Caught in Providence, a court show from Lionsgate‘s Debmar-Mercury, has been renewed for a second season in primetime by Law&Crime Network.

The series, which stars 85-year-old Providence Municipal Court Chief Judge Frank Caprio, is shot live in Caprio‘s Providence, Rhode Island, courtroom and features real people taking part in real cases. Caught in Providence, which got its start as a YouTube channel and then went into national broadcast syndication before moving to cable, is shot live in Caprio’s Rhode Island municipal courtroom. 

“Law&Crime is thrilled to continue bringing Caught In Providence and Judge Frank Caprio to its viewers,” Andrew Eisbrouch, chief operating officer of Law&Crime, said in a statement. “Audiences love the show’s combination of heartwarming moments and humor, and they are looking forward to seeing more.”

“We share Andrew’s sentiment about this beloved judge, and are excited to continue our relationship with the Law&Crime Network on this inspiring and entertaining show,” Debmar-Mercury co-presidents Ira Bernstein and Mort Marcus said, also in a statement.

Caught In Providence comes to Law&Crime with more than 13 million Facebook and 2 million YouTube followers. It first premiered on the cable network created by former ABC legal analyst Dan Abrams and backed by A&E Networks in November 2020. 

Law&Crime is available on basic cable packages in most states in the country and on leading OTT services including YouTube TV, Sling TV, Peacock, fuboTV, Philo, Vidgo, Xfinity, Xumo and TV Plus, among many others.

Viewers can watch Caught in Providence on Law&Crime Network Monday through Friday, with back-to-back half-hour episodes from  8-9 p.m. (ET). 

 A+E Networks says it continues to mine the traditional linear cable platform, bucking the trend of media companies diving into the emerging subscription video on demand (SVOD) pool.

With SVOD services such as Discovery Plus, Disney Plus, HBO Max and the soon to launch Paramount Plus (currently CBS All-Access) offering new, original programming in an effort to court a growing digital viewer base, A+E Networks is looking to super serve targeted cable viewers as well as to cultivate advertising revenue on the struggling but still formidable traditional linear cable platform, senior executives at the programmer say.

Also Read: Report: Pay-TV to Lose Most Subscribers Ever in 2020

“As more and more media companies put their resources behind their own streaming services, our number one priority is creating the best possible content pipeline and programming for consumers and partners across all platforms,” A+E Networks group president Paul Buccieri told Multichannel News. “This includes our linear networks which, of course, remain a huge priority.”

A+E Networks linear channels History, Lifetime and A&E in 2020 finished among the top 20 most-watched cable networks in primetime, propelled by several popular, unscripted series and scripted movies, including Lifetime's Married at First Sight and History’s The Curse of Oak Island, according to Nielsen.

On the scripted front, Lifetime continues to delve into original scripted fare with the rollout of new original movies, including bio films on the lives of television personality Wendy Williams and gospel legend Mahalia Jackson

“Every year, we create over 1,400 hours of fresh premium content for our portfolio and the ecosystem; and we remain laser-focused on adding more,” added Buccieri. “Our relationships with distribution partners are essential to us – and we are energized and inspired by the variety of ways we can collaborate to bring our shared consumers best-in-class content from the brands they love and trust.”

A+E Networks programming president Rob Sharenow spoke about the company’s linear business strategy to Multichannel News. An edited version of the interview appears below.

Why do you feel that the A+E Networks commitment to linear gives the company an advantage in reaching viewers?

I do think we distinguish ourselves as a portfolio because of our commitment to linear.  We have an incredible depth and breadth of upcoming stuff that is premiering on linear brands and have one of the most robust offerings of original content. We have 1,400 hours planned of original content between our brands that’s going to be premiering on linear, which is really something we take a lot of pride in.

Does it concern you that your networks' competitors are potentially reaching new viewers and cord cutters on the digital front with their respective SVOD services?

