TNT recently secured the television rights to The Hunger Games and Divergent movie franchises in a deal with Lionsgate. Confused? Me too. We announced recently that ABC Family was to air The Hunger Games on network TV this October and had also secured the rights to air Catching Fire.
The new deal with TNT gives them the right to air the movies after ABC Family's window. The Hunger Games will air on TNT in winter 2015, with Catching Fire following in winter 2016, Mockingjay Part 1 airing in 2017, and Part 2 in 2018.
The deal also includes network premiere windows for Divergent and sequel Insurgent, which hits theaters in March 2015, plus two additional follow-up films.
This deal comes into effect after the pay TV window for both franchises and ABC Family's airings. EPIX has first-run pay TV rights to The Hunger Games franchise, with the first film and Catching Fire currently available through Epix's cable channel, On Demand service, website and apps. HBO has first-run pay TV rights for the Divergent franchise.
So, basically, The Hunger Games franchise is popular enought that networks are buying and re-buying the rights to the franchise and it will be on television forever.
The Hunger Games airs on ABC Family October 10th, 11th and 12th at 8pm ET/PT.