CMT BROADENS ITS APPEAL WITH BOLD NEW SERIES, NEWS & DOCS, RETURNING FAVORITES AND MORE PROJECTS IN DEVELOPMENT THAN EVER
03/05/13
CMT Programs Originals on Sunday Night Beginning With DOG AND BETH: ON THE HUNT, Premiering Sunday, April 21
Superstar Sheryl Crow Wows Crowd at CMT Upfront Presentation
NEW YORK – March 5, 2013 – CMT continues to broaden its appeal with the addition of four new series, four returning series, a variety of projects in development and a newly-created News & Docs division, it was announced today by Jayson Dinsmore, EVP, Programming and Development, during the network’s annual upfront presentation. These originals join CMT at a time of significant growth, indicated by one of the biggest programming launches in CMT history, DOG AND BETH: ON THE HUNT, which kicks off on Sunday, April 21.
“We’re ramping up for what promises to be a monster year for CMT,” said Dinsmore. “These new series and initiatives represent a bolder, louder direction for the network, and one that aligns perfectly with our largest initiative to date, the first-time Sunday night premiere of DOG AND BETH: ON THE HUNT. Expanding our reach even further, we’ve created a News & Docs division that will allow us to cover topical stories through the CMT filter, and tell larger, more in-depth stories from some of the world’s greatest storytellers.”
Four new series announced to premiere later this year include an untitled project with CASSADEE POPE, winner of Season 3 of “The Voice;” THE DIRTY SOUTH (from “Jersey Shore” EP, SallyAnn Salsano and 495 Productions); HILLBILLIES FOR HIRE (from Leftfield Pictures); and the acquired series, COPS RELOADED (from FOX), an updated, best-of compilation of one of television’s longest-running and most successful shows.
Four returning series include the breakout hit, SWAMP PAWN (greenlit for a 2nd season of 10 episodes); MY BIG REDNECK VACATION (4th season); DALLAS COWBOYS CHEERLEADERS: MAKING THE TEAM (8th season of 8 episodes); and REDNECK ISLAND, starring Steve Austin (3rd season of 10 episodes).
CMT has more shows in development than ever before, led by four projects recently chosen for pilot presentations: BAD BLOOD (from ITV); STEVE AUSTIN’S BROKEN SKULL RANCH (from Steve Austin and Cris Abrego); METHBUSTERS (from Ketchum Labs); and SHOOTOUT (from Road Games, Inc.).
Programming announcements were made at CMT’s upfront event held at the Times Center in Manhattan. In attendance were top Viacom brass, including Philippe Dauman and Tom Dooley; along with Van Toffler, President, Viacom Music and Logo Group and CMT President Brian Philips. Special guests included the hosts of the weekly CMT HOT 20 COUNTDOWN, Cody Alan, Alecia Davis and Katie Cook. The event also included superstar Sheryl Crow, who performed a four-song set that featured new material off her latest album, including “Easy,” the first single from her forthcoming Warner Music Nashville debut.
In 2012, CMT launched three of its top four original series, including its highest-rated series ever, MY BIG REDNECK VACATION. The network also celebrated its highest-rated season premiere with the launch of REDNECK ISLAND 2 last November. Across 2012, CMT original series premieres were up +23%, as the number of originals on the network increased by +43%. CMT continues to find success across all screens, with its reach on social media platforms experiencing +150% growth over last year.
Upcoming series launches include the highly-anticipated premiere of DOG AND BETH: ON THE HUNT on Sunday, April 21 at 8 p.m. ET/PT, immediately followed by the series premiere of GUNTUCKY. The newly-acquired series COPS RELOADED starts on Monday, March 25. The annual CMT MUSIC AWARDS will air live from Nashville on Wednesday, June 5, and CMT CROSSROADS returns in third quarter with Stevie Nicks and Lady Antebellum. CMT will also launch its first animated project BOUNTY HUNTERS this summer, starring Jeff Foxworthy, Bill Engvall, Larry the Cable Guy and Lisa Lampanelli.
CMT SERIES DESCRIPTIONS
NEW SERIES
COPS RELOADED showcases newly-edited episodes of television’s popular reality program. The fast-paced, action-packed series features its most memorable criminals, car chases and moments. John Langley and Morgan Langley serve as executive producers. Premieres Monday, March 25, 2013.
HILLBILLIES FOR HIRE follows Jeremiah and his friend Big Ox as they run ‘Hillbillies for Hire,’ a custom prank shop in Polk County, Fla. The guys have one philosophy: if you’ve got the cash, no prank is too big and no stunt is too outrageous. Leftfield Pictures is behind the series with Brent Montgomery, David George, and Shawn Witt as executive producers. Premieres Summer 2013.
The CASSADEE POPE PROJECT offers a behind-the-scenes look at up-and-coming artist, Cassadee Pope, the winner of Season 3 of “The Voice,” and her journey to become a star. Premiere TBD.
