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The Shawn Ryan-produced drama will make its debut this month on the basic cable network.
By Lesley Goldberg
Television Editor, West Coast
SWAT is expanding its reach.
The Sony Pictures Television-produced procedural has for the first time sold in syndication and will begin airing on the AMC Networks-backed WeTV starting Nov. 12. The deal covers the first six seasons of the Shemar Moore-led drama from exec producer Shawn Ryan. The upcoming seventh and final season of the CBS series is also included in the deal with WeTV.
This marks the first time that SWAT will air on cable. The series, a reboot of the 1975 show of the same name, is also available on Netflix, Hulu and in syndication on Nexstar-backed networks.
“SWAT is one of those high-octane procedurals that continues to captivate audiences and grow its viewership,” said Monica Veiga, senior vp U.S. distribution at Sony Pictures Television. “We’re thrilled to partner with AMC Networks to bring this fan-favorite to their viewers.”
The syndication deal arrives after SWAT was brought back from the dead earlier this year for a seventh and final season after CBS and producers Sony TV reached a new deal for an abbreviated 13-episode order. CBS initially canceled the show after its sixth season as the network sought a reduced licensing fee from Sony. The indie studio, where Ryan has been based with an overall deal since 2011, opted instead to keep the fees even with last year and the prolific producer and showrunner found a way to reduce the show’s costs.
Ryan developed the series alongside Aaron Rahsaan Thomas.
The WeTV deal will allow Sony to generate more revenue from the series as it heads into the smallest order in its run. SWAT seasons typically run around 22 episodes, save for season four which was truncated because of the pandemic.
WeTV also airs syndicated repeats of dramas including 911, Bones, Criminal Minds, CSI: Miami, Law & Order, Monk and NCIS.
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