News round-up: Oxygen True Crime adds duo; Star Channel extends ‘Silent Library’; CBC orders ‘Let’s Go, Bananas!’

Sin City Murders (Source: Oxygen)

Oxygen True Crime adds duo

Oxygen True Crime in the US has expanded its originals slate with the addition of two new shows – Sin City Murders and Kill Or Be Killed.

Premiering on 25 February, Sin City Murders recounts chilling homicide cases ranging from a greed-motivated casino slaying in the heart of the Las Vegas strip to a professional hit on a legendary lounge act. The series is produced by 44 Blue Productions. Stephanie Noonan Drachkovitch, David Hale, and Craig Delaval serve as executive producers.

Launching on 2 March, Kill Or Be Killed explores self-defense murder cases, where law enforcement, prosecutors and defense attorneys unravel every detail, from the forensics, interrogations and witness statements that led up to the event.

The show is produced by Glass Entertainment Group. Nancy Glass, Jon Hirsch, Eric Neuhaus and Ken Kohler Jr. serve as executive producers. Joshua E. Kessler and Brian Keller serve as co-executive producers.

Star Channel extends ‘Silent Library Suomi’

Disney-owned Star Channel has picked up two further seasons of Silent Library Suomi, the Finnish adaptation of Nippon TV’s game show format.

Rabbit Films will continue to produce the Finnish edition, which returns to Star Channel today (21 February) for season three, while a fourth season is planned for autumn 2024.

Sayako Aoki, global sales and licensing, Nippon TV, said: “It’s fascinating to see how this classic Asian format keeps evolving into timeless, even more hilarious program with unique games and challenges relevant to each country across Europe. Kudos to Rabbit Films team for creating another hit show which keeps attracting the Finnish audience.”

Let’s Go, Bananas! (Source: 9 Story)

CBC orders ‘Let’s Go, Bananas!’

CBC Kids has commissioned Let’s Go, Bananas!, a new animated comedy described by the creators as Modern Family for pre-schoolers.

The 26 x 22-minute series hails from 9 Story Media Group and has been pre-bought by Sky Kids. It will premiere this spring on CBC and CBC Gem in Canada. 9 Story also holds worldwide distribution and merchandising rights.

Let’s Go, Bananas! was created by writer and producer Tim Bain, creator of action-comedy series Kangaroo Beach and writer on children’s series including Bluey, PJ Masks, Thomas The Tank Engine and Epic Adventures Of Morph.

The series is inspired by Tim’s own family and features a community of three sweet and silly animal families, the Bananas (gorillas), Crockers (crocodiles) and Tiger-Zelles (tigers and gazelles). Developed and produced by 9 Story Media Group and animated Brown Bag Films Toronto, the series is written by Bain and directed by Matt Mitchell.