The N Acquires “Summerland” and “Dawson’s Creek”
[via press release]
The N Expands Its Roster of Hour-Long Teen Dramas With Back-To-Back Acquisitions of Summerland and Dawson’s Creek
Summerland Set to Premiere Monday, May 1 With Dawson’s Creek Following This Fall Beginning Friday, September 1
NEW YORK, March 1 – The N, the nighttime network for teens, has acquired the broadcast rights to two of the hottest teen dramas that launched the careers of Katie Holmes, Michelle Williams, Joshua Jackson, James Van Der Beek, and Jesse McCartney.
The N will premiere all 26 hour-long episodes of Summerland beginning Monday May 1 at 7:00 p.m. (ET/PT) and will follow in the fall with the entire library (128 episodes) of the groundbreaking teen drama Dawson’s Creek, on Friday, September 1, it was announced today by Tom Ascheim, Executive Vice President / GM of The N.
“We are proud to bring Dawson’s Creek, the provocative, breakthrough drama that helped define TV for teens, to a new audience,” said Ascheim. “Dawson’s stellar cast paired with teen heartthrob Jesse McCartney is a great one-two punch for the N.”
Both series will complement the network’s line-up with the upcoming new original drama, Whistler, premiering Friday, June 30 at 9:00 p.m. (ET) in addition to The N’s other original teen programming including, Beyond the Break (premieres Friday, June 2), Degrassi, Instant Star, South Of Nowhere, and O’Grady, among others.
Summerland tells the story of Ava Gregory, (Lori Loughlin) a top fashion designer living the carefree dream life of parties, boyfriends, and over indulgence when her world is turned upside down when her sister and brother-in-law are killed in an accident leaving her to raise her niece Nikki (Kay Panabaker) and nephew’s Bradin (Jesse McCartney), and Derrick (Nick Benson) on her own. With a little help from her ex-boyfriend and her best friend she struggles to create a new family from one that has been torn apart.
Dawson’s Creek, Sony Pictures Television’s enormously successful dramatic series, maintained its loyal following through six successful seasons on the air. Chronicling the passage from adolescence to young adulthood, Dawson’s Creek, which was created and developed by Kevin Williamson (“Scream,” “I Know What You Did Last Summer,” “Teaching Mrs. Tingle”), followed the continuing relationships of five longtime friends.
In 1997, viewers were introduced to Dawson and Joey, life-long friends and soul mates. This wholesome friendship, beginning with years of Joey climbing through Dawson’s bedroom window, grew increasingly complicated when the two matured. As their relationship would swing between longtime companions and love interests, their friendship was tested by Joey’s relationship with Pacey, and Dawson’s relationship with Jen.
Through great uncertainty, self-evaluation and self-doubt, these five young adults alternately danced and trudged through their adolescence and dealt with all that college and young adulthood had to offer, including the trials, tribulations and responsibilities of being on their own. In the end, the lessons they learned enabled them to move forward, stronger and more confident than ever, and above all else, life-long friends.
The N, the nighttime network for teens, is a programming arm of MTV Networks and is currently available in 46 million households via cable, digital cable and satellite television. The N’s mission is to be the authentic voice for teens and help them figure out their lives with relevant, topical programming on-air and online at the network’s web site www.the-n.com. The N airs everyday from 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. (ET). The N and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom International Inc.