G4, Mojo Acquire Off-Network Rights to NBC’s Heroes

NBC Action Show to Air on Cable Network, HD Channel

By Alex Weprin -- Broadcasting & Cable, 10/11/2007 2:49:00 PM

Cable network G4 and high-definition network Mojo acquired the off-network rights to NBC’s Heroes.

Under the terms of the deal, both networks will be able to broadcast new episodes of the show the same week they air on NBC. The agreement extends through six seasons of the series, with the entire library available to both networks in 2010.

"We are excited to become part of the Heroes phenomenon," G4 president Neal Tiles said in a statement. "This extraordinary series speaks perfectly to G4's young-male audience and is an excellent complement to the network's programming lineup, which includes content such as Comic-Con coverage, live daily strip Attack of the Show and video-game-review series X-Play.”

The Heroes pick-up is G4’s second major network acquisition, having acquired the rights to canceled Fox show Arrested Development last summer. Like the Arrested deal, G4 acquired the exclusive cable rights to stream the series on its Web site, and it will get free video-on-demand rights to the show beginning in 2010, when the entire catalog is made available to it.

Both networks are using the hit NBC show to expand their brands and promote original programming. G4 is launching a companion show that will air immediately after the new episodes of Heroes. Dubbed The Post Show, the program will feature interactive elements including polls and chats, as well as interviews with cast and crew and previews of future episodes.

Mojo is using Heroes as a lead in to its original programming on Thursday nights, which will include two new series -- Technology Jones and Test Drive -- plus returning Mojo series I Bet You and Three Sheets.

"Heroes is a series of the highest caliber, which has garnered a cultlike following. It will be a perfect lead-in for Mojo's Thursday-night block of original hi-def programming," In Demand Networks president and CEO Robert D. Jacobson said in a statement.

G4 will debut Heroes with a marathon featuring all of the episodes from season one Oct. 27 and 28 and a mini-marathon of the first six episodes from season two Nov. 3. Following the premiere, G4 will air new episodes of Heroes every Saturday at 10 p.m., with The Post Show airing at 11 p.m.

Mojo will premiere Heroes Nov. 1 with the first six episodes of season two. The network will air new episodes of Heroes every Wednesday at 8 p.m., with replays Thursday at 5 p.m. On Thanksgiving, the network is planning an all-day marathon of season one of the show.