Starz will debut its first weekly talk show series, Fat Joe Talks, on October 4, featuring music artist/actor Method Man.

The weekly interview series will star the Grammy Award-nominated hip-hop artist Fat Joe as he interviews celebrities and newsmakers who drive the cultural zeitgeist, Starz said. Other stars expected to appear in the series include Mary J. Blige, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), T.I. and Babyface.

Embassy Row and SpringHill will produce the series for Starz. Fat Joe will serve as executive producer for the series along with LeBron James, Maverick Carter, Philip Byron, Jamal Henderson and Michael Davies. 

Veteran actor Blair Underwood has played many complex characters over his entertainment career of nearly 40 years, but the L.A. Law and Sex and the City star said his latest role in Starz’s provocative drama Three Women as a husband in an open marriage was among his most challenging.

Based on Lisa Taddeo’s best-selling nonfiction book of the same name, the series, which premieres September 13, follows a reporter who documents the stories of three women from different walks of life seeking to explore their true desires. Underwood’s role as a husband in a polyamorous relationship with his wife, played by DeWanda Wise, was a departure for the 60-year-old actor. 

“I had reluctance signing on to this project only because of the intimacy involved,”  said Underwood, who most recently appeared in the theatrical horror film Longlegs.

Shailene Woodley, Betty Gilpin, Gabrielle Creevy and Fred Savage also star in the 10-episode Starz series. 

Underwood spoke to Multichannel News senior content producer, programming R. Thomas Umstead about his initial concerns about joining the project and what ultimately moved him to take the role. A slightly edited version of the interview appears below. 

MCN: What drew you to the Three Women project?

Blair Underwood: First, I heard it was a No. 1 best-selling book, so I knew its history and its pedigree. What drew me specifically was the storyline. I loved the fact that mine was a character who was in a relationship that was polyamorous and open to different partners. Just to explore that on screen was intriguing.

MCN: How difficult was it for you to get into your character? 

BU: I had some reluctance signing on to this project only because of the intimacy involved. There’s such an internal, interior dynamic that’s going on in all of the [sex] scenes — it’s not just people having sex. You see that and it’s very explicit, and my reservation was to understand the confines of that from a mechanical standpoint. But from an emotional standpoint, I thought it was an interesting exploration to do as long as you’re seeing the emotional and intellectual calisthenics that are going on in the midst of these sexual escapades. 

MCN: Has the proliferation of TV distributors like Starz, along with the streaming services, provided opportunities to tell stories like Three Women that didn’t exist before? 

BU: I think that’s part of it — all of these platforms, especially streaming services, need content. But I also think it’s just where we are culturally in society. It’s more a part of the conversation. That’s also one of the things that drew me to the project: actors love when you can play characters that provoke conversation. 

MCN: Going forward after this role, will you be more open to playing unique and complex characters that you may not have played 10 to 15 years ago?

BU: It’s funny you say that — when I said that there was resistance to come on this, it's because I never played a character that had that explicit sexual dynamic, and it's something I said I would never do. Longlegs, which is out now, is a horror film that I didn’t think I’d ever do. So I’m more open now. 

Starz has greenlit a new talk show featuring hip Hop artist/entrepreneur Fat Joe as well as a new original drama series starring Yellowjackets star Ella Purnell, the network announced Thursday during the Television Critics Association.

The Fat Joe Talks interview series will feature the actor and philanthropist as he provides access into the lives of today’s most influential personalities who drive the cultural zeitgeist, according to the network. The series will offer conversations around a wide range of newsworthy topics and will travel throughout the country to meet cultural icons in their environment.

Embassy Row will produce the series along with SpringHill, according to Starz. Executive producers for the show include Fat Joe, LeBron James, Maverick Carter, Phillip Byron, Jamal Henderson and Michael Davies will serve as executive producers.  

“Fat Joe Talks is an exciting foray into talk, and who better than Joe – a legend in and of himself – to drive provocative conversations that tap into the zeitgeist and matter to our audience,” Starz president of original programming Kathryn Busby said in a statement. “We are thrilled to be working with Joe and our partners at SpringHill and Embassy Row to launch this incredible show, offering authentic,  backstage, rare access to these cultural icons.” 

Sweetpea, set to debut later this year, stars Purnell as a quiet wallflower who develops a vengeful and intoxicatingly liberating taste for murder, according to Starz. The six-part series also stars Nicole Lecky, Jon Pointing, Calam Lynch and Leah Harvey.

“We’re excited to partner with Ella Purnell and Sky Studios on such a fresh, boundary-breaking story,” Starz president of domestic networks Alison Hoffman said. “This darkly, comic tale of revenge is sure to thrill viewers, as Ella’s performance as a woman who finds her voice and claims her agency in ways that are devious and shocking.”

Starz has set a November return for the seventh season of drama series Outlander.

The network said eight remaining episodes of Outlander's seventh season will debut November 22, more than a year after the June 2023 premiere of the season's first eight episodes. The series, which stars Catriona Balfe and Sam Heughan, is currently in production for its eighth and final season.

Starz also announced the addition of several new cast members for time-traveling drama's eighth season, including Kieran Bew, Frances Tomelty and Carla Woodcock.

Starz's Outlander prequel series, Blood of My Blood, is currently in production.

Along with Balfe and Heughan, Outlander stars John Bell, Richard Rankin, Sophie Skelton, David Berry, Charles Vandervaart, Izzy Meikle-Small and Joey Phillips. 

Outlander is executive produced by Balfe, Heughan, Matthew Roberts, Ronald D. Moore, Maril Davis, Toni Graphia, Luke Schelhaas, Andy Harries and Jim Kohlberg.

Starz said it expanded its domestic networks distribution team by hiring Brandt Haynes as senior VP, distribution.

The company also promoted two marketing executives, with Melissa Stankowski becoming senior VP, brand and creative and Whitney Abeel named senior VP, originals and digital marketing.

Haynes reports to Sofia Chang, who joined the company last year as executive VP, chief distribution officer.

Chang also appointed Todd Hoy senior VP of distribution, overseeing business development, distribution deal strategy and traditional partner relations.

“The strategic changes to our distribution team including Brandt and Todd in these key leadership roles will help us continue to solidify our position as the industry’s partner of choice,” said Alison Hoffman, president, domestic networks at Starz. “And we’re thrilled to elevate Whitney and Melissa who have consistently raised the bar in marketing our programming and the Starz brand with their bold vision and impeccable taste.”

Haynes most recently was chief operating officer and head of transformation at Girl Scouts of the USA. Before that, he held posts at HBO and HBO Max.

Before his new promotion, Hoy was senior VP and head of business and legal affairs, international networks for Starz.

Stankowski joined Starz in 2021 as executive director of brand and was promoted to VP of creative services later that year. Before joining Starz, she was editor-in-chief at Stirr.

Abeel has been with Starz for more than a decade, starting as a specialist in originals marketing. Before Starz, she was with ABC.

Starz will expand its Power universe by developing a prequel series that follows the origins of popular Power characters Ghost and Tommy.

The Origins series is the fourth spinoff of the Power franchise, following Power Book II: Ghost, Power Book III: Raising Kanan and Power Book IV: Force. Power’s original Ghost and Tommy characters were played by Omari Hardwick and Joseph Sikora, respectively. Sikora reprised that role in Power Book IV: Force, which is currently filming its third season in Chicago. 

“As we approach the 10-year anniversary of Power, it is incredible to witness the enormous connection our fans have with the Power universe,” Starz president of programming Kathryn Busby said in a statement. “We can’t wait to see how Origins will further evolve this dynamic franchise while bringing fresh, gripping and expansive storytelling to our audience.” 

Sascha Penn will serve as executive producer for Origins, along with Courtney Kemp, Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson and Mark Canton. 

Separately, Starz said Ghost will return for a fourth and final season on June 7 and released a Ghost preview. The seasons' 10 episodes will be split up, with the second part beginning on September 6.

“This explosive season of Ghost is a fitting crescendo in a decade of an immensely popular franchise -- fans will not be disappointed,” Busby said in a release. “While this marks the conclusion of one chapter, our commitment to the Power universe endures with more compelling storytelling on the horizon.”

Starz has renewed its hit drama series BMF for a fourth season prior to the show’s third season debut on March 3.

The series, executive produced by Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, follows the exploits of two brothers leading a legendary Detroit-based crime family. The series is one of Starz's most watched shows, averaging 10.6M multiplatform views per episode.

The series stars Demetrius Flenory Jr., Da’Vinchi, Russell Hornsby, and Michole Briana White. Along with Jackson, BMF is executive produced by Randy Huggins, Heather Zuhlke, Anthony Wilson and Anne Clements.

“Fans can’t get enough of the history in the making that is BMF,” Starz president of programming Kathryn Busby said in a statement. “We’re thrilled to start working on a new season that will continue bold storytelling of the legend of the Flenory brothers that has proven to resonate so deeply with our viewers.” 

Starz will add another season to its Power franchise with a season three renewal of Power Book IV: Force.

The series, the third spinoff in the Power franchise, stars Joseph Sikora as Tommy Egan — a character from the first Power series — as he attempts to become the sole drug distributor in Chicago, according to the network.

Also starring in the series are Isaac Keys, Lili Simmons, Shane Harper, Kris Lofton, Carmela Zumbado, Manuel Eduardo Ramirez and Adrienne Walker. 

“The fan response to this action-packed season of Force has been incredible,” Starz president of programming Kathryn Busby said in a statement. “They’ve made it clear that they need more Tommy, and we’re thrilled to deliver.”

Power Book IV: Force is executive produced by Gary Lennon, Courtney Kemp, Curtis ‘50 Cent’ Jackson, Mark Canton, Terri Kopp and Chris Selak. 

Starz will launch the third and final season of its drama series Hightown on January 26.

