(Mnet)

Pop-music cable channel Mnet has halted plans to air a spin-off of the girl group audition program “Produce 101,” according to local news outlet OSEN.“It is effectively impossible to create a spinoff of ‘Produce 101’” a source from Mnet was quoted as saying.There had been previous reports that a boy band version of the audition program was in the works.Mnet added that it had not fleshed out plans for shows related to the program. It might launch a reality show that centers on newly recruited 11-member group I.O.I’s life as stars, a director’s cut or special edition of the show, according to multiple reports.In the 11th episode of “Produce 101,” I.O.I members were selected out of 101 female trainees based on viewers’ votes. The girl group is poised to make its debut with an EP in May.I.O.I is made up of Lim Na-young from Pledis Entertainment; Kim Chung-ha from M&H Entertainment; Kim Se-jeong from Jellyfish Entertainment; Jung Chae-yeon from MBK Entertainment; Zhou Jieqiong from Pledis Entertainment; Kim So-hye from RedLine Entertainment; Yoo Yeun-jung from Starship Entertainment; Choi Yoo-jung from Fantagio; Kang Mi-na from Jellyfish Entertainment; Kim Do-yeon from Fantagio; and Ennik Somi Douma from JYP Entertainment.By Son Ji-hyoung (json@heraldcorp.com)