"Damages" to Directv

    "Damages," one of TV's very best, is leaving TV.

   Unless you consider Directv "TV," which I suppose it is.

   The satellite broadcaster and Sony announced about two hours ago that  "Damages" - like "Friday Night Lights" - will head to DTV. Unlike ""FNL," however, that's where it will stay. No broadcast window to follow, and in fact, no broadcast (or cablecast, since this was on FX, which technically doesn't "broadcast" anything) at all.

  For some fans, this will be a bitter disappointment. On the bright side, it's a heck of a lot better than outright cancellation. At least the DVD set will be available to everyone else at some point.  DTV and Sony will make 20 new episodes, to air over two seasons, in 2011 and '12.

   Here's a chunk of the press release:

  DIRECTV and Sony Pictures Television  will team up to bring the award-winning  DAMAGES, starring Glenn Close and Rose Byrne, back with brand new episodes
to be produced early next year and debuting exclusively on DIRECTV. Emmy winner Glenn Close, Emmy nominee Rose Byrne and other principal cast members will return for the new episodes.

Unlike DIRECTV’s current deal for Friday Night Lights, whereby the show airs first on DIRECTV and then on NBC, the new episodes of DAMAGES will air only on DIRECTV.   Additionally, DIRECTV will have the rights to air previously produced seasons 1 through 3.

“We’re excited to partner with Sony Pictures Television as we breathe new life into this outstanding drama,” said Patty Ishimoto, general manager of The 101 Network and vice president of entertainment for DIRECTV.  “It’s a win for our customers because only they will be able to see these new episodes and another great step forward for DIRECTV as we continue to build our growing portfolio of exclusive, award winning programming.”

 “DAMAGES is simply one of the best shows on television, and we’re grateful to DIRECTV for the opportunity to produce more episodes of this groundbreaking show," said Jamie Erlicht, president, programming and production, Sony Pictures Television.