Syfy Announces New Scripted Projects from Universal Cable Productions, Fox Television Studios and CBS TV Studios

Marking another phase of its record expansion of original programming, Syfy today announced three new scripted projects in development from Universal Cable Productions, CBS TV Studios and Fox Television Studios.

In making the announcement, Mark Stern, President, Original Content, Syfy, and Co-Head, Original Content, Universal Cable Productions, said: “This broad-based slate, from top-notch talent in the creative community, will enable us to build upon the strong foundation of our current hit scripted series to provide Syfy viewers with the next generation of imaginative entertainment.”

Syfy’s quartet of popular scripted series — Warehouse 13, Alphas, Eureka and Haven — powered the channel to its most watched Third Quarter ever, drawing 1.45 million total viewers.

On Monday, January 16 at 9PM (ET/PT), Being Human will return for its second season, followed by the premiere of Lost Girl at 10PM.

Syfy Scripted Development Slate

UNT. ROBERT H. WOLFE PROJECT

• Universal Cable Productions
• Robert H. Wolfe — Executive Producer/Writer
• After decades of war, the newly formed Unity Democracy orders a volatile mix of humans and trans-humans to lead the Starship Defender on an expedition in search of lost worlds requiring law and order.

SEEING THINGS (working title)

• Fox Television Studios
• David Slack — Executive Producer
• Scott Rosenberg and Robert Cort — Co-Executive Producers
• David Slack and Gabrielle Stanton — Writers
• A cop becomes a ghost after his violent death and the only person who can help close his last case is a socially awkward man who realizes that the hallucinations he’s had all his life may not be a figment of his imagination.

GHOST PROJEKT

• Oni Press
• CBS TV Studios
• Brett Matthews — Executive Producer/Writer
• Andy Bourne, Eric Gitter — Executive Producer
• Based on the popular comic series, a female KGB agent and male American weapons inspector form an unlikely partnership when a deadly force is unwittingly unleashed from a Siberian research facility.

Syfy is a media destination for imagination-based entertainment. With year round acclaimed original series, events, blockbuster movies, classic science fiction and fantasy programming, a dynamic Web site (www.Syfy.com), and a portfolio of adjacent business (Syfy Ventures), Syfy is a passport to limitless possibilities. Originally launched in 1992 as SCI FI Channel, and currently in more than 98 million homes, Syfy is a network of NBCUniversal, one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies. (Syfy. Imagine greater.)

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via Syfy Press Release

Dark Horse Comics Teams Up with Bioware to Unveil a New Dragon Age Digital Comic Series

Dark Horse Comics announced an all-new digital comic series based on BioWare’s dark, fantasy RPG series, Dragon Age™. Written by Dragon Age Lead Writer, David Gaider, and featuring original art by Chad Hardin (Stan Lee’s The Traveler, Web of Spider-Man, The Spirit), the deep and fascinating lore surrounding the Dragon Age universe will unfold, as new adventures will come to light in the comic series.

The thrilling, six-part series will feature a riveting story that takes fans of the critically-acclaimed Dragon Age franchise deeper into the RPG’s mythology. Readers will follow Alistair, Isabela, and Varric, three important heroes from Dragon Age: Origins and Dragon Age II, as they travel to Antiva, a nation ruled by deadly assassins. The comic series’ heroes will embark on an epic journey to uncover one of the greatest secrets in the history of Thedas while encountering a dangerous prison break and the mysterious and feared Witch of the Wilds.

Dark Horse Comics will release the six-part comic series exclusively at
www.digital.darkhorse.com for $0.99 each starting February 22, 2012.

Syfy Will Celebrate Thanksgiving Weekend With Fifteen James Bond Movies – From Connery to Craig – November 23-25

Syfy will shake and stir the Thanksgiving holiday weekend with 15 James Bond movies – from Sean Connery, Roger Moore, Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig – beginning Wednesday, November 23 with the midnight showing of You Only Live Twice.

Syfy’s Thanksgiving holiday programming centerpiece will be the world premiere of the Saturday Original Movie Storm War, airing on Saturday, November 26 at 9PM (ET/PT). In the movie, two rival brothers learn that their father, a brilliant but deranged scientist, has created diabolical weather weapons which he unleashes on his enemies – and the city of Washington, DC. Starring Stacy Keach (American History X) and Jason London (Dazed and Confused), Storm War is a production of Active Entertainment.

