FOLLOWING THE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT ABC FAMILY IS BECOMING FREEFORM, NETWORK GIVES A STRAIGHT-TO-SERIES ORDER BASED ON A MULTIPLE-SCRIPT COMMITMENT TO "DEAD OF SUMMER," A HORROR TALE WRITTEN AND EXECUTIVE-PRODUCED BY ADAM HOROWITZ, EDWARD KITSIS AND IAN GOLDBERG

Burbank, CA (November 18, 2015) - ABC Family continues to grow the original-programming slate that will premiere under the new Freeform banner in 2016. Network has given a straight-to-series order based on a multiple-script commitment and penalty to horror tale "Dead of Summer" from the dream team of Adam Horowitz & Edward Kitsis, along with "Once Upon a Time" writer Ian Goldberg. It was announced today by Karey Burke, Executive Vice President, Programming and Development, ABC Family. ABC Family is becoming Freeform in January 2016.

"'Dead of Summer' is about what happens when summer camp goes wrong - really, really wrong. The horror genre is new for us and I'm thrilled to have Adam, Eddy and Ian bring their immeasurable talent to our network and usher us into this new space," said Burke.

Set in the late 1980s, school is out for the summer, and a sun-drenched season of firsts beckons the counselors at Camp Clearwater, a seemingly idyllic Midwestern summer camp, including first loves, first kisses - and first kills. Clearwater's dark, ancient mythology awakens, and what was supposed to be a summer of fun soon turns into one of unforgettable scares and evil at every turn. Part coming-of-age story, part supernatural horror story, "Dead of Summer" is a bold, new series that mixes genres as it examines the light and dark of a summer like no other.

"Dead of Summer" will be produced by ABC Signature Studios and Kitsis/Horowitz. Adam Horowitz, Edward Kitsis ("Lost," "Once Upon A Time") and Ian Goldberg ("Once Upon a Time," "Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior") will write and executive-produce the series.

Part of the Disney|ABC Television Group, ABC Family (to be renamed Freeform in January 2016) is distributed in 94 million homes. The network entertains and connects to audiences with bold, relatable programming that celebrates the epic adventure of becoming an adult, from first kiss to first kid. The programming is a combination of network-defining original series and original movies, quality acquired series and blockbuster theatricals. "WATCH ABC Family" (also to be renamed Freeform in January 2016) is an authenticated service which allows viewers with participating TV subscription services access to 24/7 live viewing of the network, as well as continued on-demand access to such popular series at home and on-the-go via a wide array of devices. The network is also the destination for annual holiday events with "13 Nights of Halloween" and "25 Days of Christmas."

ABC Studios is a leader in the development, production and strategic distribution of entertainment content across broadcast, cable and on demand platforms. The studio is the key content provider for the ABC Entertainment Group, having produced multiple seasons of hit series, including current shows "Scandal," "black-ish," "American Crime," "Castle," "Grey's Anatomy," "How to Get Away with Murder," "Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.," "Marvel's Agent Carter," "Once Upon A Time" and "Secrets and Lies" for ABC; "Criminal Minds" for CBS, "Devious Maids" for Lifetime, as well as past hits "Desperate Housewives," "Lost" and "Revenge." For the 2015-16 television season, ABC Studios is producing "The Muppets" and "Quantico" on ABC, "Grandfathered" on FOX and "Code Black" and "Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders" on CBS.

Established in 2013, ABC Signature is ABC Studios' boutique division, which spearheads development in premium and basic cable, emerging platforms and off-cycle, direct to series programming for broadcast networks. The division is currently in production on the new ABC drama series "Blood & Oil," starring Don Johnson and Chace Crawford. Signature recently completed production on the multi-cam comedy pilot for ABC Family entitled "Gorgeous Morons," produced by Danny Chun, Lee Eisenberg and Gene Stupnitsky. ABC Signature's first series was the half-hour comedy "Benched," starring Eliza Coupe, produced by Mark Gordon for USA.