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VERSANT EXPANDS PROGRAMMING SLATE WITH NEW AND RETURNING SCRIPTED, UNSCRIPTED, AND LIVE SPORTS AND EVENTS FOR 2026-27 SEASON
People's Choice Awards Returns to E!
Optum Golf Channel Games - Golf Channel's Innovative Rapid-Fire Golf Competition - Returns For Second Edition December 16
Oxygen True Crime Greenlights New Series Killer DNA with Maury Povich (w/t) and Snapped: Rich Bitch Rampage (w/t), Hosted by Lisa Vanderpump; Renews Killer Grannies, Hosted by June Squibb, Prosecuting Evil with Kelly Siegler and The Death Investigator with Barbara Butcher
SYFY Sets Premiere Date for Season Three of The Ark on July 29
USA Network Announces August 7 Premiere Date & Releases Trailer
for New Scripted Original Series Anna Pigeon
May 11, 2026 - VERSANT today announced the expansion of its programming slate across its Entertainment and Sports portfolio, E!, Oxygen True Crime, SYFY, USA Network and Golf Channel, with new and renewed scripted and unscripted programming and live sports and events.
The upcoming season will feature new, original scripted and unscripted programming across the entertainment portfolio. Oxygen True Crime has greenlit new series Killer DNA with Maury Povich and Snapped: Rich Bitch Rampage, hosted by Lisa Vanderpump. The network has also picked up new seasons of hit series Killer Grannies hosted by June Squibb, Prosecuting Evil with Kelly Siegler and The Death Investigator with Barbara Butcher. SYFY has announced that season three of The Ark will premiere on Wednesday, July 29. E! continues to be the go-to destination for live events, award shows and entertainment coverage. People's Choice Awards will return to the network, along with Critics Choice Awards and continued Live from E! red carpet coverage. The network also greenlit new reality competition series Cocktail Wars hosted by Lance Bass and Joey Fatone. USA Network has announced that new scripted original series Anna Pigeon will premiere on Friday, August 7 and has released the trailer.
"We're proud of the dynamic slate of programming we've developed for the year ahead," said Val Boreland, President of Entertainment, VERSANT. "Our wide breadth of content is a true reflection of where we're headed as a new company - bringing together scripted storytelling, nostalgic unscripted formats, true crime content and must-watch live events. Our broad range of talent and programming ensures there's something for every viewer."
USA Sports - VERSANT's sports division spanning all sports programming across USA Network and Golf Channel - kicked off its inaugural season of WNBA coverage this past Sunday, the first of 50-plus WNBA games in 2026 on USA Network including the WNBA Finals. Upcoming coverage across USA Sports platforms includes the NASCAR Cup Series, WWE Smackdown on Fridays, Premier League, Pac-12 college football and basketball, Atlantic 10 basketball, major championship golf on USA Network, weekly PGA TOUR and LPGA Tour coverage on Golf Channel, and more.
Golf Channel will bring back another edition of the Optum Golf Channel Games - the network's critically-acclaimed rapid-fire golf competition - later this year and has announced the return of the popular reality competition series Big Break in partnership with Good Good Golf, as Big Break x Good Good Presented by Golf Galaxy debuts this August.
"Our diverse portfolio of sports properties emphasizes appointment viewing and appeals to sports fans across the country," said Matt Hong, President of USA Sports. "We have tentpoles on USA Network like WNBA on Wednesday nights, WWE Smackdown on Friday nights, and Premier League on weekend mornings; destination viewing with the NASCAR Cup Series' Chase; and the debut of Pac-12 college football and basketball to join A-10 men's and women's basketball in our college lineup. We combine that with our unparalleled golf coverage - including men's and women's major championships like the U.S. Open and The Open Championship on USA Network and weekly coverage of the PGA TOUR and LPGA Tour on Golf Channel - to deliver live sports programming that reaches across all demos and geographies."
The full slate of programming includes:
Cocktail Wars - Premieres Summer 2026
Hosted by Lance Bass and Joey Fatone, this new original mixology competition series pits America's best mixologists in a high-stakes showdown in front of a series of celebrities and an expert judge.
