A&E has issued an official press release announcing the renewal of ‘Bates Motel’ (the contemporary prequel series to ‘Psycho’) for a second season. You can check out the full press release after the jump.

Immediately below you can check out the full press release detailing the renewal of ‘Bates Motel’ by A&E for a second season.

A&E ORDERS SECOND SEASON OF THE HIT DRAMA SERIES

‘BATES MOTEL’ FROM CARLTON CUSE & KERRY EHRIN

NETWORK ORDERS 10 EPISODES FROM UNIVERSAL TELEVISION

FIRST SEASON OF ‘BATES MOTEL’ PREMIERED AS THE MOST-WATCHED SCRIPTED DRAMA IN NETWORK HISTORY WITH THE KEY DEMOS

NEW YORK – April 8, 2013 – A&E Network has picked up a second season of the acclaimed drama series, “Bates Motel” starring Vera Farmiga and Freddie Highmore from executive producers Carlton Cuse and Kerry Ehrin, it was announced today by Bob DeBitetto, President and General Manager of A&E Network and BIO Channel.

The premiere of “Bates Motel” garnered 4.5 million total viewers and 2.5 million adults 25-54 and 18-49, based on Live+7 viewership, making it the most-watched original drama debut in the key demos in the network’s history.

“Bates Motel’ has garnered critical acclaim and a loyal audience in its first few weeks,” said DeBitetto. “With superb writing and exceptional acting, led by the critically acclaimed performances of Vera Farmiga and Freddie Highmore, we’re incredibly excited to see where Carlton and Kerry take Norma and Norman Bates next.”

Season two of “Bates Motel” will begin pre-production later this year on ten new episodes slated to premiere in 2014.

“Bates Motel” also stars Max Thieriot (“Disconnect”), Olivia Cooke (“Blackout”), Nicola Peltz (“The Last Airbender) and Nestor Carbonell (“Lost,” “The Dark Knight Rises”).

In “Bates Motel,” following the tragic death of her husband, Norma Bates buys a motel on the outskirts of the idyllic coastal town of White Pine Bay, seeking a fresh start. As Norma and Norman get ensconced in their new home, they discover this town isn’t quite what it seems, and the locals aren’t so quick to let them in on their secrets. But the Bates’ are done being pushed around and will do whatever it takes to survive – and will do whatever it takes to protect their own secrets.

“Bates Motel” is produced by Universal Television for A&E Network. Carlton Cuse and Kerry Ehrin serve as executive producers for Carlton Cuse Productions and Kerry Ehrin Productions respectively.

About A&E Network

A&E is “Real Life. Drama.” Now reaching more than 99 million homes, A&E is television that you can’t turn away from; where unscripted shows are dramatic and scripted dramas are authentic. A&E offers a diverse mix of high quality entertainment ranging from the network’s original scripted series, including “The Glades,” “Longmire” and “Bates Motel,” to signature non-fiction franchises, including the Emmy-winning “Intervention,” “Duck Dynasty,” “Beyond Scared Straight” and “Storage Wars,” and the most successful justice shows on cable, including “The First 48.” The A&E website is located at www.aetv.com. For more press information and photography please visit us on the web at press.aenetworks.com.