The Security Brief with Paul Viollis adds TEGNA Media and Scripps to December Line-Up

America's First "Day-Crime" Talker Ramps Up to 19 Test Markets

News provided by

Nov 24, 2015, 02:45 ET

NEW YORK, Nov. 24, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --The Security Brief with Paul Viollis, created and produced by East 86th Productions, will add Denver, Atlanta, Seattle, Detroit, Kansas City, Missouri and Tucson, Arizona to its growing lineup for next month's talk test. The E.W. Scripps Company and TEGNA Media stations, along with the Sinclair Broadcast Group, brings The Security Brief test market tally to 19, giving it a variety of different affiliations, day parts, lead-ins and lead-outs.

Hosted by law enforcement veteran Paul Viollis, a trusted expert in the areas of personal security, cyber-crime, and anti-terrorism, The Security Brief delivers richly layered true-crime stories followed by positive, empowering solutions.

According to daytime talk veteran, Terry Murphy, one of the show's creators, "Women have migrated to true-crime in other genres, but we're the first and only talk show of its kind dedicated, exclusively, to telling true-crime stories. After the Paris attacks, the demand for real-world solutions to keep America's families safe is at an all-time high."

"Testing The Security Brief in several Scripps markets has the potential for a big payoff for our audiences," said Brian Lawlor, senior vice president of Scripps broadcast division. "In the markets where we have duopolies, we have the freedom and flexibility to place new programming at a time when most other shows are in repeats. We are committed to creating a better-informed world and this show delivers critical information about real-world issues that could impact our safety and security."

In a rare move designed to break through the clutter of expensive and unsustainable daytime talk launches, while still delivering compelling, syndication quality content, cocreators of The Security Brief with Paul Viollis Terry Murphy and her business partner and fellow Executive Producer, Patrick W. Murphy, privately funded a cost-efficient library of 80 episodes with titles including, Who Killed Walter?, My Son Joined ISIS, Branded and Sold, Script for Murder, Hostage at Gunpoint, Deadly Devotion, and My Baby Was Carjacked. The development of a full content library allows station groups to test The Security Brief extensively with minimal upfront cost, while providing for a seamless transition into a full-season of programming after the test period.

According to Barry Wallach, former president of NBCUniversal Domestic Distribution who is helping to spearhead the test, "Having shows produced upfront not only increases distribution options and production efficiency, unlike older test models which required a long hiatus after the test period, The Security Brief is ready to deliver new episodes immediately to continue building momentum."

The Security Brief's business model has baked in signature solution segments that are strategically designed to grow organically integrated brand partnerships, which will be overseen by industry vet Liz Koman, former EVP for Debmar Mercury and Martha Stewart Omnimedia.

The Security Brief with Paul Viollis will begin its four-week run in TEGNA metered markets of Denver, Atlanta, and Seattle on Dec. 7. Scripps' WMYD in Detroit and KMCI in Kansas City will begin airing The Security Brief on Dec. 21. The show will debut in Tucson on KWBA on Dec. 28.

ABOUT PAUL VIOLLIS: Paul Viollis is a career law enforcement professional who rose from service in the Manhattan District Attorney's office to Security Specialist under the United States Space Command, and Commanding Officer of a Florida State Police Academy. His business resume includes serving as vice president at the international security firm, Kroll, where he served on their post-9/11 threat assessment team. He currently serves as CEO of the private security firm Viollis Group International, where he advises numerous Fortune 500 companies and their top executives on safety and security matters. Viollis is a columnist for Worth Magazine, the author and lead editor of Jane's Workplace Security, and content contributor to Jane's School Safety Handbook, and Teacher's Safety Guide. His latest book, Silent Safety, defines best practices for personal safety.

ABOUT EAST 86th PRODUCTIONS: East 86th Productions was co-founded by Terry Weible Murphy and her business partner, Patrick W. Murphy. Terry is a veteran television executive who has launched and executive-produced numerous first-run syndicated daytime talk shows and other programming for Telepictures, Sony Pictures Television, Twentieth Television, CBS, and NBC. Patrick began his career in television at CBS, after leaving law school, and subsequently served as a supervising producer on multiple pilots created by East 86th Productions. His first development project, an interactive game show concept, was optioned by Scripps. East 86^th Productions is represented by W.Wilder Knight II and Anne S. Atkinson of Pryor Cashman LLP.