Universal Channel buys Bates Motel for Asia, rebrands

Universal Channel in Asia has acquired Bates Motel, the A&E Network drama based on Alfred Hitchcock horror Psycho, as part of a new global strategy to focus on character-driven programming.

The network’s parent, NBCUniversal International Television, plans to rebrand the channel across the 103 territories it broadcasts in, starting with its Asian channel feed on Sunday (April 28).

Following this, it will launch Bates Motel on May 29 after acquiring it from Comcast sister division NBCUniversal International Television Distribution. Last week, TBI reported Universal Channel had acquired the series for the UK.

The show, which is a prequel to Hitchcock’s genre-defining 1960s horror film, has scored strong ratings and critical acclaim on A&E Network in the US, and was this month renewed for a second season. It’s produced by Carlton Cuse Productions, Kenny Ehrin Productions and another Comcast unit, Universal Television.