April 07, 2015 30 minutes ago by Kate Stanhope
USA NetworkThe network is betting big on the breakout stars of 'Chrisley Knows Best'.
USA is keeping it all in the family with the Chrisleys.
The network has ordered two new pilots featuring the stars of it's half-hour docusoap hit Chrisley Knows Best, including a late-night pilot headlined by family patriarch Todd Chrisley through Embassy Row (Watch What Happens Live). A spinoff pilot centered around the Chrisley family is also in development with Maverick TV (Chrisley Knows Best).
"Fans can’t get enough of the Chrisleys, and we’re excited to give viewers an even bigger dose of this entertaining, unpredictable and lovable family,” said Jackie de Crinis, EVP of Original Programming for USA. “Giving Todd an opportunity to bring his unique voice and unfiltered personality to late night is an opportunity we didn’t want to miss.”
USA is also upping its investment in the WWE by acquiring WWE SmackDown, which will debut in the first quarter of 2016. SmackDown's move from Syfy gives USA the monopoly on WWE properties, which also include Monday Night Raw and WWE Tough Enough.
“WWE is proud to have SmackDown join Raw as part of our expanded partnership with USA Network,” said WWE Chairman & Chief Executive Officer Vince McMahon. “The combination of the No. 1 cable network and two ratings juggernauts provides a destination for our viewers and an extraordinary platform for our partners.”
Added USA Network President Chris McCumber: "WWE consistently delivers one of the largest and most socially engaged live audiences in entertainment and we’re excited to expand our long-standing relationship and be the true cable home for the WWE fan."
These developments comes as the network looks to evolve its programming strategy to focus on what NBCU cable entertainment group chairman Bonnie Hammer has dubbed "silver lining" programming. The bet she and the team at USA have made is that viewers will eventually tire of cable's bleak, antihero fare and will want something that, while edgy and serialized, has a dash of hope.
They also come as the network has, like several of its cable competitors, struggled to hold on to viewer in an increasingly crowded landscape. In fact, USA dropped to No. 2 in total viewers behind ESPN this past year, and fell below both ESPN and TBS in the 18-49 and 25-54 demos.
Although USA has refocused away from scripted comedy development in recent months, it has found success with Chrisley Knows Best, which returns for season three in June, and the forthcoming soft-scripted series Donny!, due in 2016. This also marks USA's second attempt to enter the late-night game in recent year. The network was previously in development with Will Ferrell's Gary Sanchez Productions on a late-night talk show in 2013.
USA has also started to increase sports programming. In addition to it's WWE slate, the network will begin airing NHL playoff games on April 15.
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