truTV Unveils Dynamic Programming Slate of Insightful, High-Impact 'Actuality' Series

truTV Unveils Dynamic Programming Slate of Insightful, High-Impact 'Actuality' Series

Fast-Growing truTV Working on 10 New Projects

ATLANTA, March 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Hot on the heels of scoring its best month ever in primetime ratings, truTV is unveiling a development slate of 10 projects that will keep the network's strong momentum going. The network, which transformed itself from Court TV in January, is creating projects that leverage its positioning -- "Not Reality. Actuality." -- by giving viewers the chance to experience real-life thrills.

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"truTV's incredible success proves there is a strong appetite among viewers for high-stakes programming that gives them an adrenaline rush, takes them on an exploration of real-life mysteries or shows them a side of the world they may not otherwise get to see," said Marc Juris, executive vice president and general manager of truTV. "Whether it's something as daring as flying a rescue helicopter over Hawaii or as dangerous as working on an oil drilling rig, we promise our viewers programming that is 'actuality,' not the manufactured 'reality' fare they see elsewhere. Our development slate shows how we are fulfilling that promise, setting the stage for continued success in the future."

Among the projects greenlit to series are BLACK GOLD, which delves into the dangerous world of oil drilling; MAN VS. CARTOON, with a team of experts putting Wile E. Coyote's gadgets and schemes to real-world tests; PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE (working title), a look at how school administrators often serve as de facto judge and jury when dealing with misbehavior and conflict; RICH & RECKLESS (working title), about how the privileged sometimes think they are above the law; CRISIS POINT (working title), a first-person view of life- threatening situations; and SKI PATROL, a series about the excitement of working on the slopes.

Projects in development include MAUI CHOPPER, about rescue helicopter pilots working over the wind-swept islands of Hawaii, and DRIVING ME MAD, in which bad drivers are given a crash course in how to navigate the roads. In addition, truTV has previously announced development on SKY RACERS and ONE FALSE MOVE.

These projects join truTV's established slate of popular series, including SPEEDERS, THE REAL HUSTLE, MOST SHOCKING and OCEAN FORCE. Currently, about 85 percent of truTV's primetime schedule is original programming.

   The following is a rundown of truTV's projects in the works:    Greenlit Series   BLACK GOLD -- Set to premiere in summer 2008  

Few jobs have higher stakes than those of "wildcatters" in Texas, where oil prospectors race one another to tap into veins of the precious resource. From Original Productions' Thom Beers, executive producer of the hit series Deadliest Catch, this show will follow several of these wildcatters and their crews of roughnecks as they risk life, limb and millions of dollars in an attempt to strike oil.

MAN VS. CARTOON

Wile E. Coyote never caught the Roadrunner, despite an endless stream of gadgets from the Acme Corp. In MAN VS. CARTOON, truTV is ready to put some of those gadgets to the test. A crack team of scientists, engineers and mad inventors at New Mexico Tech will investigate the possibilities, such as whether a pair of rocket skates could work in real life. MAN VS. CARTOON comes to truTV from Warner Horizon Television and executive producer Craig Piligian (Pilgrim Films), producer of Dirty Jobs and American Chopper. Worldwide Monkey, creators of the show's format, will also executive produce.

PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE (working title)

It can be a harrowing moment for any student: waiting to talk to the principal. Often, principals must act as police, judge and jury, all wrapped into one. truTV follows school administrators as they deal with students who violate school rules, with conflicts between students, and with disputes between students and teachers. This project comes to truTV from Leftfield Productions (High School Stories).

RICH & RECKLESS (working title)

In this new crime series, award-winning investigative journalist Mark Ebner will take viewers inside the lives of the young, rich and beautiful as they make the classic mistake of believing that their lives of privilege put them above the law. RICH & RECKLESS comes to truTV from Left/Right Productions (True Life).

CRISIS POINT (working title)

This series will take viewers inside life-threatening situations from the point of view of the heroes who survived them. Through recreations and actual footage, truTV cameras will capture these survivors' harrowing experiences and witness one of the most profound days in their lives. CRISIS POINT comes to truTV from Nash Entertainment (truTV's Most Shocking).

SKI PATROL (working title)

This exciting series, with individual episodes being produced separately by Bunim/Murray Productions (The Real World) and Varuna Entertainment (Trick My Truck), gets viewers up-close and personal with the men and women who work in some of the most extreme environments in the country. They do everything from dynamiting snowdrifts to daring rescues to busting unruly snowboarders trying to party on the slopes.

In Development

MAUI CHOPPER -- Rescue helicopter pilots navigate some of the windiest and most dangerous skies in the world as they rescue hikers, surfers and anyone else who encounters danger in the tropical paradise of Maui. MAUI CHOPPER comes to truTV from Reveille (American Gladiator, The Biggest Loser).

DRIVING ME MAD -- Bad driving can cause extreme conflict between loved ones, especially if drivers don't realize how bad they are on the road. In each episode of this relatable series, people will undergo rigid coaching from Pete Hosmer, America's toughest driving expert. It's all designed to open the eyes of problematic drivers to how dangerous they can be behind the wheel and provide the basis for resolving road-related conflict. DRIVING ME MAD comes to truTV from RDF Television (Wife Swap).

SKY RACERS -- Being a news helicopter pilot in Los Angeles -- the most crowded airspace in the country -- means rushing to a story the moment it breaks. These pilots assist police during high-speed pursuits, all while using aerial acrobatics to jockey for position. This new series puts viewers inside the cockpit with Desiree Horton, a unique female news pilot who is one of the best in the business. SKY RACERS is from Liberal Media (Workout).

ONE FALSE MOVE -- This gripping series will follow people whose jobs and adventures take them to the brink of disaster, like rescue crews that blast two miles below the Earth's surface or perform daring rope maneuvers hundreds of feet above ground. As this show will prove, a single mistake can be deadly.

truTV is television's destination for real-life stories told from an exciting and dramatic first-person perspective. Currently seen in 91 million U.S. households and enjoying more than a year of solid and consistent ratings growth, truTV features high-stakes, action-packed originals that give viewers access to places and situations they can't normally experience. Among truTV's primetime fan favorites are the original series Forensic Files, Ocean Force, Haunting Evidence, Psychic Detectives, Dominick Dunne's Power, Privilege and Justice and The Real Hustle. During the daytime, the channel features expert trial coverage under the name IN SESSION.

Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, creates and programs branded news, entertainment, animation and young adult media environments on television and other platforms for consumers around the world.

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Source: truTV

CONTACT: Karen Cassell of Turner Entertainment Networks,
+1-404-885-4238, karen.cassell@turner.com, or Sal Petruzzi of Turner
Broadcasting System, +1-212/275-6897, sal.petruzzi@turner.com, both for truTV

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Profile: International Entertainment