FearNet Acquires Four Series, Sets Weekend Block (Exclusive)

9:00 AM PDT 7/10/2012 by Lesley Goldberg

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The home for horror lands the rights to animated series "The Real Ghostbusters," "Tales From the Cryptkeeper" as well as live-action dramas "Eerie, Indiana" and "Dark Oracle."

"The Real Ghostbusters"

FearNet is expanding its programming slate.

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The home for horror has acquired the rights to four series -- animated series The Real Ghostbusters, Tales From the Cryptkeeper and live-action dramas Eerie, Indiana and Dark Oracle -- for a two-hour block on Saturday and Sunday mornings, The Hollywood Reporter has learned exclusively.

The "Funhouse" block will launch Saturday, Aug. 18 at 10 a.m. and targets viewers in the 18-34 demographic as three of the four series will be broadcast for the first time in more than a decade with Dark Oracle yet to air stateside.

"While some cable networks are extremely successful in targeting the adult audience with animated content blocks in late night,” FearNet president and GM Peter Block said. "We decided to go a different route and provide our viewers with the ability to enjoy programming in a time period that harkens back to weekend mornings of their youth. Moreover, Funhouse opens doors to new advertising opportunities due to the programming content."

STORY: 'Holliston,' FearNet's First Original Series, Renewed for Second Season

The Real Ghostbusters aired from 1986-91 and was created by founding Ghostbusters feature stars Dan Akyroyd and Harold Ramis and features a voice cast that includes Arsenio Hall. It will air Saturdays at 10 a.m.

Tales From the Cryptkeeper, which features the voice of John Kassir, originally aired from 1994-97. It will run on FearNet at 10:30 a.m.

The short-lived Eerie, Indiana aired from 1991-92 and featured the adventures of Marshall Teller in episodes directed by Gremlins' Joe Dante and Bob Balaban (Tales from the Darkside). It will air at 11 a.m.

Dark Oracle, created by Degrassi: The Next Generation's Jana Sinyor, will run at 11:30 a.m. on FearNet. The series mixes live-action with comic book animation.

Repeats of the Funhouse block will air Sundays starting at 10 a.m.

The Funhouse block comes as FearNet continues to push into original programming; Holliston, its first entry into scripted fare, was renewed for a second season in April.

Email: Lesley.Goldberg@thr.com; Twitter: @Snoodit