Several high-profile scripted and reality series will launch new seasons this week as the halfway mark of the summer Tv season approaches.

VH1 will bring back the off-MTV horror series Scream:Resurrection for its third season on July 8. The six-part series, based on the popular Scream horror film series, will air over three consecutive nights, according to VH1.

FX will debut the third season of its drama series Snowfall on July 10. The series, co-created and executive produced by the late John Singleton, chronicles the 1980s crack epidemic in Los Angeles. 

On the reality side, MTV’s Jersey Shore Family Vacation returns for its third season July 11, while BBC America debuts the 27th season of reality car series Top Gear on July 14.

Below are video trailers and premiere dates for several shows debuting this week on cable networks and streaming services:

July 9 -- I Love You, Now Die (docuseries) -- HBO

July 10 -- Family Reunion (comedy series) -- Netflix

July 10 -- Florida Girls (comedy series) -- POP

July 10 -- Harlots (returning series) -- Hulu

July 11-- Escape the Night (returning series) -- YouTube

July 12 -- Point Blank (drama series) -- Netflix

July 12 -- Shangri-La (docuseries) -- Showtime

July 14 -- Sweetbitter (returning series) -- Starz

Pop Network will end its successful comedy series Schitt’s Creek after its upcoming sixth season, the network said Thursday.

The series, with a cast led by Eugene Levy, Catherine O’Hara, Daniel Levy, Annie Murphy and Chris Elliott, was renewed for a 14-episode sixth season, which will air in 2020 on CBS-owned Pop and on CBC in Canada. 

Co-creators Daniel Levy and Eugene Levy announced the renewal and final season of the series, saying that they were “grateful” to finish the series on their own terms.

“We are so grateful to have been given the time and creative freedom to tell this story in its totality, concluding with a final chapter that we had envisioned from the very beginning. It’s not lost on us what a rare privilege it is in this industry to get to decide when your show should take its final bow," the two said in a statement. “We could never have dreamed that our fans would grow to love and care about these characters in the ways that you have.”

The series, produced by Not A Real Company Productions Inc., follows the riches to rags story of a failed video store magnet and his family who are forced to live a less glamorous life in a small town.

“Schitt’s Creek is that rare zeitgeist show that creates incredible fandom, catalyzes culture, and receives best-of-television critical praise for its intelligence, character development, laughter and heart,” said Brad Schwartz, President of Pop in a statement. “Schitt’s Creek has given all of us a joyous gift that, in my opinion, places the show among the very best.”

Schitt's Creek airs on Tuesday nights in Canada and Wednesday nights on Pop.

Debmar-Mercury has acquired the broadcast syndication rights to Pop TV’s Schitt’s Creek, which is created by and stars father and son Eugene and Daniel Levy. Season five of the series, which has been renewed by both Pop and Canada’s CBC, is currently in production.

The Lionsgate-owned company will shop the series to TV stations for a fall 2020 debut.

“It is not every day you can walk into a TV station with a comedy this good, with a cast this talented and be able to point to the kind of ratings growth, social buzz and critical acclaim that Schitt’s Creek has generated,” said Mort Marcus and Ira Bernstein, co-presidents of Debmar-Mercury, in a statement. “We enter the off-network market as this renewed series is coming off of its highest-rated season in the U.S. and four consecutive seasons of audience growth.”

Related: Pop Renews ‘Schitt’s Creek’

According to Debmar-Mercury, Schitt’s Creek out-delivered its season-one average by 116% in adults 18-49, 76% in adults 25-54 and 81% in total viewers through March 2018. That said, the show’s ratings on Pop TV are very low, with the series averaging a .08 among adults 18-49 and 275,000 viewers in season four, which concluded on April 11.

That can be an advantage when taking a show into syndication because the show hasn’t already been seen by many viewers, so it can serve almost as original programming for TV stations.

Related: Debmar-Mercury to Shop Netflix's 'Bojack Horseman' in Off-Net Syndication

As studios back out of the business of producing first-run programs explicitly for TV stations, and the number of comedies coming off of broadcast networks continues to thin, stations need new ways to program themselves. That said, low-rated shows rarely turn into high-rated shows once they come to syndication.

Schitt’s Creek tells the story of a once-wealthy family who is forced to move to the small town they once bought as a joke. The show stars Eugene Levy, Daniel Levy, Catherine O’Hara and Chris Elliott, alongside breakout stars Annie Murphy and Emily Hampshire.

Commissioned by CBC, Schitt’s Creek is produced by Not A Real Company Productions Inc. and created by Eugene Levy and Daniel Levy. The executive producers are Eugene Levy, Daniel Levy, Andrew Barnsley, Fred Levy, David West Read and Ben Feigin.

Schitt’s Creek is produced in association with CBC and Pop TV, and distributed internationally by ITV Studios Global Entertainment.

Pop announced Tuesday that it has renewed comedy seriesSchitt’s Creekfor a fifth season.

The series, which stars Eugene Levy and Catherine O’Hara, will increase its episode order to 14 episodes in the fifth season from 13 episodes for the fourth season, according to network officials.

The announcement comes as the fourth season ofSchitt’s Creekis delivering its biggest season ever in terms of viewers and young adults in Nielsen L+7 ratings, scoring solid double-digit increases over season three, according to Pop. 