Storm War will be surrounded by holiday programming stunts all weekend. On Thanksgiving Day, November 24, the 007 marathon – including Thunderball, Goldfinger, Die Another Day, The Spy Who Loved Me and Quantum of Solace – airs from 8AM-3AM (ET/PT), continuing on Friday, November 25, at 8:30AM with six more Bond films which will air throughout the day.

Syfy wraps up the weekend with all-day theatricals on Sunday, November 26, highlighted by the channel premieres of The Invisible (3PM), An American Werewolf in London (5PM) and Drag Me to Hell (7PM).

Thanksgiving weekend is just the start of Syfy‘s 2011 holiday festivities. The second annual Countdown to Christmas Week (December 4-10) will feature the original miniseries Neverland, holiday episodes of Eureka, Warehouse 13, Haven and Ghost Hunters, and the Christmas-themed Saturday Original Movie Snowmageddon.

Syfy is a media destination for imagination-based entertainment. With year round acclaimed original series, events, blockbuster movies, classic science fiction and fantasy programming, a dynamic Web site (www.Syfy.com), and a portfolio of adjacent business (Syfy Ventures), Syfy is a passport to limitless possibilities. Originally launched in 1992 as SCI FI Channel, and currently in more than 98 million homes, Syfy is a network of NBCUniversal, one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies. (Syfy. Imagine greater.)

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via SyFy Press Release

The following are some photos from Storm War… I also adjusted the Storm War Poster from the original version (name). The last photo is the cast from Storm War. Enjoy!

SPARTACUS Renewed for Season Three

The most celebrated STARZ Originals franchise, Spartacus, will continue to wow audiences worldwide with a renewal secured for a thrilling and bloody third season. The green light comes well in advance of Spartacus: Vengeance, which will debut exclusively on STARZ – Friday, January 27, 2012 at 10PM ET/PT.

As yet untitled, production on the third season of Spartacus is expected to begin in New Zealand in early 2012.
Starz Media Managing Director Carmi Zlotnik commented, “There is no denying the impact Spartacus has had in the marketplace with fans across the globe thirsting for the continuation of the epic tale. ‘Vengeance’ brings unparalleled action and drama to STARZ viewers in January. We are thrilled to come to an early agreement that allows the writers and talent to get right back to work in preparing for season three.”

“Many surprises are in store for ‘Vengeance’ viewers this year, but rest assured the multi-layered plot and richly developed characters will continue to be a trademark of this series,” said Rob Tapert, executive producer. “It’s incredibly gratifying to see how the story has resonated so well with viewers worldwide.”

“The executives at Starz have been extremely supportive in giving us creative freedom and allowing us to tell the story in a rich, yet bold way that leaves an indelible mark on its fans,” added Steven S. DeKnight, executive producer.

The most recent chapter of Spartacus was the prequel, ‘Gods of the Arena,’ which ran in January 2011 and averaged an estimated 6.2 million total viewers per episode across all linear channels and on-demand viewing.

Australian actor Liam McIntyre (Ektopos, Radev, “Neighbours,” “The Pacific”) assumes the title role of Spartacus in “Vengeance.”  McIntyre is joined by returning favorites: Lucy Lawless (“Xena: Warrior Princess,” “Battlestar Galactica”) as Lucretia; Peter Mensah (Avatar, 300, The Incredible Hulk) as Oenomaus – once known as Doctore; Manu Bennett (The Marine, 30 Days of Night), as Crixus; Dustin Clare (“Underbelly,” “Satisfaction”) as Gannicus; Nick E. Tarabay (“Crash,” “CSI: Miami”) as Ashur; and Katrina Law (“Third Watch”) as Mira.

Season two also brings the return of “Blood and Sand” cast members, Craig Parker (The Lord of the Rings Trilogy) as Gaius Claudius Glaber, the Roman commander who condemned Spartacus to slavery, and his alluring and cunning wife Ilithyia played by Viva Bianca (Accidents Happen) . Actress Cynthia Addai-Robinson (“Dirt”) joins the series as Naevia, the former body slave to Lucretia who was banished from the Ludus for engaging in a love affair with Crixus.

