Author: Natalie Jarvey

Tandem Communications

“Crossing Lines”

European crime drama Crossing Lines is getting a second life on Netflix. The series’ first season, which aired in summer 2013 on NBC, is now available on the streaming website.

The series stars William Fichtner (Prison Break) as a disgraced New York cop who moves to Europe to head up a justice league that hunts down serial killers. Donald Sutherland also stars.

The series made history last year as the first European series – it was produced by Germany’s Tandem Communications and Ed Bernero’s Bernero Productions — to air on a major U.S. network. It also aired in Italy, France, Germany and Canada. Production on a second season is already underway in Prague. 

Fichtner tells THR via phone from Prague that the European set helps lend the show authenticity. 

“I think it makes a difference,” he says. “European audiences are used to seeing things set in Europe. We’re in their backyard. We have actors on the show that are from their backyard.”

PHOTO: The Faces of Pilot Season 2014

The cast does resemble a virtual European Union with France’s Marc Lavoine and Moon Dailly, Italy’s Gabriella Pession, Germany’s Tom Wlaschiha and Ireland’s Richard Flood.

NBC has yet to commit to airing the sophomore season. The show, popular in Europe, started strong on NBC but dipped to a series low 0.4 rating by its two-hour finale on Aug. 18.

Fichtner says that airing the first season on Netflix could help draw new American viewers.

“It’s a tough time to be on American TV in the summer,” he adds. “It’s nothing but good to have Netflix on board. Anything to get your show out there is great.”

Amazon’s British VOD division LoveFilm U.K. began streaming the first season of Crossing Lines for British audiences on Oct. 25 and has also acquired the U.K. streaming rights to the second season. 

© 2009 Lucasfilm Ltd.

“Star Wars: The Clone Wars”

Netflix is bringing new life to Star Wars: The Clone Wars.

The sixth and final 13-episode season of the canceled Cartoon Network series will debut March 7 on the online streamer. Netflix will also make the first five seasons of the series to audiences. Several director’s cut episodes that did not air on television will also be available.

“Stars Wars is one of the most iconic franchises of all time and this series joins a long line of Disney content that Netflix members are and will continue to enjoy for years to come,” said Ted Sarandos, Netflix chief content officer. “The Clone Wars marks an important moment as Netflix welcomes more and more first-run content from The Walt Disney Company and its subsidiaries.”

PHOTO: The ‘Star Wars’ Universe

This will be the first time that Netflix has streamed Star Wars content. The deal follows the announcement that Netflix had struck a deal with Disney to bring several original series based on Marvel characters to the platform by 2015. Netflix will also exclusively stream Disney titles beginning in 2016.

Clone Wars launched on Cartoon Network in 2008 and was a top performer on the cable network. The animated show’s fifth season, which ended during last March, averaged 1.7 million total viewers.

Lucasfilm, which was purchased by Disney in October 2012, canceled the show after the fifth season finale.

The series takes place during the same time period as the Star Wars films Attack of the Clones and Attack of the Sith. The final season will reveal some of the biggest mysteries behind the conflict between the light and the dark sides of the Force.  

Globe Photos/ZumaPress.com/Newscom

“Everybody Loves Raymond”

CBS and Hulu have expanded their licensing deal to give the online streamer access to 2,600 new episodes from the network’s library.

As part of the non-exclusive, multi-year agreement, Hulu will add series such as Undercover Boss, United States of Tara, Everybody Loves Raymond and Ghost Whisperer to its Hulu Plus subscription service. Classic shows such as Taxi, The Brady Bunch and Melrose Place will also be added to Hulu Plus.

A selection of the shows will rotate through Hulu’s free service.

“With the newly expanded CBS content library, Hulu Plus subscribers will be treated to some of the most significant shows ever seen on television,” said Hulu CEO Mike Hopkins. “From Happy Days to Cheers and Everybody Loves Raymond, these hit shows defined their eras, and we’re thrilled to offer full seasons to be enjoyed by new and loyal audiences anytime, anywhere.”

STORY: ‘Elementary’s’ Syndication Sale Nets CBS a Whopping $3 Million an Episode 

Hulu had already licensed 2,700 episodes of CBS shows, including The Good Wife, The Amazing Race and I Love Lucy. The expanded deal – bringing the total episode count to 5,300 – comes on the heels of an exclusive subscription video-on-demand agreement to stream Sherlock Holmes drama Elementary. Hulu also recently inked a deal to stream past seasons of police procedural Blue Bloods.

“CBS programming on Hulu Plus has performed exceptionally well,” said Scott Koondel, CBS’ chief corporate content licensing officer. “We’re thrilled to expand our relationship with them, providing more terrific CBS content to their growing base of subscribers.”