Fox Nation Teams Up with Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff for Real American Freestyle (TV News Roundup)
Fox Nation has signed its second deal in the live sports arena as the exclusive broadcast partner for Hulk Hogan, Eric Bischoff and Chad Bronstein’s Real American Freestyle (RAF).
Fox Nation President Lauren Petterson announced the new deal on Monday. “We’re thrilled to partner with the Real American Freestyle team as they build a visionary brand that redefines the future of wrestling,” Petterson said in a statement. “Fusing elite athleticism with unmatched entertainment, it’s an honor to be part of the new era of the world’s oldest and most iconic sport.”
As part of the partnership, Fox Nation will broadcast the inaugural match, RAF01, which is scheduled for Aug. 30 at the Wolstein Center in Cleveland. Additionally, Fox Nation has secured the broadcast rights for the second event that will take place this fall. The venue and more details about the match will be announced at a later date.
“Real American Freestyle is creating something that’s never been done before, and we needed a partner that understood that and could build with us,” Hogan said. “Fox Nation is synergistic with our brand, they appreciate the importance of bringing this sport to the masses, and they believe in our goal.”
Led by Hogan, Bischoff, Bronstein and Izzy Martinez, RAF is an amateur-style wrestling competition with a mission to professionalize the sport. Wrestler and Olympian Kurt Angle, former MMA champion and broadcast analyst Chael Sonnen, and MMA world champion Bubba Jenkins joined the event as commentators to provide analysis during RAF01.
“Fox Nation immediately understood the vision we had for Real American Freestyle, making them the perfect partner for this historic media rights deal and the first of its kind in the sport,” Bischoff said. “Having the right broadcast partner is critical to putting on a good show for the fans, and we are thrilled to be working with Fox.”
In collaboration with UFC, USA Wrestling, NIL organizations and the NCAA, RAF allows emerging and established athletes to compete. Proceeds from each ticket sold will be donated to Cleveland State University to support its efforts in providing opportunities for thousands of students to achieve academic and athletic excellence.
“Our goal in creating Real American Freestyle was to make historical moves to professionalize the sport of wrestling,” Bronstein, co-founder and CEO of RAF, said. “This partnership with Fox Nation will create a platform the athletes deserve and bring freestyle wrestling to our fans at home.”
The first matches for RAF01 will feature Bo Nickal vs. Jacob Cardenas, Yianni Diakomihalis vs. Bajrang Punia, Darrion Caldwell vs. Real Woods, Austin Gomez vs. Lance Palmer, Kennedy Blades vs. Alejandra Rivera and Sarah Hildebrandt vs. Zeltzin Hernandez.
“Big Brother” winners Taylor Hale and Derrick Levasseur will lead the new bi-weekly CBS series “Big Brother: Unlocked.”
The show, which will focus on season 27, is set to debut on Friday, July 25. Hale and Levasseur will guide viewers through never-before-seen broadcast footage, interviews and behind-the-scenes moments from inside the “Big Brother” house. The series will feature recurring segments, including “BB Fantasy Draft,” “Big Move/Bad Move” and “Binge Worthy or Cringe Worthy.” Additionally, the hosts will be joined by celebrity guests and other “Big Brother” alumni to break down the current season.
In Season 24, Hale made history as the first Black woman to win “Big Brother” and the first houseguest to win both the grand prize and America’s favorite houseguest. Levasseur, who is also a former undercover detective, made it to the final three in Season 16 before his eviction.
The series will air every other week on CBS and stream on Paramount+.
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Bravo’s next season of “Top Chef” will be set in Charlotte, N.C. and Greenville, S.C.
Hosted by Kristen Kish with head judge Tom Colicchio and perennial judge Gail Simmons, Season 23 will showcase the cities’ southern hospitality, rich history, agriculture and outdoors as a new group of accomplished and renowned chefs compete for the “Top Chef” title. The chefs will have to cook their best meals as they battle through quickfire and elimination challenges designed to put their skills, creativity and knowledge to the test.
The new season is set to premiere in 2026, with production commencing this summer. The announcement was made in partnership with the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority and VisitGreenvilleSC.
“We’re excited to return to the south for ‘Top Chef’ Carolinas,” Ryan Flynn, SVP of Current Production at NBCUniversal Television and Streaming, said. “Charlotte and Greenville are perfect chefs’ playgrounds fueled by exceptional local ingredients, bold flavors, a strong agricultural foundation, stunning natural landscapes, and the warm, genuine hospitality the South is known for.”
“Top Chef” is produced by the production company Magical Elves. Casey Kriley, Jo Sharon, Doneen Arquines and Tracy Tong executive produce the series.
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“From Rails to Trails,” a new documentary narrated by Edward Norton, will premiere on public television stations nationwide and stream on PBS on October 15.
