Last year, because of low ratings, it looked like Damages was going to be cancelled. The ratings were just too low to justify the cost for FX to renew the series. Sony worked to find a way for the series to continue and made an exclusive deal with DirecTV for seasons four and five. Unfortunately, the deal means that only DirecTV subscribers will (legally) be able to see the episodes as they are released. One would guess that they’ll be released on DVD before season five debuts.

The satellite TV provider has now announced that season four will kick off on Wednesday, July 13th. Here’s the press release:

Fourth Season of the Award Winning Original Series “Damages” Premieres July 13th on DirecTV’s the Audience Network

Critically Acclaimed Series Features Emmy Winners and Nominees Glenn Close, Rose Byrne, John Goodman and Dylan Baker

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Season four of the Emmy Award-winning, critically acclaimed legal thriller, DAMAGES, starring Emmy Award winner Glenn Close and Emmy Award Nominee Rose Byrne, will premiere exclusively on Wednesday, July 13 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on the Audience Network. Season four, which marks the series’ highly anticipated move to DIRECTV, focuses on the exceedingly controversial subject of private military contractors in Afghanistan, catapulting characters into a world of corruption and deceit, where nothing is as it seems and justice is served outside of the court room.

“The opportunity to be on DIRECTV this season allows us to explore another chapter in the lives of Patty Hewes and Ellen Parsons, and push the envelope in terms of storytelling and content,” said series creators and executive producers KZK (Todd A. Kessler, Daniel Zelman and Glenn Kessler).

“KZK’s brilliant writing is brought to life by a superb cast to tell a story that is both timely and resonant,” said EVP Content Strategy and Development, DIRECTV Derek Chang. “We’re excited that only DIRECTV customers get to experience season four of DAMAGES in a whole new way, executed without restrictions allowing the creators to present the show the way it was truly meant to be seen.”

DAMAGES, from Sony Pictures Television in association with FX Productions and KZK Productions, follows the turbulent lives of Patty Hewes (Glenn Close), the nation’s most revered and reviled high-stakes litigator, and her bright, ambitious young protégé Ellen Parsons (Rose Byrne). Emmy Award Winner John Goodman and Emmy Award Nominee Dylan Baker join the cast as series regulars and, in keeping with DAMAGES’ tradition of featuring what is arguably the most impressive roster guest stars of any series on television, season four will feature Chris Messina, Judd Hirsch, Fisher Stevens, Griffin Dunn, Julie White, Bailey Chase and Derek Webster in recurring roles. The show was created and is executive produced by KZK and co-executive produced by Mark A. Baker.

The fourth season of DAMAGES finds Patty and Ellen embroiled in a wrongful-death suit against a private military contractor, Howard T. Erickson (John Goodman). Erickson has made a fortune supplying the U.S. Government with security forces in Afghanistan and is protected by his connections within the highest echelons of power in Washington, D.C. Chris Sanchez (Chris Messina), a decorated soldier who now works for the security firm, is drawn into the web of intrigue when Ellen and Patty set their sights on his corrupt employer. Complicating matters is Jerry Boorman (Dylan Baker), a shadowy opportunist with ties to both Erickson and the Middle East who is intimately involved in the season-long conspiracy at the heart of the lawsuit.

DAMAGES received a total of nineteen Emmy Award nominations. The series earned seven Emmy Award nominations in each of its first two seasons and Close, who won twice, became the first actress from a basic cable series to win the Emmy for Lead Actress in a Drama; Zeljko Ivanek became the first actor from a basic cable series to win the Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor for a Drama Series; and DAMAGES was the first basic cable series to take home the Emmy for Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series and was one of the first basic cable series to be nominated in the category. DAMAGES received five Emmy Award nominations for its critically acclaimed third season, Glenn Close for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, Rose Byrne for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series, Martin Short for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series, Ted Danson for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series and Lily Tomlin for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series.

DAMAGES has been nominated for a total of seven Golden Globe Awards. In its first season, the series earned the most Golden Globes nominations of any show in television with Glenn Close winning for Best Actress in a TV Series – Drama. In its second season, the series received three Golden Globe nominations, which included a repeat nomination for Glenn Close, a nomination for Rose Byrne for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television and a nomination for William Hurt for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television.

DAMAGES is produced by Sony Pictures Television in association with FX Productions and KZK Productions.

About DIRECTV:
DIRECTV (NASDAQ: DTV) is the world’s largest pay TV provider delivering the premiere video experience through state-of-the-art technology, unmatched programming and industry leading customer service to more than 28 million customers in the U.S. and Latin America. In the U.S., DIRECTV offers its 19.4 million customers access to more than 160 HD channels and Dolby-Digital(R) 5.1 theater-quality sound (when available), access to exclusive sports programming such as NFL SUNDAY TICKET(TM), award winning technology like its DIRECTV(R) DVR Scheduler and higher customer satisfaction than the leading cable companies for ten years running. DIRECTV Latin America, through its subsidiaries and affiliated companies in Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Venezuela, Colombia, and other Latin American countries, leads the pay-TV category in technology, programming and service, delivering an unrivaled digital television experience to 9 million customers. DIRECTV sports and entertainment properties include three Regional Sports Networks (Northwest, Rocky Mountain and Pittsburgh) as well as a 65 percent interest in Game Show Network. For the most up-to-date information on DIRECTV, please call 1-800-DIRECTV or visit directv.com.

About Sony Pictures Television
Sony Pictures Television is one of the television industry’s leading content providers. It produces and distributes programming in every genre, including series, telefilms, theatrical releases and family entertainment around the world and for every platform: broadcast and cable television, first-run and off-network syndication and digital distribution. In addition to one of the industry’s largest libraries of feature films and television shows, SPT boasts a current program slate that includes the top-rated daytime dramas and game shows, landmark off-network series, original animated series and critically acclaimed primetime dramas, comedies and telefilms. Internationally, SPT is a leader in local language productions around the world, some of which are co-produced with local partners, and sells SPE-owned formats in approximately 70 countries. To better serve its clients and partners worldwide, SPT maintains offices throughout the world, including Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, the Netherlands, the People’s Republic of China, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Venezuela and the United Kingdom. SPT’s worldwide television networks portfolio is a key strategy in SPE’s long-range commitment to the global marketplace, with 120 channel feeds, which are available in more than 142 countries reaching more than 500 million households worldwide. SPT also creates original content for and manages SPE’s premium video website, Crackle. Additionally, SPT owns Dutch entertainment company 2waytraffic, production company Embassy Row and Sony Movie Channel, and is a part owner of cable channel GSN, new 3D channel 3net, FEARnet, the premier horror/thriller website and VOD service, and national media sales company ITN Networks, Inc. SPT advertiser sales is one of the premiere national advertising sales companies, handling the commercial inventory in SPT’s syndicated series as well as in all of SPE’s digital businesses in the United States. SPT (www.sonypicturestelevision.com) is a Sony Pictures Entertainment company.

What do you think? Will you be tuning in to see season four of Damages or will you have to wait for the eventual DVD release?