Five deal with Warner Bros.

Five have agreed a deal with Warner Bros. International Television Distribution for the rights to some films and TV shows. This includes terrestrial rights to season 3 of The Mentalist (one of the Five's biggest hits) and the Jerry Bruckheimer-produced cop drama Dark Blue. In addition, Five will rebroadcast the defunct Blade: The Series (which was previously shown on Bravo), and sister channel Fiver has won the terrestrial premiere of Human Target.

Jeff Ford, Five's Managing Director of Digital Channels & Acquisition:

"I am thrilled to have secured this wide-ranging deal for Channel Five. I am delighted to welcome back the critical and ratings smash The Mentalist for another season. The addition of Dark Blue and Human Target strengthens our burgeoning slate of quality offerings on the digital channels. Plus, the movie lineup is an exciting mix of terrestrial premieres and blockbuster films for all the family."

Jeffrey R. Schlesinger, Warner Bros. International Television President:

"We are always looking to place our programming on the right networks where they can thrive and connect with viewers. You don't have to be a mind reader to know the best continuing home for The Mentalist is Channel Five, where they have contributed to this show becoming one of the most popular US series being telecast in the UK today."

"The commercial appeal of shows like Dark Blue, Human Target, Blade and these selected top feature films also make this programming perfectly suited to be telecast and succeed on Five's family of channels."

The deal also gives Five the terrestrial premieres of 10,000 B.C, Beowulf, 300 and TMNT.

Okay, so it's hardly in the same league as Sky's recent deal with HBO, but this is a nice little package for Five. I'm just frustrated they've relegated Human Target to Fiver, because I don't see the point of Fiver or Five USA. They occasionally get a decent series (Breaking Bad, notoriously), but treat it with such ineptitude it makes me angry. I hope they market Human Target appropriately, because that show deserves an audience.

Personally, I'd prefer Five admit defeat, ditch Fiver and Five USA, then direct all that extra programming into Five. I guess that won't happen because the advertising revenue from two extra digital channels makes it financially worthwhile to continue as they are, but my heart still sinks whenever Fiver or Five USA get hold of a decent US drama. Am I alone?

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