Watch Scores CW Series Beauty and the Beast

BURBANK/LONDON: CBS Studios International has licensed the new The CW series Beauty and the Beast to UKTV’s Watch entertainment channel.

The show, starring Kristin Kreuk as a no-nonsense homicide detective and Jay Ryan as a handsome doctor who has gone into hiding, is slated to premiere in the U.K. in early 2013. Catherine Mackin, the director of program acquisitions at UKTV, noted, “CBS’s Beauty and the Beast feels fresh and contemporary while also encompassing an out of the ordinary feel to it which is perfect for Watch’s viewers. We are delighted to be continuing our successful partnership with CBS.”

Stephen Tague, the senior VP for Europe at CBS Studios International, added, "Beauty and the Beast will appeal to Watch’s younger, dynamic audience, delivering them CBS’s customary high quality storytelling and production values.”

Steve Hornsey, the general manager of Watch, noted: “The success of Dynamo: Magician Impossible, Grimm and Alcatraz show Watch is a must-have channel for audiences that want to see exclusive new content with a distinctive twist. Beauty and the Beast is one of the most highly anticipated offerings of the new season and I’m thrilled that Watch viewers will see it here first in the U.K."