Top Model Repeats Moving to Oxygen
Oxygen acquires exclusive cable rights to repeats of The CW reality-competition series from CBS Television Distribution.
By Melissa Grego -- Broadcasting & Cable, 9/25/2008 10:57:00 AM
The full library of America’s Next Top Model repeats will move from MTV to Oxygen starting in January.
Oxygen acquired the exclusive cable rights to The CW reality-competition series in an agreement with CBS Television Distribution. The deal comprises all episodes including the 11th cycle currently airing on The CW, the show’s 12th cycle now in production and repeat airings of any future cycles beyond.
Created and hosted by model Tyra Banks, America’s Next Top Model premiered in 2003 on UPN.
The show and its track record with female viewers are a snug fit with Oxygen’s programming strategy and targeted young female demographic, the cable network’s executives said. Repeats of the syndicated The Tyra Banks Show air daily on the network, and former Top Model judge Janice Dickinson’s series, The Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency, is now in its fourth season on Oxygen.
“America’s Next Top Model is a perfect complement to Oxygen’s programming strategy, delivering fun and entertaining shows for women who like to ‘Live Out Loud,’” Oxygen Media general manager Jason Klarman said in a statement. “It’s got all of the right ingredients -- a lot of fashion, plenty of beauty and a ton of drama. It really hits the bullseye with Generation O.”
“The acquisition of this franchise will be a great fit for Oxygen’s slate of original programming and introduce the show to an untapped demographically desirable cable audience,” said Scott Koondel, executive vice president of off-network, cable and interactive media for CBS Television Distribution, in a statement.
America’s Next Top Model is produced by 10 by 10 Entertainment, in association with Bankable Productions. Tyra Banks is the creator and executive producer, along with Ken Mok and Daniel Soiseth.
NBC Universal bought Oxygen in October 2007. The network was launched in 2000 by founders Oprah Winfrey, Geraldine Laybourne and producers Marcy Carsey, Tom Werner and Caryn Mandabach.
