The future of the Scottish police series Taggart has finally been secured after months of uncertainty.
STV, which makes the programme, and ITV have reached a deal which will mean viewers will see six new episodes of the long-running show.
The episodes will be shown in Scotland on STV later this year and then shown on ITV1 in the rest of the UK in 2011.
STV had already said it would make a new series of the programme even if ITV decided against it.
The deal for the new series was described as "unique" by the broadcasters.
Intense pressure
Commercial broadcasters have been under intense pressure because of the downturn in advertising caused by the recession.
Under the deal, the cost of Taggart will be met jointly by STV and ITV - up until now ITV simply commissioned STV to make it.
STV will get to show the new episodes first on its station which is broadcast in central and northern Scotland.
ITV1 will screen it in the rest of the UK next year with the digital channel Alibi able to repeat them later.
The series will begin filming in Glasgow in the spring.
"Taggart is a fantastic brand and we're very pleased to be working with ITV and UKTV on six new episodes of this hugely popular show"
Alan Clements
Director of content at STV
Director of drama commissioning at ITV, Laura Mackie, said: "With the cost of drama under pressure, the highly competitive deal that STV have put together makes Taggart an attractive and highly cost effective proposition.
"The creative team have some exciting ideas to take the new series further and we look forward to working on this with them."
Alan Clements, director of content at STV, said: "Taggart is a fantastic brand and we're very pleased to be working with ITV and UKTV on six new episodes of this hugely popular show.
"With three partners investing in the series, we're confident of delivering a very high quality production for viewers.
"STV is totally committed to Taggart and to drama, and we're thrilled to be showing the first run of all six programmes for viewers in Scotland.
"This commission is great news for fans of the show and for STV, and it will also deliver significant investment into the Scottish creative economy in 2010."
In recent months, STV and ITV have been engaged in a protracted dispute after the Scottish broadcaster decided to stop showing several ITV network programmes.
Distinct stations
The two companies are currently suing each other.
The Taggart deal is a sign that the dispute is not harming STV's production business.
But the fact the new episodes will be shown in Scotland first is a further sign that, as broadcasters, STV and ITV are becoming distinct stations.
Taggart has been sold to more than 100 territories across the world, including Australia, Japan, Norway and Sweden.
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