Science Channel Punches Up ‘BattleBots’ Episodes

Science Channel has secured off-network rights to ABC’s robot-fighting series BattleBots, the network announced Wednesday.

Science will air 16 episodes of the series, which ran on ABC from 2015-16, beginning July 12, according to network officials. BattleBots pits homemade, next-generation robots against each other in a fast-paced, single elimination tournament.

The series also ran on Comedy Central for five seasons from 2000-2002. Science Channel has no plans to create new episodes of BattleBots, according to network sources. 

R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.