Continuing to bolster its roster of off-network series, Ion Television has acquired the rights to Psych and Monk from Universal Cable Productions and House from Universal Media Studios.
The deal, announced by Brandon Burgess, CEO, Ion Media Networks, and Frances Manfredi, executive vice president and general sales manager, NBCUniversal Domestic Television Distribution, gives Ion access to air all six, and future, seasons of USA Network's Psych. It marks the detective series' initial move into broadcast network syndication.
Ion has also gained the rights to all eight campaigns of former USA Network hit and Tony Shalhoub-starrer Monk.
Both shows are expected to begin airing on Ion before summer's end.
House will come to the network two times per week for one year, beginning in the fall of 2012.
Financial terms were not disclosed.
"We're very pleased to be in business with NBCUniversal Domestic Television Distribution by having award-winning, high-quality series from Universal Media Studios, Universal Cable Productions and USA, which is one of cable's most successful networks," Burgess said in a release. "These series fit particularly nicely with our network's 'Positively Entertaining' positioning based on procedural dramas and movies."
The three shows join Ion's off-net series Without a Trace, Criminal Minds and Ghost Whisperer, as well as its original series Flashpoint.
Earlier this month, Ion augemented its "Big Movie Weekend" franchise through a deal for six theatricals from Starz Media.
