Syfy picks up three reality series        
By Lacey Rose

Tue Mar 22, 2011 4:34pm EDT LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - In a bid to further broaden its brand, Syfy is upping its commitment to the reality genre.

The television network will announce at Tuesday's upfront presentation to advertisers in New York that it has picked up a trio of reality series -- "Haunted Collector," "Legend Quest" and "Paranormal Witness" -- to launch later this year.

The series will join the network's growing cadre of unscripted hits, including "Ghost Hunters," "Destination Truth" and "Face Off," which was recently renewed for a second season.

The announcement follows continued ratings gains at the NBC Universal-owned network, where primetime viewership this quarter is up 13 percent in total viewers and 7 percent in the advertiser-beloved demographic of adults 18-49 compared to the same period a year earlier.

"Haunted Collector," a working title, centers on a family of renowned paranormal investigators who spend their time tracking down haunted items. The family then houses its collections -- think guns, jewelry, paintings and dolls -- in its museum.

The series will be paired with the second season of "Hollywood Treasure," beginning in June.

A month later, Syfy will roll out "Legend Quest," an action-adventure series that follows real-life symbologist Ashley Cowie as he travels the world in search of hidden, mystical artifacts. Each episode is designed to combine Indiana Jones-style adventure and Da Vinci Code-type connections as theories are explored.

Finally, "Paranormal Witness," a drama-documentary series, will bring to life the stories of people who claim to have lived through paranormal experiences. Episodes will feature a mixture of first-hand testimony and gritty drama. It is set to premiere in September.