Channel 4 and sister channel E4 secured the rights to the US drama series 'Desperate Housewives' earlier this year, which it plans to screen in a primetime slot in 2005. It won the rights after outbidding Five.
'Desperate Housewives' is a dark comedy drama following the apparent domestic bliss of a group of upmarket suburban housewives. It is narrated through the eyes of deceased wife, who aims to uncover the group's secrets. It features 'Superman' star and Bond beauty Teri Hatcher.
'Desperate Housewives' beat off strong competition in the US forcing aside CBS's crime drama 'Cold Case' and NBC's 'Law & Order: Criminal Intent'.
For the Disney-owned ABC, it was the biggest audience for one of its dramas for a long time or, in other words, since 'NYPD Blue' made its network debut in the 1990s.
For ABC, the news was doubly good -- not only did 'Desperate Housewives' win the ratings war, but it scored highly among the core 18-to 49-year-old market.
Jay Kandola, head of acquired programming at Channel 4, said earlier this year said while she would not describe 'Desperate Wives' as a replacement for either 'Ally McBeal' or 'Sex and the City', "it does feel like this is going to be an indulgent female watch that gives the same kind of pleasure".
The news bodes well for C4, which has also picked up ABC's other much-written-about success this season 'Lost'. 'Lost' is an action thriller about a group of plane crash survivors who are stranded on a remote island where dark forces are at work around them. It was written by the creator of hit show 'Alias' and features 'Lord of the Rings' star Dominic Monaghan.
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