Granada picks up 70s Universal series for 2002

Granada Media's flagship digital channel Plus has taken a pair of 1970s titles from Universal Studios Television Distribution, for an airing in January and February next year.

Plus is to air all 114×60' episodes of the crime show The Rockford Files beginning in February 2002.

The Chandler-esque detective series, starring James Garner, ran in the UK between 1975-82 over on BBC1, while its US broadcaster was originally NBC. Cherokee Productions made the show, last seen in the UK ten years ago.

Granada Plus has also picked up an even earlier 70s series, Alias Smith & Jones, for its January schedule. Starring Ben Murphy and Peter Duel, the Wild West show was a household name when it aired in the UK between 1971-73 on BBC2. The series, intended as a TV spin-off of Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid, ran to 49×52' episodes and aired in the US on ABC.

Granada Pus has licensed UK basic cable and satellite rights to both shows.