Crime network bulks up
Nat Geo Channel gets a makeover
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. — Crime pays for cable’s Investigation Discovery.
The true crime network continues to develop a following among crime story fans, who will get a batch of new and returning series premieres in August.
“Deadly Devotion” (9 p.m. Monday), “Deadly Women” (10 p.m. Aug. 7), “Swamp Murders” (10 p.m. Aug. 12), “Homicide Hunter: Lt. Joe Kenda” (10 p.m. Aug. 18) starring the Western Pennsylvania native, “Nowhere to Hide” (10 p.m. Aug. 20) and “On the Case With Paula Zahn” (10 p.m. Aug. 30) will be joined by the new series “Killer Instinct With Chris Hansen” (10 p.m. Aug. 17).
Henry Schleiff, Discovery Group president for ID, acknowledged much of the network’s programming is “over the top,” but it has helped the network grow to No. 3 in cable among women and No. 1 among all TV networks for the longest length of time viewers tune in.
So why do women, who account for 60 percent of the ID audience, like to watch shows about violence against women?
ID senior vice president of production Sara Kozak attributes the interest to the storytelling and likens it to the interest in crime novels and the fact that most ID stories end with a perpetrator brought to justice.
Retired FBI profiler Candice DeLong, host of “Deadly Women,” said women may be drawn to such stories because they may feel if they can understand what’s going on in the mind of a killer, that knowledge might help them if they’re ever confronted by a predator themselves.
Mr. Schleiff said network research suggests it’s a matter of intuition.
“Women love puzzles,” he said. “Some of the greatest cryptologists of all time have been women.”
Mr. Kenda, a retired police detective who grew up in Herminie near Irwin before attending the
University of Pittsburgh, said most crimes are committed for one of three reasons: money, sex or revenge.
“First is always money, second is a sex triangle or affairs or rejected lover, or it’s revenge for some event that took place where someone believes they’ve been wronged and need to make that right,” Mr. Kenda said during Discovery Networks’ presentation at the TV critics summer press tour. “There are occasionally a small number of people who are serial killers, the media loves them, ‘They’re lurking round every corner.’ They’re not. I encountered one in my career. He killed because he liked it. It’s very rare, thank God. The majority of people [who kill] are allowing their emotions to overcome their judgment.”
Remaking Nat Geo
Five years after putting “National Geographic Explorer” to rest, the show is back as a monthly series of specials linked to a story in that month’s issue of National Geographic magazine.
The first new “Explorer” installment, a look at black market ivory trade, debuts at 8 p.m. Aug. 30; the same subject is the National Geographic magazine September cover story.
The “Explorer” revival is part of the network’s effort to return to serious, quality program and back away from some of its tackier, more reality TV-style efforts.
“At its heart, National Geographic brand is about quality,” said Nat Geo CEO Courteney Monroe. “So moving forward, our programming is going to be as well, best in class, critically acclaimed, I hope, must see, event level programming.”
Ms. Monroe said the change in approach came about after the success of “Cosmos,” which aired on Fox and Nat Geo last year.
Nat Geo is also tip-toeing further into the scripted series space following its success with the movies “Killing Lincoln” and “Killing Kennedy.” In addition to November’s pilgrim drama “Saints & Strangers” starring Vincent Kartheiser (“Mad Men”), Nat Geo is developing a limited series about the end of the Vietnam War (“Last Man Out”) executive produced by Tom Fontana and Barry Levinson (“Homicide: Life on the Street”) and a hybrid scripted/unscripted show, “Red Planet,” about a mission to Mars produced by Ron Howard (“Apollo 11”).
The second season of Nat Geo’s Neil deGrasse Tyson’s “Star Talk” is back at 11 p.m. Oct. 25.
Cecil and Nat Geo
Outrage over the killing of Cecil the Lion might boost interest in Nat Geo Wild’s “Big Cat Week” programming event, airing in November, and a day of programming dedicated to World Lion Day Aug. 10.
“Nat Geo WILD has supported the National Geographic Society’s Big Cats Initiative since the moment we launched five years ago, and it’s news like this that reminds me, and frankly all of us, why we are here,” said Nat Geo Wild general manager Geoff Daniels. “Big cats are in serious decline. In fact, there are some estimates that there are less than 32,000 left in the wild. So it’s our responsibility to do everything we can to bring awareness to their plight.”
Nat Geo Wild also will air an African wildlife series with the temporary title “Big Game of Thrones,” although it won’t air with that title lest it infringe on the title of hit HBO drama “Game of Thrones.” (“If there are any HBO spies in the room, don’t worry; we know it’s just a working title,” Mr. Daniels said. “So you can all lawyer down.”)
Channel surfing
Former “Top Gear” stars Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May have locked a three-season deal for a new series for Amazon Prime Video with production set for 2016. Mr. Clarkson was fired from “Top Gear” after punching a producer. … Discovery extends its annual “Shark Week” programming event with an additional weekend of programming, “Shweekend,” Aug. 29 and 30, featuring four new sharkthemed specials. … Destination America will air a live exorcism at 9 p.m. Oct. 30. … Hearst Television will simulcast C-SPAN’s coverage of the first Republican presidential candidates forum on all its stations, including WTAE’s digital subchannel thisTV at 7 p.m. Monday and a rebroadcast on WTAE at 11:35 p.m. Monday.
Tuned In online
Today’s TV Q&A column responds to questions about “Longmire,” “The Little Couple” and baseball on WGN America. This week’s Tuned In Journal includes posts on “Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp,” “Manhattan” and Chelsea Handler. Read online-only TV content at post-gazette.com/tv.
This week’s podcast includes conversation about “Sharknado 3” and summer series, including “Wayward Pines,” “Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell,” “Unreal” and “Another Period.” Subscribe or listen to Pittsburgh Post-Gazette podcasts at iTunes or at https://soundcloud.com/pittsburghpg.