TV Guide Channel has inked a deal to further bolster its growing reality television line-up.
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"Celeb-reality series The Surreal Life, Flavor of Love, and My Fair Brady are TV ratings winners and hugely popular with younger audiences," said Ryan O'Hara, president of TV Guide Channel. "Acquiring the exclusive cable and satellite rights to The Surreal Life series and spin-offs is an important part of our late-night strategy as we continue to expand programming on our network and deliver entertaining content for TV fans."
The deal encompasses more than 135 episodes of the aforementioned shows and over 100 hours of programming. TV Guide Channel paid approximately $6.7 million -- or a license fee of $50,000 an episode -- to Debmar/Mercury for three-year cable syndication rights to air the shows, according to Daily Variety. In addition, TV Guide Channel will be the only cable and satellite network with rights to The Surreal Life family of shows through 2010.
"TV Guide Channel is the perfect home for this great collection of celeb-reality series," said Mort Marcus, co-president Debmar/Mercury. Added co-president Ira Bernstein, "They understand the addictive nature of the genre, and have existing programming that's a great fit and can provide the ideal time period to ensure these shows reach their target audience."
Distributor Debmar/Mercury bought the rights to The Surreal Life family of shows from 51 Minds Entertainment LLC and Mindring Productions (the show's production company) last August before shifting them to TV Guide Channel this week.
Earlier this year, the cable network announced plans to produce America's Next Producer and Making News: Texas Style -- the cable network's first two original reality series. TV Guide Channel is also home to Idol Tonight, a live American Idol pre-show program.
About The Author: Christopher Rocchio
