ION TELEVISION ACQUIRES CRIME DRAMA “COLD CASE” FROM WARNER BROS. DOMESTIC TELEVISION DISTRIBUTION
NEW YORK – December 12, 2011 – ION Television has acquired all seven seasons (156 episodes) of the hit crime drama “Cold Case,” in a deal with Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution. The series will join the ION Television lineup in Q1 2012, adding to the network’s continued focus on building a strong foundation of high-quality syndicated series. As part of the deal, ION is also extending and expanding its rights to the drama “Without a Trace,” which has performed well for the network over the past season.
“‘Cold Case’ is a proven Warner Bros. drama which features diverse self-contained stories and a very relatable cast that resonates with our audience and fits well with our syndicated series expansion strategy,” says Brandon Burgess, CEO, ION Media Networks. “ION’s goal is to offer a 24/7 quality entertainment schedule, one with the breadth and quality that also allows us to seamlessly add original series.”
“Cold Case” is a prodecural drama about Lilly Rush (Kathryn Morris), a dedicated female detective in the Philadelphia homicide squad, who finds her niche when she's assigned to "cold cases" -- crimes that have never been solved. Previously, she used her instinctive understanding of the criminal mind on current murders. Now, she's interrogating witnesses whose lives and circumstances have since changed, making use of today's new science and finding fresh clues to solve cases that were previously unsolvable -- all of which appeals to this smart, driven detective.
Rush’s team includes her respected mentor, Lt. John Stillman (John Finn); Det. Scotty Valens (Danny Pino), Rush's confident and strong-willed partner; Det. Will Jeffries (Thom Barry), who's been around long enough to serve as Rush's link to the past; Det. Nick Vera (Jeremy Ratchford), a tough cop who's considered the go-to guy for getting a confession; and, later, Kat Miller (Tracie Thoms), a new member of the team who is eager to prove her worthiness. Rush sees her new assignment as a turning point in her career, when she decides to make it her business to make sure that no victim is ever forgotten. “Cold Case” aired for seven seasons on the CBS Television Network, concluding in 2010.
“Cold Case” was created by Meredith Stiehm, who served as executive producer of the series along with Jerry Bruckheimer, Jonathan Littman, Veena Sud, Jennifer Johnson and Greg Plageman. The series was produced by Jerry Bruckheimer Television in association with CBS Television Studios and Warner Bros. Television.
About ION Television
ION Television is a leading U.S. general entertainment network, combining high-quality programming and dependable broadcast distribution with an attitude of innovation and growth normally associated with a cable channel. Its "Positively Entertaining" network brand positioning features a formula of proven series, an expansive catalog of blockbuster movies and a commitment to introduce new original programming. Since its recent launch in 2008, ION’s reach has grown to 99 million households and has become one of the top-15 TV rated U.S. networks in record time. For more information, visit www.iontelevision.com.
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Media Contact:
Christina Gilmartin, ION Media Networks
christinagilmartin@ionmedia.com
212-603-8429
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