Cartoon Network has created an advisory board to guide the channel's efforts to its promote STEAM education (STEM plus the arts) efforts.

As part of a three-year White House push to promote computer science education, Cartoon Network last January launched a $30 million initiative to get kids interested in computer codes and coding.

The network's new STEAM advisory board was billed as the latest initiative in that effort, others being teaming with MIT, DIY and Google to promote using computer coding to "express ideas, craft stories and make art."

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Named to the advisory board were DIY CEO Zach Klein; National Girls Collaborative CEO Karen Peterson; Mitch Resnick, a professor at MIT Media Lab; and Diana Skaar, head of business innovation for robotics at X (formerly Google[x]); and Mimi Ito, digital media professor at University of California Irvine.

“Cartoon Network’s unparalleled multiplatform reach uniquely positions us to meet kids where they are and find new ways to unlock their creativity through technology,” said Christina Miller, president of Cartoon Network, in announcing the board. “Now, with the leadership of this incredible group of dedicated visionaries, we will accelerate and expand our reach, fulfilling our goal of giving Plurals creative confidence to become the next generation of creators, animators and makers.”

Adult Swim is aiming at its millennial audience with the development of new original series that serve both linear TV and digital platform viewers, the network said Thursday in advance of its May 18 upfront presentation.

Adult Swim has greenlit several new on-air shows, including a new Robot Chicken special -- Robot Chicken: The Walking Dead Special -- as well asMillion Dollar Extreme: World Peace, a live action series that follows the exploits of sketch comedy troupe Million Dollar Extreme; Brad Belman’s Dinner in America, which follows comedian Belman as he explores race relations across the country; a new pilot project from Dan Harmon dubbed Art Prison; and the return of classic Cartoon Network series Samurai Jack, network officials said

On the digital side, Adult Swim will launch several weekday shows including Stupid Morning Bullshit, Williams Street Swap Shop, Call of Karaoke and Development Meeting, the network said.

“Adult Swim is a one of a kind destination that simply knows its audience,” said Christina Miller, president and general manager, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim and Boomerang in a statement. “Mike Lazzo and his team have always found new and interesting ways to produce and distribute content that can’t be found anywhere else.”

A list of original series and specials include:

Montana James

In this half-hour live-action special, adventure has one name, Montana James. Follow our feathered-cap-wearing explorer on another one of his rip-roaring syndicated television odysseys. This time Montana is on the hunt for the coveted Holy Grail Cup, but watch out Montana, the Order of the Red Arm Band is on your tail again! Created by Nick Corirossi and Charles Ingram, and produced by Funny Or Die.

Mr. Neighbor's House

Mr. Neighbor's House is a half-hour, live-action children's show hosted by Brian Huskey (Childrens Hospital, Veep). He's like any other host of kids programming, except that he is barely able to contain the suppressed rage boiling underneath his quiet demeanor. From the safe confines of his home, he throws to various "educational" vignettes: puppets, animation, stop motion, spoken word and mixed medium elements that all blend together into one half-hour special… that is NOT for kids. Mr. Neighbor's House was created by Huskey, Jason Mantzoukas (Childrens Hospital, The League), and Jesse Falcon, who also serve as executive producers with Rob Corddry (Childrens Hospital, Hot Tub Time Machine).

Dream Corp, LLC

Dream Corp, LLC is an absurd workplace comedy set in a neglected dream therapy facility. Each week, viewers will watch as a rotating cast of desperate patients have their dreams recorded and analyzed by Dream Corp's absent-minded professor, Dr. Roberts (Jon Gries), and his team of unremarkable scientists. Dream Corp, LLC is created by Daniel Stessen (The Gold Sparrow) and executive-produced by alums of both American and British versions of The Office, John Krasinski and Stephen Merchant, as well as Krasinski's Sunday Night partner Allyson Seeger.

Brad Neely's Harg Nallin' Sclopio Peepio

A new quarter-hour animated sketch show created by Brad Neely (China, IL), Harg Nallin' Sclopio Peepio features a collection of frenetic one-off bits, shorts and songs, all filtered through Neely's signature visual style. Beware however, as this show hates you. Neely and Daniel Weidenfeld serve as executive producers, with Dave Newberg as co-executive producer and Titmouse, Inc. producing.

Decker: Unclassified

A successful web series and an action-packed powerhouse, Decker: Unclassified follows Agent Jack Decker as he subverts terrorist plots against his beloved America. Joined by ally and master code breaker Agent Jonathan Kington, the two navigate evils both foreign and domestic threatening a once great nation. The series was created by and stars Tim Heidecker and Gregg Turkington, and is produced by Abso Lutely Productions.

