ABC to Repurpose Monk in January

Broadcast network ABC will once again air episodes of USA Network’s hit scripted series, Monk, beginning in January.

The network will telecast second-season episodes of the detective series, starring Emmy Award-winner Tony Shalhoub as an unconventional, obsessive-compulsive detective.

ABC will premiere Monk episodes Jan. 17, one day after USA bows new episodes of the drama series. It’s unclear whether ABC will air the first nine episodes of Monk’s second season, which USA televised last summer, or whether it will repurpose the show’s remaining seven episodes.

The network is again taking advantage of repurposing rights it acquired through its Touchstone Television division, which produces Monk,when Touchstone sold the series to USA.

USA executives are confident that the ABC airings will not hurt its Monk ratings. The network averaged a 3.4 for the first seven episodes of its second season.

R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.