UK broadcasters must wait months for key US shows

by Fiona Ramsay, Media Week 19-Feb-08, 11:00

LONDON - UK broadcasters are not expecting a rapid resumption in the production of some of their US shows, following the Hollywood writers’ strike.

The three-month-long dispute delayed, and in some cases halted, production of UK broadcasters’ key programmes. The strike, centred on disagreement over the cut writers take from mobile and video-on-demand distribution of their shows, ended last week.

But broadcasters are being warned that it will take months for production schedules on major US series to return to normal. 20th Century Fox has warned that 24 cannot be screened until next year. That leaves Sky One with a major gap in its scheduling. Sky One said it was unclear when Lost and Bones would be delivered, and that it had “fast tracked” Gladiators and Don’t forget the Lyrics into production.

Virgin Media TV managing director Jonny Webb said its key programmes, such as Criminal Minds and Grey’s Anatomy, have been affected. “We are waiting to hear about the production schedule of Lipstick Jungle for Living,” he said.

Channel 4 head of acquisitions Jeff Ford said: “When we buy shows we rely on their delivery. Desperate Housewives usually starts in January, but will [now] start shortly – if we are lucky new episodes will come through soon.”

ITV is making a new push into US programming as part of its programming strategy. It is now launching Dexter on 27 February and Pushing Daisies in the spring on ITV1.