“It is rare to find a television series that continues to deliver fanfare, critical acclaim and audience growth season after season,” said Brad Schwartz, President of Pop in a statement. “This gem of a show and its amazing ensemble cast, including the brilliant Eugene Levy and Catherine O’Hara, bring Emmy-worthy performances to the screen that are both comedic and heart-warming. We couldn’t be more proud of how the show continues to find new viewers and creatively flourish into one of the finest series on television.”

Game of Thrones fans were somewhat disappointed recently to hear that their beloved show won’t return for its final season until 2019.

The good news is that a lot of quality, scripted cable shows are premiering between now and the return of the Emmy Award-winning series to help ease the withdrawal period for Thrones aficionados.

January alone is loaded with solid, binge-worthy series debuts that will help viewers get through the cold, wintery months.

Freeform earlier this week premiered the much-ballyhooed Black-ish spinoff Grown-ish, which reportedly drew more than 1.5 million viewers in its Jan. 3 premiere, the network’s best comedy series debut in nearly six years. Freeform comes back Wednesday (Jan. 10) with another comedy series, Alone Together.

Showtime this past Sunday (Jan. 7) debuted its drama The Chi from Emmy award-winning writer Lena Waithe to 1.67 million combined same-day and early sampling viewers – its best debut numbers for a series since Billions in 2016.

Later in the month, Golden Globes show-stopper Oprah Winfrey’s OWN will serve up a reboot of Tyler Perry’s House of Payne series with new show The Paynes, while Comedy Central will debut an edgy workplace comedy dubbed Corporate, and POP will exercise viewers’ funny bones with its new comedy Let’s Get Physical.

On the drama side, FX will look to follow up on the success of The People v. O.J Simpson with the true crime drama The Assassination of Ginni Versace: American Crime Story. Also, Starz’s spy thriller Counterpart, TNT’s The Alienist, HBO’s Mosiac, WGN’s Bellevue, and Paramount Network’s Waco are on tap to premiere this month.

This week, cable networks will unveil several more new scripted series set to air later this year. Already at TCA, FX announced a Sons of Anarchy spinoff — Mayans MC -- which will premiere in 2018.

Read More: Complete Coverage of #TCA18

Overall, the number of new and returning scripted series on cable, broadcast and streaming services are expected to increase beyond the 487 that were offered in 2017, according to FX.

Game of Thrones fans should be able to find at least a few shows to fill the void until the dragons fly once again in 2019.

Jed Kapsos has been appointed chief financial officer at Pop, a joint venture of CBS and Lionsgate.

Kapsos, who replaces Debra Wichser, had been senior vice president of finance for the CBS Television Network in New York. He will move to Los Angeles and report to Pop president Brad Schwartz.

We are thrilled and incredibly fortunate to have Jed's expertise as we continue building Pop as a premium media brand,” said Schwartz. “Since rebranding in 2015, we’ve been on quite a run and with nine scripted series set for 2018, Jed will be integral to our continued growth.”

Related: Pop Hires Kent Rees as CMO

At CBS, Kapsos was responsible for overseeing the network accounting, share services and its West Coast operations finances. Before that, Kapsos was CFO of CBS Interactive. He joined CBS in 1998 from Price Waterhouse.

“Pop is a dynamic, fast-growing network with a strong slate of programming and great momentum across all areas of its business,” said Kapsos. “It’s an exciting time to join the team, and I am looking forward to being part of the network’s bright future.”

Pop Network has greenlit a new scripted comedy series set in the world of competitive aerobics, the network said Thursday.

The series, Let’s Get Physical, focuses on a slacker who makes a reluctant comeback in the fitness industry after his dad – dubbed the “Godfather of Aerobics” – unexpectedly passes away and wills him a broken-down family gym.

The series, which stars Matt Jones (Breaking Bad), Chris Diamantopoulos (Silicon Valley) and AnnaLynne McCord (90210), will debut on Pop in 2018.

Let’s Get Physical is executive produced by Rosey TV’s Michael Rosenberg (Hell on Wheels), Connor Pritchard’s Inside Center Productions (Workaholics), Ben and Dan Newmark of Grandma’s House Entertainment and John Morayniss for eOne.

“Let’s Get Physical is a contemporary self-aware comedy inspired by the aerobics fad that set fitness crazes in motion across the nation,” said Justin Rosenblatt, Pop executive vice president of Original Programming. “The show features characters that are distinctive, full of heart and played by a dream ensemble cast with undeniable chemistry.”

Pop network has named industry veteran and former Pivot general manager Kent Rees as its new chief marketing officer, the company announced Thursday.

In the newly created position, Rees will oversee the CBS/Lionsgate-owned cable network's brand strategy, creative and research in addition to consumer, ad sales and affiliate marketing duties, said network officials. Rees, who will report to Pop president Brad Schwartz, will also lead Pop’s digital business.

Rees was most recently general manager of the now defunct Pivot cable network where he oversaw the launch of such series as Please Like Me, Fortitude and Hit Record on TV. Prior to Pivot, Rees was head of marketing for Bedrocket Media Ventures, where he led brand and digital marketing for a series of YouTube channels.

