Warner Bros drama takes Escape route

Without a Trace originally ran on CBS

US network Escape has picked up the rights to drama series Without a Trace from Warner Bros Domestic Television Distribution.

The multi-year acquisition marks the EW Scripps-owned channel’s first foray into scripted drama, with the series joining a regular schedule of original and acquired docuseries and films aimed at the 25- to 54-year-old female demographic.

Without a Trace follows a New York-based FBI team specialising in missing persons cases. The Jerry Bruckheimer Television-produced procedural originally ran on CBS for seven seasons.

It will launch on Escape on New Year’s Day with a 12-episode marathon from noon, followed by two back-to-back episodes airing on weeknights from Tuesday January 2.

Escape is one of four networks in the Katz Broadcasting portfolio. Earlier this year, Katz was purchased by EW Scripps in a deal worth US$292m.

The network’s development complements sister channel Bounce’s expansion into original programming with the launch of comedy series Grown Folks in August.