EXCLUSIVE: Sky’s line-up of US imports is staying largely in-tact as we head into the 2015-2016 season. My sources are telling me that Sky1 has picked up the exclusive rights to the fourth season of Arrow and the second season of spin-off The Flash from Warner Bros International Television Distribution; and the seventh season of NCIS: Los Angeles and the sixth season of Hawaii Five-0 from CBS Studios International. Additionally, Sky1 has secured the twenty-seventh season of The Simpsons and the seventh season of ABC’s Modern Family from Twentieth Century Fox Television Distribution. Meanwhile, sister channel Sky Living has acquired the twelfth season of Greys Anatomy from Disney Media Distribution.
NBCUniversal International Networks’ Universal Channel has picked up the first run rights to the fourth season of Canadian drama series Motive and the fourth season of A&E’s Psycho prequel Bates Motel from sister company NBCUniversal International Distribution (formerly NBCUniversal International Television Distribution). It is the latest deal inked by Universal Channel in recent months after they acquired Battle Creek and picked up the new seasons of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Sleepy Hollow, How To Get Away With Murder and the fourth season of Major Crimes.
Over at Channel 4, the FTA broadcaster has picked up the fifth season of Homeland from international distributor Twentieth Century Fox Television Distribution, with plans to begin airing the new season in October close behind the U.S. broadcast on Showtime. Additionally, as previously reported, Channel 4 has also acquired the second season of Fargo from MGM Television. E4 has extended their licensing agreement with Sony Pictures Television and picked up the exclusive first run UK broadcast right to the third season of The Goldbergs. Meanwhile More4 has picked up the seventh (and likely final) season of top ratings performer The Good Wife from CBS Studios International.
ITV has snapped up the fourth season of FX’s cold war spy drama The Americans for ITV Encore from Twentieth Century Fox Television Distribution. The acquisition emanates from the licensing agreement which saw ITV re-acquire the show after declining to renew for the main channel. It also represents that latest deal with one of the Hollywood Studios in the past few months after they previously picked up the package of Seth Macfarlane series from Fox, and the third season of the CBS sitcom Mom and the seventh season of The Vampire Diaries from Warner Bros. International Television Distribution; all for ITV2.
Despite rumours to the contrary, Comedy Central UK has picked up the UK rights to the seventh season of ABC’s comedy series The Middle out of their long-running agreement with Warner Bros. International Television Distribution. In fact, Comedy Central UK’s Head of Acquisitions Brad Wood laughed off rumours that they might not be continuing with The Middle. “It remains one of our most successful shows” he told TVWise. “It’s premiere numbers have held up post its move from Sky; we’ve been using it more in daytime on the main channel and it’s a solid performer for us”.
TCM UK has secured the UK rights to the extended final season of Hell On Wheels from international distributor Endemol Shine International. Owing to the fact that AMC in the United States split the final season into two distinct runs, it is not immediately clear if the Turner owned channel will be airing the first half in early 2016 (as they did with previous seasons) or holding off until after part two has unspooled state-side. As TVWise previously reported, TCM UK also continues to hold the rights to Longmire thanks to a long-standing deal with Warner Bros. International Television Distribution. Longmire season four premieres on TCM UK on November 1st.
Channel 5’s (now) flagship acquisition Gotham is also staying put as I’ve confirmed that, out of the long-running deal they inked with Warner Bros International Television Distribution to secure the show last year, the Viacom owned broadcaster has picked up the show’s second season, which is eyed for a 2016 premiere. C5’s diginet 5USA has picked up the second season of The Mysteries Of Laura, which proved to be an unlikely success story; growing its audience every week it was on the air. 5USA has also extended their deal with NBCUniversal International Television Distribution and picked up the third season of Chicago P.D.
Finally, Fox International Channels (UK)’s flagship channel has picked up the exclusive first run UK broadcast rights to the second season of Marvel’s Agent Carter, with plans to air it in early 2016. That deal, announced last week, comes after FOX UK secured the new seasons to a number of their imports including The Walking Dead, American Horror Story, Da Vinci’s Demons, Tyrant, American Dad and NCIS. FOX UK has also already picked up first window rights to Backstrom and Robert Kirkman’s new series Outcast; as well as second window rights to Seth MacFarlane’s new Fox comedy Bordertown