Based on Peter Harnik’s 2021 book, “From Rails to Trails: The Making of America’s Active Transportation Network,” the documentary explores how community activists, leaders and citizens fought to turn defunct railways into vibrant spaces for walking, biking and recreation. From small-town meetings to U.S. Supreme Court cases, it unveils the legal, political and cultural forces that shaped the rails-to-trails movement.
The one-hour documentary will showcase stories that sparked the national social moment, including the Illinois Prairie Path, Burke-Gilman Trail in Seattle, Atlanta Beltline, The West Rail Trail in Brownsville, Texas, High Line in New York City, Washington and Old Dominion Trail in Washington, D.C. and the Great American Rail-Trail that runs coast-to-coast from Washington, D.C., to Washington. “From Rails to Trails” also visits Queens, New York, where multiple government and nonprofit organizations are advocating for turning abandoned Long Island Railroad tracks into a linear park similar to The High Line.
Former Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, former Vermont Governor Howard Dean, former Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy co-founder Harnik, who also serves as the executive producer, will make guest appearances. Dan Protess directed and produced the project.
“Having spent my career advocating for the rails-to-trails movement, I’ve seen firsthand how abandoned rail lines – once scars across the landscape – have become lifelines for communities,” Harnik said in a statement. “From the unlikely launch of the movement to today’s coast-to-coast vision, “From Rails to Trails” captures the grit, imagination, and passion that made it all possible.”
Here’s a look at the trailer:
Apple TV+’s “Loot” will premiere its third season this fall, with its first two episodes debuting on Oct. 15, followed by one new episode every Wednesday through Dec. 10.
The official logline for “Loot” states, “The upcoming season will also continue to follow the antics of the beloved group of misfits at The Wells Foundation as they work together so Molly can live up to her promise of giving away all of her vast fortune.”
Alongside Maya Rudolph, the returning cast members include Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, Nat Faxon, Ron Funches and Joel Kim Booster. Additionally, Season 3 will feature special guest star appearances from Stephanie Styles, D’Arcy Carden, Adam Scott, Zane Phillips, Henry Winkler, X Mayo and more.
The series, which debuted in June 2022, follows Molly, who embarks on a journey of self-discovery after getting an $87 billion divorce settlement from her wealthy tech billionaire husband, John Novak (Adam Scott), after 20 years, and is thriving in her role as the head of her philanthropic organization, the Wells Foundation.
“Loot” is created and executive produced by Matt Hubbard and Alan Yang, alongside Rudolph, with her producing partner Danielle Renfrew Behrens of Banana Split, Dave Becky of 3 Arts, Dean Holland and Natasha Lyonne. Hubbard serves as showrunner on Season 3. “Loot” is produced for Apple by Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group.
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Apple TV+ has released a teaser trailer along with first images for its upcoming thriller series, “The Last Frontier,” which will premiere its first two episodes worldwide on Friday, Oct. 10. The series is created by Jon Bokenkamp (“The Blacklist”) and Richard D’Ovidio (“The Call”), and stars and is executive produced by Jason Clarke (“Zero Dark Thirty”).
In the series, Clarke plays Frank Remnick, a U.S. marshal stationed in rural Alaska. After a prison-transport plane crashes in Remnick’s jurisdiction, the quiet community he watches over becomes infiltrated with violent fugitives. As he tries to protect the town, Remnick uncovers unsettling truths about the crash, revealing schemes and conspiracies with dire consequences.
Dominic Cooper (“The Gold”), Haley Bennett (“The Magnificent Seven”), Simone Kessell (“Yellowjackets”), Dallas Goldtooth (“Reservation Dogs”), Tait Blum (“For All Mankind”) and Alfre Woodard (“Clemency”) join Clarke in the cast. Behind the camera, Laura Benson, Glenn Kessler, Albert Kim and series director Sam Hargrave stand alongside Bokenkamp, D’Ovidio and Clarke as executive producers.
Following the Oct. 10 premiere, Apple will release a new episode every Friday through Dec. 5.
Here’s a look at the teaser trailer:
The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) has promoted five new women from its staff to executive positions.
The promotions include Amy Schmelzer to head of news & sports, Christine Chin to head of documentary and technology & engineering, Cherie Housley to head of awards, Jessica Ward to manager of Academy operations and Cara Fortuna to digital content producer. Joining Rachel Schwartz, who became the first female Head of the Daytime Emmys and Children’s & Family Emmys last summer, six women now hold senior awards leadership positions at NATAS.
“These promotions recognize the hard work and unique talents of our national office team,” said NATAS chief of staff Lara Gates. “Each appointment reflects the expertise and leadership these individuals bring to their roles, and we’re proud to highlight the strength of female leadership at NATAS. Their dedication will continue to shape the Academy’s bright future.”
