For television networks, it is a common quandary: what do you do about a show that critics adore, that has a passionate base of fans, but that consistently gets mediocre ratings? NBC, for one, thinks it has a creative solution, the New York Times reports.

Last week, it announced a deal with DirecTV, a subscription satellite television service, that would keep “Friday Night Lights” on the air for a third season. DirecTV will help defray NBC’s production costs and in exchange will receive the right to show “Friday Night Lights” first.

Television executives say this model could help keep other sentimental favorites on the air. For instance, CBS Paramount Network Television has held talks with Comcast, the cable provider, about finding new life for “Jericho,” the low-rated drama canceled by CBS last month, according to two people briefed on the talks who requested anonymity.

And Katherine Pope, the president of NBC’s production arm, Universal Media Studios, said that other television distributors had also shown interest in licensing the rights to specific shows.

From NBC’s perspective, “Friday Night Lights” did not draw enough of a crowd to be continued. On average, about 6.1 million people tuned in to it this season, but fans were loyal enough to send thousands of mini-footballs to NBC to lobby for the show.

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