MUMBAI: Content Partners, an entertainment finance firm that acquires cash flows from successful film, television and music properties, said it has purchased a 50 per cent interest in the blockbuster television franchise CSI (Crime Scene Investigation) from an affiliate of Goldman Sachs.

The acquisition makes Content Partners an equal stakeholder in the second largest franchise in television history with CBS Corporation, which owns the other 50 per cent interest. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Under the terms of the transaction, Content Partners and CBS will each own half of all rights in the franchise, which includes the CBS series CSI (currently in its 13th season), CSI: New York (currently in its ninth season), and CSI Miami (10 seasons completed). CBS will control all domestic and international distribution rights to the series.

?One of the most attractive aspects of this acquisition is the strong commitment that CBS has made in continuing to aggressively distribute and leverage the ?CSI? franchise across all media,? said Content Partners President and CEO Steven H. Kram. ?The ?CSI? franchise is internationally acclaimed and has consistently been one of television?s top-rated shows since it debuted in 2000. We are proud to partner with CBS, which is one of the best producers and distributors of content in the world.?

The ?CSI? transaction represents Content Partners? largest acquisition to date, and bolsters its already extensive catalog of entertainment properties, which includes interests in 119 films and five television series, acquired from numerous high-profile actors, writers, directors and other financial participants in these properties.

Content Partners leverages these assets through a unique business model that provides the entertainment industry?s creative and investment communities with financial liquidity in their interests in entertainment properties. This approach mitigates future risk in revenue receipts, and in return, Content Partners acquires future royalty ownership.

The CSI franchise has long been among the world?s most-watched television series; in fact, for five out of the last seven years, a CSI show has been the most-watched show globally. Its library contains 724 one-hour episodes, and airs in over 200 countries. Viewers and entertainment professionals have recognised the CSI franchise over the years with more than 250 nominations and over 80 major awards, including eight Primetime Emmys, five People?s Choice Awards, and one Screen Actors Guild Award.

MUMBAI: US broadcaster CBS has announced summer dates for two dramas, a reality series and an expanded season of ?Big Brother?.

A new reality competition series based on the UK format, ?The Great British Bake Off?, kicks off on 29 May. The series features skilled amateur Americans competing in baking challenges with one ultimately being crowned the winner.

?Under The Dome?, a new 13-episode serialised drama based on Stephen King?s best-selling novel and produced by Steven Spielberg?s Amblin Entertainment, kicks off on 24 June. ?Hawaii Five-0? will move to Friday during the summer.

?Under The Dome? is the story of a small town that is suddenly and inexplicably sealed off from the rest of the world by an enormous transparent dome. The town?s inhabitants must deal with surviving the post-apocalyptic conditions while searching for answers to what this barrier is, where it came from and if and when it will go away.

?Big Brother? will have a longer edition this summer, premiering two weeks earlier than previous years on 26 June. ?NCIS: Los Angeles? will move to Tuesday (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) beginning 2 July.

?Unforgettable? starring Poppy Montgomery as a police detective with a rare condition that makes her memory so flawless that everything is embedded in her mind, and Dylan Walsh as her ex-boyfriend and partner, returns for its second season on 28 July. It replaces summer rebroadcasts of ?The Good Wife?.