Private Practice Heads to the U.K. on LIVING

LONDON, March 27: LIVING
has secured an exclusive U.K. all-rights deal with Disney-ABC International
Television for the hit U.S. drama Private Practice.

The first season of
9×1-hour episodes will air on LIVING this summer, with the second season of
13×1-hour episodes set to broadcast in 2009.

From writer/creator Shonda
Rhimes, Private Practice
follows the neo-natal surgeon Addison Forbes Montgomery, who was a doctor on Grey’s
Anatomy, as she moves from Seattle
to Santa Monica, California, to begin a new life at a new hospital. The show is
the second highest-rated new drama on television this season in the U.S., where
it airs on ABC, and also had the second top-performing drama premiere, with
14.4 million viewers.

Amy Barham, the head of
acquisitions for Virgin Media Television, said: “It’s fantastic to have such a
strong performing new U.S. drama exclusively on LIVING this summer. We are
proud to be the premier home of the hugely successful Grey’s Anatomy first here in the U.K. and existing fans and new
viewers will love its sister show. Private Practice is quirky, funny and touching and, with one of Grey’s most popular characters, Addison, starring it
already has a fabulous heritage.”

Tom Toumazis, the
executive VP and managing director of Disney-ABC International Television for
EMEA and Canada, added: “Private Practice has created a buzz in the global TV market right from launch, with
its impressive pedigree and U.S. success, and we’re looking forward to working
with LIVING to launch the series in the U.K., building on our existing
relationship.”

—By Kristin
Brzoznowski