A&E Network announced Friday that it has purchased exclusive,
off-network rights to broadcast network NBC's sophomore drama series, Crossing
Jordan.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but sources said the network will pay
$800,000 per episode for the show, which stars Jill Hennessey as a medical
examiner.
As part of the deal, A&E will air episodes from Crossing's first
season in primetime and fringe periods beginning in the first quarter of 2003,
the network said. A&E will be able to strip the series'
first- and second-season episodes in summer 2004.
And in a rarity for cable, A&E also acquired the show's weekend
syndication window, which is usually shared between cable and broadcast
stations.
"A&E Network has a long history of showcasing critically acclaimed and
award-winning drama programming on our network, and we are pleased to add this
series to our schedule," executive vice president and general manager Abbe Raven
said.
"We believe Crossing Jordan
exemplifies the type of quality programming that viewers have come to expect
from A&E Network," she added.
