ITV2 has closed a deal with Warner Bros. International Television Distribution to acquire the exclusive first run UK broadcast rights to CBS upcoming comedy series Mom. The channel has also acquired the free-to-air rights to the first 10 seasons of the CBS/Warner Bros. comedy series Two And A Half Men. Both series are expected to launch on ITV2 in 2014.
Penned by Chuck Lorre, Eddie Gorodetsky & Gemma Baker, Mom follows a newly sober single mom who tries to pull her life together in Napa Valley. The comedy series is produced by Warner Bros. Television & Chuck Lorre Productions and stars Anna Faris (Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs), Allison Janney (The West Wing), Nate Corddry (Harry’s Law), Matt Jones (Breaking Bad), French Stewart (The Middle), Blake Garrett Rosenthal (New Girl), Spencer Daniels (Star Trek) and Sadie Calvano (J. Edgar). The pilot was directed by Pam Fryman, with Lorre, Gorodetsky and Baker serving as executive producers.
ITV2’s acquisition of Mom, which – despite not being as well received by international buyers as expected – was one of the hotter comedies on offer at this year’s LA Screenings, comes after Angela Jain, ITV’s Director of Digital Channels and Acquisitions, made it known that she went to LA intent on acquiring new comedy for ITV2. With TVWise reporting in our post-LA Screenings report that Mom was one of several comedies that were specifically being eyed for the digi-channel.
“Putting quality comedy, both acquired and original on ITV2 is a vital part of the channel’s strategy”, said Angela Jain, ITV’s Director of Digital Channels and Acquisitions. “Chuck Lorre needs no introduction, he is a comedy genius. With that pedigree, Mom was a must-have for us and we hope ITV2 viewers agree that it is a laugh-out loud treat”.
While Jeffrey R. Schlesinger, President of Warner Bros. International Television Distribution, added, “Chuck Lorre’s comedies have attracted millions of loyal fans in the U.K., and we believe Mom will be the latest to continue that streak. We also know that while new episodes of Two and a Half Men continue on another network, it will fuel interest in the classic episodes by both new and long-time fans.”
TVWise’s Acquisitions Scorecard has been updated with this new information.
