TV News Roundup: Week of December 2, 2013

HOUSE OF CARDS set to return, History gets busy with scripts, TV Land renews sitcom, while BBC America cancels drama.

MONDAY:

• Comcast & Nielsen announce plan for new ads for OnDemand:
  The two media companies are working on an approach to dynamically insert fresh/current advertisements into all episodes of series that are on demand. This brings more value to older content as they will have the latest ads in their commercial breaks.
• Time-Warner Cable has new HBO tier:
  Apparently joining Comcast, Time Warner Cable will offer a stripped down package of HBO and about 20 other channels, mainly local and shopping stations. The cost is $30 per month and is aimed at "cord-cutters."
• HANNIBAL mini series:
  History is continuing it's scripted series development with a mini-series on HANNIBAL, and with actress Halle Berry as executive producer

TUESDAY:

• TURBO FAST begins rollout:
  Netflix has scheduled December 24th as the date of the first stage of rolling out the new series TURBO FAST. The series is based on the 2013 animated movie TURBO. unlike it's live action series, TURBO will not have all of it's first season episodes available on the initial rollout date. Only the first five episodes will be available, initially.
• 22 more for THE BLACKLIST:
  NBC has renewed the hit new drama THE BLACKLIST for 22 episode, second season
• HOUSE OF CARDS is back:
  Netflix has announced the release date for the second season of the drama HOUSE OF CARDS for February 14, 2014.
• RIPPER STREET is axed:
  BBC America has cancelled the serie RIPPER STREET after two seasons.

WEDNESDAY:

• Super Bowl sold out:
  FOX has officially sold all the available commercial spots for the 2014 Super Bowl. Ads are reportedly going for over $4 million.
• JAMESTOWN the mini-series:
  History has another scripted series development with a mini-series on colonial JAMESTOWN.
• ONCE UPON A TIME IN WONDERLAND will return:
  The low rated freshman series will wrap up its fall season on December 12th, then retune back to the ABC schedule on March 6, 2014.
• SYFY green lights DOMINION:
  SYFY has official greenlights DOMINION to series, for 2014.
• SOUL MAN renewed:
  TV Land has as renewed the sitcom SOUL MAN for a 3rd season, scheduled to start in the Spring of 2014.

THURSDAY:

• WONDER WOMAN to MeTV:
  The classic 70's TV series WONDER WOMAN, Starring Lynda Carter is returning to MeTV, starting December 27th
• The New Wonder Woman:
  Gal Gadot has been cast as Wonder Woman in the 2015 superhero movie SUPERMAN vs BATMAN
• 'Cord Thinning' on the rise:
  The trend of removing one or more pay-TV services rose 16.9% in Q3. [LINK]
• Aereo goes live in Baltimore:
  Aereo has set the date of December 16th to go live with it's services in Baltimore, MD. .

FRIDAY:

• MTV adapting books for series:
  MTV has struck a deal to make the fantasy novels SHANNARA into a scripted series for the network. Jon Favreau is on to direct and produce the series.
• Less SCANDAL this season:
  For some unknown reason, ABC is reducing the episode order for it's hit drama series SCANDAL, from 22 episodes to 18. The series is scheduled for hiatus after the new year.
• 'He'll Be Back':
  A new TV series based on the TERMINATOR franchise has been ordered. It is reported that the series would directly tie into the upcoming film reboot.
• AMC cancels series:
  Freshman series LOW WINTER SUN was axed by the network.
• DADS full season does not equally 22:
  FOX sitcom DADS was originally given a full season order, but the network has had second thoughts. The comedy will now only produce 19 episodes.