“It is rare that you get to add such an accomplished media crusader, brand-builder and digital innovator to your executive team,” said Schwartz in a statement. “Kent has a demonstrated track record of building disruptive channels, break-through multi-platform brands and award-winning creative. As we leap from emerging network to prominent media brand, there is truly nobody better to help get us there. We are lucky to have him join our extraordinary team.”

Added Rees: “I am really excited to join Pop at this moment in time. It’s a fast-growing network with a lot of momentum already built. I look forward to accelerating the brand and digital growth as we prepare for a terrific slate of original programming in the near future. I love the energy that Pop brings to the brand and the viewer experience. It’s just a blast to watch.”

At a time when many smaller networks are getting winnowed out, Pop says it is thriving.

Nearly three years after being rebranded from the TV Guide Channel, Pop says it is adding distribution, viewers and advertisers in its upfront presentation. The network is also upgrading its programming, working with well-known talent, emphasizing scripted shows and dropping low-budget reality shows.

RELATED: Revamped Pop sets January 2015 launch date, new slate

The network is also adding some high-profile acquired programming. It is making its first first-run off-network acquisition with the ABC comedy The Goldbergs. It's brought back E.R., the mega-hit, which hasn’t been on the air or on subscription VOD for seven years.

All of this is made possible by the backing of owners CBS and Lionsgate. For both companies, Pop represents their biggest play in basic cable and Pop has been able to leverage its parents assets in a pay-TV environment in which linear networks such as Pivot and Esquire Network have been terminated and more are likely to meet a similar fate.

“It’s been a great little three-year run for us since we changed from the TV Guide Network,” Pop president Brad Schwartz said.

The network is now on all the major traditional distributors and is also being added to all the new digital distributors’ lineups, including YouTube TV and Hulu’s new live product.

Read more at B&C

Toronto-based Anthem Sports & Entertainment Corp. has officially acquired a majority interest in TNA Impact Wrestling.

Anthem, which also operates Fight Network -- Impact Wrestling’s exclusive broadcaster in Canada – has formed Anthem Wrestling Exhibitions LLC to operate the wrestling franchise, according to company officials. 

Anthem Sports & Entertainment Corp. executive vice president Ed Nordholm will serve as president of Anthem Wrestling Exhibitions LLC. Dixie Carter, chairman of Impact Ventures -- the parent company of TNA Impact Wrestling -- will resign her position and join the Advisory Board of Fight Media Group, focusing on the global growth of the Anthem’s combat sports brands.

The announcement follows Anthem's having settled a financial dispute between TNA Impact and William “Billy” Corgan over financial loans Corgan made to Impact Ventures.

“We are thrilled to have acquired TNA IMPACT Wrestling,” said Nordholm in a statement. “As we grow Anthem’s linear, digital and mobile platforms globally, top tier content with global appeal is key to that success and this acquisition is a perfect strategic addition to our portfolio. IMPACT has been a dominant wrestling brand around the world for more than a decade and we are confident that Anthem can leverage its assets and strategic partnerships to take IMPACT Wrestling to even greater heights.”

Carter, who will remain a minority equity shareholder, added: “We have worked hard to find the right company who would acquire TNA, use its strategic influence and have a long-term commitment to the brand. TNA’s incredible fans, talent and staff deserved to see the brand continue to thrive after 15+ years of incredible growth.  I’m excited to move to a new position and work with Anthem on their global strategic plan, and I am confident TNA IMPACT Wrestling is going to be a huge part of their success.”

Toronto-based Anthem Sports & Entertainment Corp. and William “Billy” Corgan said they completed an agreement to resolve Corgan’s litigation against Impact Ventures, parent company of TNA Impact Wrestling. Anthem acquired Corgan’s loan to Impact Ventures on undisclosed terms, and Corgan has dismissed his proceedings against Impact Ventures and TNA Impact Wrestling, the principals said in a release.

Anthem Sports & Entertainment operates Fight Network, Impact Wrestling’s exclusive broadcaster in Canada, and is the worldwide digital streaming partner for all TNA programming and owns equity in Impact Ventures. Pop airs Impact Wrestling fare in the United States.

Anthem executive vice president Ed Nordholm said in the release: “We are pleased to conclude these arrangements with Mr. Corgan. The events leading to litigation were unfortunate but also reflected all parties’ desire in good faith to support the company. The arrangements we have made with Mr. Corgan respect all parties’ gratitude for his contributions to Impact Wrestling, both creatively and financially. We can now close this chapter and look forward to making Impact Wrestling a leader in the professional wrestling world.”

Corgan -- the Smashing Pumpkins frontman and wrestling fan who has actively stated his views on the implosion of his relationship with Impact on Twitter -- said in the release: "I'm pleased that an agreement is now in place that allows wrestling operations to continue, for my interest from the start was to provide support, be it material or creative, to such a great roster and crew. And as I plan on continuing in the business side of pro wrestling, I look forward to seeing where Anthem's leadership takes the company in 2017, and wish them the best."

As the holiday season approaches, several cable networks will hope to receive an early ratings gift by premiering high-profile scripted content in mid-November.

With the end of a long and ratings-rich presidential election and with the broadcast networks set to take a hiatus from scheduling new episodes of scripted shows heading into the holidays, cable networks like BBC America, Pop, National Geographic, TNT and TBS are all hoping to fill a programming void with original content.

