Universal Channel Acquires Major New US Dramas, Harry’s Law and Law & Order: Los Angeles

LONDON — Universal Channel has bolstered its portfolio of UK premiere content with the acquisition of two major new US dramas Harry’s Law and Law & Order: Los Angeles.

Harry’s Law is the latest US hit from Emmy® Award winner David E. Kelley, the acclaimed writer and producer of Boston Legal and Ally McBeal, and stars Academy Award® winner KATHY BATES in the eponymous lead role as Harriet ’Harry’ Korn.

Launching in the US on NBC in January 2011 with over 11 million viewers, Harry’s Law ranked as NBC’s most-watched scripted series of the 2010—11 broadcast season and was subsequently renewed for a second season in May. Universal Channel has acquired the exclusive UK rights to both seasons of Harry’s Law from Warner Bros. International Television Distribution.

Law & Oder; Los Angeles is the latest spin-off of Dick Wolf’s hugely successful Law & Order franchise, originated for NBC in the States. Universal Channel, which is already the UK premiere home of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, has licensed the exclusive basic television rights in the UK to the West Coast-based series from NBCUniversal International Television Distribution.

Laurence Dawkin-Jones, UK MD, Universal Networks International, said:

“Having moved higher up the EPG in February, our priority is to capitalise on Universal Channel’s new prominence by bringing viewers first run, exclusive content they will not find elsewhere. Harry’s Law and Law & Order: Los Angeles are terrific, high-quality titles which we are thrilled to claim Universal Channel is UK home to.”

Law & Order: Los Angeles will make its UK debut on Universal Channel on Monday 12th September at 9pm, whilst Harry’s Law will launch on Monday 10th October at 10pm.

Harry’s Law is a quirky, light-touch legal drama which follows Harriet Korn (KATHY BATES), a curmudgeonly ex-patent lawyer who makes a fresh start after she is abruptly fired from her blue chip law firm. Setting up in the characteristically unconventional location of an abandoned shoe store, Harriet forms her own criminal law practice, Harry’s Law and Fine Shoes, with a team of unlikely kindred spirits. David E. Kelley created the series and serves as executive producer with Bill D’Elia. Produced by Bonanza Productions Inc. in association with David E. Kelley Productions and Warner Bros. Television, season two of Harry’s Law premieres in the US on Wednesday, 21 September, at 9pm on NBC.

Law & Order: Los Angeles sets the classic crime-then-punishment storytelling of the landmark original series against the distinctive backdrop of LA. The drama follows the progression of cases as they are investigated by the LAPD’s elite Robbery Homicide Division and prosecuted by Deputy District Attorneys. The regular ensemble cast includes SKEET ULRICH, COREY STOLL, and ALFRED MOLINA. Law & Order: Los Angeles is a Wolf Films and Universal Media Studios production.

About Universal Channel
Universal Channel is the home of gripping character-driven entertainment, specializing in crime, legal and medical procedural drama. A core brand of Universal Networks International, the global channels division of NBCUniversal, Universal Channel’s portfolio of high-quality programming includes UK premieres of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Criminal Intent, Royal Pains and Rookie Blue.

About NBCUniversal International Television Distribution
NBCUniversal International Television Distribution, a division of NBCUniversal, is responsible for the distribution of NBCUniversal product to all forms of television and new media outside of the U.S. and Canada. This includes a rich library of more than 4,000 feature films and 75,000 television episodes, including current and classic titles, non-scripted programming, sports, news, long-form and short-form programming, and locally produced content from around the world.

About Warner Bros. International Television Distribution
Warner Bros. International Television Distribution is one of the world’s largest distributors of feature films, television programs and animation to the international television marketplace (broadcast, pay cable, basic cable, satellite, pay-per-view, video-on-demand, digital platforms, etc.). It licenses some 50,000 hours of programming (including more than 6,000 features and 70+ current series), dubbed or subtitled in more than 40 languages, to telecasters and cablecasters in more than 175 countries.