TV News Roundup: April 8, 2013

More GAME OF THRONES:
HBO has renewed the hit series GAME OF THRONES for two more seasons, guaranteeing episodes through 2016.

---

X-BOX TV Studios Launching in June:
19 months ago, Microsoft hired former CBS Executive, Nancy Tellem, and now the X-BOX Studios is about to release it's first series. The studio has brought in Sara Silverman and Seth Green are among the talent involved in the projects. [LINK]

---

Forget Google TV, Get Android TV:
The Verge has released screen shots of the proposed replacement to Google TV, Android TV.  This service will compete with the Roku, Apple TV, and the new Amazon Fire TV. [LINK]

---

More BATES MOTEL:
A&E has picked up the drama BATES MOTEL for a third season.

---

SyFy Gets Zombies:
SyFy cable network is picking up the new series Z-NATION and readying it for a fall 2014 premiere. The series will have 13 episodes for the first season and is an international production. The producers of Z-NATION is the same team that brought us SHARKNADO.

---

DEREK Available in May:
Netflix will release all six 30-minute episodes of the series DEREK, starring Ricky Gervais.

---

BOOM! Coming to FOX:
International hit game show BOOM! is coming to FOX. This will be a joint venture between Dick Clark Productions and Israel's Keshet Media Group. No premiere date was announced.

---

The Weather Channel/DirectTV Makeup:
After a long dispute between The Weather Channel and DirectTV, which resulted in TWC off the DirectTV channel lineup for a couple of months, is back on Direct TV, with a new agreement. Part of the new agreement has TWC included a small right fee increase and more weather up date content through the weekdays.

---

CW Promotes BACKPACKERS:
Web digital series BACKPACKERS was upgraded to a full series, on the CW. The series will run this summer with 10 episodes. the first four will be the repackaging of the already released web content.