FLCL

Created in 2000, FLCL told the tale of Naota, a 12-year-old boy who met a woman that would forever change his life…whether he liked it or not. Sixteen years later, Adult Swim and legendary animation studio Production I.G (Ghost in the Shell) are creating two new six-episode seasons to continue the tale, which will premiere in Adult Swim's Toonami block. In the new season of FLCL, many years have passed since Naota and Haruhara Haruko shared their adventure together. Meanwhile, the war between the two entities known as Medical Mechanica and Fraternity rages across the galaxy. Enter Hidomi, a young teenaged girl who believes there is nothing amazing to expect from her average life, until one day a new teacher named Haruko arrives at her school. Soon enough, Medical Mechanica is attacking her town and Hidomi discovers a secret within her that could save everyone, a secret that only Haruko can unlock. Back for the new season is FLCL series creator Kazuya Tsurumaki, serving as supervisor with director Hideto Iwai (Last Dinner).

Adult Swim pilots in development include: 

Lazor Wulf

This quarter-hour animated pilot follows a wolf who carries a laser on his back and believes that love has no limit, that wearing do-rags gives you power and that Gawd is a lie. It was created by Henry Bonsu and written/executive-produced by Bonsu and Daniel Weidenfeld (China, IL).

Chuck Deuce

A half-hour animated masterpiece written by Lars Kensethk, Chuck Deuce is about a Northern California slacktivist/surfer who paddles out to carve mavericks, when a giant wave crushes him. Three weeks later, he walks ashore with no idea where he's been, how he survived, or why his brain is now ravaged by hallucinations – everything from conjoined CIA agents, talking sex dolls, and sock puppet headed freaks. Like his herpes, Chuck ignores it and returns to his daily grind of violating nudity bans, protesting decency laws and skirting home-yak-milking statutes in his native Santa Cruz. But the question persists, what happened to Chuck out there... and is it really over? Chuck Deuce is executive produced by creator Chioke 'Stretch' McCoy and Matt Iles, with Jenn Tolman serving as producer.

Three weeks into his first season heading NBA Digital, Albert “Scooter” Vertino likes what he sees across the league’s multiplatform properties.

Vertino, who in August was named NBA Digital general manager with oversight of NBA TV, NBA.com, WNBA.com, NBADLeague.com, NBA League Pass, as well as the league’s broadband and wireless businesses, says the varied storylines from the San Antonio Spurs winning the 2014 title in convincing fashion to moves made throughout the summer season are coalescing to fuel the business.

“We’re very excited about the first few weeks,” he said in an interview “From LeBron [James] returning to Cleveland, Derrick Rose and Kobe [Bryant] coming back from injuries and Steve Kerr moving from the [Turner] booth to leading the Golden State Warriors, there was plenty of off-season action. Now, the [Toronto] Raptors, [Sacramento] Kings and [Washington] Wizards are all doing well. There are plenty of stories around the league that are driving interest.”

That engagement is translating on various scorecards – with 11% being a key ratio for NBA TV.

The league’s in-house service averaged 368,000 total viewers through its first 11 telecasts, up 11% from the same stage of last season, according to Nielsen data. Moreover, the contests were also up 11% among persons 18 to 49 and men of the same age.  

NBA TV’s “Fan Night” telecasts have thrived. The first two telecasts – a fan vote determines which game will air on the network that now counts some 60 million subscribers – averaged 659,000 watchers, a 129% jump from the first two contests in 2013.

The 836,000 watchers who tuned in the Cleveland Cavaliers-Portland Trail Blazers on Nov. 3 represented the network’s second-most-viewed Fan Night telecast and third-most-viewed regular season game ever. That delivery has helped the network ring up respective gains of 188%, 201% and 227%, respectively, among persons 18 to 49, men 18 to 49 and guys 18 to 34.

In addition to Cleveland-Portland, Fan Night has also featured Golden State-San Antonio and on Nov. 18, Sacramento-New Orleans, as NBA aficianados have pointed West in the early going.

“We certainly don’t have an East Coast bias. It doesn’t matter to us. We’re only looking for exciting, close basketball,” said Vertino, who also oversees the programming and scheduling for all sports content for the division including the NBA on TNT, MLB on TBS, NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship and PGA Championship.  

Game action aside, NBA TV is also scoring with its original programming. Since the start of the 2014-15 regular season, the network's 13 premiere episodes of The Starters were up 52% in viewership over last year, while weekly roundtable show The Beat grew 4% in total audience. However, the demo deliveries have leaped 35% among persons 18 to 49, 18% against men of that age and 40% with males 18 to 34.

The first four installments of this season’s Open Court opened well, advancing 77% among viewers, 89% with men 18 to 49 and 87% with the set Madison Avenue covets most over the same period last year. The reminisce and assessment show features Ernie Johnson leading discussions among the likes of Charles Barkely, Kenny Smith, Shaq O’Neal, Grant Hill, Rick Fox, Reggie Miller, Isiah Thomas and Steve Smith, among others.

