Upfronts 2012: Ovation Building Programming Around Destination Nights

Network in development on reality series ‘The Art Factory'

By Andrea Morabito -- Broadcasting & Cable, 4/19/2012 11:35:48 AM

Complete Coverage: Upfronts 2012

New York -- Ovation is shifting its programming strategy from week-long programming stunts to launching individual destination theme nights, the network said at its upfront presentation for press at the Core Club in midtown Manhattan Thursday morning.

The recently launched destination nights are built around "Artists & Icons" on Sundays (movies and documentaries about artists who set the standard in their profession), "Movies to Stand Up For" on Thursdays (critic's favorite films) and "The Best You've Never Seen" on Saturdays (literary-themed scripted originals and U.S. premieres).

Ovation, which recently surpassed distribution in 50 million homes, is also developing the reality series The Art Factory about the husband and wife team behind a top architectural arts studio. Eight one-hour episodes are slated.

Headlining the network's new programming is the previously announced reality competition series A Chance to Dance from executive producers Nigel and Simon Lythgoe. The series follows former Royal Ballet dancers Billy Trevitt and Michael Nunn as they search America to form a new dance company. Seven one-hour episodes will premiere starting Aug. 17.

Though contractual constrictions around Ovation's syndication deal for Lythgoe's So You Think You Can Dance prevent them from running the series together, Chance to Dance will be paired with other dance-themed programming on the network, said Kris Slava, Ovation's senior VP of programming.