PBS buys BBC dramas

PBS has acquired US rights to British dramas Last Tango in Halifax and Call the Midwife.

The US broadcaster has done well with UK drama in recent times with period series Downton Abbey a ratings hit. It has now picked up two more UK-originated scripted series from the US arm of BBC Worldwide.

Comedy drama Last Tango in Halifax aired on BBC One in the UK late last year. It will go out on PBS on September 8 in an 8pm slot ahead of the finale of UK legal drama Silk.

The third season of period drama Call the Midwife, meanwhile, will go out at in 2014. PBS has previously taken the earlier seasons of the show and aired them in an 8pm Sunday slot.

“I fell in love with ‘Last Tango’ and its stars from the moment I saw it,” said Beth Hoppe, chief programming executive and general manager, General Audience Programming, PBS. “We’re pleased to add this new series and to continue our partnership on Call the Midwife, solidifying Sunday nights as our highest-rated night of the week.”

Separately, PBS confirmed that season four of Downton Abbey will start airing on Sunday, January 5. The finale of season three on PBS was the top rated show across TV, beating all cable and broadcast nets in its slot.