Joanna Padovano Tong

LONDON: BBC Studios has appointed Claudia Lewis as the new development executive for science programming, effective in mid-November.

NEW YORK: Spike TV has unveiled Spike Serialized, a new documentary series initiative featuring multi-episode programs that take an in-depth look at various topics or people.

LONDON: BBC Studios has appointed Jon Swain, who previously worked for Optomen Television, as head of its new Popular Factual production division.

TORONTO: Breakthrough Entertainment has signed on to internationally distribute The Shocking Truth and Expedition Earth, two new documentary series from Pyramid Productions.

LOS ANGELES: GRB Entertainment has hired Danielle Abrams, formerly of Irwin Entertainment, as the company’s VP of content development.

LONDON: BBC Two has unveiled details for David Bowie: The Last Five Years, a new film that is slated for broadcast on the channel early next year.

NEW YORK: HISTORY has ordered 20 additional episodes of the competition series Forged in Fire, which recently hit ratings records across a number of key demos.

STAMFORD: NBC Sports Group has revealed details for the new automotive game show Shotgun, from the creators of The Amazing Race, which is due to debut digitally prior to its linear premiere later this year.

SHERMAN OAKS: GRB Entertainment has sold a number of crime series, including FBI Takedowns, to Bell Media in Canada and Sony Pictures Entertainment in the U.K., Isle of Man, Channel Islands, Ireland and Malta.

CANNES: Terra Mater Factual Studios (TMFS) has sold a number of its docs to channels in France, Spain, Italy, Poland, the U.S., Mexico, China, Taiwan and Iran.