As it turns out, Speed is pumping some serious loot into it’s original programming.
SPEED™ LAUNCHING MOST AGGRESSIVE PRIME TIME PROGRAMMING INITIATIVE IN NETWORK HISTORY
CAR WARRIORS HEADLINES SIX TITLES SLATED FOR FEBRUARY PREMIERES;
NEARLY 20 NEW SHOWS IN DIFFERENT PHASES OF DEVELOPMENT
THE FAST & THE FURIOUS DIRECTOR COHEN TAKES ON
‘GYMKHANA’ PROJECT FOR SPEED
There is nothing subtle about the approach SPEED is taking to upgrade its prime time weeknight programming lineup as the network rolls toward its 15th anniversary on the air, with nearly 20 projects in different phases of development, six already slated for early 2011 premieres.
“SPEED has a history of success with original enthusiast programming,” said network president Hunter Nickell. “We are aggressively communicating with the production community, teaming with some of the biggest names in the category as we develop the 2011 weekday prime time lineup.”
To that end, SPEED is enlisting famed director/producer Rob Cohen (The Fast & The Furious) to executive produce a pilot on the mesmerizing motorsports spectacle of Gymkhana, a high-octane blend of racing and automotive ballet. Plans are to begin production on the pilot in January and premiere the series on SPEED in the summer of 2011.
In addition, SPEED has secured funny man and car lover Adam Carolla to host a pilot, is in talks with late-night mainstay and certified gearhead Jay Leno on a selection of specials and is teaming with Sony and Nissan on a reality series based on the red-hot new video game, Gran Turismo 5.
SPEED, now available in more than 77 million U.S. homes after adding more than 2.5 million since last December, also has commissioned demos from producers of the hit show Wipeout, as well as for a potential series entitled Come Drive with Me from Great Britain’s Granada TV, producers of Come Dine with Me.
Beginning the week of Feb. 21, SPEED is launching six new titles following its highly rated coverage of NASCAR’s season-opening Speedweeks events from Daytona Beach:
(Note: The list below identifies working titles that may change by air time)
Car Warriors (Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET, 60 minutes) – Produced by BASE Productions (Sports Science, Jesse James is a Dead Man, Megacities), this hyper-charged automotive build show will pit a team of eight “all-star” builders against a team of average Joes from local garages in a 72-hour challenge to turn a basic car into a work of art. Judges include iconic car designer George Barris, hot rod craftsman Jimmy Shine and electronics wizard Mad Mike Martin.
American Trucker (Thursdays at 10 and 10:30 p.m. ET, two 30-minute episodes) – Produced by BCII Productions (Overhaulin’, Livin’ the Low Life, Payback, Hot Rod TV) and hosted by designer/artist and fanatical truck expert Rob Mariani, a finalist on HGTV’s Design Star, this new show introduces the audience to iconic trucks, the famous routes they followed and the cargo missions that made history.
Car Science (Wednesdays at 10 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. ET, two 30-minute episodes) – The producers of the popular franchise series Sports Science and Fight Science bring a mad-cap scientific approach to the world of automobiles.
Speedmakers (Thursday at 9 p.m. ET, 60 minutes) – Produced by Michael Hoff Productions (Ultimate Factories, Mega Structures, Ghost Detectives), Speed Makers takes a look at the iconic builders and epic innovators of acceleration. From celebrated mega-structures like Daytona International Speedway to behind the scenes at Aston Martin, this show celebrates the masterminds of engineering power.
Ticket to Ride with Dan Neil (Tuesday at 8:30 p.m. ET) – Pulitzer Prize-winning Wall Street Journal automotive writer Dan Neil takes viewers inside the business of cars, offering insightful test drives, interviews and commentary with a trademark wit that has made Neil a must-read for car lovers.
The 10 (Wednesday at 8 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. ET, two 30-minute episodes) – A fast-paced list program, highlighting the best of the best from the world of NASCAR. First season topics include Most Bizarre Finishes, Throw-downs, Talladega Moments, All-Time Races, Closest Calls and Earnhardt Moments.
In 2011, SPEED’s Monday-Sunday NASCAR coverage continues to anchor the network, with NASCAR Race Hub (Monday-Thursday at 7 p.m. ET) and several new programs in development. Weekend programming continues to be loaded with live racing coverage from the worlds of NASCAR, Formula One, Grand American Road Racing, AMA Supercross, MotoGP, ARCA and others, as well as industry leading motor sports news programs Wind Tunnel with Dave Despain and The SPEED Report.
