UKTV’s Really Bolsters U.S. Series Slate

LONDON: UKTV’s lifestyle channel Really has shored up the rights to three U.S. series for its fall grid: Ellen, The OC and Grey’s Anatomy.

The channel, which rolled out on Freeview last month, targets upmarket females in the 18 to 35 demographic. As part of its new-look fall schedule, the channel has picked up season nine—170 hours—of the syndicated talk show Ellen from Warner Bros. Really will begin airing the show September 19, a week after the new season debuts in the U.S.

Also from Warner Bros., Really has acquired all four seasons, encompassing 92 hours, of The OC, which will roll out in October, and, from Disney Media Distribution, the first two seasons of Grey’s Anatomy.

Nikki McDermott, UKTV’s acquisition executive who negotiated the deals, noted, “We are thrilled to have acquired nearly 300 hours of exclusive U.S. content for Really. Its unique positioning has opened the doors to rich vein of U.S. programming for us and we’ll be looking to acquire more going forward.”

Really’s general manager, Clare Laycock, added, “Adding heavy hitting shows like Ellen, The OC and Grey’s Anatomy into Really’s schedule, together with our recent acquisition at the L.A. Screenings of the Golden Globe nominated Covert Affairs, gives us the strongest possible schedule for Q4. I’m confident these new titles will help deliver sustained growth and the all important young female demographic for advertisers.”