-By James Hibberd

TV Land and TV Guide Network banded together to jointly acquire the basic cable rights to HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm.

TV Guide will begin airing Seasons 1-7 of the comedy starting in February. TV Land will air the episodes after the TV Guide run in 2013 (though it could start later if HBO produces an eighth season).

"The irreverent way Curb uses characters to illuminate real-life situations fit perfectly with our strategy of delivering programming that is geared to the life stage and attitudes of people in their 40s," said Larry W. Jones, TV Land president.

In addition, both networks will acquire broadband, wireless and video-on-demand rights to the program, allowing the distribution of Curb content to multiple screens. Cost is expected to be south of $600,000 per episode.

Curb marks the second comedy acquisition for TV Guide this year; in July the network acquired the rights to ABC's Ugly Betty.

Curb has been sold into syndication previously, with Tribune stations picking up the rights to it and HBO's Entourage last May. The series will air starting next year in 17 Tribune markets for a three-year run.

Nielsen Business Media