USA Network Becomes a Pitt Bull

The USA Network has grabbed the brass movie ring on the entertainment merry-go-round.

USA, the creator of such landmark SF shows as “The 4400” and “Dead Zone” has made one of the entertainment industry’s biggest movie deals yet, according to Variety.

The cable network fronted over $60 million to be the first non-pay cabler to have network TV rights to this summer’s mega box office hit “The Bourne Ultimatum.” The deal also includes first run rights to the Sandler/James comedy “I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry.”

Nine other theatricals releases from Universal Pictures are also slated for the package. Of interest to SF and genre-related fans are Clive Owen’s “Children of Men” and “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End.”

Spy buffs and those into political intrigue will love the fact that USA will be the first non-pay cabler to show “The Good Shepherd” “The Interpreter” and the riveting CIA thriller “Breach.”

Two other hardcore actioners will be “Alpha Dog” ad “Smokin’ Aces.”

On the lighter side, the deal includes Robin Williams in “Man of the Year,” “Borat” and the George Clooney ensemble in “Ocean’s Thirteen.”

This new deal for USA will allow them to run these and other films in the package once their 18-month commitment on pay channels, such as HBO and Showtime or complete. Then USA can run them through early 2012. A few films in the package will be seen on other non-pay networks, however, Bourne and the Chuck & Larry flick will run exclusively on USA for the duration of the 4½-year contract.

“The Bourne Ultimatum” can be first seen on The USA Network January 1, 2010, and “Chuck & Larry” hits the cabler on December. 1, 2009.

It’s been awhile since USA has had such a huge slate of films on its docket. The network, over the last 5 or 6 years has concentrated on building its viewer base on specialty shows made specifically for the cable channel. Now, with movie competition coming from channels such as ABC Family, FX and Turner’s two megaliths – TNT and TBS vying exclusively for film, The USA Network decided it was time to get back into the movie business. This only makes sense. USA exclusive shows like “Dead Zone” and “The 4400” have seen a slight drop in ratings over the course of this new season and the network has made no mystery of the fact that this could be the final season for several of their products….so, no one should be too surprised by this sudden love affair with theatrical films again.

The USA Network is owned by NBC Universal so a few of the films will find their way to its sister station, The SCI FI Channel. In particular are “The Hitcher” and “Children of Men.”