Television
October 30, 2003
TNT And Warner Bros. Domestic Cable Distribution Enter Into Exclusive Off-Net Deal For “Without A Trace” Including Repurposing Of Most Recent Season
(October 30, 2003 – Atlanta, GA and Burbank, CA) - Turner Network Television (TNT) and Warner Bros. Domestic Cable Distribution have entered into an agreement for the exclusive off-network rights for the critically acclaimed and ratings hit drama “Without a Trace,” it was announced today by Steve Koonin, executive vice president and chief operating officer for TNT and TBS Superstation, and Eric Frankel, president of Warner Bros. Domestic Cable Distribution. The deal calls for TNT to have an exclusive off-net window beginning fall of 2006 and will include the network having rights to repurpose the series' most recent season beginning fall of 2004.
“Without a Trace,” from Warner Bros. Television and Jerry Bruckheimer, is the latest addition to TNT's collection of hall-of-fame dramas which include “Law & Order,” “ER,” “NYPD Blue,” “The X-Files,” “Judging Amy” and “Charmed.” The dramas, many of which appear during the network's Primetime in the Daytime block weekdays, have been key ingredients in driving the network to #1 in prime among all key metrics and key adults in total day.
"'Without a Trace’ has distinguished itself as one of the smartest, most-compelling dramas on television and will be one of the centerpieces for the network's drama brand moving forward,” stated Mr. Koonin. "The show will augment the network's powerful line-up of hall-of-fame dramas."
“We are thrilled that ‘Without A Trace’ will be joining TNT's line-up,” said Frankel. “It has been a exceptionally strong performer for CBS and we are confident that it will not only be a great ratings success on TNT but allow them to generate terrific CPMs from premium advertisers. The Warner Bros. Television Group is the industry’s leading producer and distributor of television programming and ‘Without a Trace’ is another example of a top quality series that performs for its broadcast network and then is picked up by a key cable outlet to become a power player in its lineup.”
“Without a Trace,” which has given CBS its highest Thursday night 10 p.m. ratings in more than a decade and has been a top 10 series in households and with both men and women, is a fast-paced procedural drama that offers a fascinating glimpse into a rarely seen arena: the search for people who vanish inexplicably. Starring Anthony LaPaglia (“Murder One”), Poppy Montgomery (“Blonde”), Marianne Jean-Baptiste (“Spy Game”), Enrique Murciano (“Black Hawk Down”) and Eric Close (“Now and Again”), “Without a Trace” is produced by Jerry Bruckheimer Television in association with CBS Productions and Warner Bros. Television Production Inc. and airs Thursdays (10:00 - 11:00 p.m. ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.
Jerry Bruckheimer (“Cold Case,” “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” “Black Hawk Down”), Jonathan Littman (“CSI: Crime Scene Investigation”), Ed Redlich (“The Practice”) and creator Hank Steinberg (“61*,” “RFK”) are the executive producers of “Without a Trace.”
Warner Bros. Domestic Cable Distribution is one of the leading suppliers of programming to the cable and satellite marketplaces. It is responsible for sales, marketing and distribution of Warner Bros. Entertainment’s feature films, television series, miniseries, television movies and specials to the pay television and basic cable markets, as well as feature films to the broadcast networks. The subsidiary currently supplies programming to a dozen broadcast networks, 30 pay television and nearly 100 basic cable networks.
Turner Network Television (TNT), the destination for drama, is a Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. 24-hour advertiser-supported service. TNT, basic cable’s reigning 2002 and current 2003 demo king in prime for adults 18-49 and 25-54, is cable’s only network combining award-winning original films; broadcast premieres; powerful one-hour dramas, such as “Law & Order,” “ER,” “NYPD Blue,” “The X-Files,” “Charmed,” “Judging Amy” and “Angel”; and championship sports coverage including NASCAR, the PGA and the British Open and the NBA.
Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, is a major producer of news and entertainment product around the world and the leading provider of programming for the basic cable industry.
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