True to its game plan to exit the infomercial biz and be a real network, ION Media is racking up the syndie deals. The network most recently announced scoring Ghost Whisperer,” the spooky-cum-feel-good drama from CBS. ION with get Ghost starting in 2009.
ION also recently picked up Criminal Minds, a creepy copper show, also from CBS, starring the seminal Mandy Patinkin, and later, Joe Mantegna. Other off-net fare on the schedule: Boston Legal, The Steve Harvey Show, Family Fued and Quantum Leap.
The network announced its reprogramming strategy earlier this year when it reported its financial results for 2007 and its expectations for the year in progress. Reduced cash flows were anticipated--$10.4 million before expenses this year versus $98.3 million last year--to accommodate the program acquisition strategy.
