http://www.thefutoncritic.com/cgi/gofuton.cgi?action=thisdayintv&id=9/9/2002
While "Futurama's" network future is in doubt at FOX, its off-network future was made clear over the weekend as cable's Cartoon Network picked up the rights to all 72 episodes of the series. The $10 million, five-year deal (about $140,000 per episode) gives the cable channel the exclusive cable rights to the series beginning in January where it is set to air as part of the network's Sunday "Adult Swim" lineup. (20th Century Fox can still sell the show to local stations.) The acquisition is Cartoon Network's highest profile and most expensive to date, above and beyond the cost of the rights to its other off-network pickups - UPN's "Home Movies," the WB's "Mission Hill," "Baby Blues" and "The Oblongs."
But as for new episodes on the channel should FOX let the rights expire, don't keep your hopes up. While Cartoon Network picked up 13 fresh episodes of "Home Movies" beyond those produced for UPN, the production costs of "Futurama" run well over $500,000 per episode. Overall Cartoon Network ranks fifth among all cable networks with a 1.7 average rating this summer. Executives hope "Futurama" will help vault the network even further up the charts.