Premiering exclusively on STARZ, Spartacus: Vengeance is produced by executive producers Rob Tapert (The Grudge, “Xena: Warrior Princess” and “Hercules: The Legendary Journeys”), Steven S. DeKnight (“Buffy the Vampire Slayer”), Sam Raimi (Spider-Man and The Evil Dead), and Joshua Donen (The Quick and the Dead). “Spartacus” is distributed internationally by Starz Media Worldwide Distribution.

About Starz Media
Starz Media, LLC, is a programming production and distribution company operating worldwide. It includes the Anchor Bay Entertainment, Anchor Bay Films, Film Roman and Manga Entertainment brands. Its units create animated and live-action programming and programming created under contract for other media companies. It distributes that content, and programming acquired from outside producers, through home video retailers, broadcasters, ad-supported and premium television channels, and Internet and wireless video distributors in the US and internationally. Starz Media (www.starzmedia.com) is a controlled subsidiary of Liberty Media Corporation attributed to the Liberty Starz tracking stock group (NASDAQ: LSTZA).

 

About Starz Entertainment
Starz Entertainment, LLC, is a premium movie and original programming entertainment service provider operating in the United States. The company offers 16 premium channels including the flagship STARZ® and ENCORE® brands with approximately 19 million and 32.9 million subscribers respectively.  Starz Entertainment airs in total more than 1,000 movies and original series every month across its pay TV channels. Starz Entertainment is recognized as a pay TV leader in providing HD, On Demand, HD On Demand and online advanced services for its STARZ, ENCORE and MOVIEPLEX brands.  Starz Entertainment (www.starz.com) is an operating unit of Starz, LLC, which is a controlled subsidiary of Liberty Media Corporation and is attributed to the Liberty Starz tracking stock group (NASDAQ: LSTZA).

Julie Andrews, Target and Disney Announce First Annual National Princess Week

World renowned actress, singer and best-selling children’s author, Julie Andrews, in collaboration with Target and The Walt Disney Company, is announcing the creation and inaugural launch of National Princess Week beginning April 22, 2012.

This unprecedented collaboration highlights Julie Andrews’ longtime dedication to nurturing every child’s unique spirit, as demonstrated throughout her career on stage, screen and through her children’s book endeavors. With the support of Target and Disney, National Princess Week will celebrate the sparkle and imagination of every princess – real, aspiring or imagined.

“So many children fall in love with the whimsical wonder of princesses and all the goodness that they represent,” said Ms. Andrews. “Joining Target and Disney to host this annual event nationally will help us to recognize and celebrate the uniqueness that lies within every child.”

The event coincides with the 10-year anniversary of The Princess Diaries, starring Julie Andrews and Anne Hathaway, and the special two-movie collection of The Princess Diaries and The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement — available for the first time ever on Disney Blu-ray. Target and Target.com will feature an array of Disney Princess merchandise highlighting beloved princess characters such as Ariel, Cinderella and Snow White — from apparel, toys and books, to CDs, movies, personal care items and stationery. The week will also highlight the newest release in the No. 1 New York Times best-selling “The Very Fairy Princess” children’s book franchise, “The Very Fairy Princess Here Comes the Flower Girl!” co-authored by Julie’s daughter and writing partner, Emma Walton Hamilton and published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.

“Julie Andrews is an icon for children who love the magic of fairy princesses,” said Casey Carl, Target’s senior vice president, hardlines. “Our first National Princess Week will give Target’s guests a chance to have a ‘princess experience,’ and take home their favorite princesses and accessories.”

Ms. Andrews will be honored with the Prince Rainier III Award for her outstanding contribution to motion picture, television and theater arts during the Princess Grace Awards Gala on November 1 in New York City. The award is presented to eminent artists who have not only been highly successful in their careers, but have made significant humanitarian contributions to their fields. All award recipients receive a $25,000 grant, which will be donated to select charitable organizations benefiting children.

“We are all excited about the existence of a royal tradition, and I hope that Princess Grace would have been pleased to know that there will be a week that celebrates the sparkle in each one of us – and the belief that dreams can come true,” says Ms. Andrews.

