Lifetime joins 'Runway' row

November 19, 2008 On Tuesday, the network filed suit in Manhattan federal court against NBC Universal and Bravo Media, claiming Lifetime holds the copyrights to the high-rated reality TV show through its deal this year with the show's producer, the Weinstein Co. The lawsuit comes after NBCU and Bravo, which aired the first five cycles of the show, filed suit in New York state court against TWC for breach of contract, claiming the producer failed to honor the network's right of first refusal for the sale or transfer of "Runway's" rights. In court papers, Lifetime asserts its deal with TWC was contingent on having "Runway" "free and clear of any third-party obligations" and that the production company represented that the program was available to air on Lifetime beginning in November.

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