Project Runway halted by court

A New York Supreme Court Justice has halted intentions of Weinstein Co. production Project Runway from moving to the Lifetime Channel.  In a breach of contract lawsuit filed by NBC Universal, the parent company of Bravo, against the Weinstein Co. a preliminary injunction was ordered against a $150 million deal with Lifetime to move the wildly popular reality-competition series from NBC-run Bravo where it’s aired for five seasons.

NBC Universal had aired the series on its Bravo channel. It sued Weinstein after the production company made a reported $150 million deal with Lifetime for the show.

The temporary injunction bars Weinstein from taking “Project Runway” or any spinoff to Lifetime and contended that evidence showed that Weinstein violated NBC’s “right of first refusal” for the show.

[From AP via Breitbart]

Lifetime was very disappointed by the ruling but vowed to “pursue all measures” to uphold the agreement made with Weinstein Co. to bring Emmy award nominee for Outstanding Reality or Reality Competition Host, Heidi Klum and fan favorite Tim Gunn to their network.  The sixth season of Project Runway was scheduled to premier in January on Lifetime with guest judge Lindsay Lohan.

In a statement, Lifetime said: “We are disappointed with the court’s decision to grant the preliminary injunction against the Weinstein Co. It’s unfortunate that the people hurt most by this ongoing dispute are the loyal fans of ‘Project Runway.’ In the meantime, Lifetime will pursue all measures to uphold its valid and binding agreement reached with the Weinstein Co. for Season 6 of ‘Project Runway.'”

Lowe also showed concern for the viewers of the popular series in his 43-page ruling, writing “what is of concern for this court is the time ‘Project Runway’ will be off of the air during the course of this litigation.

Implementing this injunction will leave the program in limbo while the matter proceeds to trial.”

But the judge also pointed out that in the history of the show there have been hiatuses between six months and 13 months. Pursuant to court rules, Lowe ordered NBC to post a $20 million bond, which is typical in cases when plaintiffs win temporary injunctions. Court rules indicate that the bond should be paid if it is later found that the injunction was improper.

[From the Hollywood Reporter]

NBC says the reason the Weinstein Co. went to Lifetime looking for a better deal was because NBC didn’t want to bundle the show with other Weinstein Co. productions.  Weinstein argued that there was no right of first refusal in their contract and that the deal was offered to NBC but Lifetime outbid them.

Weinstein Co. and Lifetime were also ordered not to promote, market or air Project Runway.

With a show that has never been on any sort of regular schedule between seasons, it looks like another year of waiting while this all gets hashed out in court.  This is disappointing for fans, but imagine the disappointment of the designers competing in season six who thought they’d had gotten their big break.  Production of the show will not be effected, but who knows when it will actually air.

And imagine how Heidi Klum must feel.  First the Emmy co-host disaster, now this?  It hasn’t been her week.
 
Here is Heidi Klum leaving ABC Studios after appearing on ‘Live with Regis and Kelly’ on July 15th. Photographer: Ray Filmano. Images thanks to WENN

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