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NEW YORK -- ABC News and The Learning Channel have pacted for a deal that gives the Alphabet newsmag "20/20" exclusive first-look rights to footage and storylines from the Discovery Communications-owned cabler's original productions.

Agreement, a first for both parties, calls for "20/20" and TLC to partner in the production of "20/20" segs based on upcoming TLC documentaries and specials. The first effort of the collaboration, to run on tonight's "20/20" and next week on the cabler, comes from a TLC spec on women and the impotence drug Viagra.

The deal is similar to collaborations "Dateline NBC" has forged with Court TV, National Geographic Prods. and TLC sister net Discovery Channel. Such agreements give newsmags cheap access to content, while cablers get free brand and program promotion as well as the chance to reach millions more viewers than usually tune in to a cable program.

While ABC and TLC have not partnered before, the Alphabet web and Discovery have a long-standing relationship that includes ABC News' production of a weekly science news show for the Discovery Channel. ABC News Prods. has also co-produced several docus for TLC.