EXCLUSIVE: Call it the Homeland effect. I have just learned that Universal Channel has closed a deal with NBCUniversal International Television Distribution to acquire the UK broadcast rights to NBC’s drama series Life. I’m also being told that the series is set to premiere on Universal Channel on Monday October 22nd at 8pm and will then air on weekdays in the 8pm time-slot.
Life was created by Rand Ravich and followed LAPD Detective Charlie Crews who is released from prison after serving twelve years for a murder he did not commit. Now out of prison, Crews finds himself having to adapt to being back in the LAPD and re-connect with his family and old friends. The drama series was produced by Universal Television and starred Damian Lewis, Sarah Shahi, Brent Sexton, Donal Logue, Adam Arkin, Brooke Langton and Robin Weigert.
The drama series ran for two seasons on NBC in the US before being cancelled due to low ratings. Life was previously broadcast in the UK by ITV3 and joins Fox’s drama series Lie To Me, which was also recently bought by Universal Channel for a second run showing on the channel. My sources are telling me that the timing of this particular acquisition is not mere serendipity. “Life will be on Universal as the second season of Homeland is premiering worldwide, I can tell you that is not a coincidence”, one insider tells me.
