DirecTV saves 'Damages'

Sony Pictures Television and satellite broadcaster DirecTV have reached an agreement that will save the legal drama 'Damages,' the low-rated but critically acclaimed legal drama starring Glenn Close as cutthroat lawyer Patty Hewes. The show, which had run on the FX cable channel for the last three years and garnered several Emmy Awards, will move to DirecTV's 101 Network.  The deal is for 2 seasons of 10 episodes each.

Unlike DirecTV's deal with 'Friday Night Lights','Damages' will air exclusively on DirecTV and FX will not rebroadcast the new episodes.

However, if you are a 'Damages' fan but do not have DirecTV, you don't have to subscribe just yet. New episodes won't start airing until late 2011 -- at the earliest. The 101 Network will also have reruns of the first three seasons of "Damages" starting next year.

“We’re excited to partner with Sony Pictures Television as we breathe new life into this outstanding drama,” Patty Ishimoto, general manager of The 101 Network and vice president of entertainment for DirecTV, said in a statement.  “It’s a win for our customers because only they will be able to see these new episodes and another great step forward for DirecTV as we continue to build our growing portfolio of exclusive, award-winning programming.”

In a statement, John Langraf, president and general manager of FX Networks, who also heads FX Productions, had this to say: “FX was very proud to have developed one of the best scripted series on television, but in order to have a future, the show needed DIRECTV and we are thrilled they stepped in.... Sony Pictures Television is a great production partner and we at FX Productions are excited for these next two seasons.”