Channel 4 Bolsters Schedule With New US Shows
Channel 4 has acquired the broadcast rights to a number of hit American shows from Warner Bros, continuing its strategy of importing big-budget comedy and drama programmes, as outlined in its spring schedule earlier this year.
The move will see new disaster series, Invasion, included in Channel 4’s schedules, while sitcom The War at Home promises to be a witty and irreverent look at family life from the writer of Will & Grace, Ellen and Dream On.
Elsewhere, part character drama and part murder mystery Reunion represents what Channel 4 claims is a “ground-breaking concept in series television,” chronicling the entire lives of a group of friends over the course of one series, charting their journey from youth to adulthood.
The new deal sees both Channel 4 and E4 retain the rights to broadcast forthcoming seasons of The O.C., One Tree Hill, The West Wing and Curb Your Enthusiasm.
Commenting on the acquisitions, June Dromgoole, Channel 4 controller of acquisitions, said: “We are delighted to have renewed the deal on these much loved series and look forward to launching these highly anticipated new acquisitions in 2006.”
Jeffrey R. Schlesinger, president of Warner Bros. International Television, added: “Channel 4 and E4 have been a wonderful and successful broadcast home to many of our series throughout the years. We are delighted that these networks will be become home to some of our new series, where we’re certain they will have a great opportunity for success. We’re also pleased that our existing programs will continue their runs on C4 and E4.”
Channel 4 unveiled its spring schedule earlier this year, revealing new programmes in every genre and continuing its striped scheduling with new shows in every time slot across the week. The broadcaster has also allocated its highest ever programme budget, with a predicted £485 million being spent on programming compared to £470 million in 2004 (see Channel 4 Bets On Drama For Spring Schedule).
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