MUMBAI: US broadcaster CBS has given a straight-to-series order for 13 episodes of ?Under The Dome?, a serialised drama from Steven Spielberg?s Amblin Television based on Stephen King?s best-selling novel of the same name. The series will air next year.

The show is the story of a small New England town that is suddenly and inexplicably sealed off from the rest of the world by an enormous transparent dome. The town?s inhabitants must deal with surviving the post-apocalyptic conditions while searching for answers to what this barrier is, where it came from and if and when it will go away.

CBS and Simon and Schuster will cross-promote the television series and book in advance of the show?s launch with the April 2013 re-release of trade paperback and electronic editions from its Pocket Books imprint. CBS Entertainment president Nina Tassler said, "This is a great novel coming to the television screen with outstanding auspices and in-season production values to create a summer programming event. We?re excited to transport audiences ?Under The Dome? and into the extraordinary world that Stephen King has imagined."

In addition to the featured broadcast on CBS, the show will have a unique programming model tailored for a summer launch with a multi-platform window available for each episode shortly after the network airing. The series will be distributed domestically by CBS Television Distribution and worldwide by CBS Studios International.

MUMBAI: US broadcaster Fox has ordered the second season of unscripted series ?The X Factor?. The announcement was made by Fox president of alternative entertainment Mike Darnell.

Creator of the format, Simon Cowell said, "I am absolutely thrilled with the news. I have loved making the show and I want to thank Fox, our sponsors and most importantly, the fans for supporting The X Factor."

Darnell said, "The X Factor is a monumental success. It?s won every night it?s been on the air, the talent is phenomenal, the live shows are spectacular and picking it up is a complete no-brainer. Simon and his team have done an incredible job with the show, and I?m absolutely thrilled to bring back ?The X Factor? for another fantastic season."