Cozi TV Adds ‘I Spy’ To Its Debut Lineup

Cozi TV, the new 24/7 network debuting on the digital channels of NBC Owned Television Stations on Jan. 1, announced that the 1965 Emmy award-winning adventure television series, I Spy, will be added to the network’s weekday lineup.

Starring a young Bill Cosby playing opposite the handsome Robert Culp, the groundbreaking NBC series was the first American drama to feature an African-American actor in a lead role. The series was a main fixture in the wildly popular secret agent genre of the 1960s following the successful James Bond films. Cozi TV will air 82 episodes of the 60-minute show every weekday at 6 p.m. ET.

The original I Spy series was notable in its day in that Cosby’s race was never an issue in any of the story lines. As a Rhodes Scholar fluent in many languages, Cosby’s “Scotty” was considered the brains of the team. His partner, played by Culp, was the athlete and playboy who lived by his wits. The secret agent duo were widely recognized as leading sex symbols of their time.

I Spy was also a trailblazer in its use of international locations inspired by the Bond films. This was unique for a television show, especially since the series actually filmed its lead actors at what were considered exotic locations at the time, ranging from Rome to Athens to Hong Kong and Morocco, rather than relying on photography and stock footage.

Cozi TV also released its programming lineup of iconic TV programming that includes classic series Lassie, Marcus Welby, M.D., The Bionic Woman, Lone Ranger and The Six Million Dollar Man as well as titles from the NBCUniversal library of movies and TV shows as well as from other top studios. The new network will soon announce exclusive original programming that will launch in the first quarter of the year as well.

Drawing from the vast NBCUniversal library of movies and TV shows as well as from other top studios, Cozi TV will engage viewers with some of America’s favorite entertainment of all time, including a number of beloved television series, hit movies and original programming. As previously announced, Cozi TV will offer viewers a vast library of movies and TV shows, including classics Lassie, Marcus Welby, M.D., The Bionic Woman, Lone Ranger and The Six Million Dollar Man.

On Jan. 1, Cozi TV will premiere on the digital channels of the 10 NBC Owned Stations, which serve the nation’s biggest markets, as well as several other stations, and is available to stations across the country. Cozi TV will be programmed around the clock, while offering local stations conveniently scheduled blocks of time each day to insert programming of interest to local viewers, like local news, sports and special events.