Sky One wins rights to cult spy show ’24’

Sky One has won the rights to the cult US spy thriller 24, starring Kiefer Sutherland, after a row reportedly broke out between the BBC and US distributor Fox about the BBC’s intention to broadcast it on its free-to-air satellite TV channels, thereby allowing viewers in other European countries to watch it.

Sky One outbid Channel 4 for the rights to the series, and it is believed it will be able to repeat the first two series, which originally appeared on BBC2. However, the BBC has rights to the first two seasons until 2005 and 2006, respectively.