A New York state court threw a roadblock down in front of the Weinstein Company in its fight with NBC Universal over the rights to the popular cable program Project Runway.

Just Richard B. Lowe of the Supreme Court in Manhattan, New York state's trial court, sided with NBC and issued a preliminary injunction Friday forbidding Weinstein to proceed with its plan to move the fashion-design reality competition from the NBC Universal-owned Bravo cable network to Lifetime.

Lowe's ruling bolsters NBC Universal's assertion that The Weinstein Company didn't honor a guarantee to provide NBC with the right of first refusal for future seasons of the show before selling it to Lifetime.

In a statement issued after the ruling came down, NBC Universal said it was "pleased" that the court granted its motion. "The overwhelming evidence demonstrated that The Weinstein Company violated NBC Universal's right of first refusal to future cycles of Project Runway," it continued.

The underlying lawsuit will take time to wend its way through the courts (all parties reconvene in court on October 15). But for now, the injunction prevents Lifetime from broadcasting Project Runway.

The ruling must be a particularly sweet victory for NBCU C.E.O. Jeff Zucker, whose personal relationship with Harvey Weinstein was a central topic on the court case.

Another part of NBC Universal's legal argument revolved around the losses that would be incurred if the show left Bravo. On this point, the judge concurred, writing that "this court agrees with the plaintiffs that in the matter the loss of a program like Project Runway could result in harm which is not calculable by money damages."

The judge also reiterated NBCU's categorizations of the show as "the most popular series on all of cable," a "rare television asset," and a "television sensation."

Even if, by some arguments, the show's latest season got off to a slow start this summer, Project Runway is without a doubt the centerpiece in Bravo's host of creative competition reality shows, inspiring break-out hits like Top Chef.

A call to The Weinstein Company for comment was answered by a recorded voice mail message, stating that the offices were currently closed.