Night Court Tv Show

Byline: JON LAFAYETTE

Most cable networks opt to buy commercial time on the broadcast networks to attract viewers to their original programming. Court TV is taking a very different approach.

Court TV last week said it made a deal that will put Forensic Files, the network's highest-rated series, on NBC in prime time during four weeks at the end of the summer.

The arrangement marks a breakthrough: It's the first time an original cable show has run on broadcast during its cable run. Other cable shows, such as Politically Incorrect, have migrated from cable to broadcast, and several broadcast shows have been repurposed and given second-window showings on cable networks.

Henry Schleiff, chairman and CEO of Court TV, said the object of the unusual program-sharing arrangement was marketing. Court TV will get a 15-second spot every time the show airs on NBC, giving the network "the ability to tell that larger audience that this is a series that you can see every night on Court TV, Monday through Saturday at 9 o'clock," Schleiff said.

NBC will get the first airings of two Forensic Files episodes and reruns on the rest. They'll run on Sunday nights, leading into the Dick Wolf programs Law & Order: Criminal Intent and Crime & Punishment. Court TV will air the two new episodes sometime after they air on NBC.

Forensic Files, produced by Medstar Television and distributed by Cable Ready, shows how real-life investigators use cutting-edge science to solve baffling crimes.

Court TV plans its own Forensics Week Aug. 26, which will feature five new episodes of the show.

How much will the exposure on NBC help the program? "Your guess is as good as mine," said Schleiff, noting that the show's 0.9 rating is already the network's pacesetter.

Schleiff said NBC was anxious to add fresh programming during the summer. "My five-word pitch to [NBC Entertainment president] Jeff Zucker was 'the reality version of C.S.I.,'" he said, referring to the hot CBS show that's given NBC's E.R. the ratings flu.

Schleiff declined to discuss the financial terms of the deal, other than to say the amount of money changing hands won't make or break either network.

But no matter how much money NBC offers or how well the show performs, cable operators can breathe easy, because Court TV controls the rights to Forensic Files and plans to hold on to what's become a signature show. "We wouldn't do that because it wouldn't be fair to our partners," Schleiff said.

Court TV hit the skids after the furor of the O.J. Simpson case died down. But it has has been adding distribution (it's now in 72 million homes) and audience since shifting to more entertainment-oriented fare in prime time - from such off-network shows as Homicide and NYPD Blue to original movies to reality programming from outside producers. In the second quarter Court TV's prime-time ratings were up 17% from a year ago to an average of 0.7. The network's demographics also have improved, with delivery of 18- to 49-year-old viewers up 8% and 25- to 54-year-old viewers up 34%.

The network continues to televise trials during the daytime.

Now Schleiff thinks that with the broadcast networks looking for fresh programming in the summer, Court TV might get more calls for its shows.

"I don't doubt that people will be coming to us next for Dominick Dunne's series," he said, referring to Power, Privilege and Justice, which set records for the network in its premiere airing.

Court TV is also working on a syndicated show featuring anchor and former undefeated prosecutor Nancy Grace. A pilot is being shot in September and Schleiff expects the project to move forward. "I think there's a real demand for somebody who is like Oprah in her sensitivity but also can give you her experience and insights in the world of law," he said.

Court TV's partner in the syndicated project is none other than NBC, which owned a piece of Court TV when it nearly failed and became Discovery Health. Court TV is now a joint venture of AOL Time Warner and Liberty Media.

Court TV disclosed plans for some other shows last week at the Television Critics Association tour.

A new series, Body of Evidence: From the Case Files of Dayle Hinman, will premiere in the fall. The show follows renowned profiler Dayle Hinman as she solves some of her most challenging cases. Court TV has ordered 13 episodes of the series.

The network is also producing a one-hour special featuring the Today show's weatherman Al Roker. The program, Al Roker: Investigating Intolerance, will examine bias crimes and is scheduled to air in the first quarter of 2003.

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