Ion Lands Off-Net Rights To TNT’s ‘Leverage’

Ion Television continues to expand its programming lineup with the acquisition of off-network rights to all seasons of the TNT drama Leverage from Electric Entertainment.  The series will begin airing on Ion Television in summer 2012.

“We’re pleased to team up with Dean Devlin’s Electric Entertainment, which has distinguished itself by providing high caliber theatrical production standards for TV audiences,” said Brandon Burgess, CEO, Ion Media Networks. “Collaborating with both Electric and Turner to support the longevity of a popular original drama, such as Leverage, furthers our strategic goal to be a viable partner for cable network productions.”

Leverage recently picked up for its fifth season, is executive-produced by Dean Devlin (Independence Day, TNT’s The Librarian movie series) and creators John Rogers (Transformers) and Chris Downey (The King of Queens). The series is produced for TNT by Devlin’s Electric Entertainment.

The Leverage deal comes on the heels of Ion’s recent acquisition of cable’s other hit series Psych, Monk and House, as well as off-net series Without a Trace, Criminal Minds, Ghost Whisperer and Ion’s first original police drama, Flashpoint.