Post by George WK Newman on Sept 23, 2009 15:15:42 GMT -5
September 23, 2009
Hollywood, California
Liberty Television, the network arm of PLS Media Group, announced today they have reached an agreement to air the 13-episode first season of Law & Order UK starting this January.
Law & Order: UK is a British police procedural and legal television programme, adapted from the American TV series Law & Order. The programme is financed by the production companies Kudos Film and Television, Wolf Films, and NBC Universal. Head writer and director Chris Chibnall based the first series of episodes on scripts and episodes of the parent series. Based in London, and following the formula of the original, Law & Order: UK stars Bradley Walsh, Jamie Bamber, Harriet Walter, Ben Daniels, Freema Agyeman, and Bill Paterson. Law & Order: UK is the first American drama television series to be adapted for British television.
Law & Order: UK had been a dream of creator Dick Wolf's for a long time. The first 13 episodes are based on scripts from the original Law & Order series to accommodate contractual requirements with his company and to build on the experience with successful storytelling. The episodes were picked by show runner and lead writer Chris Chibnall, who had previously worked on Torchwood, Life on Mars and Born and Bred.
The filming of Law & Order: UK began in January 2008. Despite concerns expressed by star Jamie Bamber and Variety magazine as to the possibility of a second series, it was announced in June 2009 (2009-06) that ITV had greenlighted a second series of 13 episodes to be produced in the second half of 2009 and broadcast in 2010.
Liberty Television has locked up an agreement on first right of refusal to air the second season, starting either in May 2010 or postponing it until the Fall season of 2011.
Dick Wolf had tried hard to get NBC to air his newest entry in the franchise on Saturday nights, or possibly to find a lucrative cable deal. However, with Liberty Television looking for brand name exposure and Wolf's desire for network access, this deal seems to fit together well.
No word yet on the timeslot that Law & Order UK will air but it is unlikely that it will be buried on Friday or Saturday nights as Liberty seems to be gearing those nights toward reality, news magazine, sports, and movies.
If the first episode airs in the second week of January, and assuming a two week hiatus for March Madness, that would likely mean the 13 show run would finish by the end of April. Summer reruns are said to be part of the package as well.
Hollywood, California
Liberty Television, the network arm of PLS Media Group, announced today they have reached an agreement to air the 13-episode first season of Law & Order UK starting this January.
Law & Order: UK is a British police procedural and legal television programme, adapted from the American TV series Law & Order. The programme is financed by the production companies Kudos Film and Television, Wolf Films, and NBC Universal. Head writer and director Chris Chibnall based the first series of episodes on scripts and episodes of the parent series. Based in London, and following the formula of the original, Law & Order: UK stars Bradley Walsh, Jamie Bamber, Harriet Walter, Ben Daniels, Freema Agyeman, and Bill Paterson. Law & Order: UK is the first American drama television series to be adapted for British television.
Law & Order: UK had been a dream of creator Dick Wolf's for a long time. The first 13 episodes are based on scripts from the original Law & Order series to accommodate contractual requirements with his company and to build on the experience with successful storytelling. The episodes were picked by show runner and lead writer Chris Chibnall, who had previously worked on Torchwood, Life on Mars and Born and Bred.
The filming of Law & Order: UK began in January 2008. Despite concerns expressed by star Jamie Bamber and Variety magazine as to the possibility of a second series, it was announced in June 2009 (2009-06) that ITV had greenlighted a second series of 13 episodes to be produced in the second half of 2009 and broadcast in 2010.
Liberty Television has locked up an agreement on first right of refusal to air the second season, starting either in May 2010 or postponing it until the Fall season of 2011.
Dick Wolf had tried hard to get NBC to air his newest entry in the franchise on Saturday nights, or possibly to find a lucrative cable deal. However, with Liberty Television looking for brand name exposure and Wolf's desire for network access, this deal seems to fit together well.
No word yet on the timeslot that Law & Order UK will air but it is unlikely that it will be buried on Friday or Saturday nights as Liberty seems to be gearing those nights toward reality, news magazine, sports, and movies.
If the first episode airs in the second week of January, and assuming a two week hiatus for March Madness, that would likely mean the 13 show run would finish by the end of April. Summer reruns are said to be part of the package as well.