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Bravo battles Lifetime over "Project Runway"

If you heard a collective gasp Monday afternoon, that was the sound of TV reporters learning that Lifetime had picked up the rights to air five seasons of Project Runway, snatching the popular show away from Bravo. Bravo, meanwhile, is suing, saying that they weren't given the chance to beat Lifetime's offer, even though that's stated in Bravo's contract with the show.

In the past few years, Lifetime has found its claim as the "network for women and their gay men" challenged by networks like Oxygen, with its younger and more outrageous voice, and Bravo, which transformed itself into a style and culture network. Lifetime, however, has been fighting back, finding success with new, original series like Army Wives and with reality shows like How to Look Good Naked, which is hosted by Carson Kressley, another name we first got to know at Bravo.

The most interesting bit, here, is the timing. According to the Chicago Tribuine's Maureen Ryan, Bravo has the rights to five seasons of Project Runway but has only aired four so far (casting for the fifth season is in progress). Meanwhile, Lifetime is eager to air Runway themselves and hopes to be airing new episodes by the fall. That means both networks could plausibly end up airing new episodes of different seasons at the same time, or that Bravo's fifth season could air after the show makes its debut on Lifetime. Is your head spinning yet? It's going to be really interesting to see how this story develops.

What do you think? Will the show feel the same airing on Lifetime? Does it give Lifetime a hipper image? What goes better with "Auf Wiedersehen": Golden Girls reruns or Work Out marathons?

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  • Angelmonster's picture

    I just don't understand how

    I just don't understand how the show is appealing to Lifetime. I understand from a ratings stand point but otherwise it is not like any show that is on Lifetime.

    Lifetime is more laid back and more about the drama, at least in my eyes, then about comedy and the light heartedness that comes with Project Runway. I love how the show doesn't take itself serious and just really goes wherever it wants to with the contestants(the bitchy fights of season 3 and the bland, yet funny season 4).

    With it going to Lifetime I feel like they will bland it down, ask for more female oriented content and ask for less gay content. All in all I think it will hurt the show and do nothing for the network. I personally hate Lifetime and never actually sit down and watch anything on it. I can't see myself, AT ALL, watching Runway on it then sticking around for a boring, predictable Lifetime movie afterwards. It kind of makes me sad :-(

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    you_will's picture

    random

    This is random stuff. Lifetime + PR?

    Couldn't lifetime just get their own version of Project runway? I mean, come on....how many dancing shows are there on tv? like 6 or whatnot? They all are about dancing, but they have their own titles and stuff....i feel like PR on lifetime would...just not be the same.

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    Evan's picture

    Watch What Happens

    I'm interested in what changes Lifetime will make.  I'm not optimistic but I'm open to see what happens.  Lifetime's programming is entirely dedicated to women in middle America.  I expect more anti-gay remarks when I go on Project Runway blogs and forums.  Project Runway was a pillar of Bravo programming for years now, it will be difficult when it goes.  I wonder how Bravo will handle the last episode?
    Knickie's picture

    Lifetime? Forget it! Is

    Lifetime? Forget it! Is ANYONE watching Carson's show? Or talking about it? Nope. Lifetime is "slasher of the week." None of its shows has made any kind of impact. And part of the fun of "PR" is that they rerun it endlessly -- you can catch it a couple of times a week and also the marathons on the weekends. Lifetime won't do that -- they're too busy replaying old Tori Spelling flicks! Not that "Mother. May I Sleep With Danger?" isn't a riveting watch, but PLEASE!
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