Bravo Announces New and Returning Series for 2013

Powered by its high quality original programming, digital innovations and exclusive sponsorships while attracting the most engaged, upscale and educated audience in cable, Bravo Media continues to expand across every platform in 2012. Today, the network announced a 27 percent increase in original programming with 11 new and eight returning unscripted series, and two new scripted projects in development. The network plans to premiere scripted series in 2013. Committed to breakthrough programming, Bravo continues to partner with prominent producers, writers and experts including internet entrepreneur Randi Zuckerberg and long-time Bravo producers, the award-winning Magical Elves. 

Bravo continues its digital focus with the introduction of a sixth passion point, Digital, to add to the brand's existing pillars of Food, Fashion, Beauty, Design and Pop Culture. The announcement comes on the heels of Bravo's hit transmedia initiative "Last Chance Kitchen," which was interwoven with the Emmy award-winning series "Top Chef." This cutting edge on-line series allowed viewers to follow storylines across multiple platforms and garnered an unprecedented eight million video streams. In addition to creating multi-screen interactivity and social experiences across all content, the Digital passion point will provide an expanded development filter for shows focused on the digital world. Bravo's first foray into the digital programming bucket comes from internet guru Randi Zuckerberg, an executive producer on "Silicon Valley" and a second docu-series produced by RelativityREAL called "Huh?" that follows Ben Huh and his eclectic staff at icanhascheezburger.com.

Bravo also announced its next transmedia offering, a Facebook-driven social media game The Real Housewives: The Game launching this summer with the fifth season of "The Real Housewives of New York City." Bravo also will launch "play along" a real-time viewing experience that allows fans to tackle trivia, weigh-in on polls and predict what will happen next on every device as they watch their favorite shows on air.

"Our Affluencers are passionate about our content, and are the first to try new technologies and engage in social media," said Frances Berwick, President of Bravo Media and Style. "It's that combination of passion, engagement and curiosity that has powered our development of attention-grabbing experiences and trendsetting digital offerings. And it's allowed us to drive the conversation and provide unique partnership opportunities across every platform."

Bravo delivered its sixth consecutive record-breaking and youngest-skewing year in 2011, ranking No. 11 in primetime among all cable entertainment networks with adults 18-49, and boasting 10 original series that attracted more than two million total viewers, according to Nielsen. Beyond its linear success, Bravo Digital posted tremendous triple-digit growth since 2007, earning its best year ever with 78 million average monthly page views and over six million average monthly video streams.

Bravo added more than 155 new advertisers and 25 new online advertisers last year, marking double digit growth in both national and digital ad revenue. The network ranked No. 1 for brand recall this past year across all advertising formats including standard ads, hybrids and in program placements, according to Nielsen IAG. Furthermore, nine out of the top 10 most engaging reality series on cable are found on Bravo.

"Bravo is able to harness the multi-media touch points with its Affluencers for its advertisers, which results in greater amplification of the sponsors' message," said Barbara Bekkedahl, Vice President of Bravo Ad Sales. "Through creative integration in shows, creating custom content, using new interactive technologies and other mechanisms, Bravo partners with advertisers to create co-branded messages that perform at a superior level across important metrics like brand/message recall, likeability and intent to purchase."

NEW SERIES GREENLIGHTS:

"Silicon Valley" (Working Title)

Produced by Den of Thieves with Jesse Ignjatovic and Evan Prager serving as Executive Producers along with Randi Zuckerberg as Executive Producer.

Teaming up with internet entrepreneur Randi Zuckerberg, Bravo captures the intertwining lives of young professionals on the path to becoming Silicon Valley's next great success stories.

"Life After Top Chef"

Produced by Magical Elves with Dan Cutforth, Jane Lipsitz, Casey Criley and Nan Strait serving as Executive Producers.

For the first time cameras are taken outside of the "Top Chef" kitchen and into the lives of Bravo's most beloved former cheftestants as they reach milestones in their personal lives and culinary careers. From opening their own restaurants to expanding their growing franchises, viewers will follow Jen Carroll in Philadelphia, Richard Blais in Atlanta, Fabio Viviani in Los Angeles and Spike Mendelsohn in DC.

"Below Deck" (Working Title)

Produced by 51 Minds with Mark Cronin and Courtland Cox serving as Executive Producers and Esther Reyes as Co-Executive Producer.

The upstairs and downstairs worlds collide when this young and single crew of "yachties" live, love and work together onboard a luxurious mega yacht while tending to the ever-changing needs of their wealthy, demanding charter guests.

"Huh?" (Working Title)

Produced by RelativityREAL with Tom Forman, Jay Blumenfield, and Tony Marsh serving as Executive Producers.

Ever wonder who is behind those hilarious cat memes? Bravo goes inside the office of Ben Huh and his eclectic staff at icanhascheezburger.com, one of the largest humor publishers on the Internet known for their popular LOLs and FAILs.

"SUR" (Working Title)

Produced by Evolution Media with Douglas Ross, Greg Stewart, Kathleen French, Alex Baskin, Lisa Vanderpump and Ken Todd serving as Executive Producers.