trending Market Intelligence /marketintelligence/en/news-insights/trending/gfd8w-qn1hv9k2y6dwiyng2 content esgSubNav
In This List

Starz buys rights to 8 documentaries; Apple, Snapchat order series

Blog

Europe: 5 key OTT trends to watch in 2022

Blog

Broadcast deal market recap 2021

Blog

Price wars in India: Disney+ Hotstar vs. Amazon Prime Video vs. Netflix

Blog

Volume of Investment Research Reports on Inflation Increased in Q4 2021


Starz buys rights to 8 documentaries; Apple, Snapchat order series

The Program Guide highlights recent programming announcements from various networks and online video platforms in the U.S.

On TV

* Time Warner Inc.'s HBO (US) will exclusively air "King in the Wilderness" documentary April 2. The documentary explores the final chapters of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s life as he faced criticism from both sides of the political spectrum, according to a March 12 news release.

SNL Image

"Suits" spinoff series
Source: USA

* Lions Gate Entertainment Corp.'s Starz acquired rights to eight exclusive, first-run documentaries. The documentaries include "The Rape of Recy Taylor," "Pecking Order," "Sled Dogs" and "Love & Bananas," according to a March 8 news release. The documentaries will be available on Starz (US), the STARZ app and STARZ on demand.

* HBO will air docu-series "Wyatt Cenac's Problem Areas" on April 13. The 10-episode season follows comedian and writer Wyatt Cenac as he explores America's most pressing issues, the network said March 8.

* USA (US) green-lighted a "Suits" spinoff series, according to a March 8 news release. The series from Universal Cable Productions will show Gina Torres as a lawyer who adjusts to the "dirty world of Chicago politics."

* HBO will exclusively broadcast the sixth season of weekly news magazine series "Vice" on April 6. The new season will include 35 episodes, according to a March 7 news release.

* Comcast Corp.'s E! (US) renewed reality series "Botched" for a fifth season, Multichannel News reported March 6. The series follows Doctors Terry Dubrow and Paul Nassif as they tackle difficult reconstructive procedures. With the fourth season airing May 9, the fifth season will return later in 2018.

SNL Image

"The Rape of Recy Taylor"
Source: Starz

* POP (US) ordered a fifth season for comedy series "Schitt's Creek," Multichannel News reported March 6. The series, which stars Eugene Levy and Catherine O'Hara, will feature 14 episodes.

* Comedy series "Silicon Valley" will exclusively return on HBO for its fifth season March 25. The series starring Thomas Middleditch, Zach Woods and Kumail Nanjiani is also available on HBO NOW, HBO GO, HBO On Demand and partners' streaming platforms, according to a March 1 news release.

On OTT

* Apple Inc. ordered two seasons of a new musical animated comedy, titled "Central Park," TechCrunch.com reported March 12. The series follows a group of caretakers who live and work in the titular location in New York.

* Hulu LLC placed a straight-to-series order for "Little Fires Everywhere," a limited series from Reese Witherspoon and Kerry Washington. The series, which is based on Celeste Ng's novel of the same name, explores the "weight of secrets, the nature of art and identity, the ferocious pull of motherhood — and the danger in believing that following the rules can avert disaster," Hulu said March 12.

* Snap Inc.'s Snapchat messaging service green-lighted "True Crime," a series of five-minute documentaries that will each look at a different crime, including murders and disappearances, Deadline.com reported March 12. The show is being produced by Condé Nast Entertainment video team.

SNL Image

"Black Mirror"
Source: Netflix

* New documentary series "November 13" will become available on Netflix Inc.'s streaming service mid-2018. The three-part documentary will explore the human stories behind the terrorist attacks that took place in Paris on Nov. 13, 2015, the company said March 9.

* AMC Networks Inc.'s streaming service Sundance Now will stream new scripted drama, "Innocent," on March 22. The limited series follows David Collins as he returns home after seven years imprisoned for the murder of his wife, according to a March 8 news release.

* Amazon.com Inc.'s Amazon Studios entered into an exclusive first-look deal with filmmaker Kenneth Lonergan. The two-year deal for directing and writing will cover both film and television projects, the company said March 7. Lonergan and Amazon Studios have worked together on the "Manchester by the Sea" movie in 2017.

* Amazon Studios placed an order for "Undone," a direct-to-series animated show, co-created by Raphael Bob-Waksberg and Kate Purdy. The series is in pre-production and expected to premiere in 2019 on Prime Video in more than 200 countries and territories exclusively for Prime Members, the company said March 6.

* Netflix ordered a fifth season for its "Black Mirror" series, Variety reported March 5, citing a company announcement. The sci-fi anthology series explores the dark impact new technology can have on the modern world.

* Lions Gate teamed up with Facebook Inc. on new nonfiction series "You Kiddin' Me." The 10-episode comedic prank series, which will stream on the Facebook Watch video platform, will be executive produced by Kim Kardashian West, Jennifer O'Connell, Brian Tannenbaum, Peter Cohen and Melissa Stokes, the company said March 2.