“The idea was that if we got the guys in a casual environment and let the cameras roll, the conversation would flow and we would get some great stories and anecdotes,” explained Vertino. “‘I remember that game against Phoenix in 1994.' ‘That’s right, but I remember you did this against Washington four years later.’ It’s good, fun stuff.”

More is on the way: Vertino said four episodes will be shot in January, with the installments parsed over time, including one premiere near All-Star weekend.

Vertino, who succeeded Christina Miller, now the president and general manager of Cartoon Network, Adult Swim and Boomerang, said his job is relatively simple.

“Christina did a great job for three-plus years. My job is not to screw things up,” he said with a laugh.

More seriously, under Vertino’s watch, NBA Digital is placing more of an emphasis on news and updates. “We’re not necessarily breaking news, but we need to react and provide a voice,” he said, noting the information from the likes of David Aldridge appear on the network, its app, NBA.com and social outlets.

As for NBA League Pass, net subscriptions to the pay-per-view package, which this year is sporting enhanced video quality and is available on more platforms than ever before, including the Xbox One, were up 21% through Nov. 16, capped by a 48% surge for its premium version.

 For the NBA's opening week of Oct. 27 through Nov. 2, NBA.com page views and unique visitors were up 20% and 7%, respectively, compared to last season's tip.

Continuing the changing of the guard in its upper management ranks, Turner Broadcasting System has tapped Christina Miller to head Cartoon Network, Adult Swim and Boomerang.

As president and general manager of the three networks and their digital extensions, Miller has oversight for leading the business in North America and working closely with Turner International to establish short and long-term priorities, as well as an overall worldwide strategic plan that will more closely align the kids business. This role gives Miller global oversight of linear and non-linear content, the consumer products group and franchise management

Rob Sorcher, chief content officer, Cartoon Network and Mike Lazzo, executive vice president/creative director, Adult Swim will report to Miller.

Miller, who has been serving as general manager of NBA Digital and senior vice president of Turner Sports strategy, marketing and promotion, steps into a leadership role that has been vacant since Stuart Snyder exited his post as president and COO of Turner’s former Animation, Young Adults & Kids Media division at the end of March.

She will continue to serve NBA Digital through a transition period over the ensuing weeks. It was unclear at presstime, who would step into that role. NBA Digital, encompassing linear network NBA TV, NBA.com, WNBA.com, NBA League.com, NBA League Pass, as well as the league’s broadband and wireless businesses.is owned by the pro basketball circuit, but operated by Turner. The decision to whom succeeds Miller will be made collaboratively, according to a Turner spokesman.

Snyder’s departure followed a reorganization that saw John Martin become chairman and CEO of Turner and David Levy president of the company in January.  Since then, there has been a changing of the guard in the executive suite as Turner Entertainment Networks president Steve Koonin, CNN ad sales chief Greg D’Alba have moved on to new gigs, while longtime chief research officer Jack Wakshlag also stepped down.

Last week, Turner Sports veteran Lenny Daniels was promoted to president, gaining daily oversight of the unit.

The new job returns Miller to Cartoon Network. Before moving into Turner’s sports realm, Miller was senior vice president of Cartoon Network Enterprises, which she joined in 2005, and directed Turner’s youth and young adults consumer products and home video business in the United States, including global licensing partnerships and merchandising strategies and retail business development for Cartoon Network and Adult Swim properties.

Four years later, she was upped to senior vice president of Cartoon Network and Turner Sports strategy, marketing and promotion. In 2011, she left her Cartoon Network responsibilities as she added NBA Digital general manager to her title.

Before joining Turner, Miller served as senior vice president of brand licensing for HIT Entertainment, responsible for brand strategy and licensing for classic preschool brands including Thomas & Friends, Barney, The Wiggles and Bob the Builder.

Cartoon Network is the top U.S. network in primetime among boys 6 to 11 and 9 to 14, and can currently be seen in 385 million homes worldwide and 194 countries. Spinoff service Adult Swim is a Nielsen powerhouse among young adults 18 to 34.

“As we continue to expand and look for growth opportunities in the kids and young adults business, it is imperative that we strategically leverage the brand equity that Cartoon Network has worldwide and continue to build on the tremendous success of Adult Swim,” said Levy, to whom Miller will report. “Christina is a well-respected executive who has had great success growing the NBA Digital business for us and also brings a wealth of experience in leading global brands and franchises in the kids business.”

Noted Miller: “I am very excited to return in this new role to the business that I initially joined Turner for, and look forward to working with Rob, Mike and the great teams at Cartoon Network, Adult Swim and Boomerang. These are beloved brands with a passionate following and there’s a tremendous opportunity to continue to grow them domestically and, with guidance from David and Turner International president Gerhard Zeiler, a new focus on alignment and partnership to leverage the global potential of Cartoon Network and Boomerang.”