Following BBC3's anticipated move online, ITV have acquired the broadcast rights to the hit US comedy Family Guy for ITV2, reports The Radio Times.
In a terrible move by the BBC, the US comedy created by Seth MacFarlane will move from BBC3 to ITV2 later this year, with American Dad also set to transfer to the digital channel.
The planned closure of BBC3 as a broadcast channel means limited budgets for both buy-ins and original shows, and Family Guy was expected to be one of the casualties.
However, the new deal with ITV means that the cult comedy will still be available free-to-air in the UK, in what the channel calls a "multi-year deal".
Rights to Seth MacFarlane's animated comedies Family Guy, American Dad, The Cleveland Show and new series Bordertown are all part of the deal.
ITV's Director of Television Peter Fincham said, "Seth MacFarlane's shows have firmly established him as the comedy voice of choice for an entire generation. Seth is sharp, hugely irreverent and brilliantly funny which is reflected in his fantastic shows. We are delighted to be welcoming him and his comic creations to ITV."
The broadcaster has seen an opportunity to develop ITV2 as a destination for youth comedy in the wake of BBC3's move online. ITV's Director of Digital Channels and Acquisitions Angela Jain said that the Family Guy deal would help strengthen ITV2's position as "a comprehensive entertainment channel destination for young viewers."
The BBC should of really kept Family Guy and American Dad, they're two of the very few decent shows on the encite BBC TV network, and would fit perfectly on BBC 2 following BBC 3's closure (why not just shut BBC Four instead of a decent channel?!).
As ITV now have the rights, they should air Family Guy and American Dad on ITV every Monday at 9pm, instead of another awful, awful murder mystery, or even Sunday nights, in place of snore-fests Mr. Selfridge and Downright Shabby (Downton Abbey).
The BBC have rights to one more new series of Family Guy, then repeat rights until 2017.
In a terrible move by the BBC, the US comedy created by Seth MacFarlane will move from BBC3 to ITV2 later this year, with American Dad also set to transfer to the digital channel.
The planned closure of BBC3 as a broadcast channel means limited budgets for both buy-ins and original shows, and Family Guy was expected to be one of the casualties.
However, the new deal with ITV means that the cult comedy will still be available free-to-air in the UK, in what the channel calls a "multi-year deal".
Rights to Seth MacFarlane's animated comedies Family Guy, American Dad, The Cleveland Show and new series Bordertown are all part of the deal.
ITV's Director of Television Peter Fincham said, "Seth MacFarlane's shows have firmly established him as the comedy voice of choice for an entire generation. Seth is sharp, hugely irreverent and brilliantly funny which is reflected in his fantastic shows. We are delighted to be welcoming him and his comic creations to ITV."
The broadcaster has seen an opportunity to develop ITV2 as a destination for youth comedy in the wake of BBC3's move online. ITV's Director of Digital Channels and Acquisitions Angela Jain said that the Family Guy deal would help strengthen ITV2's position as "a comprehensive entertainment channel destination for young viewers."
The BBC should of really kept Family Guy and American Dad, they're two of the very few decent shows on the encite BBC TV network, and would fit perfectly on BBC 2 following BBC 3's closure (why not just shut BBC Four instead of a decent channel?!).
As ITV now have the rights, they should air Family Guy and American Dad on ITV every Monday at 9pm, instead of another awful, awful murder mystery, or even Sunday nights, in place of snore-fests Mr. Selfridge and Downright Shabby (Downton Abbey).
The BBC have rights to one more new series of Family Guy, then repeat rights until 2017.
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