As one of Turner's youngest, most socially-engaged networks, truTV enters the 2016-17 Upfront season with news of a robust slate that builds on its roster of original programming from some of the industry's freshest new comedic talent. First up, the network has greenlit three all-new series: Jon Glaser Loves Gear, Greatest Ever and Lifescaping (working title). truTV has also given the go-ahead to two new specials: The Problem with Apu (working title), a feature-length documentary from comedian Hari Kondabolu, and an-all new IMPRACTICAL JOKERS live special that will follow on the heels of last year's juggernaut live punishment event.
On the development front, the network has ordered a total of six new pilots, including two scripted offerings - Small Victories (working title), a comedy series about confronting everyday injustices written by and starring Melissa Hunter, and I'm Sorry (working title), a comedic look at confronting one's inner immaturity and neuroses written by and starring Andrea Savage. New unscripted pilots include untitled projects from Hari Kondabolu, Kevin Pereira and Olivia Lee, which all join an untitled project for a comedic news show created by Jena Friedman in development.
On the renewals side,
truTV has ordered new seasons of
FAMELESS and Hack My Life, as well as the previously-announced scripted comedy Those Who Can't, which recently completed its first season and will return later this year for season two. Additional episodes have also been ordered for two first-season series, Comedy
KNOCKOUT and Rachel Dratch's Late Night Snack. These renewals join current series Adam Ruins Everything, Billy on the Street,
IMPRACTICAL JOKERS and
THE CARBONARO EFFECT to round out the network's current slate of original programming.
"Having successfully re-launched
truTV in 2014, we have now turned a corner when it comes to premium content," said network president Chris Linn. "The new
truTV is built around compelling, creator-driven shows featuring clear points of view and unique takes on different topics and formats, all told through a strong comedic lens. Armed with this momentum and a fresh slate of programming from a diverse group of talent, we are building on a solid foundation and brand promise that is breaking through and clearly resonating with a growing audience of highly-coveted fans."
truTV went through an extensive rebrand in October 2014 and has since emerged as a network with a passionate fan base of viewers that are younger and more affluent than their predecessors. During the period Q4 2015 - Q1 2016,
truTV delivered an audience with a median age of 35, which is a full three years younger as compared to the same time a year ago, bucking industry trends as most of the television landscape gets older. During this period, the network ranked as one of cable's top networks among young adults. A social powerhouse among the Turner portfolio, truTV's social platforms have seen tremendous growth since the network's rebrand, punctuated in Q1 2016, when the network's
Youtube channel more than doubled its video views and more than tripled its engagement levels versus a year ago. Additionally, March 2016 marked the best month ever for truTV's total video views across all platforms with more than 47.2 million video starts of original content in that time frame.
Establishing itself as a forward-thinking industry leader,
truTV was the first network to announce its commitment to more content. Beginning Q4 2016, all of the network's 45 hours of original quarterly programming will drastically reduce their commercial loads resulting in 20% more content and giving the network the lowest average commercial and promo time in all of television.
"Chris and the entire
truTV team have delivered on their promise to develop a fresh, comedic environment with passionate, socially-engaged fans," said Donna Speciale, president of Turner Ad Sales. "As we build on that promise with enhanced storytelling and low clutter, the
truTV environment has become an exclusive must-buy for advertisers."
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