Exclusive: Almost two weeks ago, TVWise reported that Channel 5 did not own, nor did they have any intention of acquring the broadcast rights to the third, fourth and fifth seasons of Breaking Bad from Sony Pictures Television. At the time we also reported that we had heard rumblings that a new UK broadcaster may move in and pick up the rights to the series.
However, after making contact with various contacts and sources at Sony as well as at a number of UK TV channels, it would appear those rumblings were merely that. I have been told that there are no plans to pick up the series among any of the bigger channels such as BBC, ITV, Channel 4, FX or Sky.
The truth of the matter is that the series has been given two chances to find its audience here in the UK, first on FX and then later on 5USA, and on both occasions it failed to do so. I’m told that this is a source of frustration for Sony as, in the United States, the series continues to attract awards and grow its audience year-on-year. So for a series which seems to have no proven audience in the UK, and awards sure to be driving up the licensing fee for the series, I’ve been told there is almost no chance of Breaking Bad finding a new broadcaster.
Breaking Bad was created by Vince Gilligan and follows Bryan Cranston as Walter White, a terminal cancer patient who, concerned that his family will be without means following his death, turns to cooking methamphetamine to make large amounts of fast money. The series is broadcast by AMC in the United States who recently ordered a fifth and final season consisting of 16 episodes. Production is currently underway on the first batch of 8 episodes, which are expected to be broadcast as a mini-season in the summer.
