Washington, D.C. (April 2, 2008) -- NBC has agreed to allow DIRECTV to air next season's episodes of Friday Night Lights before they debut on the network.

DIRECTV will air 13 new episodes of FNL in High-Definition on channel 101, starting October 1. Then, NBC will begin broadcasting the shows in early 2009.

In return, DIRECTV will help pay for the show's production costs. The deal guarantees that the critically-acclaimed high school football drama will return for a third season.


DIRECTV will have first shot at new Friday episodes.

Until the agreement, the show's future was in doubt. Starring Kyle Chandler as the coach of a successful but flawed Texas high school football team, Friday Night Lights has struggled in the ratings.

But FNL executive producer Jason Katims says NBC executives were committed to finding a way to keep the show going, according to the Associated Press.

"(They decided) to figure out a way to keep this show on the air, despite all the challenges of justifying it from a business standpoint  And here we are," Katims said. "They did it."

The deal gives DIRECTV another exclusive programming venture to attract new subscribers and keep current ones. The satcaster now has the exclusive rights to the National Football League's Sunday Ticket pay package.

Today's announcement might suggest that new DIRECTV owner Liberty Media will seek out more original and exclusive content to distinguish the satellite TV service in the marketplace.

With most cable and satellite operators likely to offer the same SD and HD basic cable channels, consumers may seek out TV providers that offer something different.

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