CMT and Hulu save Nashville

CMT has stepped in to rescue cancelled US series Nashville, teaming with Hulu to order a new season of the country music drama.

The show ran to four seasons on ABC, but the broadcast net cancelled it earlier this year.

Viacom net CMT (Country Music Television) has now greenlit a fifth season of the show, which will run to 22 episodes, much longer than a traditional cable series and in line with a full season order of a network show.

Streaming service Hulu had acquired earlier seasons of the music drama, but, for season five, will show episodes a day after they go out on the CMT cable net.

Hulu is increasingly working in partnership with linear channels, and will also show episodes of the second season of Top of the Lake a day after their cable launch, on AMC.

Nashville is produced by Lionsgate, ABC Studios, and Opry Entertainment and sold internationally by Lionsgate.

Brian Philips, president of CMT, said: “Nashville is a perfect addition to our evolving line-up of big music specials, documentaries, and original series. We see our fans and ourselves in this show and we will treasure it like no other network. Nashville belongs on CMT.”

“Nashville has long been a fan favourite show on Hulu and we are so proud to continue to make new episodes available for fans to stream the day after they air,” said Hulu’s senior VP and head of content, Craig Ehrlich. “We look forward to bringing even more episodes of this acclaimed series to its passionate and devoted audience.”