Upfront News and Views: CMT, the New Home of Quality Scripted Series?

Rapid, brief and on point -- under 45 minutes by best estimates. While the network will continue to be country-music focused, the coming year will emphasize new directions, including semi-scripted miniseries and late-night talk/variety. The channel "has the opportunity to be bigger and bolder," said Cyma Zarghami, Viacom Kids & Family Group chief executive, while CMT executive vice president of development Jayson Dinsmore promised "a rich pipeline of new series" coming up. That pipeline, added CMT president Brian Philips, includes a return to scripted work for the first time in more than a half-decade. This will not be a mere wade into these waters, Philips and Dinsmore pledged. The network wants to generate material with the quality of “Mad Men,” “Breaking Bad” and “Falling Skies.” That’s called setting the bar wicked high.