USA invests in Universal films

The basic networks used to be the kings of theater to TV imports. When I was a kid I used to get genuinely excited about Saturday night's Wonderful World of Disney movie.

Since the turn of the new millennium -- been a while since you heard that phrase, huh? -- cable networks have been playing the movie game. TBS, HBO and others have all brought big name movies to television at a very slow pace.

USA Network has made a 11-movie deal with Universal Studios to bring films such as The Bourne Ultimatum and Children of Men to the NBC-owned channel.

The package also includes The Good Shepard, Breach and, a personal favorite, Ali G Indahouse. USA has been making a lot of movie rights purchases this summer, buying up Blood Diamond, Pirates of the Caribbean and Ocean's Thirteen.

As much as I love a lazy Sunday of watching movies I don't have to rent, I hate the fact it takes at least 2 years for a movie to make it on the airwaves. The Bourne deal doesn't kick in until 2010. I mean how long do executives expect DVD sales to matter? Just let me watch a censored version of Borat while nursing an extra large bowl of Captain Crunch without having to wait a decade.