Rob Sharenow: Celebs Rumors

Netflix has released the trailer for the Hillary Clinton and Chelsea Clinton-produced documentary “In Her Hands,” a feature about Afghanistan’s youngest mayor and her struggle to survive under Taliban rule after Western forces withdrew from the region.The film chronicles Zarifa Ghafari’s journey from becoming Maidan Shahr’s first and only female mayor at age 26 to the devastation her nation faced when the Taliban reclaimed power. For two years, directors Tamana Ayazi and Marcel Mettelsiefen followed Ghafari as she is forced to make difficult choices to protect her people and herself.

Teri Kennedy, a programming and development executive, has been appointed to the newly created role of Head of Lifestyle Programming and Daytime Originals at A+E Networks.  In the role Kennedy will oversee the development and production of all original lifestyle and daytime programming for the company.  In her new position Kennedy will develop a robust pipeline of new, original lifestyle and daytime programming across A+E’s portfolio of networks, fast channels, the newly-launched multi-platform Home.Made.Nation, as well as for worldwide sales and distribution.“Teri brings a wealth of experience and deep relationships in the creative community to help bolster A+E’s industry leading slate and deep library of original lifestyle and daytime programming,” A+E Networks president of programming Rob Sharenow said in a statement.  “Her expertise will be instrumental in further driving A+E’s status as a nonfiction content creation powerhouse.”Kennedy is an Emmy-winning producer, having garnered five nominations and one win for her work as a producer on CBS’ long-running reality competition series “Survivor.” She most recently served as president and chief content creator for Related Content Group where she worked on the development and production of a wide variety of programming for networks and streaming platforms.  Previously, Kennedy served as executive vice president of development and original programming for Steve Harvey’s East One Twelve Productions after her serving in the same role for Ryan Seacrest Productions.  Kennedy has also held various senior executive roles at Oxygen Media, including senior vice president of Current Production.  A+E Networks is a global content company comprised of some of the most popular and

A+E Networks has hired Teri Kennedy to the newly-created role of Head of Lifestyle Programming and Daytime Originals.

Netflix has announced that its documentary In Her Hands, from renowned directors Tamana Ayazi (Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone (If You’re a Girl)) and Marcel Mettelsiefen (Watani: My Homeland) will launch globally on the streamer and in select theaters on November 16, following the film’s September 9th world premiere at the Toronto Film Festival.

Cakes for everyone! A+E Networks has entered a multi-platform creative partnership with Cake Boss star Buddy Valastro. The deal includes more than 60 hours of original programming, including the development of multiple new series and holiday specials produced by A+E’s factual division, Six West Media, in association with Cakehouse Media.

Jennifer Maas TV Business Writer“Cake Boss” star Buddy Valastro, a longtime staple in the Warner Bros. Discovery lifestyle brands family, is making A+E Networks his new TV home.The cable giant has signed custom cake whiz Valastro, who rose to fame through his TLC reality series “Cake Boss,” which is centered on his long-standing family business Carlo’s Bakery, to a multi-platform creative partnership.The pact encompasses more than 60 hours of original programming, including development of multiple new series and holiday specials produced by A+E’s Six West Media, in association with Valastro’s Cakehouse Media.

EXCLUSIVE: Greenwich Entertainment has acquired U.S. rights to Whirlybird from A&E IndieFilms. The doc, which premiered at last year’s Sundance, is the feature debut of Matt Yoka. It follows a husband-and-wife news helicopter team who covered some of Los Angeles’ most historic events.

The History Channel is building out its plans to move back into the miniseries space with two new scripted projects – a drama about the London plague from Vikings creator Michael Hirst and a series about the Donnor Party from documentary filmmaker Ric Burns.

Bruce Haring pmc-editorial-managerA+E Networks has launched Voices Magnified, a cross-platform campaign that will spotlight andamplify the voices of those making changes in their communities for the greater good.The A+E Networks initiative will create specials and a series of short form videos that give a national spotlight to conversations on equality and social reform which are occurring across America today.“We are proud to launch the Voices Magnified campaign to elevate the stories of those pursuing solutions to the critical issues of our time,” said Rob Sharenow, president, programming at A+E Networks.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterA+E Networks has launched a new campaign called Voices Magnified,The cross-platform campaign is meant to spotlight and amplify the voices of those making changes in their communities for the greater good. Voices Magnified aims to create specials and a series of short form videos that give a national spotlight to conversations on equality and social reform which are occurring across America today.“We are proud to launch the Voices Magnified campaign to elevate the stories of those pursuing solutions to the critical issues of our time,” said Rob Sharenow, president of programming at A+E Networks.

Peter White Television EditorAs Project Blue Book, Knightfall and Vikings all come to an end, History is looking to recalibrate its scripted strategy towards limited dramas and mini-series.Rob Sharenow, President of Programming at A+E Networks, called returnable scripted series a “fraught path” for the company given the competitive nature of the marketplace.Speaking on a panel session, moderated by Deadline, at the virtual Edinburgh International TV Festival, Sharenow highlighted the performance of previous minis including Hatfields & McCoys, Roots, Houdini and The Bible. “We’re definitely leaning into limited series and miniseries.