NBC Acquires 'Siberia' Drama Centered on Reality Contestants for Summer

The network adds another scripted entry to the slate, with the one-hour series debuting July 1.

11:16 AM PDT 5/20/2013 by Philiana Ng

NBC is bulking up its summer scripted slate.

The network announced Monday that it will airSiberia, a drama series centered on reality contestants competing in a remote location, beginning at 10 p.m. July 1.

“The concept of survival, when mysterious elements are at play, makes for a compelling show,” said Jeff Bader, president of program planning, strategy and research for NBC Entertainment. “We believe a scripted series that offers an insightful behind-the-scenes view of how a reality concept comes together — especially when things don’t go according to plan — will connect with our audience in a very satisfying way.”

“NBC immediately saw the potential in Siberia, and this acquisition truly exemplifies the quality of this groundbreaking series. We are excited to bring it to their viewers,” said executive producer and Sierra/Engine Television CEOChris Philip.

Siberia takes place more than 100 years after a meteor hits the remote Siberian territory of Tunguska in 1908. Sixteen contestants descend on Tunguska not knowing the land's mysterious past. When a contestant is badly injured and no help arrives, the contestants realize that strange occurrences are not part of the reality show. With their safety threatened, the contestants are forced to work together to survive.

Siberia hails from Infinity Films with Sierra/Engine Television and Welldone Productions.Michael Ohove, Slava Jakovleff and Chris Philip serve as executive producers, with Matthew Arnold as creator.

Siberia marks the latest scripted push for summer as the Big Four broadcast networks look to keep the lights on following last year's disappointing unscripted slate. NBC has Campand drama Crossing Lines, while CBS is going big with Under the Dome and the second run of Unforgettable.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/nbc-acquires-siberia-drama-centered-525642

NBC Acquires Sierra/Engine’s ‘Siberia’ Mystery Drama Series For Summer Run

NBC has acquired 13-episode drama seriesSiberia, from Sierra/Engine Television and producer Michael Ohoven from Infinity Media. The mystery drama will premiere on July 1 and air in the Monday 10 PM slot. 

Siberia is set in the remote Siberian territory of Tunguska, location of the largest impact event on Earth, the massive 1908 explosion, believed to have been caused by a meteoroid or comet, which knocked down some 80 million trees over an area of 830 square miles. More than 100 years later, 16 reality-show contestants descend on Tunguska unknowing of the land’s mysterious past. When a contestant is badly injured and no help arrives the contestants realize that the strange occurrences are not part of the show. With their safety threatened, competing contestants must band together in an effort to survive. 

The series, said to be in the vein of The Blair Witch Project, is wrapping production. It was unveiled at the recent MIPTV by Sierra/Engine, which handles worldwide distribution. Siberia extends Sierra/Engine’s relationship with NBC as the company also distributes the network’s upcoming drama series Crossbones. “The concept of survival, when mysterious elements are at play, makes for a compelling show,” said NBC’s scheduling chief Jeff Bader. This is NBC’s third scripted series slated for summer, joining another acquired drama, Crossing Lanes, as well as dramedy Camp. Siberia is an Infinity Films Production in association with Sierra/Engine Television and Welldone Productions. Executive producers are Ohoven, Slava Jakovleff and Sierra/Engine CEO Chris Philip. The series was created by Matthew Arnold.

SOURCE: http://www.deadline.com/2013/05/nbc-acquires-sierraengines-siberia-mystery-drama-series-for-summer-run/

Electus votes for Latino toon

US multimedia studio Electus has greenlit an animated series billed as “Family Guy for Latinos” for its Hispanic YouTube channel NuevOn.

The animated series, written by Marcos Bucay and Moisés Aisemberg, will follow real-life celebrity Don Cheto, a first-generation Mexican father and television presenter, as he raises his family in the US.
Don Cheto is a coproduction between Sierra/Engine TV, Pixo Entertainment and Talento, co-exec produced by Christopher Spellman, Juan Carlos Razo and Pepe Garza. It will be hosted on Electus’s celebrity-oriented Hispanic pop culture channel NuevOn, which launched in April last year, targeting young, multicultural Latinos.
Sierra/Engine CEO Chris Philip made the Family Guy comparision, adding that Cheto’s fan base “will make an immediate impact on the show’s success.” Philip has previously launched the sketch show La Gran Royal on NuevOn, which has attracted over 22 milion views so far.
Last month, Sierra/Engine hired former Content Media executive Bob Kennedy to help expand its catalogue and oversee a global sales strategy.

Nico Franks 07-05-2013 ©C21Media

http://www.c21media.net/archives/110244

Sierra/Engine making series for Electus’ NuevOn

May 7, 2013

Producer and distributor Sierra/Engine is making an animated show with Latino star Don Cheto for NuevOn, the US Hispanic-focused YouTube channel run by Ben Silverman’s Electus.
Don Cheto will be produced by Sierra/Engine with Pixo Entertainment. It will feature an animated version of the eponymous presenter.
This project is the second series Sierra/Engine CEO Chris Philip has been involved with for NuevOn after having successfully launched Mexico’s leading comedy troupe, La Gran Royal, together with Engine partner Paulette Bensussen.
Philip said: “This will be the Family Guy for Latinos and NuevOn is the perfect home for the series.”

http://tbivision.com/news/2013/05/sierraengine-making-series-for-electus-nuevon/73992/

Sierra/Engine & Pixo Partner for Don Cheto Animated Series

By Kristin Brzoznowski

Published: May 7, 2013

LOS ANGELES: Sierra/Engine Television is working with Pixo Entertainment to produce the animated series Don Cheto for the YouTube channel NuevOn, which is tailored to young, multicultural Latinos.


Known as "el hombre del vozarrón" (the loud-voiced man), Don Cheto is the host of a top-rating morning radio show for Latinos living in the U.S. and is also the host of El Show de Don Cheto, a Spanish-language variety show. The animated series centers on Cheto, a first-generation Mexican father who is raising his family in America. The series will be written by Marcos Bucay and Moisés Aisemberg, of the Mexican comedy troupe La Gran Royal.
“Don Cheto’s fan base is tremendous and his millions of followers will make an immediate impact on the show’s success,” commented Chris Philip, the CEO of Sierra/Engine Television. “This will be the Family Guy for Latinos and NuevOn is the perfect home for the series.”
"In NuevOn we are always offering Hispanic talent, their fans and YouTube audiences new and fun ways to connect and interact," said Luis Balaguer, the CEO and founder of Latin WE. "Don Cheto's charisma and sense of humor appeals to a wide Hispanic audience and provides for amazing content in a cartoon. We are very excited to have him in our family."

http://www.worldscreen.com/articles/display/39084