Programmer Profile: Ovation’s Kris Slava

PREMIUM: Ovation, a U.S. channel devoted to celebrating art, artists and artistic storytelling, is looking for high-quality scripted imports to fill its The Best You’ve Never Seen block, Kris Slava, the senior VP of programming and production, tells World Screen Newsflash.

WS: What are some of the shows or blocks that have been particularly successful?
SLAVA: We have launched a branded programming night on Saturdays called The Best You’ve Never Seen, which includes our original and U.S. premiere programming. It has really taken off with viewers and has garnered a lot of critical acclaim. Featured programming in this block has included the U.S. premieres of the series Cloudstreet and The Runaway, as well as the Ovation original co-production We’ll Take Manhattan.

WS: How do you schedule the channel from morning through late night, Monday through Sunday?
SLAVA: In the mornings we feature classical arts programming. Daytime is devoted to a wide variety of arts programming. Our big focus is prime time, of course. Here we are concentrating on our destination nights: Saturdays are The Best You’ve Never Seen, Ovation originals and U.S. premieres of high-quality scripted movies and series; Sundays are Artists & Icons, movies and docs about artists who set the bar; and Thursdays are Movies to Stand Up For—viewers’ and critics’ favorites worth a second look.

WS: Are there any programming highlights you’d like to share with us for the coming months?
SLAVA: This August 17, Ovation is premiering an exciting new dance competition series called A Chance to Dance, which is being produced for us by the successful reality team of Nigel and Simon Lythgoe. We’ll also debut Johnny Cash: Song by Song in Q4 of this year.

For 2013, we are developing a series called The Art Factory with Studio Lambert about a charismatic husband and wife team who run the world’s top architectural arts studio.

WS: How much of the schedule is commissioned?
SLAVA: 8.5 percent is commissioned and we are increasing that percentage every year.

WS: What kinds of content are you acquiring from the international market?
SLAVA: We’re looking for scripted series and movies with an artful sensibility—whether it’s a story based on a great piece of literature, a great artist or just a great story artfully told. We’re also interested in documentary or reality shows with a focus on music, dance and the arts. It’s a huge plus if the U.S. premiere rights are available, of course.

WS: Are you buying second-run content from the U.S.?
SLAVA: So You Think You Can Dance is a great example. We acquired seasons six, seven and eight and provided viewers with a number of on-air and online extras to make viewing the show on Ovation a special experience. It performed so well that we are producing another dance competition show with Nigel and Simon Lythgoe called A Chance to Dance, and we are airing season nine of So You Think You Can Dance in Q4 2012.

WS: Do you have any blocks or slots you are looking to fill?
SLAVA: For The Best You’ve Never Seen… we have partnered with FremantleMedia and ITV to premiere some exceptional programming, including The Sinking of the Laconia, The Runaway and Cloudstreet. We also debuted our co-production with the BBC called We’ll Take Manhattan in this slot earlier in the year. We’re looking for more content like this—high-quality dramatic series and movies and co-production opportunities.

Co-pros continue to be a big priority for us and we have another in the works now.

WS: Are you buying rights for additional platforms/windows?
SLAVA: Yes, we are looking at VOD, TV Everywhere and online rights. Ovation currently operates a VOD service and is on Comcast Xfinity.

WS: Are you offering your original programming on the international market?
SLAVA: At MIPTV we previewed our new series A Chance to Dance, which is being represented by Shine International. In addition, DRG is our international distribution partner for original series like In Search of Food and Motor City Rising.