After five years without an original series, USA Network is back in the scripted game. The cabler has picked up John Slattery-led legal drama The Rainmaker, based on John Grisham’s novel, which took the industry by surprise last year.
As part of NBCUniversal’s restructuring efforts, USA was spun off into a new entity called Versant, along with other assets like MSNBC and CNBC, in November 2024. This move aims to make the networks more appealing to potential buyers and investors.
Michael Sluchan, the new senior VP scripted at Versant, is overseeing The Rainmaker and upcoming drama Anna Pigeon. Under his guidance, USA plans to develop lower-budgeted scripted shows that stray from its former “Characters Welcome” and “Blue Skies” brands.
“We love and respected the ‘Characters Welcome’ brand, but we think there’s a lot we can tap into without duplicating it,” Sluchan said. The network is looking for pitches from writers and aims to create original content that appeals to a broader audience.
USA is betting on scripted shows as the market contracts, and with its new independence, it can now buy from other studios and sell second windows to any streamer. However, to attract buyers, the network’s strategy must focus on creating hits that compete with other distressed channels.
Source: https://theankler.com/p/scoop-usa-network-is-buying-scripted