US cable net A&E dropping scripted

The A&E net in the US is dropping scripted programming from its line-up, although the wider A+E Networks group said it remains committed to drama.

A&E was historically an unscripted net and will now return to that mode, as Deadline was first to report.

The cable net had run drama series including Bates Motel (pictured), Longmire and The Glades, but was not a prolific commissioner.

Gabriel Marano was the channel’s head of scripted, but has moved across to in-house production unit A+E Studios as part of the programming rejig.

A&E’s signature unscripted series include Storage Wars and Intervention.

Its more recent offerings include the buzzy prison series 60 Days In (left).

A+E will, however, remain in the scripted game, with several dramas on its Lifetime and History nets in the US.

It is also selling scripted and gave Jeremy Renner series Knightfall its international launch at MIPTV last month.

Other A+E Studios shows include hit series UnReal, the reboot of Roots, and Navy SEALS drama Six.

Former Disney exec Barry Jossen now runs the studio.