• by David Goetzl , April 12, 2006

In this age of TiVo and ad-zapping, TNT is fighting back by premiering three series this summer with no commercials.

TNT's hit "The Closer" will make its second-season debut in June with a commercial-free episode sponsored by Audi. New drama "Saved" and limited series "Nightmares & Dreamscapes: From the Stories of Stephen King" will also debut with ad-free episodes, although Turner declined to name their sponsors.

While David Levy, president of Turner Entertainment Group Ad Sales and Marketing, acknowledged that commercial-free episodes help blunt the impact of DVRs, he denied that was the principal reason behind the moves. "We're looking at innovative ways to get the clients' messages across," he said.

Audi's deal also includes product placement in the show; a presence on wireless and broadband extensions; and mentions in promos.

"The Closer"--a hit last summer--stars Kyra Sedgwick as a CIA-trained detective who works on high-profile murder cases for the Los Angeles Police Department.

TNT, which carries the tagline "We Know Drama," will use "The Closer's" appeal to help launch "Saved," which will follow it on Tuesday nights when both launch in June. "Saved" focuses on the personal struggles of a paramedic.

The eight-episode "Nightmares" debuts in July and features horror stories from King. Stars William H. Macy, Kim Delaney, and William Hurt will star in various episodes.

TNT made the announcements yesterday at an upfront event in New York held along with its sister comedy-oriented network TBS.

The networks are tied for second this season among all cable networks in prime time, with both averaging a .8 in the target 18-to-49 demo. (USA leads with a .9). Both are flat compared to last year.

"In this day and age, if you can maintain flat or grow a little, you've done a good job," Levy said.

TBS has a prime-time median age this season of 37.9, up slightly over a year ago. TNT's 47.9, also up this season, is higher than competitor USA, and well above FX.

Last year, TNT generated $1.3 billion in ad revenue--up 20 percent over 2004, according to Nielsen Monitor-Plus. TBS also saw a revenue bump, rising 16 percent to $952 million.

TBS, which offers such off-net fare as "Friends" and "Sex and the City" and carries the tagline "Very Funny," is producing two original half-hour comedies set to launch this fall. "My Boys" (from executive producers Gavin Polone and Jamie Tarses) focuses on a twenty-something female whose sports-loving, no-nonsense approach to dating often rubs men the wrong way. In "10 Items or Less," a son moves back home to take over the family supermarket, but his management style leads to a chaotic workplace.

"We've realized probably the best things for TBS--although they cost more--are scripted comedy series," Levy said.

TNT also announced that the mini-series "The Company" from Ridley Scott is set for summer 2007. The six-hour event focuses on CIA activities during the Cold War.

Other TNT series in development (with no launch date) include a Robert Redford-produced drama about three generations of the same family who have lived in the same house and a series set in the high-stakes world of heart-transplant surgery.

TBS has two additional half-hour original comedies in development.