Key Points
- Sinclair’s sci-fi multicast network Comet has licensed The Librarians, set to debut with a February marathon and weekly slots.
- The deal marks the show’s first run on a free broadcast network, via Electric Entertainment.
- Comet also acquired The Outpost, expanding its lineup of premium genre programming.
Comet, the science-fiction and thriller-focused multicast network owned by Sinclair, has licensed two new shows that will start airing in regular rotation within the next few weeks, The Desk has learned.
In mid-February, Comet will offer “The Librarians” starring Noah Wyle and John Larroquette, with a special six-hour marathon scheduled for February 7, the network said in a press release on Tuesday. Starting February 14, Comet will offer The Librarians from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Eastern Time on Saturdays as part of the network’s weekend line-up.
Sinclair licensed the show from Electric Entertainment, the independent production company founded by Dean Devlin. The network’s relationship with Electric Entertainment stretches back several years, to include a limited-time agreement to air the Saturn Awards from Electric Now.
“The Librarians is exactly the kind of smart, escapist adventure series Comet fans love,” Adam Ware, the Senior Vice President of Growth Networks at Sinclair, said in a statement. “Partnering with Electric Entertainment and Dean Devlin underscores our continued investment in premium free television.”
The addition of the Librarians to Comet marks the first time that the show will be offered on a free broadcast network.
“We couldn’t imagine a better broadcast TV partner than Comet for our Librarians franchise,” Devlin said on Tuesday. “As a leading destination for passionate sci-fi and fantasy fans — with no cable or streaming fees — Comet allows us to connect with a highly engaged audience, and we’re thrilled to reach their fan base.”
Comet has also secured the rights to “The Outpost,” a fantasy series that originally aired on the CW Network, according to a knowledgeable source. That show will also be licensed from Electric Entertainment and is scheduled to start airing on Comet in early April.
Both shows fit with Sinclair’s strategy of acquiring premium TV shows for its multicast brands; other shows offered on Comet include “The X-Files,” “Xena: Warrior Princess,” “The Outer Limits” and “Grimm.” Comet also airs the documentary program “WWE Rivals,” a show that complements its slate of sci-fi and fantasy programming.
Comet is available on free broadcast TV in most parts of the country, and on several premium streaming platforms like Sling TV and YouTube TV. A free stream of its Eastern Time Zone feed is also available on the Comet website.
