docu-series about brides gone wild made a successful return to television earlier this year after a multi-year hiatus on WE tv, experiencing double-digit ratings growth over the course of the season. The new season is set to premiere in 2019, with 10 hour-long episodes.

NBC ranks #1 Tuesday night versus the Big 4 competition in adults 18-49, total viewers and every other key measure, winning six of six half-hours in adults 18-49.

Millennial Esports Corp. is pleased to announce that an innovative collaboration between ESPN and Millennial Esports will see Esports racing content featured on the leading sports channel supporting coverage during the second half of the Formula 1 season. World's Fastest Gamer powered by Millennial Esports will document how McLaren, a global luxury automotive, sports, and technology brand, found its 2018 simulator driver from tens of thousands of gamers across the globe.

Keyondra Lockett Impacts Radio With TRY, Makes Stunning Appearances Around the Country

NBC has won the primetime ratings week of Aug. 6-12 in total viewers and tied for #1 in the 18-49 demo among the Big 4 broadcast networks.

MTV today announced the Backstreet Boys, Bazzi and Bryce Vine, the newest artist to join The Sound Drop by PEPSI®, will perform live from the VMAs red carpet Pre-Show outside of Radio City Music Hall on Monday, August 20th at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT.  Actor and host Terrence J., together with radio and TV personality Nessa, will host alongside Paul “Pauly D” Delvecchio and Vinny Guadagnino from “Jersey Shore Family Vacation.”  Additionally, supermodel and activist, Winnie Harlow will serve as the red carpet fashion correspondent.  To give fans an earlier start to the night, MTV will begin live streaming red carpet coverage at 7:30 p.m. on Twitter hosted by Justina Valentine from “Wild 'N Out” and Erik Zachary. 

New Brunswick Cultural CenterArts New Brunswick presents the seventh annual Hub City Sounds series, taking place this summer from August 25 through October 14. This FREE family-friendly series is a performing, visual, CULINARY arts festival with events for all tastes.

 Investigation Discovery (ID), the leading destination for true-crime programming, announced today the world premiere of the new series TWISTED SISTERS, with one of America's most well-known sisters, at the helm.  Produced by 44 Blue Productions, and Khlomoney Entertainment, and executive produced by Khloé Kardashian, and Stephanie Noonan Drachkovitch, the six-part series, TWISTED SISTERS will premiere on ID this LABOR DAY, MONDAY SEPTEMBER 3 AT 10/9C.  Following this special world premiere, the series will air every Monday at 10/9C.

TV One announced today that production is underway in Atlanta, GA on a new original holiday film, Coins For Christmas. Starring Essence Atkins ('Marlon,' 'Are We There Yet?'), Coins For Christmas tells the story of single mother, Madison Morris, who is struggling to make ends meet - just two weeks before Christmas. A chance encounter leads her on a new path. Atkins stars opposite Stephen Bishop ('Imposters,' 'Being Mary Jane'), who plays Alec Darby, a former pro athlete who is also not doing well financially. The film is slated to premiere on TV One in December.

NBC was #1 in total viewers (4.9 million) against the Big 4 networks and tied for #1 in 18-49 (1.0/4). This was NBC's first Monday win in 18-49, or being tied for #1 (excluding sports programming) since May 14.

BET Networks and BLACK GIRLS ROCK!(TM) are thrilled to announce Academy Award(R) nominated actress, world-renowned rapper, songstress, and producer Queen Latifah as the host of the 2018 'BLACK GIRLS ROCK!(TM)' Awards. The Newark, New Jersey native will return to her hometown as this year's host on Sunday, August 26 at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) in Newark, NJ. Created by executive producer, celebrity DJ, and women's empowerment advocate Beverly Bond, the 2018 'BLACK GIRLS ROCK!(TM)' Awards honors the groundbreaking and extraordinary achievements of Black women. The 2018 'BLACK GIRLS ROCK!(TM)' Awards will premiere on Sunday, September 9 at 8:00 PM/ET on BET.