Clearly we're in a moment of disruption. For us, we really value our linear ecosystem -- that’s where a huge portion of our bread is buttered. We are really pleased with our linear audiences and our brands. As to what our competitors are doing in the streaming world, I do think there is obviously a shifting landscape, and clearly we have done library deals with some [streaming] companies. It really shows the strength of our content that it is so desired by a lot of our direct competitors and that they want to be in business with us in that way. 

Where do you see the upside in the linear business going forward?

I think broadcasting in general still works, and we have a big, ad-supported model that is very lucrative for us. A lot of our advertising clients like to have scale delivered at a certain time and in certain ways. That’s something that linear does do better than any other platform. Viewers binging content whenever they want doesn't serve the purposes of a lot of people in the advertising community. I also still believe there is incredible value in the communal experience for viewers. I think we have brands that feature must-watch shows that people like to watch live through a linear experience, like [History’s] The Curse of Oak Island and like [Lifetime’s] Married At First Sight. These are shows that are still getting big [ratings] numbers because there is something to the community of viewership that can't be replicated on another platform. There’s something very special about a show that everyone's watching at the same time.

How have you been able to maintain strong advertising revenue in a declining cable subscriber marketplace?

The market right now from what I hear is very good. I think COVID and the economy have affected everyone and everything including the ad market, but in general right now we're experiencing what I see to be a very strong market. I think there is something that linear provides advertisers that they really can't get anywhere else. It’s about audience scale and the sense of timing that’s really unique to the linear experience.

Would you consider a digital SVOD service in the future?

We have some really successful, direct to consumer products that are relatively new. We have Lifetime Movie Club (subscription price $3.99 per month), which super serves the Lifetime movie viewer. We have the History Vault ($4.99 per month), which has an incredible depth of the history library available, and we also have Crime Central ($4.99 per month.) So we do have products in that space that are doing very well and growing. I think we have to be very strategic and targeted about how we're approaching those businesses. Those are two examples of how we've managed to swim with the giants because those are the really targeted opportunities that are working for us.

Lifetime has appointed programming veteran Liz Gateley as its executive vice president and head of programming, the network said.

Gateley will oversee all content creation for Lifetime and their affiliated brands including the movies, scripted series and non-fiction teams, said network officials.

Gateley, who worked with Lifetime in the early 20000s, most recently was co-founder, with partner Tony DiSanto, of DiGa (part of ITV), where she helped produce MTVs Teen Wolf and Kesha: My Crazy Beautiful Life for MTV as well as the upcoming Oxygen series, Player Gets Played.

“Liz has great passion and vision for the Lifetime brand. She started her career here, developing scripted and reality series, before moving to MTV, where she had an incredibly successful run transforming that network and the TV landscape in general with a string of genre-defining hits,” said Robert Sharenow, Executive Vice President and GM, Lifetime and A&E, to whom Ms. Gateley will report. “I know she will be a great collaborator with my amazing team to help take Lifetime to the next level, across all platforms.”

Abbe Raven's long career with A&E Networks will come to an end in early February.

Raven, who rose through the ranks from production assistant to chairman, will retire on Feb. 2. Well-liked and respected throughout the cable industry she helped expand, Raven let company employees know about her plan on Sunday evening in a memo. 

Her exit will be followed by Nancy Dubuc's full ascension in heading the programmer, whose portfolio is led by A&E Network, History and Lifetime. A&E Networks is a joint venture of The Walt Disney Co. and Hearst Corp.

Dubuc was named president and CEO of A&E Networks in April 2013, succeeding Raven in those roles as she assumed day-to-day operational leadership.  As chairman, Raven has continued to lead the company's long-term business and revenue opportunities, public policy initiatives and corporatre outreach. 

After stints as a stage manager for theater productions and a school teacher, Raven started at Lifetime predecessor Daytime. Over the course, she saw the launch of A&E, History and the women's-targeted network. She will continue as chairman emeritus and plans to enjoy her retirement by traveling with her husband. 

