ABC Family Renews ‘Switched at Birth’ for a Fourth Season

ABC Family is continuing with Switched at Birth.

The Disney-owned cable network has renewed the hourlong scripted drama for a fourth season, days ahead of the Aug. 18 finale.

“Fans will be clamoring for season four and to know what happens with Daphne and Bay after the season three finale next week,” said Tom Ascheim, president of ABC Family.

Switched at Birth continues to be a reliable ratings performer for ABC Family. It remains one of basic cable’s top summer dramas, ranking as the No. 1 show in its 8 p.m. Monday time period among females.

Switched at Birth centers on two teenage girls who discover they were accidentally switched as newborns in the hospital. Despite overwhelming socioeconomic and ethnic differences, both families must learn to co-exist as parents and blend their lives into one for the sake of their daughters.

In July, the series took a dramatic turn when it killed off a key character played by Gilles Marini. “We thought it was something that would eventually help the show bring new storylines and a lot of drama,” Marini told The Hollywood Reporter at the time.

Lizzy Weiss and Paul Stupin are executive producers on Switched at Birth, which stars Katie LeClerc, Vanessa Marano, Constance Marie, D.W. Moffett, Lea Thompson, Lucas Grabeel, Sean Berdy and Marlee Matlin.

The pickup comes after ABC Family in June renewed Pretty Little Liars for two more seasons. The network’s scripted slate also includes Chasing Life, The Fosters, Melissa & Joey, Baby Daddy, Young & Hungry and Mystery Girls, with several pilots — including Recovery Road, Stitchers and Unstrung — in contention for series pickups. On Wednesday afternoon, ABC Family  canceled Twisted after one season.

Email: Philiana.Ng@THR.com
Twitter: @insidethetube

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