April
7
Weinstein Co. Takes on Bravo and Star Wars Fans
The latest Weinstein brawl is between Harvey Weinstein and NBC/Bravo, now that Harvey is pulling Project Runway away from a cable channel that wants to keep running it in favor of another deal--for five years--at Lifetime. It is highly unusual for a producer to switch gears like this with a hit show. Here's the news story in Variety, EW.com and UPDATE: The NYT. The jubilant Lifetime press release is on the jump.
Harvey is also still fighting the filmmakers of the Star Wars comedy Fanboys, who have launched a major counteroffensive.
The Fanboys Trailer:
“PROJECT RUNWAY” HITS THE CATWALK AND STRUTS OVER TO LIFETIME IN NOVEMBER ’08 Groundbreaking Agreement for the Seven-Time Emmy®-Nominated and Peabody Award-Winning Hit SeriesNEW YORK -- Lifetime Networks and The Weinstein Company have entered into a groundbreaking partnership that will move cable’s top reality series, “Project Runway,” to the top network for women, Lifetime Television, beginning November 2008 with the premiere of season six. In its most recent season, the hit show averaged a 3.8 W18-49 Live + 7 day rating* and the Live + 7 rating for the March 5th finale was a 6.1 W18-49 AA%.
Heidi Klum, “Project Runway’s” international supermodel host, and Tim Gunn, Chief Creative Officer at Liz Claiborne, Inc. and mentor to the show’s contestants, are both fashioning their new home at Lifetime.
The pact, encompassing a five-year deal for the seven-time Emmy®-nominated and Peabody Award-winning series “Project Runway,” was announced today by Lifetime Networks’ President and CEO Andrea Wong and The Weinstein Company’s Co-Chairmen Harvey and Bob Weinstein.
Wong said, “‘Project Runway’ is one of the best television programs on the air today on broadcast or cable. I am a huge fan. All my friends are huge fans. Having watercooler movies, dramas, and reality shows like ‘Project Runway’ is what Lifetime Television is all about. We welcome The Weinstein Company, Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn to the Lifetime family for many walks down the runway to come.”
“‘Project Runway’ is our programming crown jewel and great credit goes to Heidi, Tim and The Magical Elves for building more than a television show, but an actual brand that influences fashion interests and pop culture,” stated Bob and Harvey Weinstein. “Whether it be our recent Peabody Award or the great ratings we have seen each year, ‘Project Runway’s’ millions of loyal viewers have made the show a nationwide phenomenon. We would like to sincerely thank NBC Universal and Bravo for all their contribution and support. Today’s announcement is a celebration of all of our success and having Lifetime’s unique cable reach will ensure that the show will continue to grow and expand in the years to come. Lifetime is one of the strongest cable networks in the industry, with great leadership and a true commitment to original programming. We are very excited for the many new opportunities that will now be provided to ‘Runway’ and its fans and look forward to premiering the sixth season in November 2008.”
“Fashion is about change, so we’re looking forward to saying hello to Lifetime, our new fashionable home for our fashionable series,” Heidi Klum stated. “We’re excited to bring ‘Project Runway’ to the #1 network for women.”
Tim Gunn added, “Lifetime and I will definitely ‘make it work’ together. I am very excited to be part of the Lifetime family.”
Responding to a lawsuit filed today against it in the New York Supreme Court The Weinstein Company noted, after declining to compete for the right to have “Project Runway,” NBC has sued to try to disrupt the series moving to Lifetime. “We believe that this lawsuit is without merit. While good for the market for lawyers, it is always unfortunate when parties try to win in court what they have lost in the marketplace,” said David Boies, counsel to The Weinstein Company.
“Project Runway” provides budding designers with an opportunity to launch their careers in fashion. The wildly successful competition reality series has proven to be one of television’s most talked about and was the highest rated reality competition show in all of cable for 2007.
“Project Runway” is executive produced by Dan Cutforth and Jane Lipsitz of Magical Elves (“Project Greenlight,” “Last Comic Standing,” “Top Chef”). Heidi Klum and her managers Desiree Gruber and Jane Cha of NYC-based Full Picture also executive produce the series. John Miller and Barbara Schneeweiss will oversee the production on behalf of The Weinstein Company.
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