A+E Networks Settles ‘Live PD’ Lawsuit, Seals New Distribution Deal With Amazon as Part of Agreement

A+E Networks has settled its “Live PD” dispute with Amazon-owned Big Fish Entertainment and Reelz. As part of the settlement, A+E and Amazon have struck a new multi-year licensing deal on A+E programming.

“A+E Networks and Amazon have agreed to significantly expand their commercial relationship in a multi-year agreement that will amplify the reach of A+E Networks’ brands and content on Amazon’s Prime Video service,” A+E, Big Fish and Amazon said in a join statement. “In connection with that agreement, the legal dispute between A+E and Big Fish Entertainment and Reelz concerning ‘Live PD’ has been resolved.”

Big Fish had produced “Live PD” for A&E, where the show was a juggernaut and spawned multiple spinoffs, including “Live PD: Wanted,” “Live PD: Police Patrol,” “Live PD Presents: PD Cam.” But A&E pulled the show in summer 2020, in the wake of ongoing protests against police brutality and concerns over coverage of police activity following the killing of George Floyd in Minnesota.

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Two years later, Big Fish revealed that it would revive the show’s live police format on Reelz, but under a new title: “On Patrol: Live.” Dan Abrams, who hosted “Live PD,” returned to anchor the new show as well.

A+E then filed a lawsuit seeking to block rival network Reelz from airing “On Patrol: Live,” which it claimed is a blatant ripoff of “Live PD,” and that A+E owned the intellectual property. “AETN has never relinquished or assigned its rights to create episodes of ‘Live PD’ nor has it authorized anyone else to prepare derivative programs based upon ‘Live PD’ except as works made-for-hire,” the complaint stated.

According to insiders, as part of the settlement, Amazon and A+E sealed a new non-exclusive licensing deal including library streaming content, titles for rent and purchase, A&E add-on subscriptions, and FAST Channels, all available on Prime Video.  

That now extends A&E add-on subscription availability in the U.S. and Japan, and the deal extends the existing license for A&E movies and series currently available to rent or purchase on Prime Video in the U.S. UK, and other territories.

The deal includes an extension for currently available A&E FAST Channels and will include the launch of additional A&E FAST Channels in the U.S.

A&E had been given a big win in the case last year, when New York Judge Katharine Polk Failla denied a motion to dismiss the copyright suit, finding that the original production contract signed between A+E and Big Fish assigned all rights to “Live PD” to the TV company.

“Plaintiff holds exclusive, 100% ownership in all rights to the Live PD series (including originally shot footage, newly created elements, format, and title) in perpetuity, including any copyrights and trademarks held in connection therewith,” the judge said in her decision. “Conversely, the Series Agreement provides that Big Fish Entertainment assigns to Plaintiff any and all of its rights and any and all of its title or interest in the Live PD series in perpetuity.”

With this suit now settled, “On Patrol: Live,” as produced by Big Fish, has the OK to continue on Reelz. Big Fish Entertainment subsidiary Half Moon Pictures produces “On Patrol: Live,” which airs Fridays and Saturdays on Reelz and has been picked up through January 2025; it awaits further renewal.