Digital channel snaps up talk show rights

Jay Leno's top-rated American talk show is coming to the UK.

The little-known digital channel Ftn has bought the rights to air The Tonight Show just on day after its Stateside broadcast.

The LA-based show will be aired at 9pm every weekday from April 1.

It's hoped the deal will boost audiences for the free-to-view channel, which currently boasts Rikki Lake and thirtysomething as its prime-time favourites.

A spokesman for the channel told broadcast industry website Digital Spy: "Leno has become an American institution and has an armada of fans. Ftn is pleased to bring his witty banter and unique style to UK viewers."

Leno's rival, David Letterman, has bounced around the digital channels over the past few yeats., and is now aired nightly on ITV2.

Ftn is owned by Flextech, whose other channels include UK Gold, UK Horizons and Living. It was last month reported that the company was also planning to launch a UK Comedy channel.

Published: 6 Mar 2003