Chuck Lorre Anna Faris Mom TCA - H 2013
Getty ImagesEDINBURGH – British broadcaster ITV has acquired the U.K. rights to Chuck Lorre‘s new CBS show Mom for its ITV2 network along with the free-to-air rights to the first 10 seasons of Two and a Half Men.
Angela Jain, ITV’s director of digital channels and acquisitions, made the announcement here at the Edinburgh International Television, which is sponsored by the Guardian.
ITV2 focuses on younger audiences, while the flagship ITV channel looks to attract a more broad-based audience.
Mom revolves around a newly sober single mom-turned-waitress (Anna Faris) who tries to pull her life together in Napa Valley alongside her mother (Allison Janney). CBS will launch the series this fall.
Lorre also executive produces Two and a Half Men, The Big Bang Theory and Mike & Molly.
ITV2 on Friday also announced the acquisition of the first 10 seasons of Two and a Half Men, with season one set to air in 2014. The show’s current seasons have been airing on Comedy Central UK.
Said Jain: “Putting quality comedy, both acquired and original, on ITV2 is a vital part of the channel’s strategy. Chuck Lorre needs no introduction, he is a comedy genius.”
Said Warner Bros. president of worldwide television distribution, Jeffrey Schlesinger: “Chuck Lorre’s comedies have attracted millions of loyal fans in the U.K., and we believe Mom will be the latest to continue that streak. We also know that while new episodes of Two and a Half Men continue on another network, it will fuel interest in the classic episodes by both new and long-time fans.”
Thursday night, Kevin Spacey gave the big keynote speech at the Edinburgh festival, followed by a Friday morning Q&A session.
Other big-name speakers at the festival this year have included Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan, BBC director general Tony Hall, new BBC One controller Charlotte Moore and ITV director of TV Peter Fincham,
E-mail: Georg.Szalai@THR.com
Twitter: @georgszalai