About Target

Minneapolis-based Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT) serves guests at 1,767 stores across the United States and at Target.com. The company plans to open its first stores in Canada in 2013. In addition, the company operates a credit card segment that offers branded proprietary credit card products. Since 1946, Target has given 5 percent of its income through community grants and programs; today, that giving equals more than $3 million a week. For more information about Target’s commitment to corporate responsibility, visit Target.com/hereforgood.

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About The Walt Disney Studios:

For more than 85 years, The Walt Disney Studios has been the foundation on which The Walt Disney Company (DIS: NYSE) was built. Today, the Studio brings quality movies, music and stage plays to consumers throughout the world. Feature films are released under four banners: Walt Disney Pictures, which includes Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar Animation Studios, Disneynature, Touchstone Pictures and Marvel. Original music and motion picture soundtracks are produced under Walt Disney Records and Hollywood Records, while Disney Theatrical Group produces and licenses live events, including Broadway theatrical productions, Disney on Ice and Disney LIVE!. For more information, please visit www.disney.com.

via Disney Press Release

FOX Wins Three Weeks Straight and Remains Only Network to Gain in Both Ratings and Viewers

FOX earned its third consecutive weekly victory last week and remains the only broadcast network to post a year-over-year gain among both Adults 18-49 (+16%) and Total Viewers (+18%). Averaging a 3.9/11 rating for the week, FOX widened its lead as this fall’s No. 1 network among Adults 18-49 outperformed the No. 2 network (CBS) by +39% — more than a full rating point advantage.

With an astounding seven-game 2011 MLB WORLD SERIES, THE X FACTOR‘s very first live performance show and the scarily strong 22nd installment of THE SIMPSONS TREEHOUSE OF HORROR, FOX also won the week among Total Viewers, Adults 18-34 and Teens.

Key weekly highlights include:

• The first THE X FACTOR live performance show gave FOX the Tuesday win and posted the highest-rated Tuesday night on any network so far this season.
• THE X FACTOR delivered a 4.4/12 among Adults 18-49, up +13% in the core adult demo and up +16% in Total Viewers versus the previous Tuesday.
• THE X FACTOR tied its series premiere rating among Adults 18-49 and was the No. 1 program of the night among Adults 18-49, Adults 18-34 and Teens.
• THE X FACTOR grew +32% in the core adult demo from its first half hour to its last.
• Game 7 of the 2011 MLB WORLD SERIES drew 25.4 million viewers and is the highest-rated, most-watched game since 2004, when the Boston Red Sox ended their historic World Series drought in Game 4 with 28.8 million viewers.
• Game 7 was FOX‘s single most watched Friday night program in FOX history and gave the network its highest-rated Friday night in more than 15 years among Adults 18-49 (since 10/11/96).
• The complete 2011 MLB WORLD SERIES on FOX averaged 16.6 million viewers, up an impressive +19% over last year’s 14.3 million viewers. In addition, the 2011 MLB WORLD SERIES posted year-to-year double-digit increases across all key male and adult categories: Men 12-17 (+30%); Men 18-34 (+24%), Men 18-49 (+17%); Men 25-54 (+16%); Adults 18-34 (+27%); Adults 18-49 (+23%); and Adults 25-54 (+21%).
• FOX closed the week on Sunday with THE SIMPSONS TREEHOUSE OF HORROR XXII, which posted a 4.0/10 among Adults 18-49 — up +8% from last year’s ‘Treehouse of Horror‘ episode (3.7/9 on 11/7/10). In addition, THE SIMPSONS gained +33% week over week and achieved its highest rated telecast in almost 10 months among Adults 18-49 (since 1/9/11).

Weekly Program Rankers

FOX had 5 of the Top 20 programs among Adults 18-49: WORLD SERIES GAME 7 (No. 2), WORLD SERIES GAME 6 (No. 3), THE X FACTOR-TUE SP (No. 8), WORLD SERIES GAME 5 (No. 10) and THE SIMPSONS (No. 14).

FOX had 8 of the Top 20 programs among Adults 18-34: WORLD SERIES GAME 7 (No. 2), WORLD SERIES GAME 6 (No. 3), SIMPSONS (No. 4), FAMILY GUY (No. 5), WORLD SERIES GAME 5 (No. 9), THE X FACTOR TUE SP (No. 11), ALLEN GREGORY (No. 18 tie), and THE SIMPSONS 730P SP (No. 18 tie).

