December 19, 2001

Alias Marathon Kicks Off New Year on ABC Family

By Frazier Moore

LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) - As the new year begins, ABC will begin putting more than just its initials on its recently acquired cable sibling, ABC Family.

A 10-hour "Alias" marathon -- featuring all the episodes aired thus far -- on New Year's Day will signal the beginning of the channel's transition to programming controlled by Disney, ABC's parent. Disney acquired the former Fox Family Channel from FOX owner News Corp. earlier this year.

"With high-profile movies, events and series ... coming to the schedule, we have an ideal platform from which to launch and build our original programming," says Maureen Smith, president of ABC Family. "This is just the first step as we continue to grow."

ABC staples "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" and "America's Funniest Home Videos" will become regular parts of the channel's prime-time schedule in the new year. A string of movies and special events are also planned for January. Eventually, Disney plans to use ABC Family for "repurposing" of some of its network programs -- giving them repeat airings within days of their original broadcast.

"Alias" marathon: 12 Noon/11 Central -10/9 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 1.

Thanks to vaughnetc.!

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