truTV Expands Relationship with Zodiak USA, with Newly Greenlit Series "Hardcore Pawn: Fort Bragg" and More "Hardcore Pawn" and "Lizard Lick Towing"
truTV is set to expand its successful relationship with Zodiak USA, ordering a sixth season of the Tuesday night hit Hardcore Pawn and additional episodes of the popular Monday night series Lizard Lick Towing. truTV is also looking to build on Hardcore Pawn's success by greenlighting the all-new series Hardcore Pawn: Fort Bragg.
Set to premiere later this year, truTV's new series Hardcore Pawn: Fort Bragg will offer a very different look at the pawn business, focusing almost entirely on weapons and military equipment. The series will take viewers behind the scenes at a truly unique pawn store, Guns Plus. Located next to the legendary military base, Guns Plus is staffed by military veterans, including ex-Marines and Special Ops soldiers, who have an amazing first-hand knowledge of the rare and collectible weapons that come through their doors on a daily basis. The store is a favorite of the thousands of soldiers stationed at Fort Bragg, as well as their proud families, friends and supporters. truTV has ordered seven episodes of Hardcore Pawn: Fort Bragg, which is executive-produced by Grant Mansfield, Natalka Znak, Mike Gamson and Ken Snow.
"We have had such tremendous success with Hardcore Pawn, it makes sense to expand the concept into a franchise with Hardcore Pawn: Fort Bragg," said Marc Juris, executive vice president and chief operating officer of truTV. "The new Hardcore Pawn: Fort Bragg also gives us the opportunity to introduce viewers to some of the incredible men and women who serve in the military and whose stories will play an important part in the show."
truTV's Hardcore Pawn will return for the second half of its fifth season on Tuesday, March 20, with the newly ordered sixth season slated for later this year. The network's most popular series, Hardcore Pawn is an eye-opening look at one of the country's largest pawnshops, American Jewelry & Loan, and the family that runs it. Third-generation pawnbroker Les Gold runs the shop with son Seth, who is being groomed to eventually take over, and daughter Ashley, who serves as the store's general manager. In the first half of the season, Les opened a second store against Ashley and Seth's wishes. As a result, the main store started to suffer. With Seth planning to change the business structure of American Jewelry & Loan behind Les's back, the midseason finale ended with a tense standoff between father and son.
In season 5, which ranks as its most-watched season yet, Hardcore Pawn has averaged more than 2.9 million viewers Tuesdays at 9 p.m., up 21% compared to its fourth season. The show is also up with key demos, including 17% growth among adults 18-49 and 21% growth among men 18-49. Competitively in January, Hardcore Pawn ranked as ad-supported cable's #2 program in its Tuesday 9 p.m. timeslot with adults 18-49 and men 18-49, while also scoring a Top 5 timeslot ranking with adults 18-34 and men 18-34. Hardcore Pawn is executive-produced by Grant Mansfield, Mike Gamson, Natalka Znak, Claire O'Donohoe and Richard Dominick.
truTV has ordered 13 additional episodes of Lizard Lick Towing, which is currently in the midst of its second season Mondays at 10 p.m. (ET/PT). Named after the Wendell, N.C., towing and repo company owned and run by Ron and Amy Shirley, the show follows the Shirleys as they repossess vehicles and machinery on behalf of lien holders - a difficult and often unpleasant task, to say the least. Ron and his best buddy, Bobby Brantley, are responsible for tracking down and repossessing property, often coming face-to-face with irate owners. Meanwhile, former champion power lifter Amy works the main office, where the owners often bring heated demands that property be returned.
Since premiering in February 2011, Lizard Lick Towing has become one of truTV's most popular shows, averaging 1.6 million viewers in its second season to date. The series is up a remarkable 31% compared to its first season, with adults 18-49 up 41% and men 18-49 up 38%. In January, Lizard Lick Towing ranked among ad-supported cable's Top 5 programs in its time period with all key adult and key male demos, as well as total viewers. The show is executive-produced by Mike Gamson and Jo Inglott.
About Zodiak USA
Zodiak USA is the North American operations for Zodiak Media, the leading independent in entertainment, factual, drama and kids programming. Zodiak USA's credits include Secret Millionaire (ABC), Celebrity Wife Swap (ABC), Hardcore Pawn (truTV), Lizard Lick Towing (truTV), Steve-O's Killer Karaoke (truTV) and Being Human (SyFy). Zodiak Media consists of 45 production companies operating in 20 countries including the US, the UK, France, Italy, Spain, Scandinavia and Russia. Zodiak Rights, the international rights business of Zodiak Media, boasts a growing catalog of approximately 15,000 hours of content. For more information visit www.zodiakusa.com and www.zodiakmedia.com.
About truTV
truTV is television's destination for real-life stories told from an exciting and dramatic first-person perspective. Currently seen in 92 million U.S. households, the network is enjoying its best deliveries ever in key demographics. truTV features high-stakes, action-packed originals that give viewers access to places and situations they can't normally experience. truTV's original series include Hardcore Pawn, Full Throttle Saloon, Lizard Lick Towing, Storage Hunters, Impractical Jokers, Operation Repo, South Beach Tow, All Worked Up, Black Gold and World's Dumbest... truTV is also the cable home of the popular series Wipeout. In addition, truTV is a partner in airing the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship. During the daytime, the channel features expert trial coverage under the name In Session.
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