A+E Studios to produce first broadcast show

ABC has ordered a put pilot from A+E Studios, marking the first time A+E Networks’ production arm has produced for a channel outside of its own stable.

Jada Pinkett Smith will star in Murder Town as Delaware’s first African-American District Attorney, who learns a shocking truth about her murdered husband and has to work on a racially-charged case that could ruin her career.

Barry Schindel (Intelligence) has written pilot, which is based on Rob Fresco’s original script.

Schindel will executive produce alongside Pinkett Smith and Miguel Melendez.

Overbrook Entertainment coproduces with A+E Studios. The latter was launched in 2013 as part of a move to allow A+E to control more of the content it plays on its channels.

The expansion to producing for outside networks marks the latest milestone in the production unit’s development.

Variety first reported the news of Murder Town.