Versant, the Comcast-owned cable TV spinoff, is making its first public introduction later today with a presentation to Wall Street.
The company, which saw Comcast’s board of directors approve the separation yesterday, is expected to explain its strategy at the event.
Ahead of that, one of its networks is launching its first Versant-led programming slate. True-crime network Oxygen has renewed its tentpole series Snapped for two further seasons, is preparing a new spinoff and has ordered a series about murders involving Hooters employees.
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Snapped, the network’s longest-running original series, which launched in 2004, is returning for Seasons 37 and 38. This comes ahead of the premiere of Season 36, which launches on January 4, and its 700th episode, which will also air next year.
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The series, which is Oxygen’s top-performing series, profiles of women accused of heinous acts. From socialites to secretaries, these female criminals share one thing in common: at some point, they all snapped. It is produced by Jupiter Entertainment with Madeline Griffey serving as showrunner and exec producing alongside Patrick Reardon, David O’Donnell and Deborah Allen.
The show is also getting a spinoff, Snapped: Killer Moms (w/t). The series will explore matriarchs who stop at nothing to protect or avenge their kids. Jupiter will produce with Reardon exec producing.
The network has also greenlit Hooters Murders: Deadly Shift (w/t), a two-hour documentary that unravels the tragic murders of three Hooters Girls, exploring how young women who worked at the family-restaurant chain were preyed upon. It explores how three women – a newlywed, a college hopeful, and a young mom – were murdered in cold blood between 2001 and 2010.
It is produced by British producer Expectation and Sony’s The Intellectual Property Corporation and exec produced by Ben Wicks and Tim Hincks of Expectation and Eli Holzman and Aaron Saidman of IPC. It was developed by Amy Dallmeyer, who was a director of development at the Clarkson’s Farm producer Expectation, who recently moved to Universal Television Alternative Studio UK. Kevin Brennecke will serve as showrunner.
“Snapped has long been a cornerstone of Oxygen, and we’re thrilled to continue the franchise with two more seasons while expanding its universe with Snapped: Killer Moms. Alongside the gripping new documentary Hooters Murders: Deadly Shift, these additions underscore our commitment to delivering riveting true-crime stories that keep audiences engaged and coming back for more,” said Cori Abraham, SVP, Unscripted Content, Versant.