Oxygen Greenlights Five New Series

Oxygen Media has picked up five new reality series in advance of the network’s Oct. 7 rebrand, said Rod Aissa who was also elevated to the role of executive vice president of original programming and development.

The new series include The Investment Club, executively produced by Thom Beers and follows millennial entrepreneurs hoping to make it big; The Prancing Elite Project, produced by Crazy Legs Productions and chronicles an all-male competitive dance team in Mobile, Ala; The Wilkersons, from Magical Elves and follows the life of Pastor Rick Wilkerson and his family; and Finding My Father, produced by Asylum Entertainment which follows several men and women who are looking to piece together the truth about their past.  

The network will also expand its popular Preachers Of L.A. reality series with the 2015 launch of Preachers Of Detroit, said network officials.

These shows join the recently announced  greenlit series Nail’d It, My Crazy Love, Fix My Choir, Street Art Throwdown, Funny Girls, Living Different, It Takes A Sister, and After Happily Ever After. The shows are part of Oxygen’s rebrand launching on Oct. 7 and the unveiling the network’s “very real” tagline and new logo.

“Oxygen is committed to delivering more authentic originals geared to young, multicultural women,” said Aissa. “These vibrant series reinforce the network’s new programming direction as we continue to shape the future of Oxygen.”

In his new role, Aissa will continue to oversee the strategic development and production of Oxygen’s original programming and will help oversee the network’s rebrand, according to Oxygen. Aissa was behind the launch of several successful Oxygen series including Preachers of L.A and Sisterhood of Hip Hop.

“Rod has a remarkably intuitive touch for finding unique original content that is culturally relevant for our audience in this young, multicultural demo,” said Frances Berwick, President of Bravo and Oxygen Media.  “His passion and creativity will be instrumental as we continue to expand our programming slate for the new Oxygen.”

R. Thomas Umstead

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.