OWN Doubles Down on Tyler Perry Drama Series

OWN will double its episode order for Tyler Perry's drama series The Haves and the Have Nots, the network announced Tuesday.

The network will add an additional 16 episodes to its initial 16-episode order of the series, which will air through Sept. 3, according to network officials. The additional episodes will premiere in early 2014.

The May 28 premiere of The Haves and the Have Nots was the most watched series debut in OWN history, averaging 1.7 million viewers. Through June 23 the series is averaging 1.5 million viewers, said OWN executives.

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R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.