The Hollywood Reporter
In its first major acquisition since it changed programming direction under its new ownership, the TV Guide Network has picked up the cable off-network rights to ABC’s dramedy “Ugly Betty.”
Under the deal with Disney-ABC Domestic TV, TV Guide will begin repurposing “Betty” this fall, following the show’s Oct. 9 season premiere. The cable network will air the series’ new installments within two weeks of their run on ABC. (The episodes will also be available on Hulu.com and ABC.com the day after their initial broadcast on ABC.)
Additionally, TV Guide will run “Betty” as a weekly strip beginning in fall 2010 when TVGuide.com will have rights to stream up to five “Ugly Betty” episodes at a time.
Both sides declined comment on the financials of the deal, but sources pegged the license fee at about $200,000 per episode. More…