Beatles Bio Network Will Air Five-Hour Special On Fab Four During November Sweeps

ABC has snagged rights to the much-talked-about Beatles documentary, featuring the world premiere of two “new” songs, “Free as a Bird” and “Real Love.”

The network will air the five-hour bio special on two nights during the November sweeps. In the project, the surviving Beatles - Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr - tell their own stories in new, exclusive interviews. The special will incorporate interviews on audio and video tape left by the late John Lennon, as well as the Fab Four’s home movies and film outtakes.

Sources said last week that ABC has bagged worldwide broadcast rights to the bio, which has been in the works since 1992.

The songs “Free as a Bird” and “Real Love” will be the first Beatles recordings in 25 years. McCartney, Harrison and Starr will perform to the two unreleased Lennon songs, on which he sings and plays.

The songs will be released by Apple Records, which made the TV announcement Wednesday with ABC Entertainment president Ted Harbert.

ABC has been in talks to acquire the project since 1993.

No name was given to the program, which originally had been touted at a hefty 10 hours. Harrison recently told Billboard that it may be called “The Beatles by the Beatles” or “The Beatles Anthology.”

Apple Productions Ltd., owned by the surviving Beatles and the estate of Lennon is producing the television special and will also put out a video series.

The Beatles broke up in 1970. Lennon, who together with McCartney wrote most of the group’s songs, was assassinated on Dec. 9, 1980.