FOX had 9 of the Top 20 programs among Teens: WORLD SERIES GAME 7 (No. 2), THE SIMPSONS (No. 3), THE X FACTOR TUE (No. 4 tie), THE CLEVELAND SHOW (No. 4 tie), WORLD SERIES GAME 6 (No. 6), FAMILY GUY (No. 7), THE SIMPSONS 730P SP (No. 11), ALLEN GREGORY (No. 12), and WORLD SERIES GAME 5 (No. 19).

FOX had 4 of the Top 20 programs among Total Viewers: WORLD SERIES GAME 7 (No. 1), WORLD SERIES GAME 6 (No. 3), WORLD SERIES GAME 5 (No. 10), and THE X FACTOR TUE SP (No. 14).

Nightly and Program Highlights – October 24 – 30, 2011

MONDAY

7:30-8:02 WORLD SERIES PRE-GAME 5 (S): (Adults 18-49: 1.3/5, 4.6 Mil Total Viewers)

8:02-11:40 WORLD SERIES GAME 5 (S): (Adults 18-49: 4.2/11, 14.3 Mil Total Viewers)

8:00-11:00 FOX PRIME: (Adults 18-49: 3.9/10, 13.5 Mil Total Viewers

From 8:02-11:40p the MLB WORLD SERIES GAME 5: ST. LOUIS at TEXAS (S) posted a 4.2/11 among Adults 18-49. FOX ranked #2 for the night among Adults 18-49 and #1 among Adults 18-34 and all key male demos.

TUESDAY

8:00-10:30 THE X FACTOR-TUE SP (S): (Adults 18-49: 4.4/12, 12.1 Mil Total Viewers)

FOX won the night among Adults 18-49, Adults 18-34, Adults 25-54 and Teens and posted the highest rated Tuesday on any network so far this season among Adults 18-49.

THE X FACTOR posted a 4.4/12 among Adults 18-49, up +13% from last Tuesday (3.9/10) and up +16% in Total Viewers (12.1 vs. 10.4 Mil.)

THE X FACTOR posted its highest Adults 18-49 rating since its debut on 9/21/11 (4.4/12) and its highest Adults 25-54 rating ever (5.2/12).

From its first half hour to its last THE X FACTOR grew +32% in Adults 18-49 (half hours: 3.7 > 4.2 > 4.5 > 4.5 > 4.9).

THE X FACTOR was the No. 1 program of the night in Adults 18-49, Adults 18-34 and Teens.

WEDNESDAY

8:00-9:00 GLEE (RS): (Adults 18-49: 0.7/2, 2.5 Mil Total Viewers)

9:00-10:00 GLEE (RS): (Adults 18-49: 0.7/2, 2.2 Mil Total Viewers)

8:00-10:00 FOX PRIME: (Adults 18-49: 0.7/2, 2.4 Mil Total Viewers

Airing in place of a rained-out MLB World Series Game 6, encores of GLEE posted a 0.7/2 in both the 8p and 9p hours. FOX ranked #4 (tie) for the night in Adults 18-49.

THURSDAY

7:30-8:02 WORLD SERIES PRE-GAME 6 (S): (Adults 18-49: 1.7/6, 5.8 Mil Total Viewers)

8:02-12:43 WORLD SERIES GAME 6 (S): (Adults 18-49: 6.5/18, 21.1 Mil Total Viewers)

8:00-11:00 FOX PRIME: (Adults 18-49: 5.6/15, 19.3 Mil Total Viewers

From 8:02p-12:43a the MLB WORLD SERIES GAME 6: TEXAS at ST. LOUIS (S) posted a 6.5/18 among Adults 18-49. FOX won the night among Adults 18-49, Total Viewers, Adults 18-34/25-54 and Teens.

FRIDAY

7:30-8:02 WORLD SERIES PRE-GAME 7 (S): (Adults 18-49: 2.1/8, 7.0 Mil Total Viewers)

8:02-11:29 WORLD SERIES GAME 7 (S): (Adults 18-49: 7.4/22, 25.4 Mil Total Viewers)

8:00-11:00 FOX PRIME: (Adults 18-49: 7.1/22, 24.9 Mil Total Viewers

From 8:02-11:29p the MLB WORLD SERIES GAME 7: TEXAS at ST. LOUIS (S) posted a 7.4/22 among Adults 18-49. FOX won the night among Adults 18-49, Total Viewers, Adults 18-34/25-54 and Teens.

