‘Madam Secretary’, ‘NCIS: Los Angeles’, ‘Kevin Can Wait’ & More Renewed For Next Season
CBS on Thursday handed out renewals to some thirteen of their scripted series, eleven of which currently have UK homes. Those eleven series to get the nod for the 2017-2018 broadcast season are: Madam Secretary (Sky Living), NCIS: Los Angeles (Sky1), Kevin Can Wait (E4), Blue Bloods (Sky Atlantic), NCIS: New Orleans (Channel 5), Bull (FOX UK), Mom (ITV2), Life In Pieces (Amazon Prime Video UK), MacGyver (Sky1), Hawaii Five-0 (Sky1) and Scorpion (ITV2). 
Content Media and Bernd Schlötterer’s Palatin Media have secured joint international distribution rights to Date My Dad, the ten episode scripted dramedy series that is being produced for U.S. cable network UP, TVWise has learned. The two companies will launch the series to international buyers at MIPTV in April, ahead of the U.S. broadcast premiere in June. 
Sky Vision has locked down a new U.S. partner for Fortitude. Sky's international sales division has sold the arctic crime drama to Amazon Prime Video in the United States. The first season of the show has been available on the streaming service since last January and the second season - now marketed as an Amazon Original Series - will premiere later this year. 
ABC has handed out an early renewal to their veteran comedy series The Middle, TVWise has learned. The show will return for its ninth season during the 2017-2018 broadcast season. 
TNT is extending the run of The Librarians. The Turner owned cable network has picked up the drama series for a ten episode fourth season, which is expected to air later this year. 
In what is a nice piece of PR/marketing, Netflix dropped a clip announcing the premiere date (May 30th) for the fifth season of presidential drama House Of Cards in the midst of the inauguration ceremony for Donald Trump. 
I Love Dick = the new ten episode series from Transparent creator Jill Soloway - will premiere on Amazon Prime Video in both the United States and the UK on Friday May 12th, the streaming service announced today. 
CBS All Access is establishing a firmer link between Star Trek: Discovery and The Original Series. The nascent streaming service has announced that they have tapped James Frain to play the recurring role of Sarek, the famed father of Spock. Additionally, while production on the series is on-track to begin next week in Toronto, Canada under new showrunners Gretchen J. Berg and Aaron Harberts, the release window has once again slipped.