Sky One has teamed up with Francis Ford Coppola's production company and Hollywood studio Paramount to co-produce a new sci-fi drama about alien abductions.
The 4400 stars Peter Coyote and centres around a US government team tasked with tracking down thousands of people who are suddenly returned to earth after being abducted by aliens.
Sci-fi fans will recognise actors Joel Gretsch and Michael Moriarty, who featured in last year's BBC2 alien abduction mini-series Taken. The 4400 also stars Australian actor Jacqueline McKenzie, whose credits include movies Deep Blue Sea and Romper Stomper.
Sky One has bought six one-hour episodes of The 4400 already ordered by American cable channel USA Network, and has agreed to be a co-production partner on any further series of the drama.
The 4400 is being made by Paramount subsidiary Viacom Productions, in association with Coppola's company American Zoetrope and another US independent producer, Renegade 83.
This is the second US sci-fi drama Sky One has signed up for as a co-production partner.
Earlier this year the UK broadcaster agreed a co-production deal with USA Networks' NBC Universal sister channel, Sci Fi, for a new version of 70s show Battlestar Galactica.
Sky One has bought the new 13-part Battlestar Galactica series, after broadcasting a mini-series based on the original show earlier this year.
The BSkyB-owned entertainment channel is becoming more aggressive in competing against rival British broadcasters for new US drama series, having last month bought critically acclaimed HBO western Deadwood.
· UK cable channel Living TV has bought US plastic surgery reality show The Swan, which provoked considerable controversy when it was broadcast by Fox in America earlier this year.
Living TV has bought the first two series of the show, in which women who volunteer for a plastic surgery makeover are not allowed to look at the results in a mirror for three months, until the process is completed.
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