Cocktail Wars is executive produced by Texas Crew Productions and R&D Media. David Karabinas, Rick Cikowski, Chip Rives, James Macnab and Brad Bernstein are executive producers for Texas Crew; Russ McCarroll is showrunner and executive producer for R&D.
People's Choice Awards - Returns in 2027
E! will bring back the iconic People's Choice Awards in 2027, reviving a fan-driven celebration that honors the year's most celebrated stars across film, television, music, and pop culture, including standout social influencers, podcasts, reality stars, athletes and comedians.
The 32nd Annual Critics Choice Awards - Airs live on Sunday, January 3, 2027
With a recently renewed 2-year deal with E!, The 32nd annual Critics Choice Awards will continue its combined film and television awards format, honoring the best in cinematic, televised, and streaming achievement.
The 32nd annual Critics Choice Awards show is produced by Bob Bain Productions and Berlin Entertainment.
The Golden Life - Premieres Fall 2026
A new docuseries featuring reality TV legends Countess Luann de Lesseps, Dorinda Medley, Kelly Bensimon, Sonja Morgan and Ramona Singer as they reunite with their iconic New York City friend group in glamorous Palm Beach.
The Golden Life is produced by Blink49 Studios with Tara Long, Nadine Rajabi, Mark Ford, Ben Megargel, Paul Yuan and Daniel Rogge serving as executive producers.
The Optum Golf Channel Games - Premieres December 16, 2026
Returning for a second edition of the event, the Optum Golf Channel Games is an innovative, rapid-fire golf competition which debuted last December live in primetime on Golf Channel and USA Network to critical acclaim.
The competition, which was held under the lights at Trump National Golf Club, Jupiter, features two teams going head-to-head in timed strategy and skill-focused events, from the 14-club challenge to the wildly-popular team relay. Rory McIlroy will once again return as a playing captain for the second edition of the Optum Golf Channel Games this December.
Big Break x Good Good Presented By Golf Galaxy - Premieres August 2026
Big Break - Golf Channel's transformative golf reality competition series that broke ground in television entertainment beginning in the early 2000s and ran for a record-breaking 23 seasons - returns to Golf Channel in partnership with Good Good Golf this August for Season 24 - Big Break x Good Good Presented by Golf Galaxy taking place at Horseshoe Bay Resort in Horseshoe Bay, Texas.
Dating back to its debut in 2003, Big Break pits highly-skilled golfers against each other in a variety of skills challenges from tee-to-green, including two of the series' signature challenges - the popular "Glass Break" and "Flop Wall" challenges - which will return for Big Break x Good Good.
Throughout the show's history, Big Break has awarded aspiring professional golfers exemption into select events on tours across professional golf. The winner of Big Break x Good Good will earn an exemption into the PGA TOUR's Good Good Championship in November 2026.
Big Break Dominican Republic winner, former LPGA Tour pro and Golf Channel personality Blair O'Neal will serve as a co-host of Big Break x Good Good alongside entertainment personality, Bachelor in Paradise bartender, and self-proclaimed golf nut Wells Adams, who currently co-hosts The Vanity Index Podcast with Chad Mumm on Golf Channel.
Big Break x Good Good is produced in partnership with Good Good Golf by Kevin Schultz, Chris Graham, and Paul Schlegel.
Killer DNA with Maury Povich (W/T) - Premieres in 2027
When killers believe they've left nothing behind, they're forgetting one thing - DNA never lies. This gripping series dives into some of the most shocking and unconventional murder investigations ever solved, where evidence is pulled from the unlikeliest places: a single strand of hair, a pine needle, a single skin cell, even microscopic traces hidden in the air and dust. At the center of it all is Maury Povich, bringing his unmatched instinct for truth and human behavior into the heart of each case. As investigators chase leads that defy logic and suspects cling to airtight alibis, Maury cuts through the chaos - connecting the science to the story, and the evidence to the emotion. Each episode is a high-stakes journey through twisted timelines, shocking reveals, and last-minute breakthroughs, where cutting-edge DNA technology turns dead ends into convictions. Because no matter how clever the crime, no matter how long it takes, the truth is always there - waiting to be found.
Killer DNA with Maury Povich (w/t) is produced by Radley Studios with Maury Povich, Kurt Spenser, Christian Thompson, Sandra Young and Haylee Vance serving as executive producers.