FOX posted its highest rated Friday night in over 15 years among Adults 18-49 (since 10/11/96) and highest ever among Total Viewers.

SATURDAY

8:00-10:00 AMERICA’S MOST WANTED (S): (Adults 18-49: 1.5/5, 4.3 Mil Total Viewers)

A special AMERICA’S MOST WANTED led FOX to a #2 rank among Adults 18-49, Adults 18-34 and Total Viewers.

SUNDAY

7:00-7:30 THE CLEVELAND SHOW (R): (A18 49: 1.2/3, 2.7 Mil Total Viewers)

7:30-7:59 THE SIMPSONS (RS): (A18 49: 2.5/7, 5.5 Mil Total Viewers)

7:59-8:30 THE SIMPSONS: (A18 49: 4.0/10, 8.1 Mil Total Viewers)

8:30-9:00 ALLEN GREGORY (P): (A18 49: 2.4/6, 4.8 Mil Total Viewers)

9:00-9:30 FAMILY GUY: (A18 49: 3.2/7, 6.0 Mil Total Viewers)

9:30-10:00 THE CLEVELAND SHOW: (A18 49: 2.4/5, 4.7 Mil Total Viewers)

7:00-10:00 FOX PRIME: (A18 49: 2.6/6, 5.3 Mil Total Viewers)

FOX ranked #3 for the night in Adults 18-49 and #2 in Adults 18-34 and Teens.

At 8p THE SIMPSONS’ TREEHOUSE OF HORROR XXII posted a 4.0/10 in Adults 18-49, up +33% from its performance four weeks ago (10/2/11, 3.0/8) and up +8% from last year’s ‘Treehouse of Horror’ episode (3.7/9 on 11/7/10).

THE SIMPSONS achieved its highest rated telecast in almost 10 months among Adults 18-49 (since 1/9/11).

THE SIMPSONS ranked #2 in the 8p half hour among Adults 18-49 and Adults 18-34 and #1 in Teens and outperformed week two of ABC’s Once Upon A Time in head to head competition in the 8p half-hour by +5% (4.0 vs. 3.8)

The series debut of ALLEN GREGORY posted a 2.4/6 in Adults 18-49.

At 9p FAMILY GUY posted a 3.2/7 in Adults 18-49 and ranked #2 in its half-hour among Adults 18-49 and Adults 18-34.

THE CLEVELAND SHOW at 9:30p posted 2.4/5 in Adults 18-49 and ranked #2 in the 9:30p half-hour in Adults 18-34 and Teens.

In the 7p hour encores of THE CLEVELAND SHOW and THE SIMPSONS posted 1.2/3 and 2.5/7, respectively.

OCTOBER 24 – 30, 2011

TOTAL PRIMETIME

ADULTS 18 49 ADULTS 18 34 VIEWERS (Mil)

FOX 3.9/11 FOX 3.5/11 FOX 12.6

ABC 2.5/7 ABC 1.8/6 ABC 8.9

CBS 2.8/8 CBS 1.7/5 CBS 11.0

NBC 2.3/6 NBC 2.0/6 NBC 6.5

11/12 FOX Programs: Live + 7 in Adults 18-49

Live+Same Day vs. Live + 7 ratings (available through 10/16/11) among Adults 18-49:

11/12 Season thru 10/16 Live+Same Day Adults 18-49 Live + 7 Adults 18-49 % Change
HOUSE 3.3/8 4.3/10 +30%
TERRA NOVA 3.0/7 4.1/10 +37%
GLEE 3.8/11 5.0/14 +32%
NEW GIRL 4.5/11 6.0/15 +33%
RAISING HOPE 2.9/7 3.8/9 +31%
THE X FACTOR- Wed 4.2/11 4.8/13 +14%
THE X FACTOR- Thu 4.0/11 4.6/13 +15%
KITCHEN NIGHTMARES 1.6/6 2.0/7 +25%
FRINGE 1.3/4 2.1/6 +62%
THE SIMPSONS 3.4/9 3.9/10 +15%
THE CLEVELAND SHOW 2.9/7 3.2/8 +10%
FAMILY GUY 3.8/9 4.7/11 +24%
AMERICAN DAD 2.9/6 3.3/7 +14%

