USA NETWORK ACQUIRES RIGHTS TO CBS TELEVISION DISTRIBUTION’S NCIS: LOS ANGELES

NEW YORK, NY November 6, 2009 USA Network has acquired the exclusive off-network rights to the CBS Television Distribution’s drama NCIS: LOS ANGELES, the newest addition to the NCIS franchise. The announcement was made today by Jane Blaney, USA’s executive vice president, program acquisitions and scheduling.

Under the agreement, USA will have access to weekly early exhibitions from season one beginning September 2011 and the right to start stripping the series in September 2013.

“We’re thrilled about this unprecedented opportunity to acquire a great show after just seven episodes of instant broadcast popularity,” Blaney said. “NCIS: LOS ANGELES is the perfect complement to NCIS, which has performed amazingly well for USA as the year’s #1 off-net series on cable.”

NCIS: LOS ANGELES is the No. 1 new show this season, averaging 17 million viewers season to date. NCIS: LOS ANGELES is the No. 2 drama on television after only NCIS. NCIS: LOS ANGELES has improved the Tuesday 9 p.m. time slot compared to last year (“The Mentalist”) by 7% in total viewers and 5% in P18-49 rating (4.2). NCIS on USA is the #1 “off-network” series on cable for 2009TD averaging nearly 3.5MM total viewers in Primetime.

Currently in its first season on CBS, NCIS: LOS ANGELES is a drama about the high stakes world of the Office of Special Projects (OSP), a division of NCIS that is charged with apprehending dangerous and elusive criminals that pose a threat to the nation’s security. Chris O’Donnell stars as Special Agent “G” Callen, a chameleon who transforms himself into whomever he needs to be to infiltrate the criminal underworld. His partner is Special Agent Sam Hanna, played by LL COOL J, a former U.S. Navy SEAL who has seen action in both Afghanistan and Iraq, and a surveillance expert who uses state of the art monitoring equipment to look out for those in the field and feed them crucial information. Assisting the team is Special Agent Kensi Blye (Daniela Ruah), the exceptionally bright daughter of a slain Marine who lives for the adrenalin rush that comes with undercover work; Operational Psychologist Nate Getz (Peter Cambor), adept at getting into anybody’s head, profiling the target and monitoring agents’ states of mind before, during and after missions; Dominic Vail (Adam Jamal Craig), is highly qualified but lacking in practical experience and Henrietta “Hetty” Lange (Linda Hunt) who oversees the ‘backroom’ support staff tasked with providing everything from micro-surveillance cameras to cars for the team. Armed with the latest in high tech gear and sent regularly into life-threatening situations, this tight-knit unit relies on each other to do what is necessary to protect national interests.

Executive producers are Shane Brennan and R. Scott Gemmill. NCIS: LOS ANGELES is produced by CBS Television Studios.

Source: USA Network Press Release