The series, which stars Monica Raymond as flawed police officer Jackie Quinones battling against a deadly opioid crisis in Cape Cod, last aired on the premium network in 2021. Starz describes season three of the series as one in which bad guys and corruption arise from all sides, forcing Jackie to learn to stand by herself and for what she believes in.

Along with Raymund, the series stars James Badge Dale, Riley Voelkel, Amaury Nolasco, Atkins Estimond and Dohn Norwood. 

Hightown is executive produced by Rebecca Cutter, Jerry Bruckheimer, Jonathan Littman, KristineAnne Reed, Ellen Schwartz, Gary Lennon and Tim Walsh. 

Starz has renewed its drama series Power Book III: Raising Kanan in advance of its December 1 season three premiere.
 
The series, the second spinoff series from Starz's Power franchise, has already begun production on its fourth season. Power Book III: Raising Kanan tells the origins of Power character Kanan Stark and his entry into the criminal world through his mother, who ruthlessly runs the family's drug empire, according to Starz.

Also Read: ‘Power Book III: Raising Kanan’ Returns; ‘Thriller 40’ Hits Screens: What’s Premiering This Week (Nov. 27-Dec. 3)

MeKai Curtis stars in the series along with Patina Miller, Omar Epps, London Brown and Malcolm Mays. Power creator Courtney Kemp serves as executive producer for Power Book III: Raising Kanan along with Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson, Sascha Penn, Mark Canton, Chris Selak and Kevin Fox. 

“We’re thrilled to continue Kanan Stark’s story, and for fans to see how the events of his formative adolescent years continue to mold him into the cold-hearted villain they were first introduced to in Power," Starz original programming president Kathryn Busby said in a statement. "We are quite sure that after viewers see the battle lines being drawn between Raq and Kanan on this epic upcoming third season that they will demand more.” 

Starz, the premium cable network and streaming provider set for separation from Lionsgate’s balance sheet early next year, added 200,000 domestic OTT subscribers from July through September, according to the parent company's fiscal Q2 report. 

Starz finished September with just over 12 million direct-to-consumer streaming subscribers, after losing 430,000 OTT customers in its fiscal first quarter. Starz has around 19.44 million customers across linear premium networks and SVOD platforms, which is about 570,000 less than it had at the end of September 2022.

“We [are] focused on preparing Starz to thrive as a profitable and successful stand-alone company,” Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer told investors. “On the strategic front, we're actively engaged in steps towards highlighting the value of our two separate businesses and expect to update you by the next call.”

Lionsgate beat equity analysts’ expectations in fiscal Q2, with a jump in revenue to from $858 million to more than $1 billion, driven by a nearly 80% revenue increase in the motion picture department.

The Canadian “mini-major” studio also narrowed its net loss for the quarter to $887.9 million. 

Lionsgate’s motion picture business ended the quarter up 77% year-over-year to $396 million, with segment profit up 22% to $68 million. Lionsgate chief financial officer Jimmy Barge credited John Wick 4, as well as an increase in wide and multi-platform releases for the swell.

Lionsgate’s TV sector, however, saw revenue decline 9% to $393.9 million, which Barge attributed to the Hollywood guild strike interruption of episodic TV delivery. 

Lionsgate also recently acquired Entertainment One from Hasbro for $500 million, a transaction set to close later this year.

Ahead of its separation from parent Lionsgate, premium network and streaming service provider Starz plans to reduce its staff of 670 employees by more than 10%.

News of the layoffs came in a memo sent to staffers by Starz CEO Jeffrey Hirsch on Friday, followed by a company-wide town hall meeting.

“As difficult as it is, with many of our employees being impacted, we are making these changes to align our organization with the growth areas of the business and to prepare us for our next chapter as a standalone company,” said Hirsch in the memo, obtained by CNBC. 

Starz will also end business operations in the U.K. and Australia, following its recent exit from Latin America. The departures were announced in Lionsgate’s August earnings call — Lionsgate Entertainment CEO Jon Feltheimer called it a “move towards focusing the service on the U.S., the UK, Canada and Australia.”

Departing the U.K. will scale down Starz’s operations and prepare it for a potential merger with another U.S. media asset. 

Lionsgate acquired Starz in 2016, when TMT titan John Malone's Liberty Media sold the media venture to the Canadian “mini-major” for $4.4 billion in assets and stock. 

Of course, it didn’t take Lionsgate long to figure out that pay TV distribution is hard right now and building streaming scale might be even harder. In May of 2022, it announced that it would spin off Starz, hoping to cull greater value from the asset.  

Scheduled to depart from Lionsgate in September of this year, the divestment of Starz was delayed due to Lionsgate’s $500 million acquisition of Hasbro’s eOne and this year’s Hollywood guild strikes. 

Lionsgate itself, meanwhile, quietly cut nearly 10% of its workforce, nearly 150 full-time employees at the beginning of 2023 as part of a $43 million deal to sell a partial interest in StarzPlay Arabia. Lionsgate now plans to divest Starz sometime in 2024.

“What has been instrumental to our successful transition from a linear-only business into the new digital world has been our laser focus on the changing environment, anticipating what lies ahead and adapting the organization to succeed in this disruptive environment,” Hirsch said in his memo. “It’s why we continue to stand out as one of the only profitable premium networks.”

But Starz doesn’t have anywhere near the market value it had back in 2016. So Lionsgate has been cutting overhead to try to make the asset more attractive to buyers. 

In September, Starz went on a bit of a programming purge. 

Wrestling drama Heels, comedy Run the World and dramedy Blindspotting all found themselves on the chopping block. Also cut was The Venery of Samantha Bird, which had yet to finish production on its first season.

Dropping four series in quick succession wasn't a small move for Starz, which doesn't have much in the way of scale. 

Starz ended last quarter with 12 million domestic streaming subscribers and about 20 million total customers, including those who pay for traditional pay TV. The company typically focuses on female and Black audiences with series like Black Mafia Family and P-Valley.

Lionsgate shares rose 7% on Friday. The company is set to report its third-quarter earnings Thursday.

Lionsgate will report its fiscal second-quarter earnings on November 9.

Paramount Plus’s reboot of the popular 1990s sitcom Frasier leads a busy list of shows set to debut this week.

Frasier premieres on the streaming service October 12 with Kelsey Grammer reprising the role of psychiatrist Frasier Crane. The series also stars Jack Cutmore-Scott and Nicholas Lyndhurst, with guest appearances from original series stars Bebe Neuwirth and Peri Gilpin. The first two episodes of the series will also air on CBS on October 17.

Debuting on October 13 is the premiere of Disney Plus’s Goosebumps, the latest TV adaptation of the R. L. Stine book franchise. The 10-episode, kids-targeted, horror-themed series will also debut its first two episodes on Freeform on the same night.

Also premiering on Friday the 13th is the fourth season of streaming service Shudder's horror-based anthology series Creepshow. The first episode of the series will also debut on AMC Plus and AMC. 

Here are video trailers and premiere dates for several shows debuting during the week of October 9-15. For some videos, viewer discretion is advised.

October 11: Messi Meets America (sports documentary), Apple TV Plus

October 12: Doom Patrol (returning series), Max

October 12: The Fall of the House of Usher (horror), Netflix

October 13: The Burial (drama), Prime Video

October 13: John Carpenter’s Suburban Screams (horror series), Peacock

October 13: Lessons in Chemistry (drama), Apple TV Plus

October 13: Shining Vale (returning series), Starz

October 15: Billy the Kid (returning series), MGM Plus 

Starz will develop a new drama series, The Hunting Wives, based on a novel by May Cobb.

The series, executive produced by Cobb and Rebecca Cutter (Hightown), follows the story of Sophie O’Neil and her family’s move from the East Coast to deep red East Texas, where she succumbs to socialite Margo Banks‘s irresistible charms — and finds her life consumed by obsession, seduction, and murder, said the network. 

Starz’s development of The Hunting Wives comes on the heels of its decision to cancel its drama series Heels Run The World and Blindspotting, as well as its decision not to go ahead with the development of drama series The Venery of Samantha Bird.

Erwin Stoff (Starz’s The Serpent Queen) will serve as executive producer along with Cobb and Cutter, according to the network. 

“The Hunting Wives is a juicy, suspenseful and sultry thrill-ride,” Starz president of original programming Kathryn Busby said in a statement. “We’re excited to continue to work with Rebecca and Erwin on this propulsive series that perfectly complements Starz's slate of edgy, female-forward premium content.”

Starz has pulled the plug on three sophomore scripted series, Run The World, Heels and Blindspotting, the network confirmed.

Run The World, executive produced by Leigh Davenport, follows the lives of a group of Black women who work, live and play in Harlem as they strive for world domination, according to network officials. The series stars Amber Stevens West, Bresha Webb, Corbin Reid, Stephen Bishop, Tosin Morohunfola and Erika Alexander. It ended its second season in July.

Pro-wrestling drama Heels follows a family-owned wrestling promotion as two brothers and rivals war over their late father’s legacy. The series, which concluded its eight-episode final season on September 15, stars Stephen Amell, Alexander Ludwig, Alison Luff, Mary McCormack and James Harrison. Fans upset about its cancellation made the hashtag #CancelStarz trend on X (formerly Twitter) today.

Also Read: Starz Names Sofia Chang as EVP, Chief Distribution Officer

Blindspotting, based on the 2018 movie, follows a young woman whose life gets turned around after her partner of 12 years and father of her son is suddenly incarcerated. The series stars Jasmine Cephas Jones, Jaylen Barron, Atticus Woodward and Helen Hunt.

The series, created by Rafael Casal and Daveed Diggs, ended its second season on Starz in May.

The pay TV service has also confirmed that it will not go ahead with plans to launch drama series The Venery of Samantha Bird, which follows a young woman's whose seemingly storybook love affair isn't what it seems. 

Starz has named cable veteran Sofia Chang as its executive VP president, chief distribution officer.

