A+E Networks Settles ‘Live PD’ Lawsuit, Seals New Distribution Deal With Amazon as Part of Agreement

variety.com:

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large A+E Networks has settled its “Live PD” dispute with Amazon-owned Big Fish Entertainment and Reelz.

As part of the settlement, A+E and Amazon have struck a new multi-year licensing deal on A+E programming. “A+E Networks and Amazon have agreed to significantly expand their commercial relationship in a multi-year agreement that will amplify the reach of A+E Networks’ brands and content on Amazon’s Prime Video service,” A+E, Big Fish and Amazon said in a join statement. “In connection with that agreement, the legal dispute between A+E and Big Fish Entertainment and Reelz concerning ‘Live PD’ has been resolved.” Big Fish had produced “Live PD” for A&E, where the show was a juggernaut and spawned multiple spinoffs, including “Live PD: Wanted,” “Live PD: Police Patrol,” “Live PD Presents: PD Cam.” But A&E pulled the show in summer 2020, in the wake of ongoing protests against police brutality and concerns over coverage of police activity following the killing of George Floyd in Minnesota.

Two years later, Big Fish revealed that it would revive the show’s live police format on Reelz, but under a new title: “On Patrol: Live.” Dan Abrams, who hosted “Live PD,” returned to anchor the new show as well.

A+E then filed a lawsuit seeking to block rival network Reelz from airing “On Patrol: Live,” which it claimed is a blatant ripoff of “Live PD,” and that A+E owned the intellectual property. “AETN has never relinquished or assigned its rights to create episodes of ‘Live PD’ nor has it authorized anyone else to prepare derivative programs based upon ‘Live PD’ except as works made-for-hire,” the complaint stated.