“We wanted to get in just ahead of the holiday programming and take advantage of a moment when a lot of the noise around fall launches is abating,” BBC America president Sarah Barnett said. “No week of the year is uncluttered today, but believe it or not, there can be a small moment of relative space here.”

PAUSE BEFORE HOLIDAYS

BBC America on Wednesday (Nov. 16) will premiere crime drama Undercover, one of at least eight new cable scripted series premiering within 10 days of Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 24). Typically, networks tend to shy away from premiering new shows in the days leading up to the holiday season and the glut of holiday specials and movies. But with more than 400 scripted shows launching year round, Barnett said no time period is off-limits.

Pop president Brad Schwartz said strong ratings for presidential election coverage has shortened what is normally a solid series premiere window running from mid- October through mid-November. As a result, the network will debut its late night-themed comedy series Nightcap later than desired, on Nov. 16.

“If you’re waiting for the election to end but you want it be in front of the holidays, this is the time to launch,” Schwartz said. “You don’t want to get too far into the holiday season because then you get close to Christmas when people’s viewing habits begin to change and it becomes harder to get the message out for your show.”

National Geographic will premiere its highly-touted Mars series tonight (Nov. 14, see review). The network is launching a new on-air look and rebrand around the Brian Grazer/Ron Howard produced series, which will feature both scripted and documentary elements around the future colonization of the red planet.

“Mars is the centerpiece of our new premium strategy and its creatively ambitious for us,” Courteney Monroe, CEO of National Geographic Global Networks, said. “We’re really interested in what the audience thinks and how they react.”

‘SEARCH PARTY’ ON THE WAY

TBS and BBC America said they too are altering the debut schedule of their respective new shows to help build greater awareness and ratings. TBS will launch its 10-episode comedy series Search Party over five consecutive nights beginning Nov. 21, according to network officials.

BBC America’s six-hour Undercover series will air over two nights. Barnett said the network wanted to create some additional buzz for the series by allowing viewers to binge view the series over consecutive nights.

“As a linear network, we understand that there is some content that audiences especially love to binge, and phenomenally written, dramatically shocking mini seasons fall into this category of ‘must devour’ TV,” Barnett said. “We scheduled it in a way where fans could truly immerse themselves in this riveting thriller.”

SIDEBAR: On Script

A partial list of the scripted cable series premiering between Nov. 14-24:

Show                          Network                    Genre                     Premiere Date

Mars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nat Geo . . . . . . . . . Drama . . . . . . . . . . .Nov. 14

Good Behavior . . . . . . . .TNT . . . . . . . . . . . Drama . . . . . . . . . . . Nov. 15

Shooter . . . . . . . . . . . . . .USA . . . . . . . . . . Drama . . . . . . . . . . .Nov. 15

Sweet/Vicious . . . . . . . .  MTV . . . . . . . . . Dramedy . . . . . . . . . .Nov. 15

Ice . . . . . . . . . . . . Audience Network . . . . . Drama . . . . . . . . . . .Nov. 16

Nightcap . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pop . . . . . . . . . . . Comedy . . . . . . . . . . Nov. 16

Undercover . . . . . . . BBC America . . . . . . . Drama . . . . . . . . . . .Nov. 16

Lovesick . . . . . . . . . . . . Netflix . . . . . . . . . Comedy . . . . . . . . . . Nov. 17

Search Party . . . . . . . . . .TBS . . . . . . . . . . . Comedy . . . . . . . . . . Nov. 21

SOURCE :Multichannel News research

Anthem Sports & Entertainment said today (Oct. 19) it confirmed recently making a "working capital loan" to fund the operations of TNA Impact Wrestling, the financially troubled wrestling organization, and that it had offered to provide money to repay loans made to TNA by The Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan.

Corgan, a huge wrestling fan, was named president of Impact Ventures in August, overseeing day to day operations of TNA, as Rolling Stone reported. Since then, Corgan has sued the TNA organization and principals, including chairman Dixie Carter, according to several reports (including this one), and a hearing has reportedly been scheduled for tomorrow (Oct. 20) on Corgan's receipt of a restraining order and temporary injunction.

Toronto-based Anthem Sports & Entertainment said it licenses TNA programming for Fight Network in the United States, Canada and other international markets and has exclusive streaming rights of TNA shows for streaming Internet-delivered TV. TNA Impact Wrestling airs Thursday nights on Pop in a deal the network announced in November 2015. TNA programming previously aired on Destination America and Spike.

“TNA is a strong property for Fight Network and as a licensee and global distribution partner we have a keen interest in seeing the company not only survive but continue to grow and thrive, alongside our own growth,” Leonard Asper, CEO of Anthem, said in the statement. “We are hopeful that the company can soon get back to doing what it does best, which is to produce great wrestling content.”

Read more TCA ’16 summer tour coverage

Pop network will look to build its scripted portfolio beyond Schitt's Creek with the development of three new series, the network said Sunday during its Television Critics Association summer press tour session.