Snapped: Rich Bitch Rampage (W/T) - Premieres in 2027
Snapped: Rich Bitch Rampage (w/t) is a shocking new true crime series where upper-class scandal collides with cold-blooded murder. Hosted and narrated by Lisa Vanderpump, each self-contained episode follows a high-society woman who seems to have it all - across a twisting, escalating story that ends lethally. The show will explore themes of privilege, manipulation, and deviance to understand why these women become calculated killers.
Every episode delivers an unexpected killer, a classic investigation, slow-building tension, and jaw-dropping twists. At the center is a woman with beauty, power and influence - whether inherited or earned - whose position is threatened by mounting conflict. Rich storytelling, expert analysis, gripping archive, and emotional interviews uncover her origins and motivations. In a world where these women have long believed they are untouchable, the line between perception and reality blurs, until they act in ways that are as shocking as they are irreversible.
Snapped: Rich Bitch Rampage is produced by UNconventional Entertainment and Sony Pictures Television. Executive Producers are Gena McCarthy, John Henshaw, Lisa Vanderpump, Eli Holzman, Aaron Saidman and Danielle Ostroske.
Killer Grannies - Returns for Season Two in 2027
A true-crime series hosted by Oscar and Tony Award-nominated actress June Squibb, chronicles shocking cases involving a killer no one would suspect: Grandma.
Killer Grannies is produced by Jarrett Creative. Seth Jarrett, Julie Insogna-Jarrett and Josh Bingham serve as executive producers.
Prosecuting Evil with Kelly Siegler - Returns for Season Three in Fall 2026
A true-crime series examining the most shocking murder investigations and toughest trials in Texas history - all told with Kelly Siegler's unique insight and unparalleled access as a veteran prosecutor.
Prosecuting Evil with Kelly Siegler is executive produced by Dick Wolf, Kelly Siegler, Casey Kriley, Jo Sharon, Adam Kassen, Paul Storck and Tom Thayer. Wolf Entertainment, Universal Television Alternative Studio and Magical Elves produce.
The Death Investigator with Barbara Butcher - Returns for Season Two in 2027
After more than 20 years in the field, death investigator Barbara Butcher unpacks the stories behind some of the most compelling murders of our times -revealing that the keys to solving the case are often contained in the wealth of information held by the crime scene and the body that lies within it.
The Death Investigator with Barbara Butcher is produced by Wolf Entertainment, Alfred Street Industries and Universal Television Alternative Studio, a division of Universal Studio Group. Dick Wolf, Tom Thayer, Dan Cutforth, Jane Lipsitz, Nan Strait, Dan Volpe, Maria Lane and Shannon O'Rourke serve as executive producers.
Snapped: Killer Moms - Premieres in 2026
Mothers will do absolutely anything for their children. Snapped: Killer Moms is a true crime series that highlights high-emotion and high-stakes stories where a mother's unconditional love twists into bloodshed, as matriarchs stop at nothing to protect or avenge their kids. Each episode peels back the layers of seemingly ordinary women whose motherly instincts lead them to unthinkable violence.
Snapped: Killer Moms is produced by Jupiter Entertainment. Patrick Reardon, Erich Sturm and David O'Donnell will serve as executive producers.
The Hooters Murders: Deadly Shift - Premieres in 2026
For decades, Hooters was one of the most celebrated restaurant chains in America, cementing their place in pop culture with their iconic owl logo and scantily clad "Hooters Girls". But as the restaurant reached its peak in the 2000s, a series of young women working at Hooters - including an aspiring model, a newlywed, and a young mother - were murdered in cold blood. The Hooters Murders: Deadly Shift is a two-hour documentary that unravels the tragic murders of several "Hooters Girls," exposing how women who worked at the iconic "family-restaurant" chain were preyed upon.
The Hooters Murders: Deadly Shift is co-produced by The Intellectual Property Corporation (a part of Sony Pictures Television) and Expectation. Kevin Brennecke will serve as showrunner with Eli Holzman and Aaron Saidman of The Intellectual Property Corporation (IPC) and Ben Wicks and Tim Hincks of Expectation executive producing.