11/12 FOX Programs: Live +7 in Total Viewers

Live+Same Day vs. Live + 7 ratings (available through 10/16/11) among Total Viewers:

11/12 Season thru 10/16 Live+Same Day P2+ (Mil.) Live + 7 P2+ (Mil.) % Change
HOUSE 8.3 10.6 +28%
TERRA NOVA 8.5 11.3 +33%
GLEE 8.7 11.6 +33%
NEW GIRL 9.4 12.2 +30%
RAISING HOPE 6.4 8.0 +25%
THE X FACTOR- Wed 12.1 13.7 +13%
THE X FACTOR- Thu 11.9 13.4 +13%
KITCHEN NIGHTMARES 3.9 4.7 +21%
FRINGE 3.2 4.8 +50%
THE SIMPSONS 7.1 8.0 +13%
THE CLEVELAND SHOW 5.8 6.4 +10%
FAMILY GUY 7.3 8.9 +22%
AMERICAN DAD 5.8 6.6 +14%

via Fox Press Release

Avatar Themed Attraction to Open at Walt Disney World’s Animal Kingdom In 2016

:: Yes, this is an older press release (about a month ago), but it was news to me! So I’m posting it for those that missed it as well… ::

Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Worldwide is joining forces with visionary filmmaker James Cameron and Fox Filmed Entertainment to bring the world of AVATAR to life at Disney parks. Through an exclusive agreement announced today by Disney, Cameron’s Lightstorm Entertainment and Fox, Disney will partner with Cameron and producing partner Jon Landau to create themed lands that will give theme park guests the opportunity to explore the mysterious universe of AVATAR first hand. Disney plans to build the first AVATAR themed land at Walt Disney World, within the Animal Kingdom park. With its emphasis on living in harmony with nature, Animal Kingdom is a natural fit for the AVATAR stories, which share the same philosophy. Construction is expected to begin by 2013.

“James Cameron is a groundbreaking filmmaker and gifted storyteller who shares our passion for creativity, technological innovation and delivering the best experience possible,” said Robert A. Iger, President and CEO of The Walt Disney Company. “With this agreement, we have the extraordinary opportunity to combine James’ talent and vision with the imagination and expertise of Disney.”

“AVATAR created a world which audiences can discover again and again and now, through this incredible partnership with Disney, we’ll be able to bring Pandora to life like never before. With two new AVATAR films currently in development, we’ll have even more locations, characters and stories to explore,” said James Cameron. ”I’m chomping at the bit to start work with Disney’s legendary Imagineers to bring our AVATAR universe to life. Our goal is to go beyond current boundaries of technical innovation and experiential storytelling, and give park goers the chance to see, hear, and touch the world of AVATAR with an unprecedented sense of reality.”

The agreement announced today gives The Walt Disney Company exclusive global theme park rights to the AVATAR franchise and provides for additional AVATAR themed lands at other Disney parks. The other locations will be determined by Disney and its international theme park partners. James Cameron, Jon Landau and their Lightstorm Entertainment group will serve as creative consultants on the projects and will partner with Walt Disney Imagineering in the design and development of the AVATAR themed lands.

“This exciting new venture combines the world of AVATAR with the enormous reach of Disney and the incomparable talent of Jim Cameron,” commented Fox Filmed Entertainment chairmen Jim Gianopulos and Tom Rothman. “While Jim is bringing audiences further into Pandora with the next two chapters in the AVATAR motion picture saga, the theme park attraction will likewise bring a new dimension to the amazing universe he created.”

“AVATAR is a uniquely powerful franchise that has global appeal with audiences of all ages. Its spectacular settings, intriguing characters, imaginative creatures, and strong themes of family and loyalty make it a perfect fit for Disney,” said Thomas O. Staggs, Chairman, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. “We can’t wait to give our guests the ability to journey to Pandora and explore the incredible immersive world of AVATAR in person.”

