Wednesday, June 1, 2011

E! Entertainment set to become broader with a more ''upscale, fresh tone'' and scripted programming for the entertainment news channel.

E! Entertainment (DStv 124) - currently without a channel head after Ted Harbert got promoted - is set to get somewhat of a makeover to become a broader channel with a more ''upscale, fresh tone''.

Bonnie Hammer, chairperson of NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment and Cable Studios who's in charge of E! Entertainment plans to up-vamp the entertainment channel, similar to the way in which she helped to rebuild two American pay TV channels, USA Network and Syfy over the past decade.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter to be published later this week she says ''E! Entertainment is very successful right now; it's not broken in any way, shape or form'' but says that her plan is to ''take it from a successful channel and have it just completely break out''.

She tells the Los Angeles trade publication that her plan is to introduce scripted programming within the next two to three years on E! Entertainment - currently known more for its myriad reality shows like the Kasdashians series, Fashion Police and the daily E! News entertainment news show.