The next-to-last film in the Harry Potter series, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1,” debuted to packed houses over the weekend. Now ABC Family has acquired the cable TV rights not only to Part 1, but Part 2 as well, which won’t be in theaters until next summer.
The deal with Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution (WBDTD) 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. We’re thrilled to extend our long-standing relationship with Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution to include the final two installments,” said Tom Zappala, Executive Vice President, Program Acquisitions & Scheduling, ABC Cable Networks Group.
“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. 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,” said WBDTD President Ken Werner.
“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.
