ABC Family gets network rights to 'Harry Potter' two final films

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Deal Includes “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Parts 1 and 2,” Giving ABC Family the Television Rights to All Eight “Harry Potter” Films. ABC Family has acquired the final two chapters of the “Harry Potter” film franchise in a deal with Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution (WBDTD), it was announced today by Tom Zappala, Executive Vice President, Program Acquisitions & Scheduling, ABC Cable Networks Group. The acquisitions of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1” (released this weekend) and “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2” (in theaters on July 15, 2011) gives ABC Family the first position window for basic cable for all eight “Harry Potter” films to date.


“Our viewers have come to know ABC Family as the television destination for the ‘Harry Potter’ films. They’re enormously beloved by our audience and the world over,” said Zappala. “We’re thrilled to extend our long-standing relationship with Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution to include the final two installments.”

“ABC Family identified very early that the ‘Harry Potter’ movies were destined to become an enormously popular franchise, and they committed to making ABC Family the television home for ‘Harry Potter,'” said Ken Werner, President, Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution. “This strategy has paid huge dividends for them and all ‘Potter’ fans. We are thrilled by our collaboration over the years and excited to extend the relationship through the final two films.”

“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1” will premiere on ABC Family in Spring 2013, and “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2” will make its basic cable debut on ABC Family in Winter 2013.

Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution (WBDTD) is one of the leading suppliers of entertainment programming to the domestic television marketplace, distributing first-run syndicated series, off-network television programs and theatrical motion pictures to local broadcast television stations, as well as to pay, cable, satellite and broadcast networks throughout the U.S. WBDTD handles the domestic distribution of television series produced by Warner Bros. Television, Telepictures Productions, Warner Bros. Animation and Warner Horizon Television; selected HBO Independent Productions and the Lorimar Television library; current feature films from Warner Bros. Pictures; and the Studio’s unmatched motion picture library.
 
Part of the Disney/ABC Television Group, ABC Family is distributed in over 98 million homes. ABC Family features programming reflecting today’s families, entertaining and connecting with adults through relatable programming about today’s relationships – told with a mix of diversity, passion, humor and heart. ABC Family’s programming is a combination of network defining original series and original movies, quality acquired series and blockbuster theatricals. ABC Family is also the destination for annual Holiday events with “13 Nights of Halloween” and “25 Days of Christmas!” ABC Family. A New Kind of Family.

(source: ABC)