A+E Networks Settles ‘Live PD’-‘On Patrol Live’ Suit in Amazon Deal

A+E Networks has settled a lawsuit against production company Big Fish Entertainment and cable network Reelz over their series On Patrol: Live —albeit in an unconventional way.

As part of the settlement, A+E Networks has closed a multi-year licensing deal with Amazon — which owns Big Fish — to feature a host of titles from the A&E cable channel on Amazon’s Prime Video. The deal also includes an extension for currently available A&E FAST channels on Prime Video as well as the launch of new ones.

“A+E Networks and Amazon have agreed to significantly expand their commercial relationship in a multi-year agreement that will amplify the reach of A+E Networks’ brands and content on Amazon’s Prime Video service,” the companies said in a joint statement. “In connection with that agreement, the legal dispute between A+E and Big Fish Entertainment and Reelz concerning Live PD has been resolved.”

A+E Networks sued Big Fish and Reelz in August 2022, saying that On Patrol: Live was a ripoff of A&E’s former show Live PD. The latter was A&E’s most popular show for several years but was canceled in 2020 amid nationwide protests against police brutality and the revelation that a Live PD crew had filmed (but not aired) an arrest in Williamson County, Texas, near Austin, that led to the death of Javier Ambler in 2019. Texas later passed a law barring law enforcement agencies from contracting with TV producers to film officers “for the purpose of creating a reality television show.”

The copyright infringement lawsuit claimed that On Patrol: Live had marked similarities to Live PD (Dan Abrams hosts both series) and that Reelz initially marketed the show as a “return” or “relaunch” of the former show.

Last year, a federal judge denied a motion to dismiss the suit, allowing A+E Networks’ claims to move forward.

The Amazon licensing deal will also expand availability of A&E add-on subscriptions for Prime Video customers in the United States and Japan and extend a license for users to rent A&E shows and movies on demand via Prime Video in several countries.