Essential 11, the LA-based production arm of Australian production company Essential Media, has three series launching in the US this month and two more in development. Two shows, Backflip and Texas Flip'n'Move, launch on the DIY channel this week, with a third, Fools Gold, launching next week on Animal Planet. They also have a pilot, Three Dads and A House, in production for the HGTV channel and another series, a hidden camera show titled Made Up, in post-production for the Disney Channel.

Steamy stuff

The cable drama channel Showcase has bought the Australian rights to the US drama series The Affair. The series, which "explores the emotional effects of an extramarital relationship", stars Dominic West as a New York schoolteacher and novelist, Noah Solloway, who becomes involved with a young woman, Alison (Ruth Wilson). The series also stars Maura Tierney, as Noah's wife Helen, and Joshua Jackson, as Cole, Alison's husband. CBS Studios produced 10 one-hour episodes of the series for the US channel Showtime.

Netflix's offerings

The streaming service Netflix has confirmed it will produce a second season of its adventure drama Marco Polo. The series, which follows "the famed explorer's exploits in Kublai Khan's court in 13th-century China", was created by John Fusco and stars Australian actor Remi Hii. The series also stars Lorenzo Richelmy, Benedict Wong, Joan Chen, Zhu Zhu, Chin Han, Olivia Cheng and Tom Wu. Marco Polo's first season was filmed in Malaysia, Kazakhstan and Italy and produced by The Weinstein Company. It will be among Netflix's offerings when the service launches in Australia in March.

Diary these launch dates

Still with Netflix, the streaming company announced a handful of series of launch dates for 2015 at the bi-annual Television Critics Association programming showcase in Los Angeles. Those dates, which prospective Australian customers might want to mark in their diaries, include the Tina Fey-produced comedy Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (March 6), the drama Bloodline, which stars Australian actor Ben Mendehlson (March 20), Marvel's Daredevil (April 10) and the Jane Fonda/Lily Tomlin comedy Grace and Frankie (May 8).

Absolutely fabulous, Darling

When the film version of Absolutely Fabulous finally premieres it may well lay claim to the title: "20 years in the making". The creator and star of the iconic British comedy, Jennifer Saunders, has told British media that the much-discussed film spin-off will likely happen this year. "I've finished the first draft; I'm feeling euphoric," she said. "My proper New Year's resolution is to do the film, otherwise it'll be a pointless year of procrastination. Saunders and co-star Joanna Lumley have hinted at a film for almost a decade.

ABC Political Editor appointed

The ABC has named journalist Chris Uhlmann to the post of ABC Political Editor. The ABC's head of newsgathering Craig McMurtrie said the role, which spans all of the ABC's platforms, was "a crucial on-air role and Chris is uniquely suited for it". Uhlmann has worked for Fairfax's Canberra Times, and has served as presenter of AM, a reporter for ABC News 24 and co-host and political editor of 7.30. In a statement issued by the ABC, Uhlmann said he was "blessed to work with journalists who personify ... integrity and experience".