NBC UNIVERSAL DOMESTIC TELEVISION DISTRIBUTION HAS SOLD DICK WOLF'S HIT DRAMA "LAW & ORDER: CRIMINAL INTENT" TO THE FOX OWNED STATIONS
NBC UNIVERSAL DOMESTIC TELEVISION DISTRIBUTION HAS SOLD DICK WOLF'S HIT DRAMA "LAW & ORDER: CRIMINAL INTENT" TO THE FOX OWNED STATIONS
Deal Marks First Hit Off-Network Crime Drama Available To Local Broadcasters on Weekday Basis In More Than Decade
"Criminal Intent" to Debut in Fall 2007 On Local Stations
UNIVERSAL CITY, CA�Oct. 26, 2006�NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution has sold Dick Wolf's hit drama series "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" to the Fox Owned and Operated stations in the nation's top markets for Monday-through-Friday airings in syndication starting in fall 2007, it was announced today by Sean O'Boyle, Senior Vice President/General Sales Manager, NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution.
The hit NBC series, which is a Wolf Films production in association with NBC Universal Television Studio and Emmy-winner Wolf's third installment of the "Law and Order" brand, has been sold to the Fox owned stations in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and other Fox owned stations in major markets for a fall 2007 debut.
The deal marks the first weekday off-network syndication sale of a procedural crime drama to broadcast stations for a Monday-through-Friday syndication run in more than a decade. NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution is currently selling the hit series for a fall 2007 launch.
"This marks the first time in more than a decade that local broadcast stations will be able to offer their viewers and advertisers a top-tier off-network crime drama on a Monday-through-Friday basis," says NBC Universal's O'Boyle. "'Law & Order: Criminal Intent' is a proven network hit and a procedural drama that continues the great tradition of the 'Law & Order' brand."
Frank Cicha, Senior Vice President, Programming, Fox Television Stations, said,"'Law & Order: Criminal Intent' is a quality show with a built-in audience that is attractive to advertisers. The fact that it was available to us under an appealing deal structure made it that much more compelling."
"Law & Order: Criminal Intent," which is currently in its sixth season on NBC, continues to be one of network television's premier dramas. The hit series is averaging 11.5 million viewers and has shown significant growth this season versus last, up 39% in Adults 18-49 and 39% in Adults 25-54.
"Law & Order: Criminal Intent," takes viewers into the minds of its criminals, while following the psychological approaches the Major Case Squad uses to solve the crimes. Detective Mike Logan (Chris Noth) and his new partner, Detective Wheeler (Julianne Nicholson), make up the Major Case Squad alongside long-time partners Detectives Robert Goren (Vincent D'Onofrio) and Alexandra Eames (Kathryn Erbe). The two Major Case Squad detective teams will split the caseloads week to week.
In true Sherlock Holmes-fashion, D'Onofrio ("Men in Black") stars as Detective Goren, an exceptionally bright homicide investigator with well-honed instincts that match up favorably with his criminal quarry. Likewise, his partner, Detective Eames (Erbe, "Oz"), brings an independence and stylish edge to her work that meshes well with Goren.
Detective Logan, (Golden-Globe nominated Noth, "The Perfect Man," "Sex and the City") who was exiled to Staten Island after punching a city councilman 10 years ago on "Law & Order" (1990-1995), teams with partner Detective Wheeler (Nicholson), who asks the question "why, " balancing out Logan's "who, what, when and where" approach.
Eric Bogosian plays Captain Ross, who was just rewarded with the Major Case Squad after heading a successful three-year Joint Task Force on International Money Laundering that has just been dissolved. He brings Wheeler with him to Major Case � he is her mentor. Captain Ross is divorced and a New York history buff.
"Law & Order: Criminal Intent" is a Wolf Films production in association with NBC Universal Television Studio and is Dick Wolf's third installment of the "Law and Order" brand. Wolf, Warren Leight and Peter Jankowski are executive producers.
About NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution
NBC Universal is a leader in providing entertainment programming to the domestic and international marketplaces. The NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution division is responsible for the distribution of NBC Universal product to all forms of television within the U.S. and Canada. This includes distribution of current and library film and television product, including formats and non-scripted programming, in the pay, free, and basic markets, as well as the domestic syndication of first-run syndicated TV programs and theatrical and TV movie packages.
Current and upcoming first-run strip syndicated programming at NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution includes The Megan Mullally Show, The Martha Stewart Show, Access Hollywood, The Jerry Springer Show, Maury and Blind Date. Current first-run weekly syndicated programming includes The Chris Matthews Show, The George Michael Sports Machine, The Wall Street Journal Report with Maria Bartiromo, Your Total Health and the off-network distribution of House, Monk, the Law & Order series and much more.
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