Project Runway Producers Sued

Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Reality, Bravo, Cable, NBC, Gossip

Yesterday’s news was that Bravo’s hit series Project Runway (the most successful for the channel) will move to Lifetime in a new, five-year contract. Today, the fashion has really hit the fan.

Bravo is owned by NBC Universal, who has subsequently filed a lawsuit against the Weinstein Co. (which produces Runway) to prevent the switch. Citing breach of contract, the network filed suit with the New York Supreme Court. According to the suit, NBC Universal and Weinstein were in previous negotiations regarding future seasons of the show.

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The language of the suit claims that NBC was negotiating on the purchase of a Runway package deal which included TV rights to several Weinstein films such as Bobby, The Great Debaters, The Nanny Diaries, and Transamerica. Lifetime has now gained these movies as part of its deal with Weinstein.

Though the Lifetime deal was inked as early as February 7, Weinstein negotiations continued with NBC. The suit suggests that Weinstein promised to give NBC the chance to match any competing network’s offer - this is the basis of NBC’s complaint.

Weinstein lawyer David Boies stated “we believe that this lawsuit is without merit.” Lifetime has commented long enough to say only “we have a signed contract,” though the network did say it “plants to keep the show exactly the way it is.” Lifetime reaches more homes than Bravo and has stronger ratings among women.