ITV Becomes U.K. Free-to-Air Home for Family Guy

LONDON: Starting this fall, ITV2 will become the exclusive U.K. free-TV home for Family Guy, thanks to a deal with Twentieth Century Fox Television Distribution.

The agreement sees all new seasons of Family Guy airing on ITV2, in addition to other Seth MacFarlane animated comedies, among them American Dad, The Cleveland Show and Bordertown. Family Guy had previously been airing in the U.K. on BBC Three.

ITV’s director of television, Peter Fincham, said: “Seth MacFarlane's shows have firmly established him as the comedy voice of choice for an entire generation. Seth is sharp, hugely irreverent and brilliantly funny which is reflected in his fantastic shows. We are delighted to be welcoming him and his comic creations to ITV.”

ITV’s director of digital channels and acquisitions, Angela Jain, added: “Family Guy is satire with nothing off limits—it's like spending half an hour with the funniest guy in the room and watching him freestyle—it is a joy to announce to all Seth MacFarlane fans that the new series premiere will be on ITV2 from this autumn. The acquisition of these brilliant and distinctive shows is totally in line with the strategy of strengthening ITV2 as a comprehensive entertainment channel destination for young viewers.”

Twentieth Century Fox Television Distribution’s president of international television, Marion Edwards, said: “Family Guy is one of our most important, iconic series and we are very excited about this new collaboration. We are confident that this extraordinary series will not only bring its loyal fan base to ITV, but will also be embraced by an entirely new set of fans.”