The first season of Showtime’s crime drama series “Dexter,” starring Michael C. Hall, will find a new home on CBS come February 17, airing each Sunday for 12 consecutive weeks.

In an effort to fill in the hole left by striking writers, CBS announced Monday it would air the 12 episodes of the first season of “Dexter,” originally aired between October and December 2006 on the cable network Showtime.

“Dexter” will air Sundays at 10 p.m. beginning Feb. 17, over consecutive weeks. This is the first time a full season of a premium cable drama series transitions to broadcast TV, CBS said.

CBS boss Leslie Moonves had already announced the network’s move at the end of last year.

NBC also announced previously it would air episodes of “Monk” and “Psych” from the USA Network, beginning in March.

“‘Dexter’ is a high-quality, compelling series that will be new and original programming for most CBS viewers,” CBS Entertainment president Nina Tassler said. “It's also a great match with our existing lineup, affording us the opportunity to promote this critically decorated series in CBS' top-rated crime dramas.”

Showtime Entertainment prexy Bob Greenblatt said that the series is not as bloody as one might expect, considering its premise. Michael C. Hall, of “Six Feet Under” fame, stars as a likeable man who sublimates his serial killer drive (or at least tries to) with a job as a blood pattern analyst.

The Miami Police Dept. forensics expert only kills criminals who cannot be caught otherwise in the justice system.

While the onscreen violence does not surpass that of CBS crime drama series such as “CSI,” Showtime had already began to edit “Dexter” for off-net syndication, reports trade paper Variety.

Greenblatt expressed hopes that “Dexter” would be welcomed by viewers during its run on CBS.

“I think it will be very compatible with their lineup as well as be a great opportunity to promote our brand on a platform that reaches every home in America,” he was quoted by the Hollywood Reporter as saying.

The same source quotes “Dexter” exec producer Daniel Cerone expressing some ambivalence towards the series’ move to CBS.

“On one hand you want what you write to be seen by the greatest number of people, and as WGA members on strike, we will get residuals for these airings,” he said.

“On the other hand, if, by reprocessing the series the network is using it as strike programming, it may delay any resolution in the (labor dispute).”

Cerone added that he and other writing producers of “Dexter” who are WGA members would not take part in the editing of the season about to premiere on CBS. He will however oversee the editing process to make sure the series’ essence is not lost.