VH1


AOL renews slate of original series

AOL has renewed several of its original series. The internet firm is pushing into original content and is taking a quartet of shows into a second season. Sarah Jessica Parker (Sex and the City) will executive produce another run of city.ballet, which is made by her prodco Pretty Matches alongside Zero Point Zero Production. Socialite […]

A&E builds unscripted team with Tappon promotion

US cable channel A&E has upped Drew Tappon to the post of senior VP, development and programming. In the new role, Tappon will be responsible for developing and producing A&E’s non-fiction, alternative and reality series, reporting into the network’s executive VP and general manager David McKillop. Last month, A&E poached VH1 exec Shelly Tatro, who […]

VH1 to bare all in Naked Dating

US cable channel VH1 has given the greenlight to Naked Dating (WT), a weekly dating show that will see contestants baring all for love. Filmed at an unnamed but exotic locale, each close-ended episode of the 10x60mins show will see a man and woman each date two naked suitors before they analyse the experience and […]

A&E poaches VH1’s Tatro for key programming role

Duck Dynasty broadcaster A&E has poached Shelly Tatro from music net VH1 to become its senior VP, unscripted development and programming. Tatro joins the US cable channel after 12 years with Viacom-owned VH1, during which time she developed and oversaw shows including Mob Wives and Black Ink Crew. She also aided development on Jersey Shore, […]

Viacom hands Spain exec expanded Europe, Africa role

Viacom International Media Networks has named MTV Spain’s programming chief to become its VP, youth and music brands for South Europe, the Middle East and Africa. In her new Madrid-based role, Laura Abril will oversee strategy for channels including MTV, MTV Base, VH1 and VH1 Classic across Italy, Spain, Portugal, France, Greece, Africa, the Middle […]

51 Minds co-founder exits as Endemol prodco reshuffles

Christian Sarabia has been promoted to president of Endemol’s 51 Minds as the US reality prodco’s co-founder Mark Cronin exits to launch his own firm. The changes come just months after the other 51 Minds co-founder, Cris Abrego, was tapped to as one of two execs at the top of Endemol North America. Sarabia is […]

VH1 tunes up LeAnn Rimes series, hires FishBowl exec

Viacom-owned cable channel VH1 has commissioned a six-part reality series following country music star LeAnn Rimes, and tapped FishBowl Worldwide Media for a new executive VP. LeAnn & Eddie (WT) will follow Rimes, who broke on to the international music scene in her early teens, and her husband, actor Eddie Cibrian. The pair have become […]

Viacom shops cable shows around the world

Viacom International Media Networks has cut programming deals for several shows from Viacom’s US cable networks with international broadcasters. In Singapore, free-to-air broadcaster Mediacorp has picked up CMT series Bridal Bootcamp (pictured) and multiple seasons of Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making The Team as well as two VH1 shows, Mama Drama and My Big Fat Fabulous […]

MTV goes pay in Brazil after VIMN dissolves free TV licence

Youth-skewed network MTV is moving from free to pay TV in Brazil after parent Viacom International Media Networks ended its licensing agreement with a local channel operator. The new look net launches in October across Brazil’s main cable operators with a new schedule line up and plans to feature more than 350 hours of local […]

Viacom reveals audience’s social media habits

Viacom has unveiled the results of a study into how viewers of its channels use social media to interact with TV. The US-based company, which runs channels including MTV, VH1 and Nickelodeon, surveyed over 5,000 viewers across the US, UK, Germany, Brazil and Russia. The respondents were all in the 13-to-49 demo and all regularly […]