Several cable networks are going back to the future this fall by resurrecting high-profile, unscripted series franchises in an effort to lure back old fans as well as to bring in a new generation of viewers.

On Labor Day (Sept. 4), A&E will bring back its Emmy-winning Biography series after a five-year hiatus. The series, which aired in syndication before debuting on A&E in 1987 and ran on FYI (formerly Bio) through 2012, will again profile the lives of marquee entertainers and their impact on culture, executive VP and head of programming Elaine Frontain Bryant said.

The first installment of the new series, "The Notorious Life of Biggie Smalls," chronicles the slain hip-hop pioneer.

“Bringing back the Biography brand is so important for us,” Bryant said.

RELATED: A&E 's Elaine Frontain Bryant discusses 'Biography' and the network's Emmy-nominted unscripted shows (VIDEO)
Also returning to the television stage in September is MTV’s Unplugged. The series, which first debuted in 1989, features musical acts playing their most popular songs on acoustic instruments and bows Sept. 8 with pop music star Shawn Mendes.

Later this year, Discovery Channel will offer a revival of game show Cash Cab, starring Ben Bailey, who originally drove the New York taxi that gave unwitting passengers an opportunity to win prizes during the show’s first run on the network from 2005-12.

Discovery Group president Rich Ross said the familiarity of reboots like Cash Cab gives such shows a leg up.

“When you don’t have to resell a premise, it’s much easier to break through in a crowded environment,” he said.

The Paley Center for Media hosts its International Council Summit Thursday and Friday (Nov. 19-20) in New York, where top media and entertainment company executives will convene to discuss the transactions that "are moving the needle and changing the face of the global media landscape."

The summit, programmed around the theme "Deals & Dealmaking: Capitalizing on the Media Revolution," opens at 9 a.m. Thursday with an interesting pairing when Discovery Commuications president/CEO David Zaslav interviews James Murdoch, CEO of 21st Century Fox.

The event's other keynote speakers are Tim Armstrong, CEO of AOL, and Marni Walden, EVP and president of product innovcation and new business at Verizon, who close out the day at 4:30 p.m. with "40/40 — Going All In on Mobile," during which they promise to open up about their “40-40 opportunity — $40 billion going to mobile and $40 billion going to video." Chris Pantoya, the NBA's SVP of mobile strategy, will moderate.

Among the featured speakers is Hearst executive vice chairman Frank A. Bennack, Jr., who is also chairman of the Paley Center. He and Steve Swartz, Hearst president and CEO, will join Multichannel News editorial director Mark Robichaux at 2:45 p.m. for "Masters of the Game," a half-hour conversation about the executives' game plan for building and reinvigorating a global media powerhouse through the strategic acquisition of content, technologies and multiple platforms. 

Other sessions of note on Thursday include:

--"It’s a Disneyfied World!" at 11:05 a.m., with Andy Bird, chairman of Walt Disney International, and Claudio Chiaromonte, EVP and managing director, The Walt Disney Co. Latin America, on their approach to building Disney’s global network, linking all of its businesses;

--"Breaking the Backend," at 11:35 a.m., with United Talent Agency's Peter Benedek, Discovery's Rich Ross and Leftfield Entertainment's Brent Montgomery, on the new economics of programming, production, content investment and talent deal structures; and

--"Media Myths & Consumer Trends: Separating Fact from Fiction," at 2:30 p.m., a 15-minute talk by Nielsen global president Steve Hasker on Nielsen's progress toward measuring the "Total Audience" for all content across all platforms and consumer trends the media measurement company foresees in 2020.

The conference continues on Friday (Nov. 20) through 1:30 p.m. with six additional sessions. For more information, visit the Paley IC 2015 website.

Discovery Channel president Rich Ross will add Animal Planet and Science Channel to his day-to-day duties as part of a Discovery Communications corporate realignment announced Thursday.

