Cable channels slug it out over "Project Runway"
The Bravo and Lifetime cable channels are going to war over Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn.
The Lifetime channel yesterday announced that it had lured the Peabody-Award-winning hit fashion competition Project Runway away from Bravo and that it would be the new home of the top-rated series when season six starts in November. The deal between Lifetime and the Weinstein Company, which produces the show, is for five years.
"Project Runway is one of the best television programs on the air today on broadcast or cable. I am a huge fan," said Lifetime President and CEO Andrea Wong in a statement. "All my friends are huge fans. Having watercooler movies, dramas, and reality shows like Project Runway is what Lifetime Television is all about. We welcome The Weinstein Company, Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn to the Lifetime family for many walks down the runway to come.”
Not so fast, said executives at NBC Universal, which owns Bravo. They believe they have an agreement with the producers of Runway that precludes such a switch and promised to take the matter to court.
The network's statement says: "NBC Universal has continuing legal rights related to Project Runway, including a right of first refusal to future cycles of the series, which The Weinstein Company unfortunately has refused to honor. NBC Universal regrettably had no alternative but to bring legal action to enforce its rights to this program, including the right to decide whether it is in the best interest of the company to continue to air the show under the proposed financial terms."
The Lifetime channel yesterday announced that it had lured the Peabody-Award-winning hit fashion competition Project Runway away from Bravo and that it would be the new home of the top-rated series when season six starts in November. The deal between Lifetime and the Weinstein Company, which produces the show, is for five years.
"Project Runway is one of the best television programs on the air today on broadcast or cable. I am a huge fan," said Lifetime President and CEO Andrea Wong in a statement. "All my friends are huge fans. Having watercooler movies, dramas, and reality shows like Project Runway is what Lifetime Television is all about. We welcome The Weinstein Company, Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn to the Lifetime family for many walks down the runway to come.”
Not so fast, said executives at NBC Universal, which owns Bravo. They believe they have an agreement with the producers of Runway that precludes such a switch and promised to take the matter to court.
The network's statement says: "NBC Universal has continuing legal rights related to Project Runway, including a right of first refusal to future cycles of the series, which The Weinstein Company unfortunately has refused to honor. NBC Universal regrettably had no alternative but to bring legal action to enforce its rights to this program, including the right to decide whether it is in the best interest of the company to continue to air the show under the proposed financial terms."
