A
licensing production deal with US studio and distribution group NBC
Universal will make its present and future television content,
including Heroes, 30 Rock, Las Vegas and Lipstick Jungle exclusive to
Seven.
Films including The Bourne Ultimatum and the upcoming American
Gangster, Mamma Mia! and Atonement will also go to Seven, as will news
programming, including Dateline and The Today Show.
NBC Universal previously split the Australian rights with Ten, which
did well out of the agreement with House and the Law & Order
franchise becoming two of the network’s mainstays.
Seven has also signed a long-term exclusive deal with British production and distribution company Granada-ITV.
Granada produces Prime Suspect and A Touch of Frost and will deliver
a new series of the drama starring Caroline Quentin, Life Begins,
William and Mary and the new Inspector Morse spin-off, Lewis, among
others.
The deal will be particularly galling for Nine executive director
David Gyngell, who moved back to Australia after a stint heading
Granada USA. It gives Seven exclusive access to a major US network and
the UK’s leading commercial network.
Seven chief David Leckie said in a statement: "Our agreements with
The Walt Disney Company, NBC Universal and now Granada are important:
all three production companies are part of broader media businesses
which include ownership of television networks."
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