The former WarnerMedia executive will oversee all of Starz’s sales activities with multichannel video and digital distributors. Chang, who was most recently the national CEO of Girl Scouts of the USA, will report to Starz president of domestic networks Alison Hoffman. 

“Sofia is a well-respected entertainment executive who brings a wealth of experience to Starz along with a successful track record of driving growth in both the linear and digital space,” Hoffman said in a statement. “We are excited to welcome her to the Starz team and know her leadership will help us broaden our partner ecosystem, deepen our existing relationships and solidify our position as the industry’s bundling partner of choice.”

Chang spent more than 20 years at WarnerMedia and its predecessor, Time Warner, most recently as president of distribution, where she led distribution revenue for all HBO-branded digital and linear channels and navigated its subscriber and revenue growth. While at HBO, Chang also oversaw content distribution in other formats. 

“I’m thrilled to join Starz and I’m looking forward to building on the team’s great success,” Chang said. “I am also incredibly proud to be joining an organization that is dedicated to putting women and underrepresented audiences at the forefront of its business strategy.”

Two cable-network drama series — AMC’s Dark Winds and Starz’s Heels — will launch their sophomore campaigns amid a crowded lineup of shows and movies debuting during the last week of July. 

AMC on July 30 will premiere the second season of Dark Winds, starring Zahn McClarnon as a Navajo Tribal Police lieutenant investigating a series of seemingly unrelated crimes. Also starring in the series are Kiowa Gordon, Jessica Matten, Jeri Ryan and Nicolas Logan.

Starz will return to the wrestling ring on July 28 with the second season of drama series Heels. Stephen Amell and Alexander Ludwig return as brothers participating in a local pro wrestling league both inside and outside the ring. Heels also stars Alison Luff, Mary McCormack, Kelli Berglund and Allen Maldonado.

Here are video trailers and premiere dates for several shows debuting during the week of July 24-30. For some videos, viewer discretion is advised.

July 24: Futurama (returning series) — Hulu

July 24: The Golden Boy (sports documentary) — HBO

July 26: The Hardy Boys (returning series) — Hulu

July 27: Harley Quinn (returning series) — Max

July 27: Twisted Metal (comedy) — Peacock

July 27: The Witcher (returning series) — Netflix

July 27: Zoey 102 (comedy movie) — Paramount Plus

July 28: Good Omens (returning series) — Prime Video

July 28: This Fool (returning series) — Hulu

The return of FX’s drama series Justified highlights the list of original series debuting this week

Justified: City Primeval debuts July 18 and returns Timothy Olyphant to the role of Deputy U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens. The series, an extension of the Justified drama series that ran on FX from 2010-2015, follows Givens as he travels to Detroit to pursue an elusive killer, according to the network. 

Debuting July 23 is Paramount Plus’ Special Ops: Lioness, a new drama from prolific series creator Taylor Sheridan. The military-themed series stars Zoe Saldana, Laysla De Oliveira, Nicole Kidman and Morgan Freeman.

Here are video trailers and premiere dates for several shows debuting during the week of July 17-23. For some videos, viewer discretion is advised.

July 19, The Deepest Breath (documentary), Netflix

July 19, Kalvin Phillips: The Road to City (sports documentary), Prime Video

July 20, Superpowered: The DC Story (documentary series), Max

July 20, Tacoma FD (returning series), truTV

July 21, Minx (returning series), Starz

July 21, Praise Petey (animation), Freeform

July 21, The Cloned Tyrone (movie), Netflix

Starz will bring back its travel docuseries featuring Outlander stars Sam Heughan and Graham McTavish for its second season in August.

The four-part series, Men in Kilts: A Roadtrip with Sam and Graham, debuts August 11 and follows Heughan and McTavish as they travel to New Zealand, according to the network. The series, the first season of which debuted in 2021, will also spotlight the friendship between the two men while showcasing some of their exploits during the trip.

Men in Kilts: A Roadtrip with Sam and Graham is produced by Boardwalk Pictures and executive produced by Heughan, McTavish, Alexander Norouzi, Andrew Fried, Dane Lillegard, Sarina Roma and Kevin Johnston. 

Also: The Five Spot: Kathryn Busby, President of Original Programming, Starz

Starz will continue to follow the lives of three female friends from Harlem in the second season of its comedy series Run the World, debuting May 26.

The series’ eight-episode sophomore campaign stars Amber Stevens West, Bresha Webb and Corbin Reid as 30-something Black women trying to balance careers and relationships as they pursue their dreams of world domination, according to the network. The series also stars Stephen Bishop, Tosin Moronfunhola and Erika Alexander. 

Alexander, who starred in the 1990s Fox sitcom Living Single, said her character Barb — a successful editor and confidante to the younger women in the series — helps bridge the gap between generations on the show.

“I’m hanging out with [the girls] and having a generational conversation that I think is now evolving,” she said. “Barb has a lot to offer because she’s already arrived. [The show writers] are writing for people who want to have a longer conversation about not only relationships, but who you see yourself as.” 

In Run the World's second season, series executive producers Leigh Davenport, Yvette Lee Bowser and Rachelle Williams-BenAry continue to showcase the nuances of how women relate to one another on the road to success, according to Alexander. 

“They had a really wonderful intention to create a conversation between women about healthy relationships and what it means to have ambition and go for your career dreams — and also what it means when you don’t meet them,” she said. 

Starz will continue to build on its Power universe with the September 1 second season rollout of Power Book IV: Force.

The series will continue to follow popular Power character Tommy Egan, played by Joseph Sikora, as he looks to conquer Chicago’s drug world after cutting ties in New York, according to the network. 

Power Book IV: Force also stars Isaac Keys, Lili Simmons, Shane Harper, Kris Lofton, Carmela Zumbado, and Manuel Eduardo Ramirez.

The series is executive produced by Gary Lennon, Courtney Kemp, Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, Mark Canton, Terri Kopp and Chris Selak.

The debut of History's limited series FDR along with the premiere of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s first scripted TV series lead the list of original content premiering on streaming services and cable networks during the week leading into the Memorial Day holiday weekend.  

History's three-episode series, FDR, debuts May 29 and provides a portrait of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt as he led the U.S. through the Great Depression and World War II while dealing with his own personal fight with polio, according to the network. Co-produced  by Bradley Cooper, the series is based on Pulitzer Prize-winning author Doris Kearns Goodwin Leadership: In Turbulent Times.  

Netflix on May 25 will debut drama/comedy series Fubar, starring Schwarzenegger as a CIA operative who, on the verge of retirement, discovers that his daughter also works for the agency. The two are paired together for one last undercover mission, according to Netflix. Monica Barbaro, Milan Carter, Gabriel Luna and Fortune Feimster also star in the eight-episode series.

Also this week, FX will debut the fifth and final season of its Sons of Anarchy biker spinoff drama Mayans M.C. on May 24. The series stars JD Pardo as Ezekiel “EZ” Reyes who runs the Mayans M.C. charter on the California-Mexico border, according to the network. JR Bourne, Danny Pino and Michael Irby also star in the series.

Here are video trailers and premiere dates for several shows debuting during the week of May 22-29 (for some videos, viewer discretion is advised):

May 23, Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai (animation), Max

May 23, How to Create a Sex Scandal (documentary), Max

May 24, American Born Chinese (drama), Disney Plus

May 24, Platonic (comedy), Apple TV Plus

May 25, The Kardashians (returning series), Hulu

May 26, Being Mary Tyler Moore (documentary), HBO

May 26, Run The World (returning series), Starz

Starz will debut the second season of comedy series Minx July 21, seven months after the show was canceled by HBO Max.

The Lionsgate Television-produced series stars Ophelia Lovibond and Jake Johnson as creators of the first erotic magazine for women. The second season finds the two grappling with Minx’s explosive success, which brings more money, fame and temptation than either of them know to handle, according to Starz.

Along with Lovibond and Johnson, the series also stars Idara Victor, Jessica Lowe, Lennon Parham, Oscar Montoya and Elizabeth Perkins. 

HBO Max canceled Minx in December 2022 while the second season was in production. Lionsgate-owned Starz picked up the series a month later. 

Also: Starz Picks Up Comedy 'Minx' After Cancellation by HBO Max

Minx is executive produced by Ellen Rapoport, Paul Feig, Dan Magnate, Ben Karlin and Rachel Lee Goldenberg. 

Starz’s time-travelling drama series Outlander will return for its seventh season June 16, the network announced Thursday.

Outlander’s seventh season will be split into two, eight-episode parts, with the second part airing in 2024, according to the network. The series, which stars Caitriona Balfe, Sam Heughan, Sophie Skelton and Richard Rankin, has already been renewed for an eighth and final season.

Also: Sinead O'Connor Sings 'Outlander' Theme in Season Seven 

Starz has also greenlit an Outlander prequel series, Blood of My Blood.

Outlander, based on Diana Gabaldon’s best-selling novels, is executive produced by Balfe, Heughan, Matthew B. Roberts, Ronald D. Moore, Maril Davis, Toni Graphia, Luke Schelhaas, Andy Harries and Jim Kohlberg. ■

Starz said the season three premiere of Power Book II: Ghost drew 5.8 million multiplatform viewers, making it the network’s biggest-ever premiere.

With several platforms still to report, the season three premiere was up 30% from the season two premiere in November 2021.

The viewership numbers are based on a three-day tally of Nielsen live-plus-same-day ratings and Starz Content internal data.

The popping Starz numbers come on the heels of big audiences for other multiplatform hits including The Last Of Us, the first-year HBO series whose finale had 8.2 million viewers.

