Lifetime announced today that it has picked up the hit Bravo series Project Runway and will begin airing the series’ sixth cycle, which debuts in November. In a statement, The Weinstein Co., which produces the show with executive producers Dan Cutforth and Jane Lipsitz of Magical Elves, announced that it entered a five-year deal for the show with Lifetime — a development that prompted legal action by NBC/Universal. In the same statement, the Weinstein Co. acknowledged that NBC filed a lawsuit today in New York Supreme Court in an attempt to block the series from moving to Lifetime. “We believe that this lawsuit is without merit. While good for the market for lawyers, it is always unfortunate when parties try to win in court what they have lost in the marketplace,” said David Boies, counsel to The Weinstein Co.
The NBC/Universal lawsuit asserts that the company had been negotiating with The Weinstein Co. for a year to obtain additional installments of Runway but the production company “never intended to negotiate in good faith.” It goes on to say, “Instead, The Weinstein Co. threatened to take future cycles of the program to a competing TV network unless [NBC] agreed to pay many millions of additional dollars to Weinstein to acquire a ‘package’ that included TV rights to second-tier Weinstein films unrelated to Runway.” The Weinstein Co. was contractually obligated to give the NBC-owned Bravo the right of first refusal when it got the offer from Lifetime, says the suit.
The Weinstein Co. has already begun pre-production of Runway’s fifth season for Bravo, which is scheduled to air in June.
NBC released this statement today: “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.”
One source familiar with the negotiations argues that Bravo was damaging the
Runway brand by airing too many repeats of the show and surrounding it
with copycat series like Top Design, Tim Gunn’s Guide to Style, and
Make Me A Supermodel. “It’s a phenomenon that needs to be
protected,” the source says. “Lifetime provided a substantial offer.
NBC chose not to provide a competitive bid.” That rerun marathon
strategy, however, is what made Runway a hit in its first season. When
Bravo began to heavily repeat the show, the fourth episode of the first
season broke the 1 million mark — and the series has continually grown
from there. In fact, the show’s fourth season finale last month — in
which the “fierce” Christian Siriano earned the top prize — attracted
a whopping 5.2 million total viewers, down slightly from the 5.4
million viewers who watched the season 3 finale. (Additional reporting by Missy Schwartz)
The Weinstein Co. has already begun pre-production of Runway’s fifth season for Bravo, which is scheduled to air in June.
NBC released this statement today: "NBC Universal has continuinglegal rights related to Project Runway, including a right of firstrefusal to future cycles of the series, which The Weinstein Companyunfortunately has refused to honor. NBC Universal regrettably had noalternative but to bring legal action to enforce its rights to thisprogram, including the right to decide whether it is in the bestinterest of the company to continue to air the show under the proposedfinancial terms."
One source familiar with the negotiations argues that Bravo was damaging theRunway brand by airing too many repeats of the show and surrounding itwith copycat series like Top Design, Tim Gunn’s Guide to Style, andMake Me A Supermodel. "It’s a phenomenon that needs to beprotected," the source says. "Lifetime provided a substantial offer.NBC chose not to provide a competitive bid." That rerun marathonstrategy, however, is what made Runway a hit in its first season. WhenBravo began to heavily repeat the show, the fourth episode of the firstseason broke the 1 million mark — and the series has continually grownfrom there. In fact, the show’s fourth season finale last month — inwhich the "fierce" Christian Siriano earned the top prize — attracteda whopping 5.2 million total viewers, down slightly from the 5.4million viewers who watched the season 3 finale. (Additional reporting by Missy Schwartz)
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no! it can’t leave bravo! please tell me this is an extended april fools day joke…
does the channel really matter?
Won’t this be the fifth season?
How can it leave Bravo?!?!?
No, why would the channel possibly matter?
I don’t even think I can find Lifetime on my channels. so i’ll have to start looking, but Lifetime television for women — while all good… doesn’t have the cache of Bravo, or that Bravo quality brand.
