ION Television Acquires Popular Police Drama “Flashpoint” from CBS Television Distribution

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ION Television has inked a deal with CBS Television Distribution for the rights to all existing episodes and future production of the popular police drama “Flashpoint.” The announcement was made today by Brandon Burgess, Chairman/CEO, ION Media Networks.

“This is the first step in our commitment to expand original programming over the coming 12-24 months in scripted and unscripted entertainment.”

ION Television acquires the rights to all existing “Flashpoint” episodes, including up to 18 originals which are currently in production and scheduled to air later this year. Additionally, the network has the right to continue original production for season five and beyond.

The production of the season’s upcoming episodes marks ION Television’s first venture into originals planned by the network in the coming year.

“After the success we have had with procedural dramas, we’re thrilled to have the opportunity to air original episodes of 'Flashpoint.' It’s a perfect fit for ION Television,” says Burgess. “This is the first step in our commitment to expand original programming over the coming 12-24 months in scripted and unscripted entertainment.”

“We’ve been extremely lucky to have wonderful broadcast partners in CBS and CBS Studios for several years. We now look forward to working with the committed team at ION,” said Anne Marie La Traverse and Bill Mustos, executive producers of “Flashpoint.”

“Flashpoint” joins ION Television’s primetime line-up of hit off-net series such as “Criminal Minds” and “Without a Trace,” and its blockbuster theatricals, which have driven record ratings for the network. In 2010, ION Television experienced tremendous year-over-year gains in its key demos, becoming its most watched year ever and making ION the only network to register a record double-digit growth for three consecutive years.

Starring Hugh Dillon (Durham County), Enrico Colantoni (Veronica Mars), Amy Jo Johnson (Felicity) and David Paetkau (Whistler), the nail-biting cop drama is an emotional journey into the tough, risk-filled lives of a group of police in the Strategic Response Unit (inspired by Toronto's Emergency Task Force). Members of a highly-skilled tactical team, they're trained in negotiating, profiling and getting inside the subject's head to understand the emotional breaking point (the "flashpoint") that triggered the crisis.

“Flashpoint” is produced by Pink Sky Entertainment and Avamar Entertainment in association with CTV and CBS. Executive producers are Anne Marie La Traverse and Bill Mustos. Creators are Mark Ellis and Stephanie Morgenstern. David Frazee is Series Consultant.

About ION Television

ION Television (www.iontelevision.com) is a general entertainment network which reaches over 98 million U.S. television households via its nationwide broadcast television, cable and satellite distribution systems. Launched in 2006, ION Television features popular TV series and movies from the award-winning libraries of CBS Television, NBC Universal, Twentieth Television and Warner Bros. Parent company, ION Media Networks, Inc., owns and operates the nation's largest broadcast television station group. Using its digital multicasting capability, ION Media Networks has launched the digital TV brands qubo, a channel for children focusing on literacy and values, and ION Life, a channel dedicated to active living and personal growth. It also has launched Open Mobile Ventures Corporation (OMVION), a business unit focused on the research and development of portable, mobile and out-of-home transmission technology using over-the-air digital television spectrum. For more information, visit www.ionmedia.com.