The network, owned by Lionsgate and CBS, slated a November launch for Nightcap, a comedy parody of a late night talk show starring Ali Wentworth as a lead talent booker who wrangles a-list celebrities each week. Celebrities guest starring in the series include Gwyneth Paltrow, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kelly Ripa, Debra Messing, Whoopi Goldberg, George Stephanopoulos, Denis Leary, Michael J. Fox, Mario Batali, Wendy Williams, Nate Berkus, Andy Cohen, Mark Cuban, Mark Consuelos, Jim Gaffigan, Janeane Garofalo, Rosie Perez and Joel Schumacher .

In addition, the network will debut The Joey Mac Project, starring New Kids on The Block member Joey McIntyre looking to transition from boy band heartthrob to actor. The eight-episode series is executive produced by McIntyre, Donnie Wahlberg, Jenny McCarthy, Tim Gibbons (Curb Your Enthusiasm), Paul Greenberg (Best Time Ever with Neil Patrick Harris) and Jenny Daly (Storage Hunters).

The two shows join previously announced scripted horror series Wolf Creek, which will premiere on the network Oct. 20.

Pop president Brad Schwartz said its scripted lineup will have broad appeal to viewers looking for pop culture-themed programming. “We have to champion all kinds of fandom,” he said during the tour session in Los Angeles.

Pop, a cable network joint venture of CBS and Lionsgate, has named Justin Rosenblatt executive vice president of Original Programming and Development. Rosenblatt, currently senior vice president, Alternative Programming at CW Network had previously held senior programming posts at MTV Networks. He will join Pop in September, reporting to president Brad Schwartz.

Rosenblatt succeeds Paul Adler, Pop’s current SVP, Original Programming and Development, who announced his decision to leave after 16-years tenure and the completion of the network’s rebrand. Adler will continue to serve as a consulting producer at Pop for select projects.

Pop, formerly TVGN, rebranded in 2015 and has expanded its scripted and unscripted programming lineup. With over 400 hours of original programming in 2016, Pop’s slate includes critically acclaimed comedy “Schitt’s Creek,” the scripted comedy series “Nightcap” produced by Lionsgate Television, and a cappella docu-series “Sing It On.”

“Justin is the perfect executive to build upon our network’s rapid growth with bold new original programming that breaks through the clutter and resonates with passionate fans and younger, socially-engaged viewers,” Schwartz said in a statement. “His experience from The CW and MTV Networks in both scripted and unscripted programming is exactly what we need for the next phase of our evolution. He will join Pop at an optimal time, taking over the reins from Paul, who has had a remarkable run at the network and has been a great leader and contributor to our successes.”

 In his role at The CW, Rosenblatt oversees all elements of development and current programming. Prior to The CW, he was senior director of series development and programming for MTV2, overseeing shows like “Celebrity Death Match,” “Wildboyz,” and “Final Fu.”

“Pop has done an extraordinary job rebranding itself and is well-positioned as one of the fastest growing networks, supported by two industry leading parent companies, CBS and Lionsgate,” Rosenblatt said in a statement. “I’m fired up to be part of Pop’s evolution and creating the next generation of brand-defining content for the network.”

Pop's first and most-watched original series, the sitcom Schitt's Creek, has been renewed for a third, 13-episode series, ahead of the 8 p.m. ET/PT Wednesday, March 16, beginning of its second season. SCTV alums Catherine O'Hara and Eugene Levy star as the luckless Roses, who lose a fortune except for a dumpy town and motel where they re-settle.

The show was co-created and is written by Eugene Levy and his son, Daniel, who also stars, along with Annie Murphy. (Here's our review from when it launched in 2015.) The third season will air in 2017.

Pop said Schitt's Creek was its most-watched original series in total viewers and was the biggest draw on the network overall among viewers ages 18-34.

The ensemble cast also includes Chris Elliott and Jennifer Robertson as Roland and Jocelyn Schitt -- and they also star in a faux talk show companion digital series, Wake Up With The Schitt's, now available on Funny or Die.

Keep up with all the happenings from the TCA 2016 Winter Tour at ourTCA16 news site.

Pasadena, Calif. -- Pop has ordered up its second scripted comedy series, Traci From Nightcap (working title), starring Ali Wentworth and co-produced with network co-owner (with CBS) Lionsgate. Wentworth (Starz's Head Case) stars as producer of a late-night comedy series, fictionally titled The Night Cap With Jimmy, and each half-hour episode will feature real-life celebrities and a mixed cast of improvisational actors, the network said.

Pop president Brad Schwartz told Multichannel News recently the network wanted a second comedy to help fill out a night with Schitt's Creek, the comedy starring Eugene Levy and Catherine O'Hara (among others) that returns this March, though Traci From Nightcap will launch midway through the second season of Schitt's Creek. Lionsgate Television also has a great track record with comedies, including Weeds, Nurse Jackie, Casual and Deadbeat, Schwartz noted. Production is slated to begin this month in New York City.

Pop ordered 10 episodes. Wentworth is an executive producer, along with a pair of EPs from Chelsea Lately, Tom Brunelle and Brad Wollack; and Troy Miller, Lydia Tenaglia, Chris Collins and Craig Shepherd. 

Pop also confirmed that a capella singing docuseries Sing It On will return for an eight-episode second season.

Read more of MCN's interview with Schwartz in the current edition of the magazine at this link (subscription required).

The reinvention of niche cable networks looking to better position themselves in a crowded and competitive marketplace has been commonplace over the past few years.

