Sundance Channel Acquires 'Breaking Bad' Off-Net Rights

Network to air first four seasons of Emmy-winning AMC series

By R. Thomas Umstead, Multichannel News -- Broadcasting & Cable, 2/25/2013 10:39:09 AM

AMC has sold off-network rights to its Emmy-winning series Breaking Bad to its sister network Sundance Channel in a deal announced Monday.

Sundance, which has the rights to the first four seasons of the series starring Bryan Cranston, will air back-to-back episodes of the series on Monday nights beginning March 4, said network officials. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The series will follow premiere episodes of Sundance Channel original series The Staircase: Last Chance, which airs on March 4 and 11; Top of the Lake, which runs from March 18 to April 15; and Rectify, which airs April 22 through May 27.

"Breaking Bad has become a benchmark for storytelling at its finest and we are proud to air this series as we embark on our own scripted programming with the upcoming debut of Rectify, which is produced by the same incredible team behind Breaking Bad," said Sarah Barnett, Sundance Channel's general manager and executive VP, in a statement.  "We are looking forward to giving viewers another opportunity to catch up with what has been called TV's best drama."