In April 2018, the New World Symphony joined The Sphinx Organization and the League of American Orchestras in announcing their new partnership, the National Alliance for Audition Support (NAAS), which is a field-wide initiative with the long-term goal of increasing diversity in American orchestras. Supported by a four-year, $1.8 million grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the Alliance offers a holistic and personalized array of support to Black and Latinx musicians to develop their audition skills, increase their participation in auditions, and ultimately, increase their representation in orchestras.

Experience the high octane action of one of the year's most engrossing thrillers, SICARIO: DAY OF THE SOLDADO, as it debuts on digital and redeemable via the Movies Anywhere App, on   September 18, and comes to 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray, Blu-ray and DVD October 2 from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. Delving into the ruthless underworld of the war on drugs, Academy Award® winner Benicio Del Toro (Best Supporting Actor, Traffic, 2001) and Academy Award® nominee Josh Brolin (Best Supporting Actor, Milk, 2009) give explosive performances as they reprise their characters from Sicario to battle cartels across the border. Directed by Stefano Sollima (“Gomorrah”) and written by Academy Award® nominee Taylor Sheridan (Best Original Screenplay, Hell or High Water, 2016; Sicario), this dark and intense chapter also stars Isabela Moner (Transformers: The Last Knight), Jeffrey Donovan (TV's “Fargo”), Elijah Rodriguez (Book of Life) and Academy Award® nominee Catherine Keener (Best Supporting Actress, Capote, 2006; Best Supporting Actress, Being John Malkovich, 2000).

HISTORY has greenlit a second season of its Knights Templar drama series 'Knightfall' with Mark Hamill (Star Wars, BAFTA-winning voice of The Joker) joining the cast and Aaron Helbing ('The Flash,' 'Spartacus: War of the Damned') on board as showrunner and executive producer, it was announced today by Eli Lehrer, Executive Vice President of Programming, HISTORY. From A+E Studios, in association with Jeremy Renner's The Combine and Midnight Radio, 'Knightfall' is a tentpole of the network's strong roster of premium drama series, including hit anchor series 'Vikings' and the upcoming 'Project Blue Book,' executive produced by Robert Zemeckis and starring Aidan Gillen ('Game of Thrones') and Michael Malarkey ('The Vampire Diaries').

America's culinary boundaries are about to be shattered as Smithsonian Networks introduces BUG BITES, a six-part, short-form series exploring the worldwide art of cooking and consuming insects. Nutritious, protein-packed and easy to sustainably farm, bugs are regularly eaten by 30 percent of the world's population, and while most of North America has yet to fully embrace this culinary delight, U.S. foodies are beginning to take note. BUG BITES takes viewers into four notable chefs' kitchens to explore traditional methods of preparing high-end insect delights, from grasshoppers to scorpions, as well as cutting-edge recipes curated for the modern palate. All six episodes of BUG BITES begin streaming exclusively in the U.S. on Monday, August 27 on Smithsonian Earth, available on Apple®, Roku®, Amazon, Android and at SmithsonianEarthTV.com. Viewers will also be able to stream all episodes at SmithsonianChannel.com/BugBites. 

Shades of Blue follows  Harlee Santos (Jennifer Lopez), who is a charismatic single mother and resourceful detective at the heart of a tight-knit crew of Brooklyn detectives, led by enigmatic Lt. Matt Wozniak (Ray Liotta), who often directs the team to step outside the limitations of the law in order to effectively protect their precinct and their own.

Join the incomparable Mel Brooks live on stage for an exclusive, inside look at his storied career, and the making of the legendary and groundbreaking movie Blazing Saddles on Saturday, October 6th, 2018 at Bellco Theatre. This outrageous masterpiece, considered one of the top comedy films of all time, will be presented on the big screen followed by a conversation and audience Q&A with Mel Brooks himself.

Global music superstar Janet Jackson is set to debut her new single, "Made for Now," in collaboration with Daddy Yankee, on the Friday, Aug. 17 telecast of "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon."