Big day for ABC Family: It’s just announced network premiere rights to "The Blind Side," striking a deal with Warner Bros. for the Oscar-winning film.
Earlier today, the network confirmed its purchase of "Alice in Wonderland."
Both films bow in 2012.
EARLIER
ABC has a very important date in 2012: The broadcast premiere of Tim Burton’s "Alice in Wonderland."
The Disney-owned cable network has locked up the first broadcast window for the blockbuster, with airings beginning in 2012. "Alice" just wrapped up a record-setting weekend at the box office, pulling in more than $116 million in its first three days of release.
Tom Zappala, executive vice president of program acquisitions & scheduling for ABC Cable Networks Grou, said "Alice’s" "captivating sense of fun and imaginative spirit" make it "a perfect fit our Millennial viewers.”
Terms of the agreement weren’t disclosed. But typically, networks pay about 12 percent of domestic gross for big movies — though caps are built in for mega-blockbusters like "Avatar" and, assuming its momentum keeps up, "Alice."
As a result, it’s likely ABC Family will pay at least $20 million for the rights to "Alice." "Alice" is from the Walt Disney Co., which also owns ABC Family.
While "Alice," like "Avatar," will no doubt be broadcast in 2-D to most viewers, it’s understood rights deals for 3-D pictures generally contain a right to 3-D broadcasts. Just how many U.S. homes will have 3-D-ready sets within two years remains unknown; the first such sets are already on sale at some U.S. outlets.
Starz has an output deal with Disney that should give it the pay cable rights to air "Alice."
"Alice" stars Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter and Anne Hathaway.
