‘The Security Brief’ Adds More Test Stations

The Security Brief with Paul Viollis, described as a true-crime talk show with hopes of being syndicated, has added stations owned by Tegna Media and E.W. Scripps to the lineup of Sinclair stations that have already agreed to test the show next month.

The addition of three stations each from Tegna and Scripps brings the test-station tally up to 19 markets, according to an announcement Tuesday from the show’s creator, Terry Murphy of New York-based East 86^th Productions. She previously announced last month a similar arrangement with Sinclair to test the show on some of its stations in December.

Specifically, The Security Brief — hosted by security expert Paul Viollis — will begin a four-week test run Dec. 7 on Tegna stations in Denver (KUSA), Atlanta (WATL) and Seattle (KONG). A four-week test will begin on Scripps stations in Detroit (WMYD) and Kansas City, Mo. (KMCI), on Dec. 21 and on Scripps’ KWBA Tucson, Ariz., on Dec. 28.

The six stations join a lineup that already had 13 Sinclair stations on board for a four-week test run, also starting Dec. 21. The 13 Sinclair stations are WUTB Baltimore; WKRC Cincinnati; WPGH Pittsburgh; WCGV Milwaukee; WWHO Columbus, Ohio; WTTO Birmingham, Ala.; WMYA Asheville, N.C.; WRDC Raleigh, N.C.; WTVZ Norfolk, Va.;WTCN West Palm Beach, Fla.;KMYU Salt Lake City; and KVCW Las Vegas.

“Testing The Security Brief in several Scripps markets has the potential for a big payoff for our audiences,” said Brian Lawlor, SVP of Scripps’ broadcast division. “In the markets where we have duopolies, we have the freedom and flexibility to place new programming at a time when most other shows are in repeats.”

“Women have migrated to true-crime in other genres, but we’re the first and only talk show of its kind dedicated, exclusively, to telling true-crime stories,” Murphy said.

Distribution of The Security Brief is not being conducted by any national syndication company. But consultant Barry Wallach, former president of NBCUniversal Domestic Television Distribution who currently handles distribution for Monopoly Millionaire’s Club, is being credited with arranging the test runs for The Security Brief.

“Having shows produced upfront not only increases distribution options and production efficiency, unlike older test models which required a long hiatus after the test period, The Security Brief is ready to deliver new episodes immediately to continue building momentum,” Wallach said.

In an unusual approach for a prospective syndicated series, 80 episodes of The Security Brief have already been produced, even though national sales have not yet began and it has no official premiere date.

“The development of a full content library allows station groups to test The Security Brief extensively with minimal upfront cost, while providing for a seamless transition into a full-season of programming after the test period,” the production company explained in its press release today.