Fox TV Stations drive up Central Ave

Debmar-Mercury’s magazine show Central Ave

NATPE: US news magazine show Central Ave, which was tested as a weekday strip in November, is returning to Fox TV Stations (FTS) this fall as a weekly, nationally syndicated format, syndicator Debmar-Mercury has confirmed.

The show is coproduced by Will Packer Media (WPM) and Lionsgate-owned Debmar-Mercury, and will return next season as two original weekly half-hour episodes.

It is fronted by Julissa Bermudez (106 & Park) and former Olympic track star Sanya Richards-Ross, the first women of colour to co-host a US magazine series, according to the producers.

“With an unusually crowded weekday market this fall, we looked toward the weekends. Having the entire stage to itself, we believe Central Ave has a good chance to thrive, airing in strong weekend time periods with all original episodes and ultimately returning as a weekday strip,” said Debmar-Mercury co-presidents Ira Bernstein and Mort Marcus.

“This pick-up underscores what I’ve always known: there is an audience for cool, diverse, unique perspectives,” said Packer, who shares exec producer duties with co-creator and showrunner Monique Chenault and WPM’s Kelly Smith.

Debmar-Mercury is also here at Natpe Miami with two other new shows for syndication: first-run talker Nick Cannon and off-cable comedy Schitt’s Creek.

The talker, featuring the host of Fox’s The Masked Singer, will debut on FTS daily from September in markets including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia and San Francisco. Cannon’s production company, Ncredible Entertainment, will coproduce with Debmar-Mercury.