Bravo Plans 5th Original Night

Network Aims to Increase Programming by 20% in 2010

By Mike Reynolds -- Multichannel News, 3/15/2010 7:46:00 AM

New York — Bravo, looking to build on its continuing Nielsen momentum, will add a fifth night of original fare as it looks to buttress its programming base by 20% overall in 2010.

From a development perspective, Bravo is engaged in continued scripted work with Darren Star (HBO’s Sex and the City) and working toward a docuseries with So You Think You Can Dance choreographer Mia Michael.

The NBC Universal-owned service also plans to jump into the music genre for the first time with a new competition series and is developing an international food competition series, Around the World in 80 Plates (working title).

Frances Berwick, executive vice president and general manager at Bravo Media, pitched the changes at an upfront presentation to advertisers here on March 8.

Officials didn’t say which night would be added for original fare, but Bravo will likely push for Sundays, TV’s most-viewed night, to complement its current Monday-through- Thursday offerings. It presents movies on Friday and Saturday.

On the development slate, scripted offerings include I’m Not Myself These Days, from the novel of the same name. With Darren Star Productions behind it, the series will track Josh, by day a straight, married New York power broker, by night a drag queen.

Room Service is a one-hour dramedy at a high-end hotel that offers clients the exclusive services of a dream team of male escorts.

On the docuseries side, Bravo will sashay with Emmy-winning Mia Michaels in a series navigating the choreographer through the world of professional dance.

Bravo’s first venture into the music world will come in the form of Hitmakers, an elimination competition featuring undiscovered singer-songwriters, talented newcomers and special guest stars performing their work.

Bravo also picked up four shows: the latest installment of its The Real Housewives franchise, this time in Beverly Hills; Miami Social Club, orbiting that city’s social elite; Million Dollar Decorators, tracking high-end decorators in L.A.; and Pregnant in Heels, centering on Rosie Pope, the founder of Rosie Pope Maternity.

Four skeins got renewed: The Fashion Show, Million Dollar Listing, The Real Housewives of Atlanta and Tabatha’s Salon Makeover.

All of Bravo’s shows are being shot in high-definition.

The upscale network, which claimed 19% ad sales growth in 2009, also plans to host weekly live virtual viewing parties — now called the “Bravo Talk Bubble” — starting March 25 during episodes of The Real Housewives of New York City.