THE DIRTY SOUTH introduces the South’s most outrageous personalities, as a group of friends converge upon a popular beach for the summer. THE DIRTY SOUTH is produced by 495 Productions; SallyAnn Salsano (“Jersey Shore”) serves as executive producer. Premieres Fall 2013.
RETURNING SERIES/RENEWALS
REDNECK ISLAND returns redder-than-ever for its 3rd season, as host Steve Austin will guide a group of 14 self-proclaimed rednecks through grueling, and usually hilarious, mental and physical challenges for a chance to win $100,000. REDNECK ISLAND is produced by Cris Abrego from 51 Minds Entertainment and Clay Newbill from 310 Entertainment, along with Steve Austin from Broken Skull Ranch Productions. Premieres Summer 2013.
SWAMP PAWN, CMT’s fastest-growing show, will return for a 2nd season as Rick Phillips and the rest of the Bayou Pigeon cast will be on the hunt for the swamps’ most dangerous and lucrative catches: crawfish and alligators. SWAMP PAWN is produced by Pilgrim Studios with Craig Piligian and Scott Popjes as executive producers. Premieres Fall 2013.
DALLAS COWBOYS CHEERLEADERS: MAKING THE TEAM comes back as one of CMT’s longest-running series for its 8th season. DCC is produced by Triage Entertainment and DCC Director Kelli Finglass serves as executive producer. Premieres Fall 2013.
MY BIG REDNECK VACATION will return for a 4th season with America’s favorite family, the Clampets, as they journey to new places and explore new cultures, leaving their redneck stamp along the way. MY BIG REDNECK VACATION is produced by Pink Sneakers. Premiere TBD.
PILOT PRESENTATIONS
BAD BLOOD, produced by ITV with executive producer Brian Zagorski, features two parties who are forced to put a new twist on conflict resolution after a physical altercation.
STEVE AUSTIN’S BROKEN SKULL RANCH tests the intelligence, skill and stamina of six contestants as they battle it out in grueling competitions on Steve Austin’s Broken Skull Ranch in Texas. Produced by Cris Abrego and Steve Austin, who is also host.
METHBUSTERS gives a firsthand account of the day-to-day efforts of a Southern SWAT team as they fight to protect their community from the dangers of the meth trade. Produced by Ketchum Labs.
SHOOTOUT, produced by Road Games, Inc., features expert gunfighter Scotty Reitz as he challenges less than humble gun enthusiasts to a 24-hour gunfight that tests their skill and stamina.
PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED SERIES
DOG AND BETH: ON THE HUNT marks Dog and Beth Chapman’s, the world’s most renowned bounty hunters, triumphant return to television on CMT. Joined by their son Leland, Dog and Beth will step outside their headquarters in Hawaii and Colorado to unite with bail bondsmen from around the country as they hunt down some of America’s most dangerous criminals. The series is produced by Electus (Ben Silverman, Chris Grant and Jimmy Fox) and Jeff Cvengros. Premieres Sunday, April 21, 2013.
GUNTUCKY follows the loud and colorful Sumner family of Knob Creek, Ky. At their family-owned and operated Knob Creek Gun Range, customers can try out, purchase and sell a broad spectrum of legal firearms, from cannons to machine guns. The Knob Creek crew will go to great lengths to recreate shooting scenarios for their guests at this fantasy camp for gun lovers. From hunting down rare and hard to find firearms for anything from a Civil War reenactment to a movie-style zombie hunt, the Sumners make the implausible happen. Brent Montgomery, David George and Shawn Witt serving as executive producers for Leftfield Pictures, along with Evan Stone and Adam Fox. Premieres Sunday, April 21, 2013.
Jeff Foxworthy, Bill Engvall, Larry the Cable Guy and Lisa Lampanelli together serve as the voices for CMT’s first animated series, BOUNTY HUNTERS, a hilarious tale about three friends and their two-bit bounty hunting business. BOUNTY HUNTERS is a production of Muse Entertainment and Parallel Entertainment. Premieres Summer 2013.
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ABOUT CMT:
CMT, a unit of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB), is the leading television and digital authority on country music and entertainment, reaching more than 92 million homes in the U.S. CMT and its website, CMT.com, offer an unparalleled mix of music, news, live concerts and series and is the top resource for country music on demand. The network’s digital platforms include the 24-hour music channel, CMT Pure Country, CMT Mobile and CMT VOD.
ABOUT SHERYL CROW:
Since the release of her seven-times Platinum, Grammy award-winning debut Tuesday Night Music Club, Sheryl Crow has garnered nine Grammys, performed duets with musical luminaries such as Sting and Mick Jagger, and released seven studio albums (each charting Top 10, four of them platinum-plus), a quadruple-platinum greatest hits collection and a Christmas album. She has also been nominated for an additional 27 Grammys, her most recent for 2008's critically acclaimed Detours. Crow launched her very own clothing line, Bootheel Trading Co., is a cancer survivor, has performed for President Obama and is a passionate supporter of a variety of environmental and health-related charities, including the NRDC, The Breast Cancer Research Foundation and The World Food Program. Crow has sold more than 35 million records worldwide.
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