Here is her letter to A+E employees:

Thirty-three years ago, I dreamed of breaking into the almost newborn cable business. By sheer good fortune, I saw an announcement in the NY Times heralding a promotional event for the launch of a brand new cable service called DAYTIME. With resume in hand, I went to the event at – of all places – the lingerie department at Macy’s – to meet the new network’s programming executives. I jumped at the chance and with an eagerness to do anything—to copy scripts — to answer phones —to get coffee– indeed, to do whatever I was asked to help in the launch. And what a ride it has been!

And now, after nearly 33 years at A+E Networks, my true and dear professional home – I wanted all of you to know first– that I have decided to retire on February 2 as its Chairman. My years here have been truly rewarding and exciting. I was fortunate to grow up and be mentored through the programming and production ranks, and then to develop as an executive. Together with many of you, I have had the privilege of helping to build what I believe to be the finest, most distinctive and most successful brands on the media landscape.

It is hard to believe that in 1984, A&E started out with one programming network and today we have a portfolio in over 350 million households and 180 territories around the world together with successful ancillary businesses. I remember being in the control room at the launch of A&E, Lifetime and History — like it was yesterday.

When I started out xeroxing scripts and answering phones as a few dollars an hour assistant in 1982 – I would never have imagined I would become a manager, director, and senior executive–not to mention the President and CEO and then Chairman of a major media company. That was never my goal. My goal was to find something I would love to do, something I could contribute to in my own way–something to be part of. I instantly became passionate about this business and this company. I love that we get to tell stories that touch people’s lives – stories that can make a difference –and that resonate with people all around the world. It has been the thrill of a lifetime watching this company grow, lead and thrive.

One of the universally recognized hallmarks of A+E Networks that has made me so proud has been our unique culture and our incredible people. It has been a testament to this organization that for over three decades we have consistently attracted and developed the finest talent in order to compete in the marketplace and to succeed.

No one person, since birth of this company, did more to build this company, to create its culture and to guide and develop its people than my predecessor, mentor, and dear friend, Nick Davatzes. We all owe a great debt to Nick and the company continues to reflect his commitment, his leadership, his energy, and his principles. I am thrilled that Nancy, who has been my business partner, my successor and my dear friend, will be guiding you and this company into a future of great opportunities and challenges. Nancy is a superb leader and a true visionary.

We also have the best and brightest management team in the business. I thank my Executive Assistant extraordinaire of ten years, Heather Graham, who has been my trusted and invaluable right hand. And, most important, A&E has the most talented, most dedicated employees in our industry—of this, I am most proud. I would like to thank both Nancy and the management team for their leadership, their friendship and their role in the company’s success. And I know they are going to keep growing this company to new heights.

This company and its people have been close to my heart for three decades. So many of you have become my extended family and good friends. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your commitment and for the contributions you make every day. We come together here from all walks of life to create our own brand of magic, and that magic has had, and will continue to have, a unique and lasting impact on popular culture.

I will miss seeing you here in the office on a daily basis. I will miss the daily excitement and energy that runs through our halls. It’s hard to say goodbye to the people and the company I love, the place I have been thinking about every day for most of my adult life. But it’s time. Time for me to explore new ideas, new interests, new callings—new chapters in my life. And as Chairman Emeritus of the company in the future, I look forward to serving the company when called upon as an ambassador and advisor.

And so, as I enter this next chapter, I envision a busy and fulfilling life, including continued involvement in the television industry and on corporate and non-profit boards and with issues I care about. And, of course, I also look forward to more and longer walks on the beach with my husband, and to having the time to really explore the world.

I will be rooting for each and every one of you all across this great company. Continue to make magic every day, be bold, make a difference, and have passion for and appreciate what you do. I wish each of you, and the great company that you serve, all the success in the world.

With great respect and affection,

Abbe