Scripted Films—Why You’ll See More on Cable, But Not Too Many

When History’s “Hatfields and McCoys” pulled amazing ratings last year, you knew the next programming trend had been born. Virtually every cable net out there is looking for the next “it” in terms of a scripted film based on real events. And there are plenty coming, from next month’s “Killing Lincoln” on Nat Geo to Discovery’s “Klondike” to History’s sophomore effort, “Vikings.” But does it signal that cable, long the bastion for non-fiction programming, is making the flip to scripted? Execs from History, USA and Science add their two cents at the RealScreen Summit in DC on Monday.

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After months of speculation, Time Warner Cable announced it will carry SportsNet LA, the new LA Dodgers RSN from American Media Productions (formed by the Dodgers owners) that will launch in the ’14 season, which kicks off in spring. Here are more details on the deal and the new network.

 

Love it or leave it, reality TV is here to stay. With the number of original series in ’12 more than double that of the year before, reality series are proliferating faster than bunnies. Reality TV panelists at Monday's general session at RealScreen Summit in DC talk shop.

 

Groups and companies like NCTA, ACA and Verizon asked the FCC not to force cable ops to engage in proof-of-performance testing for digital signals.