The Season 3 Ghost cast includes Michael Rainey Jr. as Tariq St. Patrick, Mary J. Blige as Monet Stewart Tejada, Cliff “Method Man” Smith as Davis MacLean, Gianni Paolo as Brayden Weston, Woody McClain as Cane Tejada, Lovell Adams-Gray as Dru Tejada, LaToya Tonodeo as Diana Tejada, Berto Colon as Lorenzo Tejada, Alix Lapri as Effie Morales, Larenz Tate as Rashad Tate, Shane Johnson as Cooper Saxe, Paton Ashbrook as Jenny Sullivan, Monique Curnen as Det. Blanca Rodriguez, Keesha Sharp as Professor Harper Bennet, David Walton as Lucas Weston, Moriah Brown as KeKe Travis, Luna Lauren Velez as Evelyn Castillo, Caroline Chikezie as Noma and Lightskinkeisha as Brushaundria Carmichael.

Power Book II: Ghost is the first series in Starz’s expanded Power Universe franchise. Brett Mahoney serves as showrunner and executive producer for season three. The Power Universe series is executive produced by the creator and showrunner of the original Power, Courtney A. Kemp, through her production company End of Episode, Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson through G-Unit Film and Television and Mark Canton through Atmosphere Entertainment MM. 

Lionsgate Television produces the series for Starz. ■

Starz’s comedy series Party Down returns February 24 after a 13-year hiatus, and series star Tyrel Jackson Williams says the show remains relevant and funny as it looks to attract a new generation of fans.

The third season of the series, which ran on Starz from 2009 to 2010 before being canceled, returns most of its original cast, including Kevin Marino, Adam Scott, Jayne Lynch, Martin Starr, Megan Mullally, Lizzy Caplan, Ryan Hansen and Jennifer Coolidge. The series follows the exploits of the Party Down catering team, who work catering jobs while waiting for their successful break in Hollywood. 

Among the show’s new cast members is Williams, who joins the cast as Sackson Paxton, a wannabe social-media influencer who works at Party Down while he waits to become a big internet star. Williams, who was 13 when the final season of the series debuted on Starz in 2010, nevertheless said he was familiar with the series before accepting the role.

“I grew up around diehard fans of the show who said it was amazing and incredible,” Williams told Multichannel News. “I also know of everyone who was on it because they went off to be in everything I’ve ever liked.”

Williams, the younger brother of Abbott Elementary and Everybody Hates Chris star Tyler James Williams, said the show’s comedic elements as well as its character strength will help it appeal to a new generation of viewers. “Everything about the show is so relatable, even though it’s kind of silly and crazy at times,” Williams said. “Everything is wrapped around the core ethos that chasing a dream is hard and it hurts, but it’s ultimately worth it.”

The former Disney child star who appeared in such shows as Disney XD's Lab Rats, has made a successful transition to playing adult roles, including a starring role in IFC’s comedy series Brockmire which ran from 2017 to 2020. He credits his success to being patient in waiting for the right roles to take on. 

“I knew that after the Disney show I wanted to make this transition over into doing more adult roles,” he said. “I knew that things would take time … it was all about letting [the roles] come to you.” ■  

A trio of scripted series returns leads the list of original shows, movies and specials debuting this week. 

FX on February 22 will debut the sixth and final season of its drama hit series Snowfall. The series, which chronicles how an off-the-books CIA operation contributed to the destruction rock cocaine leveled upon the vibrant community of South Central L.A., stars Damson Idris.  

Starz on February 24 launches season three of its comedy series Party Down, 13 years after canceling the show after two seasons.

The series, which follows a group of caterers hoping to eventually make it to Hollywood, brings back the show's former cast members, including Kevin Marino, Adam Scott, Jane Lynch, Martin Starr, Megan Mullally and Ryan Hansen. Joining the cast for the third season are Tyrel Jackson Williams and Jennifer Garner, according to the network. 

Peacock’s Fresh Prince of Bel-Air reboot series Bel-Air debuts its second season on February 23. Former Fresh Prince of Bel-Air star Tatyana Ali joins the cast of returning regulars that includes Jabari Banks, Adrian Holmes, Cassandra Freeman, Olly Sholotan, Coco Jones and Jimmy Akingbola. 

Below are video trailers and premiere dates for multiple shows debuting the week of February 21 to February 16 on cable networks and streaming services (for some videos, viewer discretion is advised):

February 23: Black Snow (drama) — Sundance Now

February 23: Outer Banks (returning series) — Netflix

February 24: Bruiser (drama) — Hulu

February 24: The Consultant (drama) — Amazon Prime Video

February 24: Liaison (drama) — Apple TV Plus

February 24: We Have a Ghost (fantasy movie) — Netflix

February 25: The Weeknd: Live at SoFi Stadium (music special) — HBO

Starz said it reached a deal with Amazon to offer consumers a bundle that combines the Starz streaming service with Amazon’s MGM Plus.

The bundle is being priced at $11.99, which the companies say represents a 20% discount versus the price of the two services bought separately. The combo package is expected to be available in a few weeks.

The move comes at a time when industry observers see a consolidation in the streaming business that would increase profitability for media companies finding tough sledding as their pivot to streaming and as consumers react to the sticker shock of how much it costs to subscribe to multiple services.

“We are excited to join forces with Amazon to offer Starz together with MGM PLUS to their millions of customers on Prime Video,” Alison Hoffman, president of domestic networks for Starz, said. “Starz is a complementary service to general entertainment offerings, so we’re thrilled to see that bundling is now here and believe there will be many more bundling opportunities to come.”

MGM Plus used to be known as Epix. It became part of Amazon when Amazon acquired MGM. Programming available on the service includes Godfather of Harlem, FROM, Billy the Kid, A Spy Among Friends, War of the Worlds, Rogue Heroes and Belgravia. 

Starz is a Lionsgate company. Its programming includes Outlander, the Power series, P-Valley, Party Down and Blindspotting. ■

Sinead O’Connor handles the vocals on the Outlander opening title sequence, performing the tune “The Skye Boat Song” for season seven of the Starz series. The season begins in the summer. 

Each season offers a different version of “The Skye Boat Song," which Bear McCreary has adapted from a Scottish folk song. O’Connor’s version can be viewed on YouTube.

”We are honored to have Sinead O’Connor performing ‘The Skye Boat Song,’ ” said Matthew B. Roberts, showrunner and executive producer. “Her rendition is, for me, a reminder of all that’s beautiful about Outlander. She is talented beyond measure. Hers is a voice of the ages — one which pierces heart and soul — and embodies the spirit of the show.”  

The Outlander series is inspired by Diana Gabaldon’s novels. Caitriona Balfe, Sam Heughan, Sophie Skelton and Richard Rankin are in the cast. The show will wrap after season eight. 

Matthew B. Roberts, Ronald D. Moore, Maril Davis, Toni Graphia, Luke Schelhaas, Andy Harries, Jim Kohlberg, Caitríona Balfe and Sam Heughan executive produce. Outlander is produced by Tall Ship Productions, Left Bank Pictures and Story Mining & Supply Company, in association with Sony Pictures Television. ■

Starz will look to resurrect its Spartacus franchise with a new series produced by franchise creator Steven S. DeKnight. 

The yet-to-be-named series will go beyond the original series Spartacus: Blood and Sand, which aired in 2010 and starred the late Andy Whitfield, according to Starz. The series will depict a “new tale of treachery, deceit and blood unfolding beneath the shadow of Rome,” said the network.

The series would be the fifth show in the Spartacus universe, following Blood and Sand, Spartacus: God of the Arena (2011), Spartacus: Vengeance (2012) and Spartacus: War of the Damned (2013).  

“It has been over a decade since Spartacus delighted international audiences and we are thrilled to reimagine and expand this gripping, action-packed drama for our viewers today,” Starz president of original programming Kathryn Busby said in a statement. “Spartacus has deeply invested fans who are eager for its return, and we look forward to working with Steven on this exciting new chapter.”

The Spartacus franchise expansion comes on the heels of other similar efforts to build upon well-known Intellectual Property to attract audiences. Showtime recently announced new iterations of its Dexter and Billions franchises, and Starz itself recently announced plans to expand Outlander with a prequel series. ■ 

Starz has renewed Power Book II: Ghost for season four. Season three begins March 17. 

“The high-octane drama of Power Book II: Ghost continues to resonate with our viewers and we’re thrilled to get season four production underway ahead of our season three debut,” said Kathryn Busby, Starz president of original programming. “It’s clear our fans are ready to devour more of this explosive series and we look forward to having Michael join our incredible cast.”  

Season three premieres after midnight, March 16, on the Starz app, Starz’s streaming and on-demand platforms, and internationally on the Lionsgate Plus streaming platforms. It is on linear TV at 9 p.m. ET/PT March 17.  

Michael Rainey Jr., Naturi Naughton and Paris Morgan are in the cast. Michael Ealy has joined the cast as Detective Don Carter, an NYPD officer who was on track to become police commissioner, until his wife was killed in a crossfire between rival drug gangs.   

Brett Mahoney is showrunner and executive producer. The Power group of shows is executive produced by the creator and showrunner of the original Power, Courtney A. Kemp, through her production company End of Episode, Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson through G-Unit Film and Television, and Mark Canton through Atmosphere Entertainment MM. Ghost is also executive produced by Chris Selak. 

Lionsgate Television produces the series. ■

Starz will bring back its signature drama series Outlander for an eighth and final season, but will continue the franchise with a prequel series Outlander: Blood of My Blood.

Outlander’s 10-episode eighth season will follow an extended 16-episode seventh season, which will debut this summer on Starz, according to network officials. The time-travel drama stars Caitríona Balfe and Sam Heughan as Claire and Jamie Fraser, along with Sophie Skelton and Richard Rankin. Heughan and Balfe also serve as executive producers for the series along with Matthew B. Roberts, Ronald D. Moore, Maril Davis, Toni Graphia, Luke Schelhaas, Andy Harries and Jim Kohlberg.

The prequel series, Outlander: Blood of My Blood, will center on the lives and relationship of Jamie Fraser’s parents, Brian Fraser and Ellen MacKenzie. 

