Lifetime Television Television Network

Call it a catfight over a catwalk. Lifetime Networks said Monday that it had staged a coup by stitching up the rights to the popular reality show "Project Runway." But before the cable channel could take the wraps off, rival NBC Universal sued the show's producer, Weinstein Co., alleging breach of contract. NBC Universal owns Bravo, the cable channel that has been the home of the signature show hosted by supermodel Heidi Klum.

The story of Lifetime Networks took a surprise twist of its own Wednesday when Entertainment President Susanne Daniels announced that she was leaving her post. Daniels, who has overseen programming for Lifetime Television and Lifetime Movie Network for the last three years, developed the hit show "Army Wives" for the resurgent network. The veteran entertainment executive said that, after working in the industry for the last two decades, she wanted to spend more time with her family.

"Project Runway's" bolt to Lifetime Networks has hit a snag. In a blow to the cable network and Weinstein Co., which produces the program, a New York state judge granted a preliminary injunction Friday to block the show's move to Lifetime -- at least for now. NBC Universal, which has run "Project Runway" on its Bravo channel for four years, sought the injunction by claiming that Weinstein Co.

Susanne Daniels had a singular goal in mind as she was developing a slate of original programs to debut on Lifetime Television this summer. "I was looking for hit shows," Daniels, president of entertainment for Lifetime Entertainment Services, said wryly. It may be an obvious aim, but it's an achievement that has recently eluded the women-oriented channel.

Sunday's debut of "Army Wives" on Lifetime scored the network's best ratings for a series premiere in its two-decade history, buoying the channel's hopes for its new summer schedule. The ensemble drama set on an Army post drew an average of 3.5 million viewers, small by broadcast network standards but good enough to beat the previous Lifetime record held by the FBI drama "Missing" for its 2003 premiere.

A lawsuit by DirecTV Group Inc., the El Segundo-based satellite television provider, against cable network Lifetime Entertainment Services has been settled. Terms are confidential. DirecTV claimed in its suit that Lifetime reneged on a deal to lure customers from rival satellite TV provider EchoStar Communications Corp.

Thursday morning marked the media tour debut of recently appointed Lifetime Chief Executive Andrea Wong. She introduced a panel for the channel's new series "Side Order of Life," which led into one for "State of Mind," both of which premiere Sunday. And both are looking to repeat the success of Lifetime's "Army Wives" -- all three were picked by the channel's entertainment president, Susanne Daniels.

Dish Network said it hoped to reach a contract agreement to restore two Lifetime Television channels to its service. Dish's customers stopped receiving the Lifetime channels Sunday because Lifetime's contract with Dish parent EchoStar Communications Corp. expired. An EchoStar spokesman would say only that "we hope to negotiate a fair contract as soon as possible." Englewood, Colo.-based EchoStar said Lifetime was seeking a rate hike of 76%. Lifetime, jointly owned by Walt Disney Co.

Lifetime Networks, known for its tear-jerker television movies, is running newspaper and TV ads asking viewers to "dump Dish" after EchoStar Communications Corp.'s Dish Network dropped the channels. Lifetime, jointly owned by Walt Disney Co. and Hearst Corp., teamed up with cable operators, which are offering $200 to Dish satellite TV subscribers who switch their service.

Satellite television provider DirecTV Group Inc. has sued Lifetime Entertainment Services, saying the women's cable network reneged on a deal to lure customers from rival EchoStar Communications Corp. In a lawsuit filed Wednesday in Los Angeles federal court, DirecTV accused Lifetime of retracting a Jan. 30 offer it had sent to about 30,000 customers of EchoStar Communications Corp.'s Dish Network promising $200 if they would switch. DirecTV accuses Lifetime of breach of contract.