Paramount Network, formerly Spike TV, launched Jan. 24 with its inaugural original series Waco, starring Shannon and Taylor Kitsch (Friday Night Lights). In addition to scripted originals, Paramount has migrated Spike’s biggest hits, including Lip Sync Battle and Ink Master, over to the new network terrain.
Paramount Network replaces the former home of Baywatch reruns with shows that have cinematic roots, like Heathers and Yellowstone (above), starring Kevin Costner. The rebranded channel, which launches Thursday, will showcase original programming (about a third of the schedule), supplemented by TV series and feature films culled from the Viacom and Paramount vaults (Pitch Perfect, The Devil Wears Prada).
Paramount Network Launches: What to Expect
Spike will be rebranded starting Thursday, when Viacom launches its general entertainment destination. The executives, showrunners and stars from the cabler’s first four scripted shows met the press Monday at TCA.
Viacom will rebrand Spike TV as Paramount Network. Sources say that the move is part of a new company-wide strategy set to be unveiled by CEO Bob Bakish today.
After his network said no to his pitch, Jimmy Fallon and his production partners brought Lip Sync Battle to corporate competitors at the Viacom-owned Spike TV, where it instantly became a hit. A clip from the show of actress Anne Hathaway swinging on a giant wrecking ball to emulate Miley Cyrus performing Wrecking Ball has been watched online more than 10 million times.
Exclusives
After being turned down by NBC, Jimmy Fallon and his production partners instead brought Lip Sync Battle to corporate competitors at the Viacom-owned Spike TV, where it instantly became a hit. A clip of actress Anne Hathaway swinging on a giant wrecking ball to emulate Miley Cyrus has been watched online more than 10 million times since it first aired last week.
The documentary-style crime series has found the freedom to be edgier since moving to cable from its 25-year broadcast TV home on Fox. And Spike, which decided it needed to grow beyond its young male target audience, has seen a hoped-for increase in female and older viewers that it attributes in part to “Cops” joining its schedule in September.
The veteran series, currently finishing an abbreviated 25th season, will get a new home on cable.
Spike TV Picks Up Six Unscripted Pilots
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) — The first episode of a reality show set in a southern West Virginia coal mine had real-world results: Inspectors cited Cobalt Coal for two activities they […]
