TV5 USA will unveil a number of new series and specials during the first quarter, including a show marking the U.S. television debut of actress Catherine Deneuve.
The domestic French-language network, spun off from France's TV5 Monde, will bow The French Genius, a 10-part series featuring Deneuve as a host of a series traversing the nation's countryside to showcase the best of its craftsmanship, whether furniture, cuisine or couture. The original series premieres on Feb. 13 at 7:30 p.m. (ET).
This past weekend, the pay service — which is now in some 200,000 households via deals with Time Warner Cable, Adelphia Communications Corp., Comcast Corp. and Cox Communications Inc. (which also offers the net on basic to the Cajun population in Lafayette, La.) — debuted TV 5's African Newspaper, with reporting and commentary from journalists belonging to the TV5 broadcast family, on Jan. 31 at 6:30 p.m.
The weekly 5 on 5 Worlds, which will give a quintet of viewers from around the world a chance to weigh in on topics of the day, was set to bow at 7: 30 p.m. on Feb. 2.
Two days later, at 9:30 p.m., TV5 will premiere the weekly The Eyes in L'Ecran, a panoramic view of the international movie scene, hosted by Vittoria Mattarese.
In April, TV5 will examine the high life with Luxuries (April 16, 7: 30 p.m.), which will put the spotlight on the best this world has to offer materially, intellectually, creatively and financially. Europe Tomorrow, bowing April 30, will focus on lives and cultures in 10 capitals of countries entering into the European Union: Sofia, Belgrade, Prague, Warsaw, Riga, Vilnius, Tallinn, the Valette, Nicosia and Bratislava.
"The programming TV5 is premiering represents our network's unwavering commitment to provide U.S. viewers with a world view of current events, the arts, and the desires and issues that make today's global community the intriguing environment it has become," said Patrice Courtaban, chief operating officer of TV5 USA, in a statement.
