A&E Network Orders 150 Additional Episodes of LIVE PD

A&E Network has ordered 150 more episodes of the hit original series, "Live PD," which documents policing in America in real time, from Big Fish Entertainment, an MGM Company. Totaling 450 hours, the deal extends the series' run into 2019, with the new order bringing the number of commissioned episodes to 293 to date. "Live PD" returns for a third season tonight at 9pm ET/PT. The announcement was made today by Elaine Frontain Bryant, Executive Vice President and Head of Programming for A&E. "Live PD" airs Friday and Saturday nights at 9pm ET/PT.

"Live PD" is the top unscripted justice series on cable. Since its premiere in October 2016, "Live PD" has grown by more than 150% in total viewers (L+SD and L+3), with a series high of 2.7 million total viewers on April 7, 2018. Over the course of the 80 episode second season, "Live PD" was the #1 show of the night on all of television 28 times (L+SD, A25-54, excluding sports). In August, "Live PD" was the #1 program on all of TV among A25-54 and A18-49 on Fridays and Saturdays (L+SD, excluding NFL Pre-Season games), propelling A&E to be the #1 TV network on Fridays and Saturdays for the month with A25-54 and A18-49, beating all broadcast nets. (L+SD, prime).

"'Live PD' has tapped into the cultural zeitgeist in ways we never imaged. Our viewers are passionate and are truly engaged with the show. In fact, they have helped law enforcement agencies find missing children and wanted fugitives," said Frontain Bryant. "We want to extend our thanks to our loyal viewers who have dubbed themselves the 'Live PD Nation,' along with the communities and law enforcement agencies that have welcomed our cameras into their neighborhoods. The team at Big Fish Entertainment, along with our incredible on-air talent and studio and field crews have masterfully produced a technically challenging show week after week."

Added Executive Producer and Big Fish President Dan Cesareo, "A&E has been an incredible partner in allowing us to stretch the legs of this growing franchise and, with the scale of this order, to push the envelope of broader access and understanding of law enforcement for viewers."

Two popular features of "Live PD" have truly resonated with viewers. In partnership with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, the show's "Missing" segments highlight the stories of missing children. Tips from "Live PD" viewers have helped law enforcement to recover seven children. The "Wanted" segment, in which law enforcement agencies across the country ask viewers for help in finding suspects wanted in crimes, has led to 11 fugitives being caught.

Hosted by Dan Abrams with analysis from Tom Morris Jr. and Sgt. Sean 'Sticks' Larkin, "Live PD" showcases the policing of America, following diverse police departments from across the country in real time as they patrol their communities. Using dash cams along with fixed rig and handheld cameras, the series captures the work of a varied mix of urban and rural police forces on a typical Friday and Saturday night. Abrams, Morris and Larkin guide viewers through the night giving insight to what audiences are seeing in real time, bouncing between the featured police departments and offering an inside look at each live episode. "Live PD" also features law enforcement officers from the series who appear in-studio as guest analysts to provide additional commentary.

Among the agencies "Live PD" will be following at the beginning of season three are the Richland County Sheriff's Office, the Pasco County Sheriff's Office, the El Paso Police Department, the Warwick Police Department, the Greene County Sheriff's Office, the Mission Police Department, the Salinas Police Department and the Nye County Sheriff's Office.

Abrams brings over 20 years of reporting and anchoring to the table and currently serves as the Chief Legal Analyst for ABC News. Morris is a former correspondent for the long-running series, "America's Most Wanted." He previously worked in law enforcement as a Special Police Officer in Washington, DC, and in the federal sector as Diplomatic Security for the US State Department and a declassification analyst for the Navy Department. Larkin is a decorated member of the Tulsa Police Department, serving as Supervisor of the Organized Gang Unit. He is also a member of the department's Critical Incident Response Team. Additionally, Larkin is host of A&E's "Live PD Presents: PD Cam."

Big Fish Entertainment was represented in the transaction by Lori York at CAA and Todd Weinstein and Tara Senior at Del Shaw Moonves.

"Live PD" is produced for A&E by Big Fish Entertainment. Executive producers for Big Fish Entertainment are Dan Cesareo, John Zito and Kara Kurcz. Executive producers for A&E Network are Elaine Frontain Bryant, Shelly Tatro and Sean Gottlieb. A+E Networks holds worldwide distribution rights for "Live PD."

"Live PD" Social handles: #LivePD #LivePDNation @OfficialLivePD @DanAbrams @TomMorrisJr1 @Sean_C_Larkin @AETV

About A&E Network

About A&E Network A&E leads the cultural conversation through high-quality, thought provoking original programming with a unique point of view. Whether it's the network's distinctive brand of award winning disruptive reality or groundbreaking documentary, A&E always makes entertainment an art. The A&E website is located at aetv.com. Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/aetv and Facebook at facebook.com/AETV.

About Big Fish Entertainment

Big Fish Entertainment, an MGM Company, is a full service production company that creates multi-platform, visually driven content that compels and entertains audiences with the "unexpected." Founded in 2006 by President Dan Cesareo, Big Fish has since produced more than 750 hours of award-winning and top-rated programming in the live, unscripted reality, lifestyle and documentary space. Current Big Fish series include #1 unscripted crime series LIVE PD and LIVE PD PRESENTS: PD CAM for A&E; LIVE PD PRESENTS: WOMEN ON PATROL for Lifetime; mega-hit franchise BLACK INK CREW New York and Chicago for VH1; culinary docu-series Hustle & Soul for WE tv; Chris Paul's Chapter 3 for ESPN; Tattoo Girls for TLC as well as the upcoming Just Tattoo of Us for MTV. With other credits including Bomb Patrol: Afghanistan and the Gates Foundation Reality PD public schools project, Big Fish captures and relates extraordinary worlds, characters and stories for such networks as Lifetime, A&E, VH1, WE tv, Discovery, TLC, MTV, E!, National Geographic, Oxygen, Travel Channel and Paramount Network. For more information, visit bigfishusa.com.

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