After CBS won a bidding war for Australian broadcaster Ten, 21st Century Fox is canceling its content deal with the network, a move that will cost Ten some of its most popular shows.
Ten confirmed the content cancellation—which will take away shows like “The Simpsons” and older series like “MASH”—to the Hollywood Reporter. Fox is getting a one-off payment of $2.6 million to pay off debts on the $289 million content deal, which the report said was set for another two years.
Fox’s cancelation with Ten comes shortly after 21st Century Fox Co-chair Lachlan Murdoch (who also used to chair Ten) missed out on buying the broadcaster when CBS swooped in with a rival bid.
Ten Network shareholders voted “overwhelming vote in favor of CBS” and rejected a higher bid from Murdoch and billionaire investor Bruce Gordon.
CBS originally bid $25.6 million for Ten. According to Variety, Murdoch then swooped in with a bid of $28 million and eventually raised it to $43.9 million before CBS reportedly countered with $40 million.
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CBS plans to use Ten’s assets to launch CBS All Access in Australia, building upon its previously announced plans to take All Access to new international markets, starting next year with Canada.
"Network Ten is a prime broadcasting asset with over half a century of experience and brand equity in Australia," said CBS CEO Leslie Moonves in a statement. "We have been able to acquire it at a valuation that gives us confidence we will grow this asset by applying our programming expertise in a market with which we are already familiar."