At last week’s Television Critics Association press tour, three familiar cable-network brands joined the reinvention movement by announcing sweeping changes in their operating strategies to meet the demands of a new television world.

National Geographic Channel promised that its on-air programming will not look the same one year from now as it seeks to take the brand to the next level within the entertainment arena.

Much bigger premium series, specials and documentaries featuring big-name talent will be the new face of Nat Geo, CEO Courteney Monroe said. The goal is to get to the same level as other entertainment-based networks without losing the value and appeal of the overall National Geographic brand.

Top-echelon networks TNT and TBS will go through a “full reinvention” over the next three years, TBS and TNT president and Turner Entertainment chief creative officer Kevin Reilly said at TCA. By adding quality original content, improving the consumer viewing experience, creating a new business paradigm for the networks that will include limiting the ad load in original shows, and investing in overall growth, Reilly said he hopes to change Turner’s struggling ratings fortunes.

ABC Family will go one step further. Starting later this month, it will abandon it’s 15-year moniker for a new one, Freeform. The network hopes the name will better reflect its mandate to reach young millennials with its drama and comedy programming.

The common denominator with all the networks is a decline in primetime ratings in 2015 compared with the previous year, with TNT and ABC Family suffering double-digit dips. The networks find themselves playing the reinvention game amid a shifting television landscape that is chasing viewers not chained to the small tube for their viewing options.

A year into its rebirth as Pop, the channel formerly called TV Guide Network continues to add original programming, its biggest show thus far being comedy Schitt’s Creek, returning March 16 for a second season. Other returners include the rock-cruise show Rock This Boat: New Kids on the Block, the Alan Thicke reality show Unusually Thicke; and the a capella singing competition Sing It On. Easiest Game Show Ever, hosted by Michael Ian Black, launches Jan. 22. Pop claims eight consecutive quarters of year-over-year gains, including a 30% lift in primetime among the core audience of women age 25-54 in fourth-quarter 2015. And it is adding distributors, with new ones this quarter lifting Pop to about 83 million homes from about 74 million now. Pop president Brad Schwartz talked up the fan-culture-based entertainment channel with Multichannel News editor Kent Gibbons and programming editor R. Thomas Umstead in New York, ahead of Pop’s Jan. 12 presence with CBS at the Television Critics Association tour in Pasadena, Calif. (CBS and Lionsgate own Pop.) Here are some edited highlights.

RELATED: MCN Original Video >Watch R. Thomas Umstead's "One Question for ... Pop Network's Brad Schwartz"

MCN:We hear you are adding new distributors.

Brad Schwartz: In the New Year, we’ll be adding over 8 million homes. What I think is really interesting about that is — the story that’s driving the dialogue in our business these days is how many people are losing subs. You read about ESPN losing 4 million subs, and it affects the stock price of 10 companies, and it’s just insane. So for an emerging network like ours to actually be gaining subs, I think it’s actually a story that is unique. We’ll be launching on Cablevision Jan. 16. We’ll be launching on WideOpenWest on Feb. 1 and we’ll be launching on AT&T U-verse on March 1. All top-10 distributors will carry us on digital basic or greater. That’s an exciting place to jump off of as we approach our first year as Pop. [Editor’s note: GCI in Alaska dropped Pop on Jan. 1, but RCN and Grande will add it later this year, the network said.]

MCN:What else is resonating with distributors?

BS: We’re very efficient. That certainly resonates with distributors. When you look at ratings per sub fee on every single distributor … we are either one of the top five or, at worst, top 10 most valuable networks. We think we provide a great product for the sub fee that they are paying.

MCN:Do you think the audience has a good sense by now of what Pop is?

BS: I think we have had a very, very successful first year. Rebrands are difficult, and a lot of times when you rebrand you take a step backwards in order to take steps forward. We’re proud to say in our first quarter we went up. I think we had a respect for how do we retain the audiences we already have while building something new. So it’s been a great year, but I think we still have a long way to go. There are still millions of people out there that have not heard of the channel. But what I know from just the results and statistics and everything, the people that have found the channel are enjoying the channel. Our length of tune is up; our frequency is up; our new viewership is up — all three things that create a Nielsen point.

MCN:Do you gain from cross-promotion by CBS?

BS: I have lots of conversations with the Showtime guys — I’m like, how do you get spots on CBS? Those are huge businesses, and if there’s promo time available, they have huge businesses to take care of. But they have been very, very supportive. We get a lot of support from CBS Digital. Like when we launched Schitt’s Creek last year, CBS has this Times Square billboard over by the Port Authority [Bus Terminal in New York], they gave us inventory on there. They give us a lot of VOD advertising through all of their VOD platforms. I haven’t gotten a spot for us on the network yet — not that I haven’t asked — but they are very supportive.

MCN:You’ve added TNA’sImpact Wrestling. How does that fit in with the rest of Pop?

BS: It’s funny, when that opportunity came by, your first reaction is, “Wrestling?” And then when you really start digging into it, it’s like, OK, we’ve built this very passionate, exciting brand where we like to say it’s all about the fans. That’s the personality. Our personality is not housewives or rich kids; it’s fans. If we’re going to talk passionately about being a network for fans, that champions fans that go to music festivals like Coachella or fans that go to Comic-Con or fans that go to New Kids on the Block cruises, if that’s going to be the personality, then why can’t we also champion these amazing wrestling fans?

