U.S. networks eyeing international fare

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LOS ANGELES, April 19 (UPI) -- Several U.S. TV networks are beginning to break with tradition by eyeing international productions to feature in the United States, industry officials say.

CBS Entertainment President Nina Tassler said the new trend in U.S. TV broadcasting was made possible thanks to the growing popularity of international films in the United States and the Internet, Variety reported Friday.

"Between the Internet and certainly movies, people are pretty comfortable with international casts and international settings," Tassler said. "We're looking more toward this in the future."

Included among the international projects being picked up by U.S. networks are Canadian series "Flashpoint" and "The Listener," along with the British dramas "Merlin" and "Crusoe."

NBC development chief Teri Weinberg told Variety works such as "Crusoe" were a perfect fit for the U.S. network.

"It all fits inside our portfolio approach to programming," Weinberg said.

"We wanted to find a way to put on as much original programming on as possible."