CHICAGO (thefutoncritic.com) -- Looking to fill the void left by the exit of "Law & Order" from its schedule, A&E is set have repeats of CBS' "C.S.I.: Miami" join its lineup in fall 2004.
The cable network will pay $1.025 million per episode for the drama which will air once-a-week starting fall 2004 and then five-times-a-week beginning in fall 2006. "Miami" will join recent acquisitions "Crossing Jordan" and "Third Watch," both of which began cable runs on the channel earlier this season. (A&E paid $800,000 per episode for "Jordan" and $700,000 per episode for "Third Watch.") The deal for "Miami" is eight years, meaning should the series run that long the value of the contract could top $200 million. A&E will retain the exclusive window on the series up until then 2006-07 season when distributor King World can sell it to local stations.
TNN, which paid $1.6 million per episode for parent series "C.S.I.," had been in the hunt for the spin-off however backed down after A&E's hefty commitment.
Meanwhile TBS has landed the entire 122-episode run of the WB's "The Steve Harvey Show." The cable network will pay about $150,000 per episode for the comedy, in a deal valued at $18 million. "Harvey" will join TBS' weekday comedy block in October. For the past two seasons the comedy has been airing in broadcast syndication.
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