In addition to setting a global box office record, AVATAR has been hailed as one of the most innovative and visually stunning movies ever produced. With its advanced motion capture and 3-D digital projection technologies developed by James Cameron and his team, moviegoers were able to connect with the world of AVATAR in new and engaging ways.

This new venture complements Walt Disney Parks & Resorts’ strategic efforts to continue to invest in its core theme park businesses around the world while simultaneously expanding into other parts of the family vacation business.

via Disney Press Release

The following are some questions that were asked by people regarding the AVATAR at Disney Parks announcement.

1) TIMING

Any idea when the experience will be open to guests?
We’ve just begun the design phase on our Animal Kingdom project and we expect to begin construction in 2013. From start to finish, a project of this size and scope takes about 5 years to design and build. We can’t give you an exact date but we know that when it’s complete, it’s going to be a truly unforgettable experience.

 2) IS THIS A PARK EXPANSION OR WILL “LAND” REPLACE SOMETHING?

Will it replace any existing attractions in Animal Kingdom, or will it be built in a new parcel of land within the park’s boundaries?
We’re just beginning the Blue Sky process so I don’t have much to share about how we are going to execute our vision for our first AVATAR land but we’re focused on this being an important addition to Disney’s Animal Kingdom. I look forward to sharing more details as our plans progress.

 3) SPECIFIC ATTRACTIONS

What types of attractions will be in AVATAR land?
While we’re still in the very early stages of design and planning, we expect this land to be anchored by multiple attractions, entertainment, merchandise locations, restaurants and other immersive elements. Our AVATAR lands will give guests the chance to see, hear and touch the world of Pandora and we can’t wait to dive in with James Cameron and his team as we create new experiences that will delight and thrill our guests.

 4) FILM IS PG-13, HOW DOES THIS MATCH W/FAMILY-FRIENDLY PARK?

Is AVATAR a good fit for a family-friendly brand like Disney.
At its core, AVATAR is a film that embraces strong, positive themes of family, loyalty, living in harmony with nature and belief in oneself – all values that we share at The Walt Disney Company. You can be sure that these are the same themes that we will explore throughout our AVATAR lands. They will be places where friends and families can spend time together getting lost in a fantasy world, one of the true hallmarks of any Disney theme park experience. And with two sequels in the works, we feel this is a creative property whose potential is limitless.

 5) AVATAR AT OTHER DISNEY PARKS?

Will there be AVATAR experiences in parks/sites other than Disney’s Animal Kingdom?
The only land we are announcing today is at Walt Disney World Resort but AVATAR is a possibility at any of our other locations. The first film AVATAR is a franchise with massive global appeal and its success at the box office both inside and outside of the U.S. – I should also note that as we determine our future locations, we look forward to working with our international theme park partners as our plans evolve.

 6) ATTRACTION THEMING

How does AVATAR fit in with the Disney theme? More specifically, how does it fit in with the Animal Kingdom?
AVATAR is a uniquely powerful franchise that has global appeal with audiences of all ages. With its spectacular settings, intriguing characters, imaginative creatures and strong themes of family and loyalty, it’s a great fit for the Disney brand and our parks.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom is the perfect place for our first AVATAR land because at its core, the park gives guests the opportunity to experience the worlds of animals and nature – real and mythical – in whole new ways. With AVATAR, we’ve found the perfect opportunity to let our guests explore one of the most compelling mythical worlds ever conceived. Animal Kingdom also celebrates adventure, living in harmony with nature and environmental stewardship – themes that are deeply rooted in the story of AVATAR.

 7) WHY BUY SOMEONE ELSE’S IDEA INSTEAD OF LETTING WDI COME UP WITH SOMETHING?

Why we would choose to collaborate with an outside partner rather than use our own Disney characters and stories to expand the parks. We are as committed as ever to creating attractions and entertainment around favorite Disney characters and stories – with Cars Land at Disney California Adventure park and our expansion of Fantasyland at Magic Kingdom Park being two great examples. At the same time, we like to look beyond our own walls at non-Disney properties, like STAR WARS and INDIANA JONES, creating some of our most popular attractions. At the end of the day, we are focused on creating a great experience for our guests and I truly believe that this unique partnership with James Cameron and AVATAR gives us an entire world of imaginative creatures, fascinating locations and intriguing characters with which to do that.

via Disney Blog