I don’t even think I can find Lifetime on my channels. so i’ll have to start looking, but Lifetime television for women — while all good… doesn’t have the cache of Bravo, or that Bravo quality brand.
it matters to me. there’s a certain standard that bravo has that lifetime just doesn’t. it’s in the advertising. it’s in the constant rerunning. it’s in the brand logo of “television for women” vs “watch what happens.” lifetime will just turn it into an ad for eating disorders and vilence.
it matters to me. there’s a certain standard that bravo has that lifetime just doesn’t. it’s in the advertising. it’s in the constant rerunning. it’s in the brand logo of “television for women” vs “watch what happens.” lifetime will just turn it into an ad for eating disorders and violence.
Actually, this is good news for me: My basic cable deal doesn’t include Bravo but DOES include Lifetime! I had to miss out on the latest season of PR because of that!
That is insane.
I’m with the consensus–I’d rather it stay edgy and stay on Bravo. I’m afraid it would be “sanitized” for the Lifetime crowd. I haven’t watched Lifetime since the 80’s. Boo!!!
I agree with everything you said NineDaves.
This is ridiculous. I can’t see this show being on LIfetime. Sister mAry’s not pleased. I’m gonna pray that this is just a joke.
http://www.celebrityprayerlist.com
I agree with many of the comments. Some customers may not recieve lifetime, and also lifetime may change elements of the show. There is a difference in audiences for both channels. I don’t think the current standing of PR will fit Lifetime. Odds are they will “tweak” it, to make it fit.. =(
Comcast usually offers Lifetime as part of basic/regular cable and Bravo is usually included in a more expensive package — this move will make the show accessible to more viewers!
I’m just glad the show will go on!!!
This will be a major change for me.Instead of not watching it on Bravo, I’m going to have to adjust to not watching it on Lifetime.
Who cares what channel it’s on as long as the show is on basic cable. Bravo screwed up and wasn’t probably willing to pay what “Project Runway”’s owner wanted.
There’s nothing special about Bravo or Lifetime management. They’re all business people: some good and some bad. Bravo has been good at marketing itself as gay-friendly. “Project Runway” fit nicely into that theme.
How it will do on Lifetime is another issue.
It’s just business. The show’s producers, cast, and crew are the same. That’s what matters.
I’m really sad it’s moving to Lifetime – I feel like Bravo and PR were a perfect fit! Now it’s just going to be sappy instead of edgy.
This is horrible news! Lifetime is just terrible, and talk about turning away all the men who actually watched and enjoyed the show!! What bogus.
I don’t give a flying fajita what channel it is on. Unless you don’t get Lifetime, why should anyone care?! Let me guess are you the ones who love Louis Vuitton logo bags? Care abt the status of a channel? Aside annoying fact of having to see a promo for a TV movie with Valerie Bertinelli or Connie Selleca…I couldn’t care less abt the switch!
I don’t give a flying fajita what channel it is on. Unless you don’t get Lifetime, why should anyone care?! Let me guess are you the ones who love Louis Vuitton logo bags? Care abt the status of a channel? Aside annoying fact of having to see a promo for a TV movie with Valerie Bertinelli or Connie Selleca…I couldn’t care less abt the switch!
Blake is right…a high profile show like that does not have to answer to the network it’s on. The network will answer to the Weinstein company.
I won’t watch it if it is not on Bravo. Lifetime should stick to its over the top melodramatic original movies.
Bravo has a certain standard that Lifetime doesn’t have? Please consider some of the shows currently running: Real Housewives of NYC, Work Out, Step It Up and Dance…
This is so stupid! Why would I want to watch this amazing show on a stupid channel. BRAVO is the best cable channel out there since it’s so edgy. It has a reputation for the best reality shows ever aired. I hope NBC wins this one, it will turn into some boring show if it’s aired on Lifetime. How can NBC not win this? They have all the rights to this show so i have no idea how this can happen in the first place.
Yuck. Stay on Bravo please. If not just to make me feel better about watching you. Asking whoever has the remote to change the channel to lifetime is embarrassing no matter what show you are changing it for.
I like the reruns and the marathons on Bravo. Lifetime won’t be able to do that in between The Golden Girls’ reruns and the “abused female of the week” movies.
As a Tivo-Devotee, I don’t give a flying rats behind what channel it is on. TiVo will find it and record it.
Maybe the PR producers will put some kind of graphic in the corner that covers up the “Lifetime” bug. Maybe a ticker for whatever slogan the 6th season comes up with, a la “fierce” and “where’s my chiffon?”