Channel 5 has acquired US dramas NCIS: New Orleans and CSI: Cyber, as new owner Viacom flexes its financial muscle to boost the network’s programming schedule.
The UK broadcaster has struck a deal with CBS Studios International for the exclusive free-to-air rights for CSI: Cyber, extending its long association with the US crime drama.
CSI: Cyber, which will launch next year, stars Dawson’s Creek actor James Van Der Beek and Patricia Arquette.
Channel 5 has also acquired NCIS: New Orleans, which stars Quantum Leap’s Scott Bakula, which debuted in the US on CBS with more than 17 million viewers.
The broadcaster has also acquired the rights to future seasons of the NCIS franchise.
“CSI and NCIS are record-breaking franchises. It’s great to be bringing the next instalments of both shows to Channel 5,” said Katie Keenan, head of acquisitions at the channel.
Stephen Tague, senior vice-president for Europe at CBS Studios International, said: “Both CSI and NCIS are pillars of the Channel 5 schedule and this deal gives loyal viewers access to the latest versions of these immensely popular programmes.”
Philippe Dauman, the chief executive of Viacom, has pledged to significantly raise Channel 5’s approximately £200m annual programming budget.
Channel 5 first aired Las Vegas-set CSI in June 2001 and later acquired UK rights to spin-offs CSI: Miami and CSI: New York – both since cancelled, though the original continues and is now in its 15th season.
The broadcaster has also had a long association with the NCIS franchise in its various incarnations.
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