Ross, who was named Discovery president last October, will take over Animal Planet -- whose previous head, Marjorie Kaplan, last week was named president of content for Discovery Networks International -- as well as Science Channel. Animal Planet general manager Rich Holzman will report to Ross, as will Science Channel general manager Rita Mullin, according to Discovery.

Discovery will fold Discovery Life Channel under the leadership of TLC executive vice president and general manger Nancy Daniels. TLC EVP of development and production Howard Lee will take over as Discovery Life Channel general manager, replacing Jane Latman, who will become general manager of American Heroes Channel (AHC).

AHC, along with Destination America and Investigation Discovery, will remain under Group President Henry Schleiff, said Discovery.

Discovery also named Bob Scanlon general manager of Velocity and Automotive Content. Discovery Family Channel general manger Tom Cosgrove will now report to Carolina Lightcap, head of content for Discovery Latin America and U.S. Hispanic Group, as part of her oversight of Discovery's global family brands and kids content.

“This strategic realignment positions Discovery well to drive our content engine across platforms here in the U.S. and worldwide, and creates the strongest pairings of creative talent to develop, program and lead these new brand groups now and into the future,” said Discovery Communications president and CEO David Zaslav in a statement. “I believe some of Discovery’s best stories are yet to be told and I look forward to the growth and further development for each of our U.S. brands for years to come under this team’s strong creative leadership.”

Pasadena, Calif. -- Discovery Channel will look to develop as many as two scripted series in 2015 as the network eyes a more family-friendly and inclusive brand, said recently named network president Rich Ross.

Ross, speaking during Discovery’s Television Critics Association press tour presentation here Thursday, said he wants to stress authenticity and inclusiveness in the network’s original programming, although he did not give specific examples of new shows.

He did say Discovery will ramp up its scripted programming lineup, possibly launching two historical-based series in 2015. “We have a huge opportunity [in scripted],” he said.

Ross also said the recent hire of veteran documentary producer John Hoffman as the network’s executive vice president of documentaries and specials signals the network’s desire to develop quality and authentic non-fiction fare.

“The most important thing is authenticity,” he said. “It’s really important that we look into the brand and make sure that’s what we stand for.”

Discovery Communications has reached out to former Shine America and Disney executive Rich Ross to head its flagship brand.

Ross will join Discovery Channel as its president in January and will be based in the network's Los Angeles.

Reporting to Discovery Communications president and CEO David Zaslav, the former Shine America CEO and longtime Disney executive will oversee creative and brand strategy, development, production, marketing and all day-to-day operations for the network.

Marjorie Kaplan, who has served as interim president for the Discovery Channel after the August move of former Discovery head Eileen O'Neill to Discovery Studios, will continue in that role until Ross’s arrival next year. She will continue to serve as group president of TLC and Animal Planet, and will add Velocity to the portfolio of networks under her leadership.

"Rich is one of the most creative storytellers, ratings drivers, brand builders and TV executives in the industry today," said Zaslav. "On top of being just a great guy, Rich also is mission driven, with a commitment to quality, blue-chip programming and is a terrific fit with Discovery.  I am confident that with his experience, relationships and creative leadership, Rich can lead Discovery to its next great chapter in innovative, groundbreaking television.”

Ross takes over a network that's on a ratings roll of late. Discovery, backed by such hits as Fast N' Loud, Gold Rush and Alaska: The Last Frontier, finished among the top 10 most watched cable networks in primetime during the month of October, averaging 1.1 million viewers, up 16% from a year ago, according to Nielsen.

Prior to Shine, Ross served as Chairman of Walt Disney Studios from 2009-12 overseeing worldwide production, distribution and marketing for the Walt Disney, Disney-Pixar and Marvel movie studios. Before that, Ross headed up the tween-targeted Disney Channel and during his five year tenure led the service to record ratings growth. He oversaw the development of cable’s most watched original movie of alltime in 2007’s High School Musical2 and the top two scripted telecasts ever among Kids 6-11 and Tweens in Musical and 2009's Wizards of Waverly Place The Movie.