The Program Guide's global edition highlights recent programming announcements from various networks and online video platforms around the world.
On TV
* BBC Studios Ltd.'s Africa unit ordered a local version of the dating format "First Dates" for BBC Lifestyle, Channel 24 reported. "First Dates South Africa" will follow the "intimate experience of the world of first dates."
* HBO Asia revealed some details for its line-up of upcoming original productions, which include a Chinese language sci-fi drama, an anthology series and a Taiwanese crime drama, according to The Hollywood Reporter. "Dream Raider" will follow a team of scientists and cops investigating a criminal conspiracy, while "Food Lore" is an eight-part anthology series that explores the human condition with narratives inspired by Asian cuisines. Meanwhile, "The World Between Us" follows the aftermath of a mass shooting in Taiwan.
* HBO (US) will premiere drama series "Gentleman Jack" on April 22, Broadcasting & Cable reported. The series, which will air in the U.K. on BBC One (UK) this spring, is about a woman in the 1800s England "who had a passion for life and a mind for business, and bucked society's expectations at every turn."
* Sky Italia SRL signed deal extensions with FremantleMedia Italia S.p.a. and Syco Entertainment Ltd. for more seasons of "The X Factor" and "Italia's Got Talent." Through the agreement, Sky Italia will remain the exclusive home of "The X Factor" in Italy for four more seasons, while "Italia's Got Talent" will remain with the network for at least two additional years.
* Japan Broadcasting Corp. commissioned U.K.-based Icon Films and Botswana's Natural History Film Unit to produce "Okavango," an 8K documentary feature that will explore Africa's Okavango Delta oasis, World Screen reported.
Online
* Starz has renewed drama series "American Gods" for a third season. Based on the novel by Neil Gaiman, the show will continue to be offered in more than 200 countries and territories on Amazon.com Inc.'s Prime Video outside of the U.S., Advanced Television reported. Charles Eglee will be the new showrunner for the third season.
* Nordic Entertainment Group AB ordered a second season of its original thriller series "Rig 45." Directed by Finnish filmmaker Aku Louhimies, the show will premiere across the Nordic region exclusively on NENT Group's Viaplay streaming service. Filming is already underway in Dublin, with the show expected to premiere in 2020.
* Netflix Inc. will premiere the South Korean anthology series "Persona" globally in April. The series is composed of four short films, in which Korean singer Lee Ji-eun will play four personas.
* Netflix will stream "My First First Love," a Korean romcom original series, globally on April 18. The series follows an unexpected love and personal growth, depicted through relationships formed by five young adults who find their "first-time" adulthood rather difficult and emotionally challenging.
* In more Netflix news, the streaming giant will adapt author Gabriel García Márquez's novel One Hundred Years of Solitude as a Spanish-language original series for the streaming service. The novel was first published in 1967 and has sold an estimated 50 million copies worldwide and has been translated into 46 languages.
* Netflix will adapt graphic novel Pashmina into an original CG animated musical. It is a fantasy and adventure story that follows Priyanka, a first-generation American of Indian descent, as she explores her family history with the help of a magical pashmina.
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