AMC Networks Renews Comcast Carriage Deal

FX Networks has renewed its sophomore comedy Dave for a third season at FXX set to premiere in 2023. Season 2 concluded in August.

Jennifer Maas TV Business Writer“Dave” has been renewed for Season 3 at FX.The show’s second season debuted last summer on FXX.“Dave” is co-created by David Burd (Lil Dicky) and Jeff Schaffer, and executive produced by the pair along with Saladin K. Patterson, Ben Sinclair, Luvh Rakhe, Kevin Hart and Hartbeat Productions, Scooter Braun, Greg Mottola, Marty Bowen, Mike Hertz and SB Projects’ James Shin and Scott Manson.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorAMC Networks says it plans to sell three addressable ad slots in each linear hour of original programs on its flagship cable network as well as WeTV, the latest expansion of technology that allows advertisers to hone their pitches to radiational mass TV audiences.The spots are slated to run on Comcast, Charter and Cox cable systems and have the potential to reach 35 million U.S. homes.

Jennifer Maas TV Business WriterIna Garten’s new Discovery Plus series, “Be My Guest With Ina Garten,” has been renewed for two additional seasons ahead of its launch on March 26.The show will launch with full episodes on Discovery Plus, to be followed by a “food-centric half-hour” airing on Food Network at 12 p.m. ET, along with the debut of a companion podcast.Season 1 consists of four episodes, rolled out weekly in the same manner as the premiere.“Be My Guest With Ina Garten” features Barefoot Contessa inviting friends old and new to her East Hampton home for a day of conversation, connection, food and fun visits to some of her favorite local spots.

Disney+’s ‘Nautilus’ Rounds Off Cast; Cameras Roll In Australia

Jennifer Maas TV Business WriterAt around $7 million per 30-second spot, an ad for Sunday’s Super Bowl LVI did not come cheap. But with more than 112 million viewers having tuned in for the Los Angeles Rams victory over the Cincinnati Bengals, the companies who shelled out that cash would likely think it was worth it to have their spot viewed by that many eyeballs.

AMC Networks beat Wall Street estimates for the fourth quarter and reported 9 million streaming subscribers as of the end of 2021, in line with company projections.

Jennifer Maas TV Business WriterAMC Networks reported its fourth-quarter 2021 earnings Wednesday, revealing it had reached more than 9 million paid streaming subscribers by the end of 2021. The company also beat Wall Street’s expectations for both its Q4 revenue and profit.AMC Networks previously said it expected to have 9 million streaming subscribers by the end of 2021, and forecast between 20 million to 25 million paid subscribers across its streaming services by 2025.

Jennifer Maas TV Business Writer“Yellowstone” prequel “1883” has been renewed for Season 2 at Paramount Plus, and the ViacomCBS-owned streaming service has ordered another Taylor Sheridan-created origin-story show following the Dutton Family called “1932.” Yes, you guessed it — the show will follow a new generation of Duttons “during the time of western expansion, Prohibition and the Great Depression.”“1883″ stars Sam Elliott, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Billy Bob Thornton, Isabel May, LaMonica Garrett, Marc Rissmann, Audie Rick, Eric Nelsen and James Landry Hébert.The show follows the Dutton family as they embark on a journey west through the Great Plains toward the last bastion of untamed America. It is a stark retelling of western expansion and an intense study of one family fleeing poverty to seek a better future in America’s promised land — Montana.

above and the poster below. The film will be released exclusively on Disney+ on May 20, 2022.“Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers” stars John Mulaney (“Saturday Night Live”) as Chip, Andy Samberg (“Palm Springs”) as Dale and KiKi Layne (“If Beale Street Could Talk”). Also joining the cast are Will Arnett (“Arrested Development”), Eric Bana (“Dirty John”), Flula Borg (“Pitch Perfect 2”), Dennis Haysbert (“24”), Keegan-Michael Key (“Schmigadoon!”), Tress MacNeille (“The Simpsons”), Tim Robinson (“I Think You Should Leave”), Seth Rogen (“Pam and Tommy”), J.K.

