Twice a year, reporters gather for CTAM’s (Cable & Telecommunications Association for Marketing) TCA (Television Critics Association) press tour. (That’s a lot of acronyms, I know. And parenthesis.) The event, held in Pasadena in January and in Beverly Hills in July, provides cable, broadcast and digital networks the opportunity to share with those in attendance some of the most exciting upcoming programming news.
(The Wrap has a good “who, what, why” of TCAs. You can read it here.)
PASADENA, CA – JANUARY 07: (L-R) General Manager, TLC, Nancy Daniels and TV personalities Mike McGill, Paul Sanderson, and Jason Bunch of “Single Dad Seeking” speak onstage during the Discovery Communications TCA Winter 2016 at The Langham Huntington Hotel and Spa on January 7, 2016 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Amanda Edwards/Getty Images for Discovery Communications)PASADENA, CA – JANUARY 07: TV personality Jason Bunch of “Single Dad Seeking” speaks onstage during the Discovery Communications TCA Winter 2016 at The Langham Huntington Hotel and Spa on January 7, 2016 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Amanda Edwards/Getty Images for Discovery Communications)
TLC has partnered with Flower Films executive producers Drew Barrymore and Nancy Juvonen and Magilla Entertainment for Rattled, a new series that follows four couples who are first-time parents.
Being a single parent is hard. Being a single parent and dating can be even harder. Single Dad Seeking…follows five single fathers working hard to raise and provide for their kids. These dads are searching to find not only love in their lives, but also a woman willing to love their children too.
Investigation Discovery
PASADENA, CA – JANUARY 07: Group President, Investigation Discovery, American Heroes Channel & Destination America, Henry Schleiff speaks onstage during the Discovery Communications TCA Winter 2016 at The Langham Huntington Hotel and Spa on January 7, 2016 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Amanda Edwards/Getty Images for Discovery Communications)PASADENA, CA – JANUARY 07: “Hate in America” Host Tony Harris speaks onstage during the Discovery Communications TCA Winter 2016 at The Langham Huntington Hotel and Spa on January 7, 2016 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Amanda Edwards/Getty Images for Discovery Communications)PASADENA, CA – JANUARY 07: (L-R) “Hate In America” Host Tony Harris, Founder, Southern Poverty Law Center, Morris Dee and Intelligence Project Director, Southern Poverty Law Center, Heidi Beirich of “Hate In America” speak onstage during the Discovery Communications TCA Winter 2016 at The Langham Huntington Hotel and Spa on January 7, 2016 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Amanda Edwards/Getty Images for Discovery Communications)
Investigation Discovery has had 28 consecutive quarters of primetime growth; has lead the industry for four years now as the #1 network for length of tune-in television; and concluded 2015 as the #1 cable network for women in America.
Evil Stepmothers, a spin-off from the network’s two hit series Evil Kin and Evil Twins, will premiere on February 17th.
The network is partnering with longtime production partner, Peacock Productions, to produce Front Page: The Steven Avery Story, hosted by Dateline NBC correspondent Keith Morrison. The special, which will air in late January, seeks to provide viewers with critical details surrounding the case.
Every year in America, more than a quarter of a million inmates become eligible for parole – and two thirds of those granted parole will commit a crime that puts them behind bars again. Judgment Day: Prison or Parole?, a new series directed and executive produced by Peabody and Emmy Award-winning documentarian Joe Berlinger, takes viewers inside the emotional and potentially troubling process of parole hearings. The three-part original series premieres in Spring 2016.
Building on the success of the Hate in Americaspecial that aired in 2015, Investigation Discovery has partnered with Emmy Award-winning journalist Tony Harris for a documentary series of the same name. Together, they will work with the Southern Poverty Law Center and its founder, Morris Dees, to produce a series showcasing stories from the organization’s case files. The series premieres Monday, February 29 at 8/7c.
American Heroes Channel
PASADENA, CA – JANUARY 07: General Manager, American Heroes Channel, Kevin Bennett speaks onstage during the Discovery Communications TCA Winter 2016 at The Langham Huntington Hotel and Spa on January 7, 2016 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Amanda Edwards/Getty Images for Discovery Communications)PASADENA, CA – JANUARY 07: Activist & Co-founder, “The Invaders”, Dr. Coby Smith of “Justice For MLK: The Hunt For James Earl Ray” speaks onstage during the Discovery Communications TCA Winter 2016 at The Langham Huntington Hotel and Spa on January 7, 2016 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Amanda Edwards/Getty Images for Discovery Communications)PASADENA, CA – JANUARY 07: (L-R) Activist & Co-founder, “The Invaders”, Dr. Coby Smith, Creator, Originator & Executive Producer, Cream Productions, Richard Curson Smith and Officer, Memphis Police Dispatch, Vince Hughes of “Justice For MLK: The Hunt For James Earl Ray” speak onstage during the Discovery Communications TCA Winter 2016 at The Langham Huntington Hotel and Spa on January 7, 2016 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Amanda Edwards/Getty Images for Discovery Communications)
Justice for MLK: The Hunt for James Earl Ray, airing Sunday, January 17 at 9/8c, follows the groundbreaking international hunt for one of the most wanted men in history – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s killer. The two-hour special will feature exclusive interviews with some of Dr. King’s closest friends and confidants.
