I didn't expect this! Fox's mid-season sci-fi drama Alcatraz has been bought by Watch for broadcast in the UK. Considering it's one of the most anticipated TV shows for genre fans, I was expecting Sky to swoop in and buy it (especially considering their links to Fox). Maybe they thought Terra Nova was a safer bet and spent their money there? The fools.
Alcatraz is the latest big-budget sci-fi drama from producer JJ Abrams (Lost, Fringe), about the reappearance of dangerous prisoners who mysteriously disappeared from Alcatraz decades earlier. It premieres this January in the US.
Watch have also acquired the UK rights to fantasy cop show Grimm, about a detective with the ability to see "fairy tale" creatures that live secretly amongst humans. It's already airing in the US on NBC.
However, as Watch is more of a premium digital channel, this means less Brits will get to see Alcatraz and Grimm next year. So while it's great to see that Sky's money doesn't always guarantee first dibs on every big US show, in some ways its a shame when these smaller channels buy big American shows because far fewer people will ever see them.
On a positive note, Watch had the UK rights to superhero drama No Ordinary Family last year, and that show pulled in impressive ratings for them most weeks, so maybe British audiences are now aware Watch has US shows they might want to see.
Luckily I have Watch as part of my Virgin Media XL package, so I'll be tuning in for Alcatraz. I wish I could say the same about Grimm, but I saw its pilot... and no matter how much it improves, it will always star the charisma-vacuum David Giuntoli.
