Sky takes House from Five

UK pay TV operator BSkyB has acquired NBC Universal-distributed drama series House, wresting it away from free-to-air channel Five.

Five has aired the first four seasons of the series and will retain repeat rights, but Sky has bagged the rights to season five. The show will air on Sky’s flagship general entertainment channel Sky1 and its HD equivalent.

Pay TV channel Hallmark has retained the second run rights to the series.

The deal comes as former Sky director of programs Richard Woolfe steps in as Five’s channel controller. Woolfe’s replacement at Sky, Stuart Murphy, has yet to start in his new position.

House airs on Fox in the US and is produced by Heel and Toe Films, Shore Z Productions and Bad Hat Harry Productions in association with Universal Media Studios.