Lifetime’s “Project Runway” franchise has landed a mega-renewal with six seasons ordered across the flagship show and its spinoffs, Variety has confirmed.
“Project Runway” has been renewed for three seasons (Season 16 through 18), “Project Runway All Stars” has been renewed for two (Season 6 and 7) and “Project Runway: Junior” has been picked up for its third season. The monster deal comes as The Weinstein Co., which is behind the “Project Runway” franchise, is back shopping for an investor for its TV division. A deal of this size would help ensure a steady stream of revenue for the next few years, which would help make the company more attractive to a potential buyer.
In addition to the “Project Runway” renewals — which were first reported by Deadline — Lifetime has also picked up a new reality fashion project from Weinstein Co., titled “Fashion Inc.” The series is described as the “Shark Tank” of the fashion world. Set in New York City’s fashion district, the show features fashion and beauty entrepreneurs who are competing to land funds from a panel of expert investors to help grow their companies.
A reality TV veteran, “Project Runway” is still bringing in viewers, years down the road. The fashion-design competition show wrapped up its fourteenth season in November of last year, bringing in over 2.5 million viewers for the finale.
“Runway” is also an Emmy staple, having been nominated for best reality competition series every year since 2005 when it was first eligible. (The show launched on Bravo in 2004, before moving over to Lifetime in 2009.) Hosts Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn have also been nominated in the hosting category numerous times, and won in 2013.