NATAS will hold the 52nd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards on Oct. 17 in Pasadena, and is currently collecting votes for the 76th Annual Technology & Engineering Emmy Awards and the 4th Annual Children’s & Family Emmy Awards.
Fox Nation President Lauren Petterson announced the new deal on Monday. “We’re thrilled to partner with the Real American Freestyle team as they build a visionary brand that redefines the future of wrestling,” Petterson said in a statement. “Fusing elite athleticism with unmatched entertainment, it’s an honor to be part of the new era of the world’s oldest and most iconic sport.”
As part of the partnership, Fox Nation will broadcast the inaugural match, RAF01, which is scheduled for Aug. 30 at the Wolstein Center in Cleveland. Additionally, Fox Nation has secured the broadcast rights for the second event that will take place this fall. The venue and more details about the match will be announced at a later date.
“Real American Freestyle is creating something that’s never been done before, and we needed a partner that understood that and could build with us,” Hogan said. “Fox Nation is synergistic with our brand, they appreciate the importance of bringing this sport to the masses, and they believe in our goal.”
Led by Hogan, Bischoff, Bronstein and Izzy Martinez, RAF is an amateur-style wrestling competition with a mission to professionalize the sport. Wrestler and Olympian Kurt Angle, former MMA champion and broadcast analyst Chael Sonnen, and MMA world champion Bubba Jenkins joined the event as commentators to provide analysis during RAF01.
“Fox Nation immediately understood the vision we had for Real American Freestyle, making them the perfect partner for this historic media rights deal and the first of its kind in the sport,” Bischoff said. “Having the right broadcast partner is critical to putting on a good show for the fans, and we are thrilled to be working with Fox.”
In collaboration with UFC, USA Wrestling, NIL organizations and the NCAA, RAF allows emerging and established athletes to compete. Proceeds from each ticket sold will be donated to Cleveland State University to support its efforts in providing opportunities for thousands of students to achieve academic and athletic excellence.
“Our goal in creating Real American Freestyle was to make historical moves to professionalize the sport of wrestling,” Bronstein, co-founder and CEO of RAF, said. “This partnership with Fox Nation will create a platform the athletes deserve and bring freestyle wrestling to our fans at home.”
The first matches for RAF01 will feature Bo Nickal vs. Jacob Cardenas, Yianni Diakomihalis vs. Bajrang Punia, Darrion Caldwell vs. Real Woods, Austin Gomez vs. Lance Palmer, Kennedy Blades vs. Alejandra Rivera and Sarah Hildebrandt vs. Zeltzin Hernandez.
“Big Brother” winners Taylor Hale and Derrick Levasseur will lead the new bi-weekly CBS series “Big Brother: Unlocked.”
The show, which will focus on season 27, is set to debut on Friday, July 25. Hale and Levasseur will guide viewers through never-before-seen broadcast footage, interviews and behind-the-scenes moments from inside the “Big Brother” house. The series will feature recurring segments, including “BB Fantasy Draft,” “Big Move/Bad Move” and “Binge Worthy or Cringe Worthy.” Additionally, the hosts will be joined by celebrity guests and other “Big Brother” alumni to break down the current season.
In Season 24, Hale made history as the first Black woman to win “Big Brother” and the first houseguest to win both the grand prize and America’s favorite houseguest. Levasseur, who is also a former undercover detective, made it to the final three in Season 16 before his eviction.
The series will air every other week on CBS and stream on Paramount+.
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Bravo’s next season of “Top Chef” will be set in Charlotte, N.C. and Greenville, S.C.
Hosted by Kristen Kish with head judge Tom Colicchio and perennial judge Gail Simmons, Season 23 will showcase the cities’ southern hospitality, rich history, agriculture and outdoors as a new group of accomplished and renowned chefs compete for the “Top Chef” title. The chefs will have to cook their best meals as they battle through quickfire and elimination challenges designed to put their skills, creativity and knowledge to the test.
The new season is set to premiere in 2026, with production commencing this summer. The announcement was made in partnership with the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority and VisitGreenvilleSC.
“We’re excited to return to the south for ‘Top Chef’ Carolinas,” Ryan Flynn, SVP of Current Production at NBCUniversal Television and Streaming, said. “Charlotte and Greenville are perfect chefs’ playgrounds fueled by exceptional local ingredients, bold flavors, a strong agricultural foundation, stunning natural landscapes, and the warm, genuine hospitality the South is known for.”
“Top Chef” is produced by the production company Magical Elves. Casey Kriley, Jo Sharon, Doneen Arquines and Tracy Tong executive produce the series.
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“From Rails to Trails,” a new documentary narrated by Edward Norton, will premiere on public television stations nationwide and stream on PBS on October 15.