The Killer Among Us - Premieres Sunday, May 17th at 7 pm ET/PT
Hosted by Alan Cumming, this new series takes viewers down the duplicitous road of devious, double-crossing, and deadly stories of those slain by a member of their own circle. The series is a real-life "whodunnit" that delves straight into the heart of communities where the unthinkable has happened, and no one knows why - or who is responsible.
The Killer Among Us is produced by Lusid Media. Zak Weisfeld, Libby Richman, and Brian DeCubellis serve as executive producers, Alan Cumming serves as producer.
The Ark - Season Three Premieres Wednesday, July 29, 2026 at 10 p.m. ET/PT
Season three of The Ark begins after the crew of Ark 1 have established their new colony, Homebase 1. Captain Garnet and some of her brave team return to space in the hopes of finding other lost Earth survivors. The rest of her team remain on Homebase 1 to explore their new world but an unsettling discovery makes everyone wonder what secrets this new planet is hiding and how safe it really is. The series stars Christie Burke, Reece Ritchie, Richard Fleeshman, Pavle Jerinic, Stacey Read, and Ryan Adams. Additional cast members include Tiana Upcheva, Shalini Peiris, Samantha Glassner, and Diana Bermudez.
Dean Devlin and Jonathan Glassner are co-showrunners and executive producers alongside Marc Roskin, John-Paul Nickel, and Rachel Olschan-Wilson of Electric Entertainment. Jonathan English of Balkanic Media, Madeline Hendricks Lewen, Brandon Lambdin, and Mark Franco of Electric Entertainment serve as producers.
Anna Pigeon - Premieres Friday, August 7 at 10 p.m. ET/PT
Anna Pigeon (Tracy Spiridakos) is a former city slicker who became a park ranger after a devastating loss changed the trajectory of her life forever. While Anna tries to outrun her demons, her focus turns to solving crimes that have taken place within national park grounds, no matter who or what gets in her way. The series is based on the New York Times best-selling novels by Nevada Barr. The cast also includes Ronnie Rowe, Paulina Alexis, Tricia Helfer, Kim Coates, Cooper Levy, Jordan Sledz, Ryan Northcott, Manuel Rodriguez-Saenz, Crystle Lightning, Melanie Scrofano and Nikki Hallow.
Anna Pigeon is produced by Cineflix, December Films and SEVEN24 Films for USA Network in association with Bell Media. Morwyn Brebner serves as showrunner, with Lea Thompson directing. Brebner and Thompson executive produce alongside Todd Berger, Brett Burlock, Sonia Hosko, Julie Di Cresce, Peter Emerson, Gordon Gilbertson, Tom Coxand Jordy Randall. Leslie Cowan serves as producer. Cineflix Rights is the exclusive international worldwide distribution partner.
Everything on the Menu with Braun Strowman - Season Two Premieres Friday, June 5 at 11:00 p.m. ET/PT
Everything on the Menu with Braun Strowman is back for seconds, as the WWE icon continues his larger-than-life culinary road trip. This season, Braun brings his massive appetite to 12 new food cities across America. Along the way, he's joined by celebrity guests, sharing laughs, stories, and unforgettable meals as he, once again, orders everything on the menu.
Everything on the Menu with Braun Strowman is produced by WWE and Bright North Studios and is distributed by Paramount Global Content Distribution. Paul Levesque, Lee Fitting, Marc Pomarico and Ben Houser executive produce for WWE. Matthew J. Braley, Adam Scherr, Nick Antonicelli, Morgan Hertzan, Shawn Efran and Azadeh De Leon serve as executive producers for Bright North Studios.
The Rainmaker - Season Two Premieres Fall 2026
Rudy, Deck and Bruiser face old adversaries and new ones in a case where the lives of hundreds of children hang in the balance, and where winning might be just as dangerous as losing. Season one starred Milo Callaghan, John Slattery, Lana Parrilla, Madison Iseman, P.J. Byrne, and Karen Bryson; Merle Dandridge and Austin Nichols have been announced as joining the cast in season two.
The Rainmaker is produced by Lionsgate Television and Blumhouse Television. Michael Seitzman, who also serves as showrunner, John Grisham, Patrick Moran, Jason Richman, David Gernert and Jason Blum serve as executive producers.
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