“For nearly a decade Outlander has won the hearts of audiences worldwide and we’re pleased to bring Claire and Jamie’s epic love story to a proper conclusion,” Starz original programming president Kathryn Busby said. “But before we close this chapter there is plenty of their passionate story to tell over the course of 26 new episodes and even more to explore of this dynamic world and its origin story. We’re thrilled to continue to partner with Matthew, Maril and Ronald and can’t wait to see where their alluring storytelling takes us next.” ■

Starz has greenlit a third season of its family drama BMF on the heels of huge premiere numbers for the show’s second season debut.

The series, which follows the exploits of two brothers leading a legendary Detroit-based crime family, drew 4.1 million multiplatform viewers across its January 6 second season premiere, according to the premium service.

BMF stars Demetrius Flenory, Russell Hornsby and La La Anthony, and is executive produced by Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, Randy Huggins, Heather Zuhlke, Anthony Wilson and Anne Clements.

“BMF captures the essence of Detroit through elevated, gritty storytelling and our fans have passionately responded to this show more than ever before,” said Starz President of Original Programming Kathryn Busby in a statement. “Following such a strong debut with season two, we’re thrilled to continue to expand on the incredible story of the Flenory brothers as they change the game by writing their own rules. We can’t wait to see what our extraordinary producers and cast deliver next.”■

Abbott Elementary looks to extend its awards season success at next month’s NAACP Image Awards, securing the most nominations in the television category.

The ABC comedy, which won four Golden Globes Awards Tuesday leading all television shows, drew a category-high nine nominations, including nods for Outstanding Comedy Series and Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series for Quinta Brunson.

ABC’s Black-ish, which ended its eight-season run in 2022, drew seven nominations. Other shows drawing five or more nominations include Starz’s P-Valley, OWN’s Queen Sugar, Peacock's The Best Man: The Final Chapters, Apple TV Plus’ The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey, ABC’s Women of the Movement and Netflix’s From Scratch.

BET will air live coverage of the 54th annual NAACP Image Awards from Pasadena, Calif. The show will take place in front of a live audience for the first time since 2020.

“We take pride in recognizing the trailblazing achievements and artistry of the year’s esteemed nominees and celebrating the powerful legacy of the NAACP,” BET Executive VP of Specials, Music Programming and Music Strategy Connie Orlando said in a statement. “We look forward to bringing the Image Awards back to Pasadena in front of a live audience and delivering unforgettable moments that epitomize the brilliance of the Black community.”

NAACP President Derrick Johnson added: “This year’s nominees have conveyed a wide range of authentic stories and diverse experiences that have resonated with many in our community, and we’re proud to recognize their outstanding achievements and performances.” 

The list of NAACP Image Awards nominees in the television category are as follows:

 Outstanding Comedy Series

Abbott Elementary (ABC)

Atlanta (FX)

black-ish (ABC)

Rap Sh!t (HBO Max)

The Wonder Years (ABC)

Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series

Anthony Anderson – black-ish (ABC)

Cedric The Entertainer – The Neighborhood (CBS)

Donald Glover – Atlanta (FX)

Dulé Hill – The Wonder Years (ABC)

Mike Epps – The Upshaws (Netflix)

Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series

Loretta Devine – Family Reunion (Netflix)

Maya Rudolph – Loot (Apple TV Plus)

Quinta Brunson – Abbott Elementary (ABC)

Tichina Arnold – The Neighborhood (CBS)

Tracee Ellis Ross – black-ish (ABC)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

Brian Tyree Henry – Atlanta (FX)

Deon Cole – black-ish (ABC)

Kenan Thompson – Saturday Night Live (NBC)

Tyler James Williams – Abbott Elementary (ABC)

William Stanford Davis – Abbott Elementary (ABC)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

Janelle James – Abbott Elementary (ABC)

Jenifer Lewis – black-ish (ABC)

Marsai Martin – black-ish (ABC)

Sheryl Lee Ralph – Abbott Elementary (ABC)

Wanda Sykes – The Upshaws (Netflix)

Outstanding Drama Series

Bel-Air (Peacock)

Bridgerton (Netflix)

Euphoria (HBO Max)

P-Valley (Starz)

Queen Sugar (OWN)

Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series

Damson Idris – Snowfall (FX)

Jabari Banks – Bel-Air (Peacock)

Kofi Siriboe – Queen Sugar (OWN)

Nicco Annan – P-Valley (Starz)

Sterling K. Brown – This Is Us (NBC)

Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series

Angela Bassett – 9-1-1 (FOX)

Brandee Evans – P-Valley (Starz)

Queen Latifah – The Equalizer (CBS)

Rutina Wesley – Queen Sugar (OWN)

Zendaya – Euphoria (HBO Max)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

Adrian Holmes – Bel-Air (Peacock)

Amin Joseph – Snowfall (FX)

Caleb McLaughlin – Stranger Things (Netflix)

Cliff “Method Man” Smith – Power Book II: Ghost (Starz)

J. Alphonse Nicholson – P-Valley (Starz)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

Adjoa Andoh – Bridgerton (Netflix)

Bianca Lawson – Queen Sugar (OWN)

Loretta Devine – P-Valley (Starz)

Susan Kelechi Watson – This Is Us (NBC)

Tina Lifford – Queen Sugar (OWN)

Outstanding Television Movie, Limited-Series or Dramatic Special

Carl Weber’s The Black Hamptons (BET Networks)

From Scratch (Netflix)

The Best Man: The Final Chapters (Peacock)

The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey (Apple TV Plus)

Women of the Movement (ABC)

Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Limited-Series or Dramatic Special

Morris Chestnut – The Best Man: The Final Chapters (Peacock)

Samuel L. Jackson – The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey (Apple TV Plus)

Terrence Howard – The Best Man: The Final Chapters (Peacock)

Trevante Rhodes – Mike (Hulu)

Wendell Pierce – Don’t Hang Up (Bounce TV)

Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Limited-Series or Dramatic Special

Niecy Nash-Betts – Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story (Netflix)

Regina Hall – The Best Man: The Final Chapters (Peacock)

Sanaa Lathan – The Best Man: The Final Chapters (Peacock)

Viola Davis – The First Lady (Showtime)

Zoe Saldaña – From Scratch (Netflix)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Television Movie, Limited-Series or Dramatic Special

Glynn Turman – Women of the Movement (ABC)

Keith David – From Scratch (Netflix)

Omar Benson Miller – The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey (Apple TV Plus)

Russell Hornsby – Mike (Hulu)

Terrence “TC” Carson – A Wesley Christmas (AMC)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Television Movie, Limited-Series or Dramatic Special

Alexis Floyd – Inventing Anna (Netflix)

Danielle Deadwyler – From Scratch (Netflix)

Melissa De Sousa – The Best Man: The Final Chapters (Peacock)

Nia Long – The Best Man: The Final Chapters (Peacock)

Phylicia Rashad – Little America (Apple TV Plus)

Outstanding News/Information (Series or Special)

Roland Martin Unfiltered: Black Votes Matter Election Night 2022 Coverage (Black Star Network/YouTube)

ABC News 20/20 Michelle Obama: The Light We Carry, A Conversation with Robin Roberts (ABC)

Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr. (PBS)

OWN Spotlight: Viola Davis – The Woman King (OWN)

The Hair Tales (Hulu)

Outstanding Talk Series

Hart to Heart (Peacock)

Red Table Talk (Facebook Watch)

Sherri (Syndicated)

Tamron Hall (ABC)

Uninterrupted: The Shop (YouTube)

Outstanding Reality Program, Reality Competition or Game Show (Series)

Legendary (HBO Max)

Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Big Grrrls (Amazon Studios)

Shark Tank (ABC)

Sweet Life: Los Angeles (HBO Max)

The Real Housewives of Atlanta (Bravo)

Outstanding Variety Show (Series or Special)

A Black Lady Sketch Show (HBO Max)

BET Awards 2022 (BET Networks)

Deon Cole: Charleen’s Boy (Netflix)

Martin: The Reunion (BET Networks)

The Daily Show with Trevor Noah (Comedy Central)

Outstanding Children’s Program

Family Reunion (Netflix)

Raising Dion (Netflix)

Raven’s Home (Disney Plus)

Tab Time (YouTube Originals)

Waffles + Mochi’s Restaurant (Netflix)

Outstanding Performance by a Youth (Series, Special, Television Movie or Limited-Series)

Alaya “That Girl Lay Lay” High – That Girl Lay Lay (Nickelodeon)

Cameron J. Wright – Family Reunion (Netflix)

Elisha Williams – The Wonder Years (ABC)

Khali Spraggins – The Upshaws (Netflix)

Ja’Siah Young – Raising Dion (Netflix)

Outstanding Host in a Talk or News/Information (Series or Special) – Individual or Ensemble

Jada Pinkett-Smith, Adrienne Banfield-Norris, Willow Smith – Red Table Talk (Facebook Watch)

Jennifer Hudson – The Jennifer Hudson Show (Syndicated)

Kevin Hart – Hart to Heart (Peacock)

Lester Holt – NBC Nightly News (NBC)

Tracee Ellis Ross – The Hair Tales (Hulu)

Outstanding Host in a Reality/Reality Competition, Game Show or Variety (Series or Special) – Individual or Ensemble

Keke Palmer – Password (NBC)

Lizzo – Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Big Grrrls (Amazon Studios)

Tabitha Brown – Tab Time (YouTube Originals)

Taraji P. Henson – BET Awards 2022 (BET Networks)

Trevor Noah – The Daily Show with Trevor Noah (Comedy Central)

Outstanding Guest Performance

Amanda Gorman – Sesame Street (HBO Max)

Chance the Rapper – South Side (HBO Max)

Colman Domingo – Euphoria (HBO Max)

Glynn Turman – Queen Sugar (OWN)

Gabourey Sidibe – American Horror Stories (FX)

Outstanding Animated Series

Central Park (Apple TV Plus)

Eureka! (Disney Junior)

Gracie’s Corner TV (YouTube)

The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder (Disney Plus)

Zootopia+ (Disney Plus)

Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance (Television)

Billy Porter – The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder (Disney Plus)

Cedric the Entertainer – The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder (Disney Plus)

Chris Bridges – Karma’s World (Netflix)

Cree Summer – Rugrats (Nickelodeon)

Kyla Pratt – The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder (Disney Plus)

Outstanding Short Form Series – Comedy or Drama

Between The Scenes – The Daily Show (Comedy Central)

Oh Hell No! With Marlon Wayans (Facebook Watch)

Rise Up, Sing Out (Disney Plus)

Sunday Dinner (Youtube)

Zootopia+ (Disney Plus)

Outstanding Short Form Series or Special – Reality/Nonfiction

Black Independent Films: A Brief History (Turner Classic Movies)

Daring Simone Biles (Snap)

Historian’s Take (PBS)

NFL 360 (NFL Network)

Omitted: The Black Cowboy (ESPN)

Outstanding Breakthrough Creative (Television)

Amy Wang – From Scratch (Netflix)

Branden Jacobs-Jenkins – Kindred (FX)

Hannah Cope – Karma’s World (Netflix)

Quinta Brunson – Abbott Elementary (ABC)

Syreeta Singleton – Rap Sh!t (HBO Max)

Outstanding Documentary (Television)

Black Love (OWN)

Everything’s Gonna be All White (Showtime)

Frontline (PBS)

Race:Bubba Wallace (Netflix)

Shaq (HBO Max)

Outstanding Writing in A Comedy Series

Aisha Muharrar -- Hacks (HBO Max)

Ayo Edebiri -- What We Do in the Shadows (FX)

Brittani Nichols -- Abbott Elementary (ABC)

Karen Joseph Adcock -- The Bear (FX)

Quinta Brunson -- Abbott Elementary (ABC)

Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series

Aurin Squire -- The Good Fight (Paramount Plus)

Branden Jacobs-Jenkins -- Kindred (FX)

Davita Scarlett -- The Good Fight (Paramount Plus)

Joshua Allen -- From Scratch (Netflix)

Marissa Jo Cerar -- Women of the Movement (ABC)

Outstanding Writing Television Movie or Special

Bree West -- A Wesley Christmas (BET Networks)

Ian Edelman, Maurice Williams -- Entergalactic (Netflix)

Jerrod Carmichael -- Jerrod Carmichael: Rothaniel (HBO Max)

Lil Rel Howery -- Lil Rel Howery: I Said It. Y'all Thinking it (HBO Max)

Matt Lopez -- Father of the Bride (HBO Max)

Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series

Angela Barnes -- Atlanta (FX)

Bridget Stokes -- A Black Lady Sketch Sow (HBO Max)

Dee Rees -- Upload (Amazon Studios)

Iona Morris Jackson -- black-ish (ABC)

Peter Chatmon -- The Flight Attendant (HBO Max)

Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series

Debbie Allen -- The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey -- Robyn (Apple TV Plus)

Giancarlo Esposito -- Better Call Saul (AMC)

Gina Prince-Blythwood -- Women of the Movement (ABC)

Hanelle Culpepper -- The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey (Apple TV Plus)

Kasi Lemmons -- Women of The Movement (ABC)

Outstanding Directing in a Television Movie Or Special

Anton Cropper -- Fantasy Football (Paramount Plus)

Marta Cunningham -- 61st Street (AMC)

Sujata Day -- Definition Please (Netflix)

Tailiah Breon -- Kirk Franklin's The Night Before Christmas (Lifetime)

Tina Fields -- Soul of a Nation: Screen Queen Rising (ABC)

Starz said it picked up Minx, a comedy that was among the shows canceled or dropped to save money by Warner Bros. Discovery’s HBO Max.

Season one of Minx streamed on HBO Max and those episodes will now appear on Starz. Season two, which was in production when the show was canceled, will now exclusively premiere on Starz.

“We have always felt this show would be a perfect fit for our brand with our dedication to narratives by, about and for women,” Starz president and CEO Jeffrey Hirsch said. “Starz is proud to be the new home for this incredible show that has drawn in well-deserved critical acclaim. We’re excited to welcome [creator and showrunner Ellen Rapoport] and the talented Minx team to the network and can’t wait to bring its passionate fans the second season.”

Also: Paying More for Less: HBO Max Ups Price on Ad-Free Tier to $15.99, Right After Major Library Trim

“I’m absolutely thrilled to be joining the Starz family and for the opportunity to introduce Minx to a brand new audience,” Rapoport said. “We’ve found the perfect home. Our writers, cast and crew have created something truly special in season two and I can't wait for everyone to see it.”

Minx is a comedy about a feminist, played by Ophelia Lovibond, who creates an erotic magazine for women working with a sleazy publisher played by Jake Johnson. 

The cast also includes Idara Victor, Jessica Lowe, Lennon Parham, Michael Angarano and Oscar Montoya. As previously announced, Elizabeth Perkins joined season two as a recurring character.

Also: Lionsgate TV Signs Overall Deal With ‘Minx’ Creator Ellen Rapoport

Warner Bros. Discovery last year pulled a number of titles from HBO Max, including the acclaimed Westworld, in order to save money through reduced royalty payments and tax write-offs. The company said the shows would be licensed to other outlets, including free-ad supported streaming TV services.

Minx was created by Ellen Rapoport, who also serves as showrunner and executive producer, alongside Paul Feig and Dan Magnante for Feigco Entertainment, Ben Karlin and Rachel Lee Goldenberg, who also directed the pilot. Jake Johnson serves as a co-executive producer. Minx is produced by Lionsgate Television. ■

Verizon has added the Starz app to the list of subscription entertainment options buyable via the new Verizon +play content hub. 

Officially launched into beta in December, +play offers consolidated Amazon Prime Video Channels-like purchasing and billing for more than 20 subscription streaming services, including Netflix and HBO Max. 

Unlike Amazon's Channels, however, +play allows its users to consume Starz directly via the Starz app, rather than disaggregating its content into a Verizon application. 

Owned by Lions Gate, Starz features original series including Outlander and BMF, the latter of which debuts its second season Friday. The streaming app also lets users access the various linear incarnations of the Starz brand. 

Offered to Verizon's wireless and fixed wireless access customers, the mobile giant is aggressively plugging its new content hub by giving away a year free of Netflix's $19.99-a-month premium tier. 

As for Starz, Thursday's Verizon announcement said nothing about a +play break on the regular $8.99-a-month subscription price. 

“We’re building +play to not only solve for our customers’ common pain points, but to give them value and savings they can’t get anywhere else,” said Erin McPherson, Verizon chief content officer, in a statement. “Adding Starz to the entertainment services available through +play beta gives our customers even more choice when it comes to accessing the content they love, and we’re thrilled to have them aboard.”

Added Alison Hoffman, Starz president of domestic networks: “Our fan favorite titles, including the Power Universe series, Outlander, P-Valley and the highly anticipated sophomore season of BMF that debuts tomorrow, are just a few examples of the bold storytelling we are thrilled to make easily available to Verizon customers on their new content hub.”

AMC looks to cast a spell on viewers with the premiere of its supernatural-themed original series Mayfair Witches, one of several shows debuting during the first week of 2023.

Mayfair Witches, the second Anne Rice adapted series for AMC following Interview with the Vampire, debuts January 8 and stars Alexandra Daddario as a young neurosurgeon who discovers that she is the unlikely heir to a family of witches, according to the network. 

Below are video trailers and premiere dates for multiple shows debuting the week of January 3 to January 8 on cable networks and streaming services (for some videos, viewer discretion is advised):

January 3 – Sometimes When We Touch (music documentary) – Paramount Plus

January 4 – Madoff: The Monster of Wall Street (documentary) – Netflix

January 5 – Ginny & Georgia (returning series) – Netflix

January 6 – BMF (returning series) – Starz

January 6 – Boys in Blue (documentary series) – Showtime

January 6 – The Pale Blue Eye (thriller) – Netflix

January 6 – The Rig (drama) – Prime Video

January 6 – RuPaul’s Drag Race (reality) – MTV

January 6 – Ready To Love (returning series) – OWN

Starz has promoted global SVOD executive Darren Nielson to the position of executive VP of international networks, replacing departing Starz International Networks president Superna Kalle.

In his new position, Nielson will oversee growth for the division’s newly rebranded international service Lionsgate Plus, formerly Starzplay International. Nielson, who will report to Starz president and CEO Jeffrey Hirsch, will oversee all aspects of programming, distribution, marketing and publicity for the service in the United Kingdom, Latin America and Brazil, Canada and Australia.

In his previous position as executive VP, international business development and partnerships, Nielson had worked with Kalle to develop expansion strategies, identify and evaluate partner opportunities and source and negotiate distribution agreements with in-territory partners. Prior to joining Starz, Nielson served as director of content acquisition at Netflix, helping grow the service from a domestic DVD business into a global leader in streaming video.

Kalle will remain with Starz through March before pursuing new opportunities, said network officials.

“Darren has been instrumental in building our international business working with Superna since joining the company in 2018. He has a deep knowledge of the global streaming landscape and is a respected strategic executive,” Hirsch said in a statement. “We look forward to maximizing growth and profitability of our international markets under his leadership. Superna did a great job in rapidly scaling an international service from the ground up, forming many new distribution partnerships and building a robust slate of international original series. We are grateful for her leadership and dedication to the company and wish her continued success.” ■

Starz said it is in development with Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson on a new drama called Fightland, set in the world of British boxing.

Jackson, who is an executive producer, is also an executive producer of Starz’s Power universe.

Writers Daniel Fajemisin-Duncan and Marlon Smith have signed onto the project.

"Fightland embodies the stakes, swagger and ambition that collaborations between Starz and 50 Cent have come to represent," said Kathryn Busby, president, original programming at Starz. "We are excited to be working with Daniel and Marlon who are brilliant writers and whose authentic take will bring this global story to life."

