DEAD ZONE GOOD NEWS FOR LIONSGATE

Who says there are no opportunities for indie producers in television these days? Lions Gate Entertainment is steadily expanding its small-screen activities on the heels of its success with the USA Network drama series "The Dead Zone." Lions Gate Television president Kevin Beggs is juggling a slate of series and telefilm development projects, including drama series prospects at NBC, USA Network and Lifetime. "We're trying to keep developing a variety of things but do them efficiently with low overhead," Beggs said. "We get an offer to (partner) with people on new shows every week, but we're selectively taking our shots. It's got to make financial sense for us, too." "The Dead Zone," based on the Stephen King novel of the same name, was a project that Lions Gate and co-producer Paramount International TV shepherded through a false start at UPN in 2001, when the show was given a midseason order but never made it on the air. Early last year, the show relocated to USA, where it became an instant hit in its debut last summer.