• by Adam Buckman , Featured Columnist, Yesterday

A+E last week got the Upfront ball rolling with a slew of new content announcements representing partnerships with A-list personalities in hosting and producing roles.

That appears to be the strategy for the company heading into the spring Upfront sales season -- namely, attaching marquee, household names to show titles to create interest and drive viewership.

A-listers teaming up with A+E next season include Kevin Bacon, Ted Danson, Dolph Lundgren, Tom Selleck, Jim Belushi, Sherri Shepherd, Valerie Bertinelli, Taraji P. Henson and Eric McCormack.

“World-class talent chooses our trusted brands as the home to tell their stories,” said Paul Buccieri, president and chairman of A+E Global Media, in a presentation to advertisers conducted virtually last Wednesday. 

Representing its commitment to creating collaborative content across its owned platforms, A+E announced that it has formed a new “brand creative studio” called Storyground.

The new initiative is “designed to further extend the company’s multiplatform storytelling capabilities and deepen collaboration with brands, partners and creators through bespoke, audience-driven creative solutions,” the company said.

“The introduction of Storyground and our expanded creator partnerships further enhance our ability to collaborate with clients,” said A+E sales chief Toby Byrne, president of A+E Media Solutions.

At the presentation, A+E announced new program plans for 2026-27 for its four cable brands -- History Channel, Lifetime, A&E and Vice.

Four of the new shows on History come with stars attached, starting with “History’s Strangest Fortunes with Kevin Bacon,” a series about “the most unbelievable, yet true financial tales ever recorded,” said the company.

Three others coming to History Channel are “Extraordinary Origins with Ted Danson,” about innovations, inventions and discoveries; “Crime and Justice with Tom Selleck,” a true crime series covering sensational cases in U.S. history; and “History’s Greatest Machines with Dolph Lundgren.”

The list also included a digital-first series called “Cracking Up” that “imagines classical marble busts as podcast hosts delivering sharp commentary on modern life through the lens of ancient history.”

Coming to Lifetime is “Angel in the Rubble,” a TV movie from producer and “GMA” personality Robin Roberts starring Sherri Shepherd as a survivor of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and “Love, Again,” a made-for-TV romantic movie starring Valerie Bertinelli and Eric McCormack.

A&E will revisit the Scott Peterson murder case with the four-hour special, “Scott Peterson: The New Evidence,” and take a look back at the era of the Dapper Don, John Gotti, in the new series, “The Gotti Files,” featuring interviews with John Gotti Jr. and his son, John Gotti III.

A&E had a previous series more than 20 years ago with the Gotti family, “Growing Up Gotti,” which focused on the Don’s daughter, Victoria Gotti, and her three sons.

Also coming to A&E next season are a new documentary about Johnny Cash, “Johnny Cash: The Man Comes Around” and “K9 PD with Jim Belushi,” with Belushi hosting a show featuring real footage of courageous dogs fighting crime.

“Our strength lies in our ability to seamlessly connect with audiences wherever they consume content, from traditional linear television to cutting-edge digital platforms,” said A+E’s Byrne.

“This expansive reach provides marketers with a powerful advantage -- the scale to make a significant impact and the flexibility to create tailored, engaging partnerships,” he said.