Starz said the series follows a retired disgraced world champion fighter drawn into the corrupt underbelly of the sport after the disappearance of his childhood best friend and training partner. To save his friend, the troubled fighter will have to return to a way of life that nearly destroyed him – one that cost him everything to leave behind.

Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson will executive produce through his G-Unit Film & Television along with Francis Hopkinson and Katharine Leadbetter of Expanded Media who will also produce Fightland for Starz. Sebastian Arboleda, VP, original programming, and Alex Alberts, director, original programming, will both oversee the series on behalf of Starz. ■

Starz has added to its executive ranks, naming Jimmy Hilburn as its chief marketing officer and Susan Ievoli as senior VP of publicity, events and awards.

The premium network also promoted marketing executive Robin Chacko to executive VP, direct-to-consumer from senior VP, OTT marketing. Ievoli will report to Hilburn, while Hilburn and Chacko will report to Starz President of Domestic Networks Alison Hoffman.

"We're thrilled to welcome Jimmy and Susan to the Starz team and elevate Robin's oversight in a key area of the business," said Hoffman in a statement. "These best-in-class executives are creative disruptors who are as strategic and analytical as they are innovative. They will further amplify the company’s momentum as we continue to grow our subscriber base and develop premium campaigns in support of our robust slate."

Hilburn, who will oversee all Starz teams across marketing, media, publicity and creative, previously served as director of marketing at Netflix where he helped launch such iconic series as Bridgerton, Ozark, Narcos, Dear White People, and House of Cards.  

Ievoli, who most recently served as senior VP, public relations and social media for History Channel, takes over for Jennifer Minezaki-Washington, who was promoted in March 2021 to executive VP, corporate and brand communications, according to Starz.

In his new position, Chacko will lead growth marketing, product management and subscriber operations for the family of Starz apps on mobile, streaming boxes, game consoles, smart TVs and the web. Chacko joined Starz in 2017 as senior VP, growth marketing & product management. ■ 

Lionsgate said it released financial forecasts for its media and studio businesses as it prepares to separate the company by spinning off the studio.

“We are committed to separating our media networks and studio business,” CEO Jon Feltheimer said on the company’s second-quarter earnings call Thursday.

Feltheimer said the forecasts were prepared as part of the strategic and financial discussions the company was having concerning the spinoff and other potential transactions.

Also Read: Lionsgate Takes Big Charges Resulting in Q2 Loss

Lionsgate expects that its studio business will have operating income before depreciation and amortization of between $325 million and $375 million in 2023 and between $420 million and $470 million in 2024.

Lionsgate expects its media business to have OIBDA of between $100 million and $120 million in 2023 and between $175 million and $225 million in 2024.

As a combined company, Lionsgate would have eliminations–reductions in earrings because of the way transactions between two parts of a company are reported–of as much as $450 million in 2024. 

Also Read: Lionsgate Says Starz Sale Should Be Announced in September ... and Could Expand to Broader Studio

The company said those eliminations contribute to both parts of the company being undervalued.

Felthemer noted that the company’s television studio has been able to “successfully operate as both a content arms dealer and a streamer.”

The television group is one of the world’s leading independent suppliers of premium scripted series to third-party vendors, pointing to the success of Ghosts on CBS and Paramount Plus and to The Continental, the John Wick TV origin story, which was licensed to NBCUniversal’s Peacock in the U.S. and now has been licenced to Amazon Prime Vidoe internationally.

At the same time, the TV studio is able to support Starz’ growth with a pipeline of 15 shows. The way Starz windows its programming also allows the company to license and bifurcate the rights to Starz show enables the company to maximize its returns.

“Having a bespoke partner in Starz has allowed us to scale to over 100 shows across our scripted and unscripted business,” Feltheimer said.

At a time when linear TV is losing subscribers, Starz has been transitioning into a digital streaming model. Feltheimer said that digital streaming now accounts for 71% of Starz subscribers and 62% of its revenues.

 “The platform has remained profitable throughout this transition, he said, adding that with the substantial viewership attracted by shows including P-Valley, Raising Kanan and The Serpent Queen, “we are well position to be part of every conversation as the business evolves into a bundled direct-to-consumer world.” ■

Lionsgate reported a loss in its second quarter as it took large charges writing down goodwill from Starz and pulling its Lionsgate Plus streaming service out of several European markets and Japan.

In its earnings release, the company did not comment on reports that it is looking to sell or spin off either its studio business or Starz.

Also Read: Lionsgate Releases Financial Data As Step Toward Spinning Off Studio

The second quarter loss was $1.81 billion, or $7.95 a share, compared to net income of $7.5 million, or 3 cents a share, a year ago.

The loss included a $1.48 billion non-cash impairment charge related to goodwill from its acquisition of Starz, as well as a $218.9-million restructuring charge based on its decision to take Lionsgate Plus (previously called StarzPlay International) out of Japan and six European territories: France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Benelux and the Nordics.

Revenue fell 1% to $875.2 million.

LIonsgate's media networks business reported a segment profit of $21 million, compared to $4.4 million a year ago. The company said lower marketing costs both domestically and internationally was responsible for the gain. Revenue rose to $396.1 million from $484.7 million. The company had 27.3 million global streaming subscribers, up 52% from last year.

Lionsgate's studio business segment profit dropped to $61.9 million from $130.3 million a year ago, with revenue dipping to $654.9 million from $666.9 million.

Lionsgate's TV production profit fell to $13.6 million from $28.5 million as revenue increased to $430.9 million from $336 million. The drop in profit was the result of accelerated amortization caused by the cancellation of a series.

The company generated library revenue of $210 million in the quarter.

"We reported another strong library performance and continued growth in Lionsgate Television series deliveries as our studio businesses continued to perform in line with expectations in the quarter," said Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer. "Economic and industry headwinds are having the greatest impact at Starz , where we are exiting seven international territories. This will allow us to streamline Starz's international business and return it to profitability more quickly while continuing to build on the opportunities created by a strong Starz original series slate and focused content strategy domestically." ■

Starz didn’t wait for the November 6 premiere of Dangerous Liaisons to greenlight a second season of the series. 

The second season of Dangerous Liaisons, the latest iteration of the classic period drama, will begin production in 2023 in Prague, according to the network. The series is based on Pierre Choderlos de Laclos’ 18th century novel focusing on the origin story of how his iconic characters, the Marquise de Merteuil and the Vicomte de Valmont, met as passionate young lovers in Paris on the eve of the revolution. 

The eight-episode first season of Dangerous Liaisons launches November 8 on the linear Starz service as well as on the Starz app, all Starz streaming and on-demand platforms, and internationally on the Lionsgate Plus premium streaming platform across Europe, Latin America and Japan, said the network. 

“‘Dangerous Liaisons’ is addictive, provocative and beautifully rendered,” Starz president of original programming Kathryn Busby said in a statement. “This prelude to the famed 18th century novel illuminates pre-revolution Paris at its most decadent. We are confident that by the end of season one viewers will be craving more scheming and seduction.” 

Also: 'Manifest' Streams on Netflix; Starz Debuts 'Dangerous Liaisons': What's Premiering This Week (October 31-November 6)

Dangerous Liaisons stars Alice Englert, Nicholas Denton, Lesley Manville, Kosar Ali, Carice van Houten, Hilton Pelser, Fisayo Akinade, Michael McElhatton, Nathanael Saleh, Colette Dalal Tchantcho, Hakeem Kae-Kazim, Tom Wlaschiha, and Paloma Faith.

The series is executive produced by Harriet Warner, Colin Callender, Tony Krantz, Scott Huff, and Christopher Hampton.■

Starz has greenlit a sophomore season for its period drama The Serpent Queen prior to the show’s first season finale this Sunday.

The series, which stars Samantha Morton as the 16th-century monarch Catherine de Medici, who, against all odds, became one of the most powerful and longest-serving rulers in French history. The first season of The Serpent Queen concludes October 30, according to the network.

"The Serpent Queen is distinctly modern, darkly comedic and completely unexpected,” Kathryn Busby, Starz president of original programming, said in a statement. “Catherine de Medici’s story is the perfect compliment to our female-forward slate, and Samantha Morton’s brilliant portrayal of this ruthless, charming and savvy queen anchors the whole production. We’re thrilled to unveil more of her incredible life and reign in season two, which promises to  be even more provocative and sublime.”

Also: Starz Renews 'P-Valley' Drama Series

The Serpent Queen, based on the book Catherine de Medici: Renaissance Queen of France by Leonie Frieda, is executive produced by Justin Haythe, Francis Lawrence and Erwin Stoff. ■

Starz will bring back its drama series P-Valley for a third season, the cable network said Thursday.

The series, created by Katori Hall, follows the exploits of workers and patrons of a Mississippi Delta-baes strip club dubbed the Pynk. The series finished its second season as Starz's biggest show, averages nearly 10.3 million viewers across linear, video on demand and streaming platforms. That was a 23% increase versus the show's first season, according to the network.

"P-Valley continues to keep viewers on the edge of their seats as it captures the nuances of the Mississippi Delta with an unprecedented level of humanity and artistry,” said Starz President of Original Programming Kathryn Busby in a statement. “This layered drama gets beyond the glitz through authentic and complex characters that have captured the hearts of critics and audiences alike. We cannot wait to see what Katori has in store for us in season three.”

Also: Director/Playwright Katori Hall Cultivates Success Onscreen, On Stage: Multicultural Perspectives

Katori Hall added: "I am blessed beyond measure for this opportunity to write the next chapter of P-Valley. With its complex, dynamic, and beautifully flawed characters, this show is a love letter to marginalized communities in the American South who rarely see themselves reflected on screen, and it brings me immense joy to know that it has been embraced by folx worldwide. We wouldn’t be getting back up on that pony, without our fiercely devoted Pynk Posse. Y’all are our fire.”■

 The final installment of the Halloween movie saga leads the list of new and returning shows debuting this week.

