A number of cult favorites representing various popular television genres over the years are about to get another chance to entertain more viewers beginning next month. SCI FI Channel has just acquired the rights to several beloved titles in the CBS library, headed by
Ghost Whisperer starring
Jennifer Love Hewitt.
The Emmy Award nominated series leads a slew of well-loved programs in the CBS vault soon to enthrall a new generation via a major deal giving SCI FI Channel off-network cable rights to air them.
"
Ghost Whisperer is an incredible addition to SCI FI's programming inventory," Thomas Vitale, senior vice president of SCI FI programming and original movies, said in announcing their acquisition yesterday. "The paranormal is very popular with our audience, as evidenced by the huge success of our original series
Ghost Hunters and
Ghost Hunters International, television's most popular paranormal franchise. As part of SCI FI's primetime lineup,
Ghost Whisperer will appeal to our existing audience, while bringing in new viewers, including more women."
SCI FI's weekly four-hour primetime marathons of
Ghost Whisperer starting in the fall of 2009 will be the only available mini-marathons of the series. Aside from this, SCI FI will also schedule programming stunts with full-day marathons and simulcast
Ghost Whisperer in HD.
Besides
Ghost Whisperer, SCI FI has also secured the rights to
Star Trek: The Next Generation, perhaps the most successful of Gene Roddenberry's
Star Trek franchise.
Star Trek TNG ran for seven seasons beginning in 1987, nearly two decades after the flagship show
Star Trek ended in 1969. While
Ghost Whisperer won't begin its run on SCI FI until the fall of next year,
Star Trek TNG will go on air starting June 2, 2008.
Other shows set to regale SCI FI viewers are
Charmed,
Highlander,
Early Edition,
Friday the 13th: The Series and the classic sitcom,
Mork and Mindy, which launched Robin Williams on his way to stardom.
-Rosario Santiago, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source: SCI FI
(Image Courtesy of The CBS)