Based on Peter Harnik’s 2021 book, “From Rails to Trails: The Making of America’s Active Transportation Network,” the documentary explores how community activists, leaders and citizens fought to turn defunct railways into vibrant spaces for walking, biking and recreation. From small-town meetings to U.S. Supreme Court cases, it unveils the legal, political and cultural forces that shaped the rails-to-trails movement.
The one-hour documentary will showcase stories that sparked the national social moment, including the Illinois Prairie Path, Burke-Gilman Trail in Seattle, Atlanta Beltline, The West Rail Trail in Brownsville, Texas, High Line in New York City, Washington and Old Dominion Trail in Washington, D.C. and the Great American Rail-Trail that runs coast-to-coast from Washington, D.C., to Washington. “From Rails to Trails” also visits Queens, New York, where multiple government and nonprofit organizations are advocating for turning abandoned Long Island Railroad tracks into a linear park similar to The High Line.
Former Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, former Vermont Governor Howard Dean, former Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy co-founder Harnik, who also serves as the executive producer, will make guest appearances. Dan Protess directed and produced the project.
“Having spent my career advocating for the rails-to-trails movement, I’ve seen firsthand how abandoned rail lines – once scars across the landscape – have become lifelines for communities,” Harnik said in a statement. “From the unlikely launch of the movement to today’s coast-to-coast vision, “From Rails to Trails” captures the grit, imagination, and passion that made it all possible.”
Here’s a look at the trailer:
Apple TV+’s “Loot” will premiere its third season this fall, with its first two episodes debuting on Oct. 15, followed by one new episode every Wednesday through Dec. 10.
The official logline for “Loot” states, “The upcoming season will also continue to follow the antics of the beloved group of misfits at The Wells Foundation as they work together so Molly can live up to her promise of giving away all of her vast fortune.”
Alongside Maya Rudolph, the returning cast members include Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, Nat Faxon, Ron Funches and Joel Kim Booster. Additionally, Season 3 will feature special guest star appearances from Stephanie Styles, D’Arcy Carden, Adam Scott, Zane Phillips, Henry Winkler, X Mayo and more.
The series, which debuted in June 2022, follows Molly, who embarks on a journey of self-discovery after getting an $87 billion divorce settlement from her wealthy tech billionaire husband, John Novak (Adam Scott), after 20 years, and is thriving in her role as the head of her philanthropic organization, the Wells Foundation.
“Loot” is created and executive produced by Matt Hubbard and Alan Yang, alongside Rudolph, with her producing partner Danielle Renfrew Behrens of Banana Split, Dave Becky of 3 Arts, Dean Holland and Natasha Lyonne. Hubbard serves as showrunner on Season 3. “Loot” is produced for Apple by Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group.
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Apple TV+ has released a teaser trailer along with first images for its upcoming thriller series, “The Last Frontier,” which will premiere its first two episodes worldwide on Friday, Oct. 10. The series is created by Jon Bokenkamp (“The Blacklist”) and Richard D’Ovidio (“The Call”), and stars and is executive produced by Jason Clarke (“Zero Dark Thirty”).
In the series, Clarke plays Frank Remnick, a U.S. marshal stationed in rural Alaska. After a prison-transport plane crashes in Remnick’s jurisdiction, the quiet community he watches over becomes infiltrated with violent fugitives. As he tries to protect the town, Remnick uncovers unsettling truths about the crash, revealing schemes and conspiracies with dire consequences.
Dominic Cooper (“The Gold”), Haley Bennett (“The Magnificent Seven”), Simone Kessell (“Yellowjackets”), Dallas Goldtooth (“Reservation Dogs”), Tait Blum (“For All Mankind”) and Alfre Woodard (“Clemency”) join Clarke in the cast. Behind the camera, Laura Benson, Glenn Kessler, Albert Kim and series director Sam Hargrave stand alongside Bokenkamp, D’Ovidio and Clarke as executive producers.
Following the Oct. 10 premiere, Apple will release a new episode every Friday through Dec. 5.
Here’s a look at the teaser trailer:
The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) has promoted five new women from its staff to executive positions.
The promotions include Amy Schmelzer to head of news & sports, Christine Chin to head of documentary and technology & engineering, Cherie Housley to head of awards, Jessica Ward to manager of Academy operations and Cara Fortuna to digital content producer. Joining Rachel Schwartz, who became the first female Head of the Daytime Emmys and Children’s & Family Emmys last summer, six women now hold senior awards leadership positions at NATAS.
“These promotions recognize the hard work and unique talents of our national office team,” said NATAS chief of staff Lara Gates. “Each appointment reflects the expertise and leadership these individuals bring to their roles, and we’re proud to highlight the strength of female leadership at NATAS. Their dedication will continue to shape the Academy’s bright future.”
NATAS will hold the 52nd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards on Oct. 17 in Pasadena, and is currently collecting votes for the 76th Annual Technology & Engineering Emmy Awards and the 4th Annual Children’s & Family Emmy Awards.