ABC devalues Assets but Cold War entices BBC America

US broadcaster ABC has pulled its period drama The Assets amid poor ratings, while cable channel BBC America has greenlit a separate Cold War scripted series.

The Assets, which comes from Lincoln Square Productions and is based on a non-fiction book about the CIA, has been cancelled after two episodes following dismal ratings.

However, dramas on critical moments of the 20th century are popular at the moment and BBC America has commissioned spy thriller The Game.

The six-part drama will launch this fall as part of the US network’s Dramaville programming block.

It will follow a secret MI5 team investigating a potentially devastating Soviet plot during the 1970s. Tom Hughes (Dancing on the Edge), Paul Ritter (Quantum of Solace) and Shaun Dooley (The White Queen) will star.

Toby Whithouse (Being Human) is the writer and creator, with BBC Cymru Wales producing. Faith Penhale, Brian Minchin and Whithouse executive produce.

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