TCM UK’s entire line up of first run US scripted imports is staying intact.
The Turner owned broadcaster has picked up the first run UK broadcast rights to the fourth season of the AMC western drama Hell On Wheels and the third season of A&E’s Longmire, TVWise has learned exclusively.
TCM UK acquired the new season of Hell On Wheels, which just recently started airing state-side on AMC, from Endemol Worldwide Distribution; and the third season of Longmire from Warner Bros. International Television Distribution. Both distributors also have second window agreements for the shows in the UK with free-to-air broadcasters ITV4 (Hell On Wheels) and Channel 5 (Longmire).
Thanks to these new deals with Endemol and WBITD, TCM UK’s entire line up of first run shows will be staying put. The channel, whose primary focus is on films, moved into first run US dramas with the acquisition of Hell On Wheels in 2011, before adding Longmire in 2013. The fourth season of Hell On Wheels will premiere on TCM UK next January, while Longmire will follow later in the Spring.
Both Hell On Wheels and Longmire have been strong performers for TCM UK since their initial launches. The third season of Hell On Wheels averaged 93K viewers, down very slightly on the season two average of 97K viewers; while the second season of Longmire averaged an audience of just under 85K viewers, up considerably on the season one average of 60K viewers.
