ION Grabs Off-Net Rights to Timothy Hutton's 'Leverage'

ION Television continues its acquisition spree with off-net rights to TNT's Leverage.

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Over on TNT, the Timothy Hutton vehicle regularly lures nearly 5 million viewers and was recently renewed for a fifth season. The series, from Dean Devlin's Electric Entertainment, will begin airing on ION in the summer of 2012.

The move comes on the heels of other acquisitions of such series as Psych, Monk and House, establishing ION as a viable after-market platform for cable net productions. Leverage will join a prime-time lineup that includes Without a Trace, Criminal Minds and Ghost Whisperer as well as ION's first original police drama Flashpoint.

“Collaborating with both Electric and Turner to support the longevity of a popular original drama, such as ‘Leverage,’ furthers our strategic goal to be a viable partner for cable network productions,” says ION Media Networks chief executive Brandon Burgess.

Added Devlin, “ ION's reach of over 99 million homes in the U.S. will ensure the continuation of the show's legacy. We’re looking forward to working with such a pioneering and innovative company.”