Pop will become the new home for TNA Wrestling as the pro wrestling outfit reached a distribution deal with the former TV Guide Network (now owned by CBS and Lionsgate) for distribution of its weekly series Impact Wrestling.

The series will move from Destination America, which has carried the show since January. Pop will debut TNA’s signature series on Tuesday, Jan. 5, according to the network. The deal provides Impact with more exposure from POP’s 73 million viewers compared to Destination America’s 55 million viewers, according to Nielsen estimates.

“Wrestling has been a fan-fueled staple since the ‘50s, and continues to be some of the most-watched appointment television today. The die-hard fandom and extraordinary passion surrounding Impact Wrestling captures the spirit of Pop as a network that celebrates fan-driven entertainment and excitement,” Pop president Brad Schwartz said in a release. “We’re committed to this new partnership and psyched to bring the show’s loyal fans a dedicated night to watch their favorite show on Pop every week.” 

The deal marks the third distribution home for Impact Wrestling in as many years. Prior to airing on Destination America, Spike TV had carried Impact Wrestling for nine years.

“Pop’s enthusiasm for our partnership and the network’s fan focus is a perfect fit for our company,” said TNA President Dixie Carter in a statement.

Pop network has renewed its reality series Rock This Boat: New Kids On The Block (NKOTB) for a sophomore season, said network officials.

The series, which features the 1990's boy band and their fans as they venture on a fan cruise, will contiue to showcase the band's relationship with its fans, said network executives.

“The unwavering fandom surrounding New Kids on The Block is exciting and infectious, and there is no better way to reward and engage their millions of die-hard fans than with unprecedented access to the band,” said Paul Adler, Senior Vice President, Original Programming and Development, Pop in a statement. “As a network that celebrates the fun of being a fan, we’re looking forward to once again aligning ourselves with a band that has transcended time and continues to pop in fan culture.”

Pop (the former TVGN) renewed its first original scripted series, the Eugene Levy and Catherine O'Hara comedy Schitt's Creek. The sitcom, about a spoiled formerly-rich family forced to make do living in a motel in a depressing town the dad bought years ago as a joke, will come back in 2016 with 13 episodes, the network said.

Created by Levy and his son, Daniel Levy, who also stars, the cast also features Chris Elliott and Annie Murphy. The season finale airs on Wednesday, May 6, at 10 p.m. A scan of February Nielsens show it ranged between 181,000 and 275,000 viewers on a live plus same day basis. For a Multichannel News review of the show, click this link. For the show's site on Poptv.com, click here.

“We struck comedy gold with season one of Schitt's Creek, and now with 13 more episodes on the way, audiences will get to keep falling in love with the Rose family,” Pop president Brad Schwartz said in a release. “Get ready for more laughs and award-worthy performances from some of the best talent in comedy.”

“Wow. A second season on Pop? This is good news! It’s better than good news. My son Daniel and I are thrilled to be associated with such a young, vibrant network. Here’s hoping as Pop grows, so grows Schitt's Creek,” Eugene Levy said in the release.

The show, produced in Canada and airing on the CBC (which commissioned it), is distributed by ITV Studios Global Entertainment.

The Daytime Emmys are popping back onto TV.

The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences and Pop, nee TV Guide Network, will televise live the 42nd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards on Sunday, April 26 at 8 p.m. (ET). Deal terms were not disclosed. 

The announcement follows the event being streamed on DaytimeEmmys.net last year. In 2012 and 2013, the show aired on HLN.

Televised from the Warner Bros. Studios lot on Stage 16 – the location of such Hollywood theatricals as Casablanca,Jurassic Park and Ghostbusters – the 42nd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards show will be executive-produced by Michael Levitt.

“Our new partnership with the Pop network is an ideal platform to present our signature gala,” said NATAS president Bob Mauro. “With the Warner Bros Studios as our venue, where so many great films and television shows have been made, coupled together with Michael Levitt, our executive producer, who created the TV Land Awards, and has produced numerous live event specials, including ‘The Producers Guild Awards, ‘The Billboard Music Awards, and ‘E! Live from the Red Carpet’ shows for the Golden Globes and Oscars, this promises to be a very special telecast of the 42nd  Annual Daytime Emmy Awards.”

“As a network that celebrates talent, we are thrilled to bring the Daytime Emmy Awards back to television for the fans,” said Pop president Brad Schwartz. “Daytime audiences are some of the most amazing and passionate in all of television, and we are proud to honor the greatest works and achievements of daytime. Adding premium live events to our schedule is just another exciting way we are building Pop. We’re going to have a lot of fun with this.”

In addition, NATAS announced that the Daytime Creative Arts Emmy Awards gala will take place on Friday, April 24 at the Universal Hilton in Los Angeles.

Brad Schwartz, who had been president of entertainment and media at Pop since joining the then-TVGN in April 2013, is expanding his role to become president of the network. David Wisnia, the longtime entertainment lawyer who had been president of business operations, is leaving the network to pursue other opportunities, the network, a joint venture of CBS and Lionsgate, said in a release.

