In a joint acquisition, TV Guide Network and TV Land have secured basic-cable rights to Larry David's uncomfortable comedy series Curb Your Enthusiasm.
Currently winding down its seventh campaign on HBO, Curb Your Enthusiasm will begin its multi-year, basic-cable run in February 2010 on TV Guide Network. TV Land will begin airing the series in TV Land Prime immediately following TV Guide Network's term, in 2013.
Both networks will have access to the 70 episodes that have been produced thus far and will have the rights, if David, the co-creator of Seinfeld, and HBO elect to produce an eighth season. TV Land's run would begin later, if another Curb season materializes.
Additionally, both networks will acquire certain broadband, wireless and video-on-demand rights. Deal terms were not disclosed.
TV Guide Network will beat WGN America to the syndicated punch with Curb -- the show will join that network, as well as 17-owned Tribune stations, in fall 2010. WGN America and Tribune also picked up HBO Hollywood buddy series Entourage.
Shot in a verite style and featuring celebrities playing themselves, the Curb episodes are improvised by the actors from an outline created by David. One of the main story arcs of the current season centers on a Seinfeld "reunion," 11 years after the show ended its run on NBC.
Curb Your Enthusiasm was nominated for four Emmys in 2008, including outstanding comedy series. It won the Golden Globe in the best television series - musical or comedy category in 2002. In 2003, Robert Weide won a directing Emmy for his work on the series.
"We are excited to bring Curb Your Enthusiasm to TV Land Prime," said Larry Jones, president, TV Land, in a series Curb Your Enthusiasm is one of the most clever, witty and groundbreaking shows on television and we're excited to have it join our roster of top-quality sitcoms. The irreverent way Curb uses characters to illuminate real-life situations fit perfectly with our strategy of delivering programming that is geared to the life stage and attitudes of people in their 40s."
"Acquiring a series of this caliber truly underscores our commitment to defining TV Guide Network as a destination for some of the best shows on television," said Ryan O'Hara, president of TV Guide Network and TVGuide.com. "Curb Your Enthusiasm is our second major acquisition this year and it will become another key building block in our programming lineup for 2010 and beyond."
The addition of Curb follows TV Guide Network's exclusive basic-cable acquisition of Ugly Betty.
