Cats Beware! Shout! Factory Preparing New ‘Alf’ Series

Distribution rights to ALF, the puppet-fronted sitcom that ran on NBC from 1986 to 1990 and spawned an animated series and a cult following, have been acquired by Shout! Factory, Deadline reports.

The company, in partnership with Alien Productions, plan to bring Alf titles to digital entertainment platforms in the U.S. Lionsgate, which previously had rights, had brokered a deal for the sitcom to stream on FOX’s ad-supported service Tubi but that agreement ended last fall.

The deal was announced by Shout! founders and CEOs Bob Emmer and Garson Foos; Alien Productions partners Paul Fusco and Brian Patchett. Gene Pao and Jeffrey Peisch, Shout’s EVP of strategy and digital and SVP of programming and new business development, respectively, also took part in the deal.

The multi-year teaming provides Shout! Factory and its multi-platform streaming service, Shout! Factory TV, with exclusive U.S. rights spanning digital, broadcast and home entertainment packaged media. Included are the 102 episodes of the live-action series, plus 26 episodes of ALF: The Animated Series, 21 episodes of the animated ALF Tales, plus TV movie Project: ALF. The library rights include home entertainment and digital distribution in North America.

The companies plan to develop new ALF-related content and launch digital media initiatives and domestic syndication in streaming, electronic sell-through and video on demand.