NBC has added another show in its summer lineup: Siberia, a drama about contestants in a reality show gone wrong. Set to premiere July 1 at 10 p.m., Siberia is reportedly a spooky adventure thriller reminiscent of Lost, set in a remote Siberian territory.
Jeff Bader, NBC Entertainment's president of program planning, strategy, and research, believes Siberia's combination of survival drama and mystery will compel viewers.
"We believe a scripted series that offers an insightful behind-the-scenes view of how a reality concept comes together—especially when things don't go according to plan—will connect with our audience in a very satisfying way," Bader told The Hollywood Reporter.
The Hollywood Reporter offers a more detailed synopsis: Sixteen contestants descend on Siberia's Tunguska not knowing the land's mysterious past (it was hit with a meteorite 100 years prior). When a contestant is badly injured and no help arrives, the contestants realize that strange occurrences are not part of the reality show. With their safety threatened, the contestants are forced to work together to survive.
The networks are looking to bulk up summer programming with scripted series following last year's underperforming round of reality shows. Siberia joins the summer schedule along with crime procedural Crossing Lines and the dramedy Camp.