Smallscreen News

Bravo picks up UK rights for new ‘Hawaii Five-0’

By Ian Cullen Jun 29, 2010, 16:55 GMT

Celebrities attend the CBS Prime Time Upfronts, Pictured: Daniel Dae Kim, Grace Park, Alex O\'Loughlin, Scott Caan Fame Pictures, Inc

It was only a matter of time before a UK Cable or satellite channel picked up the rights to broadcast the new drama, "Hawaii Five-0," and according to the Guardian Newspaper, Bravo has won the first broadcast rights for the show.

This is a big deal for Bravo, which in recent years has gone from being somewhat of a backwater cable channel with very little in the way of substance or drama. Now it boasts more competitive content due in most part to its acquisitions of hit drama series such as FX network's "Sons of Anarchy," Starz channel's "Spartacus: Blood and Sand," and now CBS' "Hawaii Five-0."

Before getting these shows. Bravo was often mostly seen as a bit of a laddish channel with what some would consider to be low brow entertainment, but that said the channel has continued to change its image and presentation since it launched here in the UK during the 90s, and it now looks like its finally beginning to show its true potential.

The channel has bought the exclusive pay-TV, Freeview and digital rights, which makes Hawaii Five-O.  Yet another series that the once mighty Sky One hasn’t been able to purchase for their line up!

The remake of the classic sixties series that starred Jack Lord as Detective Steve McGarrett will give a modern take on the premise.  The new version focuses on police officers working in Hawaii. The cast includes Alex O'Loughlin, Scott Caan, Daniel Dae Kim and Grace Park.

Virgin Media TV's head of acquisitions Amy Barham said: "Hawaii Five-O was the standout show at this year's LA screenings and securing it exclusively for UK audiences demonstrates yet again Bravo's commitment to owning the very best in primetime US dramas."

The series is expected to premiere in the US and the UK in the autumn.

Monsters and Critics' contributing writer Ian Cullen is a former actor and community artist, and a lifetime fan of Science Fiction and television. He runs www.scifipulse.net - a site, which follows the trends of science fiction television and movies. He lives in Manchester, England.