“Brad’s leadership of TVGN’s successful transition to and rebranding as Pop reflects his clear strategic vision for the network as well as his strong programming skills and business acumen,” CBS CEO Leslie Moonves and Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer said in the release. “We’re pleased to expand his mandate to include oversight of the integrated creative and business operations of the network as Pop continues to build its brand, develop new programming and maintain its growth trajectory.”

Schwartz previously was a programming executive at Fuse, MTV and CTV in Canada.

With SCTV’s Eugene Levy and Catherine O’Hara and, to a lesser extent, Chris Elliott on board, Canadian import Schitt’s Creek is a must for comedy fans. It’s well-written, nicely acted and directed and overcomes any trepidation you might have about the title. (Each episode is preceded by a warning from Pop, the former TVGN, about “scenes with coarse language.”) Levy’s son, Daniel, co-stars, and they are co-creators.

The Rose family were upper-1% rich but lost it all to a corrupt accountant — except for a depressing town called Schitt’s Creek that Johnny Rose (Eugene Levy) bought as a joke. They are forced to live there until they can, maybe, sell it to some other sucker.

Chris Elliott is the annoying mayor, Roland Schitt, to give you an idea. It’s Green Acres or Newhart revisited, with clever dialogue and the occasional broad joke, like in episode three, when Levy confronts Elliott over a road sign that’s unintentionally funny and vulgar. Levy and O’Hara’s bad parenting and the 20-something spoiled kids’ squabbles make a fun dynamic when they’re forced to live in adjoining rooms in a crappy motel, where the doors go missing or won’t lock.

Pop is partnering with Entertainment Tonight for live red carpet shows preceding the Grammys and the Oscars.

Hosted by ET's Nancy O’Dell and Kevin Frazier, the live red carpet shows will air on Pop, previously TVGN, and provide viewers with a first look at the celebrity arrivals, fashions and antics.

ET at the Grammys Live on Pop will air Sunday, Feb. 8 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. (ET/PT), while ET at the Oscars Live on Pop is scheduled for Feb. 22 from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. (ET) and 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. (PT).

Viewers can engage in the red carpet festivities by posting questions to their favorite celebrities via social media; select questions from viewers will be asked during Pop’s live shows.

“The Grammy Awards and the Oscars are the two must-see award shows of the year, and the red carpets that precede them are appointment viewing for pop culture fans,” said Paul Adler, senior vice president of programming at Pop. “We are thrilled to partner with Entertainment Tonight– one of the premiere entertainment programs in the world – to produce these marquee live events.”

Pop is also celebrating the award season in the 6 p.m. half hour weekdays on PopSugar Now, its daily entertainment news show, with a themed "Grammy Awards Preview Week" and post show, along with a themed "Oscars Preview Week" and post show covering the celebrities, the festivities and the headlines of both award shows.

Pop network will debut in 2015 its first scripted comedy series Schitt’s Creek, said network officials.

Pop, the rebranded TVGN network, will commission 13 episodes of the series, starring Eugene Levy (American Pie, Best In Show, SCTV), Catherine O’Hara (Home Alone, Best In Show) and Chris Elliott (How I Met Your Mother). The series centers on a formerly filthy rich video store magnate, his soap opera wife and their two kids who suddenly find themselves broke and forced to live in a small, depressing town, said network officials.

Eugene Levy, Daniel Levy, Andrew Barnsley, Fred Levy and Ben Feigin will serve as executive producers of the CBC-commissioned series produced by Not A Real Company Productions Inc.

“This show answers the question — what would the Kardashians do if they woke up one day, completely broke?,” said Brad Schwartz, President of Entertainment and Media, POP in a statement. “Not only is this project a clever cultural commentary where the 1 percent is suddenly the 99, but it fits right in the heart of everything we’re building at our new network. It’s a dream cast, it’s hysterically funny, and it’s sure to pop.”

TVGN has named Pam Bertino as its new senior vice president of content distribution, the network said Thursday.

In the newly created position, Bertino will lead affiliate sales and marketing efforts for the network, which will be rebranded as POP in early 2015. She will report to David Wisnia, president of business operations for TVGN.

Most recently, Bertino served as senior vice president of content distribution at Ovation, leading the network’s content distribution efforts.

“Pam is a seasoned sales executive with significant experience negotiating multi-platform content distribution agreements,” said Wisnia in a statement. “Her leadership, combined with the affiliate sales and marketing team we’ve built over the past year, is a great addition to the network as we prepare to launch POP in early 2015.”

The Pop network – TVGN’s rebranded name beginning in 2015-- will launch six new original series as part of the rebranded network’s programming development slate, network officials said Tuesday.

The new series include competition music series Sing It On; Queens of Drama, a docu-series about daytime soap stars trying to develop a primetime series, Street Magic, which follows underground street magicians.  

The new series join previously announce startups Rock This Boat: New Kids On The Block, The Story Behind, and Big Brother After Dark. In addition, Alan Thicke starrer docu-series Unusually Thicke has been picked up for a second season. The network also said it will offer live red carpet specials at the Oscars and Grammys.  

“We couldn't be more excited to announce our first wave of original programming that will launch POP to the world in the New Year,” said Pop president of entertainment and media Brad Schwartz. “Our slate is filled with fun, fan-driven content featuring big stars and rising talent, as well as an optimistic spirit that celebrates audience passion.”