TNT Acquires Off-Net Rights To 'Hawaii Five-0'

[Brian Damage]

Underscoring the dearth of repeatable new procedurals on the broadcast networks, another CBS crime drama has landed a rich cable syndication deal very early into its run. TNT has nabbed off-network rights to CBS' freshman Hawaii Five-0 for a license fee just north of $2 million, in line with the recent record-breaking sale prices for CBS' NCIS: LA to USA and The Mentalist to TNT. Those deals were made in November 2009, two months into NCIS: LA's freshman year and The Mentalist's second season.

Hawaii Five-0, a remake of the 1960s cop drama, is yet to get a formal renewal for next season from CBS, something that was never in doubt but is now guaranteed, following the big off-network sale. The series, which was sold by CBS TV Distribution, will begin airing on TNT in summer 2014. "Hawaii Five-0 is a top-notch procedural drama that has already built a strong following,” said TNT's head of programming Michael Wright. Hawaii Five-0, which stars Alex O’Loughlin, Scott Caan, Daniel Dae Kim and Grace Park, has been an OK, not outstanding, ratings performer in Live plus same day but a big DVR gainer. In Live+7, a January episode drew a series high audience of 19.3 million viewers.

http://www.deadline.com/2011/04/tnt-...0/#more-122930