Lifetime steals Project Runway from Bravo
Kristin Hoff
Staff Writer
Reality shows, love ‘em or hate ‘em, are a fixture on every major television network. One particular fashion-savvy reality show, Project Runway, recently sparked a legal battle, when it announced viewers would have to tune into the Lifetime network to catch the show after its fifth season.
Project Runway, currently associated with the NBC Universal-owned Bravo network, announced its decision after Weinstein Company, owners of Project Runway, confirmed the $150 million contract on April 7. NBC Universal responded by taking legal action.
According to a NBC Universal statement, published on April 7 via the Entertainment Weekly website, the company stated,
“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 Co. 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.”
Weinstein Co. Attorney, David Boies said the suit had no merit in a recently published LA Times article. “The Weinstein Co. never agreed to the right of first refusal,” said Boies.
According to a suit filed in a New York State court NBC Univerisal was not willing to pay more to “acquire a package that included television rights to second-tier Weinstein Co. films unrelated to the program.” Those movies included titles such as, “Transamerica,” “Sex Traffic” and “Suburban Mayhem.”
This contract allowed the Lifetime network to acquire all five cycles of the hit show, which will begin airing in November. According to an article published in the Washington Post, host Heidi Klum stated, “Fashion is about change, so we’re looking forward to saying hello to Lifetime, our new fashionable home for our fashionable series.”
Project Runway stars supermodel Heidi Klum and Liz Claiborne, Inc.’s Chief Creative Officer, Tim Gunn. In the show, twenty fashion designers compete against one another in an attempt to win $100,000 in order to develop their own line.
According to Nielsen Media Research, the show’s last season averaged about 3.8 million viewers. This series is a valuable catch for Lifetime network, as they are trying to boost ratings and appeal to a younger audience.
Lifetime President Andrea Wong said in a statement to Buffalo News, “We moved quickly and jumped at the opportunity to get this show….We all love the show here.”
Lifetime network, a well-known women’s network, is looking to update its style. Project Runway, they felt, is just the show to do that. “Ever since I got here, we’ve been trying to evolve Lifetime by increasing its energy and vibrancy with programming that is relevant and optimistic,” stated Wong in the LA Times.
In addition to Project Runway, Lifetime also acquired television rights to over a dozen Weinstein Company movies such as, “Miss Potter” and “The Nanny Diaries.”
The suit is currently in court, but both sides hope to reach an agreement soon. In a Washington Post article, David Boies lamented,
“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.