E! and Oxygen target reality and true crime, with USA Network and Syfy confirming one drama apiece

Comcast’s recently rebranded Versant cable network division has revealed a 16-strong line-up for its first programming slate.

Versant (fka SpinCo) houses brands including USA Network, E!, Syfy and Oxygen True Crime, all of which are being spun apart from NBCUniversal’s studio operations, streamer Peacock and broadcast flagship NBC.

Val Boreland

Val Boreland

The entertainment slate, led by Val Boreland and her recently appointed team, is dominated by unscripted with E! commissioning five shows, while USA Network and Syfy have each revealed a scripted series.

Cineflix Studios and December Films are behind USA Network’s Anna Pigeon, which is based on Nevada Barr’s novels about a city professional who becomes a park ranger.

USA also has Lionsgate TV and Blumhouse TV’s The Rainmaker on the scripted side, with the John Grisham adaptation greenlit last year.

Syfy’s scripted series is Revival, from Blue Ice Pictures and Hemmings Films. The murder mystery is based on the comic of the same name and will debut 12 June.

E! has unveiled five unscripted titles, including Kimora: Back in the Fab Lane from Hartbeat and Plastic Surgery Rewind from Fulwell Entertainment.

The network is also expanding its Dirty Rotten Scandals strand with four new series, while Oxygen True Crime has added shows including The Death Investigator with Barbara Butcher to its slate.

It is produced by Wolf Entertainment and will sit alongside The Killer Among Us, which is hosted by Alan Cumming and produced by Lusid Media.

Boreland said: ”By uniting the power of our iconic brands with a commitment to bold, original storytelling, we’re deepening our connection with viewers in meaningful ways. We’re proud to unveil this exciting new programming slate as we move forward under our new name.”

Versant’s formal spin-off is expected later this year and will be an independent publicly traded company, comprising USA Network, CNBC, MSNBC, Oxygen, E!, Syfy and Golf Channel along with digital assets Fandango, Rotten Tomatoes, GolfNow, GolfPass, and SportsEngine.