Universal Channel Acquires UK Rights To ‘The Closer’ Spin-Off ‘Major Crimes’

EXCLUSIVE: Multiple sources are telling me that Universal Channel has closed a deal with Warner Bros. International Television Distribution to acquire the exclusive first run UK broadcast rights to TNT’s crime drama series Major Crimes.

Sources familiar with the deal between Universal and Warner Bros. tell me that it covers both the show’s 10 episode first season and the upcoming 15 episode second season, which is due to premiere on TNT this Summer. I hear that the show’s first season is tentatively scheduled to premiere on Universal Channel in April.

A spin-off of TNT’s long running series The Closer, Major Crimes was created by James Duff and follows the Major Crimes unit of the LAPD following the departure of commanding officer Deputy Chief Brenda Johnson. With Johnson gone, the team must learn to adapt when Captain Raydor is transferred in from Internal Affairs to run the unit. The drama series is produced by Warner Horizon Television and stars Mary McDonnell, G.W. Bailey, Tony Denison, Michael Paul Chan, Raymond Cruz, Phillip P. Keene, Kearran Giovanni and Graham Patrick Martin, with recurring guest stars Robert Gossett, Jon Tenney and Jonathan Del Arco.

There has long been speculation about which UK broadcaster would acquire the series. Owing to the fact the show’s first episode kicks off in the wake of the events depicted in the series finale of The Closer, More4 had been considered a likely buyer for the series. However, my sources tell me that although parent company Channel 4 expressed some interest in the show they ultimately passed on acquiring Major Crimes.

TVWise’s Acquisitions Scorecard has been updated with this new information.