Peacock on October 14 will debut the premiere of Halloween Ends — the third film in the reboot of the original Halloween movie franchise — on a day-and-date basis with its theatrical premiere.

Hulu on October 10 will also look to frighten viewers with its original horror film Grimcutty, which follows the events surrounding a terrifying internet meme.

Also on tap this week is Apple TV Plus’s drama series Shantaram, based on the novel of the same name by Gregory David Roberts. The 10-episode series debuting October 14 follows a fugitive who travels to India to escape the authorities but finds more than he bargained for in his new surroundings.

Below are video trailers and premiere dates for multiple shows debuting the week of October 10-16 on cable networks and streaming services (for some videos, viewer discretion is advised):

• October 10 — Avenue 5 (returning series) — HBO

• October 12 — I Love You, You Hate Me (documentary) — Peacock

• October 12 — Big Shot (returning series) — Disney Plus

• October 13 — Partners in Rhyme (returning series) — ALLBLK

• October 13 — The Watcher (returning series) — Netflix

• October 14 – The Curse of Bridge Hollow (movie) — Netflix

• October 14 — High School (drama) — Freevee

• October 14 — Rosaline (movie) — Hulu

• October 16 — Step Up (returning series) — Starz

Two long-running series launch their final seasons while a movie reboot hits the small screen during the first full week of September. 

OWN's drama Queen Sugar debuts its seventh and final season on September 6. The Ava DuVernay-created series will conclude the exploits of a Louisiana family who come together to run their father's sugarcane farm after his untimely death.

Paramount Plus on September 8 will debut the sixth and final season of the legal drama The Good Fight. The series, a spinoff of CBS' The Good Wife, stars Christine Baranski.

Showtime on September 11 will premiere American Gigolo, based on the 1980's film of the same name starring Richard Gere. Julian Kaye takes over the lead role in the eight-episode series. 

Below are video trailers and premiere dates for multiple shows debuting the week of  September 6 to September 11 on cable networks and streaming services (for some videos, viewer discretion is advised):

September 7 – Tell Me Lies (drama ) – Hulu

September 7 – Ink Master (returning series) -- Paramount Plus

September 8 – The Anthrax Attacks: In the Shadow (documentary) – Netflix

September 8 – Cars on The Road (animation) – Disney Plus

September 8 – Pinocchio (movie) – Disney Plus

September 9 – Cobra Kai (returning series) – Netflix

September 9 – Gutsy (documentary series) – Apple TV Plus

September 11 – The Serpent Queen (drama) – Starz

Inclusivity both in front of and behind the camera was a recurring theme during the August 8 to August 12 CTAM-produced portion of the Television Critics Association virtual summer tour as cable and streaming services showcased a bevy of BIPOC-themed scripted series and movies while addressing diversity issues within the TV industry.

The newly rebranded Hallmark Media (formerly Crown Media Family Networks) unveiled details regarding its African-American targeted Mahogany movie franchise, which includes the August 28 launch of its first original movie, Unthinkably Good Things. Mahogany senior VP of programming Toni Judkins said the franchise  – based on Hallmark’s 34 year-old Mahogany greetings card brand targeting African-Americans – will continue to follow the earmarks of traditional Hallmark movies, but will be told from the authentic, unique lens of Black women.

Hallmark will launch two additional Mahogany movies in 2022, including one holiday film, according to Hallmark executive VP of programming Lisa Hamilton Daly. 

“What was important was to fuse essential elements of the Hallmark brand with the Mahogany brand,” Judkins said. “The pillars of what Mahogany is … are sisterhood, friendship, connection and community.” 

The Mahogany films will also feature diverse talent both in front of and behind the camera, a combination which industry executives speaking at TCA say is still too rare. 

That dynamic however, can be seen in OWN’s original series Queen Sugar, which will launch its seventh and final season on September 6. The Ava DuVernay-produced series has featured more than three dozen female directors over its seven-season run, according to the network. 

DuVernay said when she started the series few television shows featured female directors, but after seven successful seasons of going against the grain and constantly pushing to have a female-exclusive directing team, it has now become more commonplace for women of color to prominently sit in the director’s chair.

“No one would ever need to do that now because you will be looked at sideways if you don’t have any women directing,” she said. “To have been there … when it was scorned and ridiculed, to the time now where it’s pretty much, ‘yeah, you got to include a lady somewhere in there,’ is a remarkable thing.” 

Starz has also announced a continued commitment to work with directors and writers of color for several upcoming series. On the heels of renewing its original series Raising Kanan – the third series in the Courtney Kemp-created Power franchise – for a third season, the premium network announced it will team with producers DuVernay and Tanya Saracho on new original series as well as musical artists Ne-Yo and Christina Milian on a new “premium take” on the Step Up movie franchise, according to network President of Original Programming Kathryn Busby. 

The shows follow earlier Starz announcements regarding new series from Marlon Wayans (Book of Marlon) and Dear White People producers Steven J. Kung and Justen Simien. 

Several streaming services also showcased new and diverse programming. Amazon Prime Video offered a look at a British-based series Jungle, which follows the  struggles and perspectives of several connected strangers uniquely told through hip hop and drill music. Executive produced by Junior Okoli and Chas Appeti, Jungle debuts September 30 on the service.

During BET Plus’s presentation for the second season of its Emmy-nominated comedy series The Ms. Pat Show, series co-creator Jordan Cooper said that services like BET Plus have opened up new avenues for diverse content to make it to the screen, offering greater editorial freedom and control to tell stories in a manner that might not be acceptable on traditional linear channels.

“I think that more is going to come from other artists who are going to come in and shake the table up a bit because we don’t want to see the same old stuff that we’ve seen for the past 50 years,” he said. 

Recently launched Spanish-language subscription streaming service ViX Plus showcased during TCA two of its new original shows – drama series Marea Alta and the Salma Hayek-produced film Quiero Tu Vida – as part of the TelevisaUnivision-owned service’s 10,000 hours of novelas, sports and other entertainment  offerings and 70 original series and movies it plans to offer during its first operating year. 

“There are almost 600 million people in the world who speak Spanish, and yet only a fraction of the global streamers’ content is originally produced in Spanish,” Vix Plus Executive Vice President and general manager Rodrico Mazon said. “We know Hispanic audiences everywhere are hungry to stream more native Spanish language content – this is why we are investing a massive amount of incremental dollars in original content and sports rights, above and beyond our existing linear businesses.” 

Allen Media Group and The Weather Channel chairman and CEO Byron Allen took the issue of onscreen inclusion a step further during AMG’s Thursday panel session by saying diversity in ownership is key to greater, inclusive representation on the small screen. Allen said it’s imperative for the industry to push for an environment that welcomes unfiltered voices and perspectives. 

“I think we have a situation where we do not have enough diversity and ownership – [women and people of color] do not own enough of the media outlets to control their image and how they are produced and depicted,” Allen said. “Until we have a stronger representation of diversity and ownership, we don’t have a true democracy.”■

Starz said it is developing Book of Marlon, a comedy inspired by the life and career of Marlon Wayans.

Wayans will play a fictionalized version of himself and co-write and executive produce the series.

Diallo Riddle, Bashir Salahuddin, Rick Alvarez and Michael Rotenberg serve as executive producers with Riddle and Salahuddin serving as the showrunners.

Also: Lionsgate Says Starz Sale Should Be Announced in September ... and Could Expand to Broader Studio

“We are beyond thrilled to develop this sophisticated and hilarious series with Marlon, Diallo, Bashir and Rick, who each bring their own level of artistry and authenticity to everything they touch,” said Kathryn Busby, president, original programming at Starz. “I’ve long admired Diallo’s and Bashir’s work, and I’m excited to be working on a project as special as this with the incomparable Marlon Wayans at the center.”

Book of Marlon will be produced by Warner Bros. Television for Starz. Alex Alberts, director of original programming, Kathryn Tyus-Adair, senior VP of original programming, and Alice Dickens-Koblin, senior VP of unscripted programming, will oversee the series on behalf of Starz.

"We’re excited to be in business with such enthusiastic partners. Starz is a big brand, and we are happy to bring some smiles to the table," said Wayans. "It’s great to know that we can push the envelope and get into some good, fun trouble with this project on this platform. Diallo and Bashir are good friends and great collaborators. Book of Marlon will be smart, fun and twisted with a dash of heart and a whole lot of unapologetic humor." ■

Vizio said that the Starz app is available on Vizio smart TV, effective Monday.

The move makes it easier for Vizio users to access Starz original programming and movies.

“We welcome Starz to the entertainment lineup available on Vizio’s Smart TVs,” said Katherine Pond, group VP, platform content and partnerships at Vizio. “The addition of Starz marks another significant advancement in our commitment to provide our users with access to the programming they love and endless entertainment options for millions of users who begin their entertainment journey with Vizio.”

Also: Lionsgate Says Starz Sale Should Be Announced in September ... and Could Expand to Broader Studio

Vizio Smart TVs already have apps for many streaming services available, including Apple TV Plus, BET Plus, Discovery Plus, Disney Plus, HBO Max, Hulu, Netflix, Peacock and Prime Video. 

“We are excited to bring our Starz app to Vizio Smart TVs making our premium programming available to millions of users throughout the country,” said Alison Hoffman, president of domestic networks at Starz. “From our robust slate of original series dedicated to amplifying narratives by, about and for women and underrepresented audiences, and our library that features some of the biggest movies, Starz is delighted to bring our award-winning programming to the VIZIO platform for viewers to enjoy in an easy, frictionless way.”

Starz content including original series Outlanders, P-Valley and the Power universe and theatrical films such as Spider-Man: No Way Home, Ghostbusters: Afterlife and Venom: Let There Be Carnage.

Vizio Smart TVs also include support for Apple AirPlay 2 and Chromecast built-in, allowing viewers to stream, control, and share content from their phone, tablet, or laptop directly onto the big screen. ■