Channel 4 Steals Friends And ER Rights From Sky

Channel 4 has stolen the rights to two key US series, Friends and ER, away from satellite broadcaster BSkyB (see Feature: Channel 4 Is Good Friends With Comedy Shows). In a deal with the programmes’ owners, Warner Brothers International Television, C4 takes both the terrestrial and pay-TV rights to the series, and other Warner TV programmes, for three years from 2001.

The pay-TV rights are a boost for Channel 4’s planned entertainment channel, which is due to launch on cable, satellite and digital terrestrial platforms next year. Alternatively, under the terms of the deal, Channel 4 may decide to sell on the pay-TV rights to a third party UK broadcaster.

Michael Jackson, chief executive of Channel 4, says: “Warner Brothers offered us the ability to acquire terrestrial and pay rights as a single package and so we have a struck a deal that protects the money and effort we have invested in making these shows some of UK television’s most sought-after properties. It is Channel 4 that has turned Friends and ER into such valuable and admired programming franchises in the UK.”

Channel 4 originally brought the Friends and ER series to the UK and since 1996 has shared the broadcasting rights with BSkyB. Channel 4’s controller of programme acquisition, June Dromgoole, says there was fierce competition for the rights: “We are naturally delighted that both shows will continue to be available to terrestrial viewers,” she added.

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