Discovery
PASADENA, CA – JANUARY 07: (L-R) Group President, Discovery Channel, Animal Planet & Science Channel, Rich Ross, Executive producer Barry Levinson, Iberville Parish Detective (Ret), Rodie Sanchez and Iberville Parish Detective, Detective Aubrey St. Angelo of “Killing Fields” speak onstage during the Discovery Communications TCA Winter 2016 at The Langham Huntington Hotel and Spa on January 7, 2016 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Amanda Edwards/Getty Images for Discovery Communications)PASADENA, CA – JANUARY 07: Executive producer Barry Levinson of “Killing Fields” speaks onstage during the Discovery Communications TCA Winter 2016 at The Langham Huntington Hotel and Spa on January 7, 2016 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Amanda Edwards/Getty Images for Discovery Communications)PASADENA, CA – JANUARY 07: Retired Iberville Parish Detective Rodie Sanchez speaks onstage during the Discovery Communications TCA Winter 2016 at The Langham Huntington Hotel and Spa on January 7, 2016 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Amanda Edwards/Getty Images for Discovery Communications)PASADENA, CA – JANUARY 07: Iberville Parish Detective Aubrey St.Angelo speaks onstage during the Discovery Communications TCA Winter 2016 at The Langham Huntington Hotel and Spa on January 7, 2016 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Amanda Edwards/Getty Images for Discovery Communications)
Killing Fields, which premieredTuesday, January 5, takes viewers inside an active criminal investigation as it unfolds. Shot in real time, the series follows the hunt for the killer. The series airs Tuesdays at 10/9c.
Discovery and Science Channel
PASADENA, CA – JANUARY 07: Group President, Discovery Channel, Animal Planet & Science Channel, Rich Ross speaks onstage during the Discovery Communications TCA Winter 2016 at The Langham Huntington Hotel and Spa on January 7, 2016 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Amanda Edwards/Getty Images for Discovery Communications)PASADENA, CA – JANUARY 07: Executive Vice President, Documentaries & Specials, Discovery Channel, Animal Planet & Science Channel, John Hoffman speaks onstage during the Discovery Communications TCA Winter 2016 at The Langham Huntington Hotel and Spa on January 7, 2016 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Amanda Edwards/Getty Images for Discovery Communications)PASADENA, CA – JANUARY 07: (L-R) Director Nathaniel Kahn, President, Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA), Dr. Matt Mountain, Professor, Planetary Science & Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sara Seager, Astrophysicist/Space Telescope Science Institute, Dr. Jason Kalirai and Director, Special Assignment, Northrup Grumman Aerospace Systems, Dr. Blake Bullock of “Telescope” speak onstage during the Discovery Communications TCA Winter 2016 at The Langham Huntington Hotel and Spa on January 7, 2016 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Amanda Edwards/Getty Images for Discovery Communications)PASADENA, CA – JANUARY 07: Professor, Planetary Science & Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sara Seager of “Telescope” speaks onstage during the Discovery Communications TCA Winter 2016 at The Langham Huntington Hotel and Spa on January 7, 2016 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Amanda Edwards/Getty Images for Discovery Communications)PASADENA, CA – JANUARY 07: Astrophysicist/Space Telescope Science Institute, Dr. Jason Kalirai of “Telescope” speaks onstage during the Discovery Communications TCA Winter 2016 at The Langham Huntington Hotel and Spa on January 7, 2016 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Amanda Edwards/Getty Images for Discovery Communications)
An all-new season of Outrageous Acts of Sciencereturns to Science Channel on Saturday, January 9 at 9/8c.
Directed by Oscar-nominated filmmaker Nathaniel Kahn, Telescopefollows the dramatic journey behind the building of NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope – a telescope that is 100 times more powerful than the Hubble Space Telescope. The special will air on Discovery and Science Channel on February 20 and February 21, respectively.
Animal Planet
PASADENA, CA – JANUARY 07: Attendees cuddle with puppies from a local rescue, Paw Works, who are on hand to promote Animal Planet’s “Puppy Bowl XII” during the Discovery Communications TCA Winter 2016 at The Langham Huntington Hotel and Spa on January 7, 2016 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Amanda Edwards/Getty Images for Discovery Communications)PASADENA, CA – JANUARY 07: Attendees try out a virtual reality experience during the Discovery Communications TCA Winter 2016 at The Langham Huntington Hotel and Spa on January 7, 2016 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Amanda Edwards/Getty Images for Discovery Communications)PASADENA, CA – JANUARY 07: Attendees cuddle with puppies from a local rescue, Paw Works, who are on hand to promote Animal Planet’s “Puppy Bowl XII” during the Discovery Communications TCA Winter 2016 at The Langham Huntington Hotel and Spa on January 7, 2016 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Amanda Edwards/Getty Images for Discovery Communications)
Puppy Bowl XII is a “go!” Animal Planet shared today what’s in store for the annual event, including a Pre-Game Show, a Kitty Half-Time performance you definitely don’t want to miss and four all-new Puppy Bowl XI virtual reality experiences. Attendees at TCA were able to cuddle pups from a local rescue, Paw Works, and immerse themselves in virtual puppy playtime.
