Pavan
07-23-2006, 11:28 PM
Deal drama sends 'Grey's' to Lifetime
The eleventh-hour collapse of a pact steering syndicated rights for "Grey's Anatomy" to Oxygen and Turner Broadcasting has relocated the hit ABC series to Lifetime.
The female-targeted network snatched away "Grey's," sources said, when a last-minute disagreement over final deal points scuttled an arrangement that would have sent episodes to Turner's TNT in before 6 p.m. and Oxygen in the evenings and a repurposed window.
Turner and Oxygen declined comment.
That sent Buena Vista Television back to Lifetime, which had been in the bidding war in the beginning. Sources said the cable network is believed to be forking over $1.2 million per episode, an expensive deal considering Lifetime is contractually required to pick up the tab for as many as 200 episodes, should "Grey's" stay on the air that long.
Lifetime can begin stripping the series in fall 2009 in any daypart. In addition, the network will begin airing episodes from Season 1 once a week starting in January.
Leslie Glenn-Chesloff, senior vp planning, scheduling and acquisitions at Lifetime Entertainment Services, said the network had received word Thursday night that the channel had won the rights to "Grey's." She noted that the show is a good fit with "Desperate Housewives," another recent acquisition from BVT.
"The two shows belong together," she said. "They are the No. 1 and No. 2 scripted shows on television for women 18-49. Our audience loves these shows, and we're excited to have (both of them)."
Added Jed Cohen, executive vp and general sales manager at BVT: "With its strong writing and diverse ensemble cast, 'Grey's' attracts the highest ratings and concentration of young female viewers of any show in primetime television. It will do extremely well in Lifetime's lineup."
Lifetime has been spending big money for off-net properties recently. In addition to "Housewives," which joins the schedule Aug. 5, it acquired "Medium" in the fall for a reported $1.3 million per episode.
"Anatomy," from Touchstone Television, is heading into its third year on ABC in the fall. The show is created and executive produced by Shonda Rhimes. Mark Gordon, Betsy Beers and Peter Horton also executive produce.
The eleventh-hour collapse of a pact steering syndicated rights for "Grey's Anatomy" to Oxygen and Turner Broadcasting has relocated the hit ABC series to Lifetime.
The female-targeted network snatched away "Grey's," sources said, when a last-minute disagreement over final deal points scuttled an arrangement that would have sent episodes to Turner's TNT in before 6 p.m. and Oxygen in the evenings and a repurposed window.
Turner and Oxygen declined comment.
That sent Buena Vista Television back to Lifetime, which had been in the bidding war in the beginning. Sources said the cable network is believed to be forking over $1.2 million per episode, an expensive deal considering Lifetime is contractually required to pick up the tab for as many as 200 episodes, should "Grey's" stay on the air that long.
Lifetime can begin stripping the series in fall 2009 in any daypart. In addition, the network will begin airing episodes from Season 1 once a week starting in January.
Leslie Glenn-Chesloff, senior vp planning, scheduling and acquisitions at Lifetime Entertainment Services, said the network had received word Thursday night that the channel had won the rights to "Grey's." She noted that the show is a good fit with "Desperate Housewives," another recent acquisition from BVT.
"The two shows belong together," she said. "They are the No. 1 and No. 2 scripted shows on television for women 18-49. Our audience loves these shows, and we're excited to have (both of them)."
Added Jed Cohen, executive vp and general sales manager at BVT: "With its strong writing and diverse ensemble cast, 'Grey's' attracts the highest ratings and concentration of young female viewers of any show in primetime television. It will do extremely well in Lifetime's lineup."
Lifetime has been spending big money for off-net properties recently. In addition to "Housewives," which joins the schedule Aug. 5, it acquired "Medium" in the fall for a reported $1.3 million per episode.
"Anatomy," from Touchstone Television, is heading into its third year on ABC in the fall. The show is created and executive produced by Shonda Rhimes. Mark Gordon, Betsy Beers and Peter Horton also executive produce.