2012 was a good year for UKTV. The commercial network has announced that 2012 was a record breaking year for them. UKTV – which comprises a network of 10 channels including Alibi, Watch & Dave – finished the year as the UK’s the fastest growing commercial TV network, delivered year-on-year SOCI (Share of Commercial Impacts) growth every month and, following the launch of a video-on-demand service, the network recorded over three million digital views.
Fox had already indicated their intention to get back into the limited and mini-series game with the creation of a Longform Division housed out of FX Productions. FX & Fox teamed together for the creation of that division and hired former HBO executive Gina Balian to run it. To that end, Fox announced at their TCA panel today that they had inked development deals with M. Night Shyamalan & Bruce C. McKenna for two “large scale drama projects.”
At their TCA panel today in Pasadena, Fox announced the launch of Animation Domination High-Def, the network’s new alternative animated programming block. Set to premiere on Saturday July 27th, Animation Domination High-Def features three new quarter-hour series: Axe Cop, High School USA and the Untitled Lucas Brothers Project.
Samia Ghadie, Charlie Condu, Jon Culshaw, Debra Stepehnson, Greg Rutherford and Duncan Bannatyne are all set to appear on a special episode of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, which is set to air tonight on ITV at 8pm.
Fox has renewed Bones for a ninth season, the network announced at their TCA panel today.
Starz has released a trailer for their upcoming eight episode drama series Da Vinci’s Demons, which is set to premiere on Friday April 12th at 10/9c.
EXCLUSIVE: Syfy UK has closed a deal with NBCUniversal International Television Distribution to pick up the Pay TV rights to the second season of Alphas. Syfy UK previously aired the show’s first season following its broadcast on 5*, who hold the first run rights to the series in the UK and aired the second season of Alphas late last year. I hear that season 2 of Alphas is set to premiere on Syfy UK in either February or March.
EXCLUSIVE: It looks like David Tennant is returning to BBC One. Neither BBC One nor Endor Productions are confirming, but my sources are telling me that Doctor Who alum David Tennant has been cast as the lead in BBC One’s upcoming serial The Escape Artist. TVWise previously broke the news that the three part serial will be directed by Mayday helmer Brian Welsh. Production on The Escape Artist is set to commence next month.