Fox Reality Channel has greenlighted its first original series.

The News Corp.-owned channel, which subsists largely on reruns of unscripted classics like "Joe Millionaire," has ordered eight hourlong episodes of "Solitary" from executive producers Lincoln Hiatt ("The Contender") and Andrew Golder ("Win Ben Stein's Money").

Expected to premiere in the first quarter of next year, "Solitary" subjects its contestants to all sorts of tough conditions, ranging from solitary confinement to sleep deprivation.

David Lyle, chief operating officer and general manager of Fox Reality, is hoping his first original effort helps establish the channel's identity. "We were looking for a show that kind of jumped out and maybe (goes) into territory that isn't being covered in other reality shows," he said.

Lyle hopes to add several more original series to Fox Reality's schedule in 2006.

Fox Reality, which is available in 18 million homes, does produce original strips and specials, including "Reality Remix," that cover the reality genre, but "Solitary" represents the channel's first stand-alone.