Jennifer Maas TV Business WriterAMC Networks dropped a teaser during Super Bowl LVI Sunday featuring the first look at its Anne Rice series “Interview with the Vampire,” along with footage from the sixth and final season of “Better Call Saul,” the middle third of the 11th and final season of “The Walking Dead” and upcoming anthology “Tales of the Walking Dead,” the fourth and final season of “Killing Eve” and several other shows coming to AMC, streaming service AMC Plus or BBC America this year.A longer 60-second version of the TV spot was released online, which teased the upcoming series “61st Street,” “Dark Winds,” “Moonhaven” and “That Dirty Black Bag.”AMC’s “Interview with the Vampire,” adapted from Rice’s iconic novel of the same name, centers on the vampire Louis de Pointe du Lac (played by Jacob Anderson) as he relates the story of his life to a reporter, in particular how he was turned into a vampire and then mentored by Lestat de Lioncourt (Sam Reid). The show is currently in production in New Orleans.

Jennifer Maas TV Business Writer“Los Espookys” co-creator Julio Torres has signed a two-year first-look deal with HBO and HBO Max.Torres has two new projects already in development under the pact, “Little Films” (working title) and “Lucky,” the former of which he’s set to star in and is produced by Emma Stone.In “Little Films,” which has a production commitment at HBO, the former “Saturday Night Live” writer stars as himself. The potential show follows this version of Torres as he tells the tale of when he lost a golden oyster.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefDiscovery has announced that it has struck a multi-year agreement to supply content to Foxtel Group, Australia’s pay-TV market leader.The renewed deal covers factual, documentary and reality content from the flagship Discovery Channel as well as the TLC, Investigation Discovery, Discovery Turbo and Animal Planet channels. Significantly, Discovery’s content will be available for Australian subscribers to stream on demand on Foxtel and on its associated streaming service Binge.

Shares in local TV station owner Tegna jumped more than 7% today after a report it is in advanced talks to sell itself to Standard General, one of its largest shareholders.

Jennifer Maas TV Business WriterA+E Networks has promoted Sharon Scott to president of the company’s unscripted division, including Category 6 Media and Six West Media.In this newly created role, Scott, who most recently served as executive vice president of Category 6 Media, will have oversight of A+E Network’s expanding full-service nonfiction content creation unit. She will continue to report directly to Paul Buccieri, president and chairman of A+E Networks Group.Additionally, A+E Networks has upped Steve Ascher, who was previously executive vice president of Six West Media, to oversee development for the company’s entire unscripted division, including Category 6 Media.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeJennifer Caserta is exiting AMC Networks after nearly two decades at the company, most recently as its chief transformation and people officer. As Caserta departs, Aisha Thomas-Petit has been named chief people and diversity officer at the company.Caserta had served as chief transformation/people officer since 2018; prior to that, she spent 14 years at IFC TV, including as president and GM.

AMC Networks has elevated its first head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Aisha Thomas-Petit, to the role of Chief People and Diversity Officer. She succeeds Jennifer Caserta, the longtime IFC executive who segued to AMC’s HR chief in 2018 and is departing after 20 years at the company.

Jennifer Maas TV Business WriterThe “V.C. Verse” has found its official home at A+E Networks.

Jennifer Maas TV Business WriterParamount Plus has renewed its revival of “The Game” for Season 2.Starring Wendy Raquel Robinson and Hosea Chanchez, the show is a continuation of the-CW-network-and-later-BET-show of the same name. “A modern-day examination of Black culture through the prism of pro football,” “The Game” follows the team as they face racism, classism and more, all while fighting for fame, fortune, respect and love.“The Game” revival also stars Adriyan Rae, Vaughn Hebron, Analisa Velez and Toby Sandeman.The first iteration of “The Game” debuted on The CW in 2006.

In the latest in a string of distribution deals, Comcast Cable has reached a comprehensive, multi-year agreement with AMC Networks.