Andy DehnartOne week and one day after Project Runway 6 started production, a judge granted NBC Universal, Bravo’s parent company, a preliminary injunction that prevents the Weinstein Company and Lifetime from airing or promoting the show.
According to TV Week, the judge wrote,”While it appears that resting ‘Project Runway’ for a period of time will not cause harm to the show, the court must ensure that is not off the air for an excessive period of time. Therefore, because this court finds that plaintiffs have also established a balancing of the equities in its favor, the court will enjoined Lifetime from promotion, marketing and exhibition of future cycles of ‘Project Runway.’ However, this matter will be put on a schedule such that the issues will be resolved through expedited proceedings.”
The Weinstein Company said in a statement to Variety, “We are glad that the court held that NBC Universal cannot exhibit the program on Bravo and that the court required NBC Universal to post a minimum $20 million bond.”
In a statement, NBC said it “is pleased that the court granted our motion for a preliminary injunction against The Weinstein Company. The overwhelming evidence demonstrated that The Weinstein Company violated NBC Universal’s right of first refusal to future cycles of Project Runway. After hearing all of the evidence, the court issued an order prohibiting The Weinstein Company from taking the show or any spin-off to Lifetime.”
Lifetime said in its own statement that the network is “disappointed with the court’s decision to grant the preliminary injunction against The Weinstein Co. It’s unfortunate that the people hurt most by this ongoing dispute are the loyal fans of Project Runway. In the meantime, Lifetime will pursue all measures to uphold its valid and binding agreement reached with The Weinstein Co.”