Virgin 1 Picks Up Chuck from Warner Bros.

LONDON, December 13: Virgin Media Television’s recently launched
entertainment channel Virgin 1 has secured the exclusive premiere rights in the
U.K. for the NBC drama series Chuck, from Warner Bros. International Television
Distribution.

Virgin 1 has announced that the series will spearhead the
channel’s spring/summer drama schedule when it debuts in 2008.

Chuck currently airs in the U.S. on NBC, where it debuted with
9.2 million viewers, giving the network its largest audience in seven years for
a premiere of a scripted series in the Monday 8 p.m. timeslot.

The series, recently picked up for a full season, and executive
produced by The OC creator Josh Schwartz, focuses on Chuck Bartowski, an ordinary
electronics store worker. When Chuck unwittingly downloads an entire server of
government secrets into his brain he is pressed into service as a secret agent
and finds himself confronting assassins and terrorists. Starring Zachary Levi
as Chuck, the series also features Adam Baldwin, Yvonne Strahovski, Joshua
Gomez and Sarah Lancaster. Chuck was created by Josh Schwartz and Chris Fedak.
The series is from College Hill Pictures, Wonderland Sound and Vision in
association with Warner Bros. Television.

“Both action-packed and hilarious, Chuck is the perfect show
for Virgin 1's audience,” said Amy Barham, the head of acquisitions for Virgin
1. “We are thrilled to have secured the show as part of our 2008 lineup.”

“From the onset, Chuck was one of Warner Bros.’ most highly
anticipated new series, and it has emerged as one the season’s new hits,” said
Jeffrey Schlesinger, the president of Warner Bros. International Television.
“We believe that its mix of comedy and high-concept action plays exceptionally
well and is a great fit for Virgin 1 viewers.”

—By Ned Berke