I thought a show had to reach 100 episodes before it would be eligible for syndication.

I read that BBT recently had a syndication deal, yet the show hasn't reached 100 episodes yet.

I thought a show had to reach 100 episodes before it would be eligible for syndication.

I read that BBT recently had a syndication deal, yet the show hasn't reached 100 episodes yet.

I think it's a safe bet that with the ratings this show gets that it will easily reach 100 episodes and more.

In general though, (regardless of which show) doesn't there need to be 100 episodes?

what's BBT?:confused:

what's BBT?:confused:

Big Bang Theory

100 episodes is a healthy number for stripping (running 5 days a week) and of course more is better, but lots of shows have had very successful runs in syndication with fewer than that, in some case much fewer. Addams Family and The Munsters are the first examples that come to mind. Without stopping to look I'd say there are only about 70 episodes of each and yet those shows were perennial favorites on local stations for years.

The Ghost And Mrs. Muir, Please Don't Eat The Daisies, F-Troop, The Bill Cosby Show and many other two-season shows were offered in syndication at one time or another. Heck, what about The Honeymooners 'classic 39' episodes? They ran and ran and ran for almost 30 years before Jackie Gleason opened the vaults and shared the 'lost' episodes. Even the 1957 version of Blondie has made the rounds in syndication--all 26 episodes!

Those are all examples of shows that have been stripped in syndication. Shows with even fewer episodes such as The Prisoner and Eischied have turned up for syndicated runs, usually in late-night weekend time slots.

So while number of episodes is an important consideration, there isn't a minimum to qualify as you put it. It's a simple matter of whether it'll sell.

Don't forget Lost In Space and Star Trek T.O.S. The first had 83 eps and the latter 79 both had healthy runs in syndication.

Syndication deals have changed over time. It has been noted that most syndication deals happen before TV shows hit 100 episodes. Also cable channels often will air reruns of shows that haven't hit 100 episodes or shows that had less than that. Bravo aired reruns of Six Feet Under which only had about 70 episodes. A&E also airs The Sopranos and ABC Family will begin airing reruns of Friday Night Lights in September.

Thanks, I didn't know that. That explains it. :)

I think WKRP only had 90 episodes, but it still hit big in syndication. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

I think WKRP only had 90 episodes, but it still hit big in syndication. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.
IMDB.com agrees with you Monika (a smart move on their part!). According to the episode list on that site there were exactly 90 episodes of WKRP In Cincinnati.

I think WKRP only had 90 episodes, but it still hit big in syndication. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.
Yea that's true. What's Happening was big in syndication too and it only had about 66 episodes. In NC, Carter Country was rerunned all the time in the 1980's and they only had about 44 episodes. And they aired every day of the week. lol

In the 50s into the mid-60s, just about every show went into syndication, even if it only last for one season. For instance, Gidget, No Time for Sergeants, Wendy and Me and Room for One More are all examples of syndicated one season series. There were many more.

Wow - I just guessed at 90 episodes for WKRP! Thanks for confirming it, everyone. :cool:

Don't forget Lost In Space and Star Trek T.O.S. The first had 83 eps and the latter 79 both had healthy runs in syndication.

Star Trek is a unique example of a show actually becoming a bigger hit in syndication than in its original network TV run.

Star Trek is a unique example of a show actually becoming a bigger hit in syndication than in its original network TV run.

also the Brady Bunch

In general though, (regardless of which show) doesn't there need to be 100 episodes?

The traditional standard number of episodes is 100, yes. However in recent years; if a show has proven itself to be successful a studio will go ahead and offer it up for sale before it produces 100 episodes. Some shows are so successful that the studio knows they will make the 100 episode and sells it into syndication in advance. The Big Bang Theory and Modern Family are both examples of successful shows the network knows will produce 100 episodes.

Now, there are examples of some shows that fall short of the 100 episode mark that still manage syndication deals on cable networks; recently shows such as "Hope & Faith" or "8 simple rules" have aired on cable despite not having produced 100 episodes. Sometimes it's because a show fits a cable network's demographics perfectly or is popular enough to air in syndication despite lack of episodes.


Plus; in this day and age with syndication sales on the decline studios are doing anything they can to sell whatever property they can manage.

And then there's some shows that reached exactly 100 episodes or very close to 100 episodes.

The Bernie Mac Show has been very close to or hit exactly 100 eps. before FOX pulled the plug on it and was reran locally for several years and on BET and F/X nowadays.

The A-Team came near close to 100 episodes over a span of 5 seasons was reran on and off TV.

The Monkees had 2 seasons worth of episodes and what also a cult hit in syndication reruns and that show is one of the 1st shows where it was canned not b/c of low ratings but due to the casts' demands and conflicts.

The 1960s Batman is another that comes to mind. Except, in the case of the 1960s Batman, ABC aired 2 episodes a week during its original run during the 1st 2 seasons, something very few network TV shows ever done. Despite 3 seasons worth of episodes totalling 100 or so, the 1960s Batman is still highly regarded to this day.

Same with Everybody Hates Chris. This show has been off the air for over a year now and it has 88 episodes over a span of 4 seasons and is still rerun locally and on cable like crazy.

and the truth is that having 100 episodes doesn't always mean a show will be successful in syndication; look at Murphy Brown a show that aired for 10 seasons and had 247 episodes (according to wikipedia) and yet it has all but flopped in syndication. A show can have 100+ episodes but that alone doesn't mean it'll work in syndication.

and the truth is that having 100 episodes doesn't always mean a show will be successful in syndication; look at Murphy Brown a show that aired for 10 seasons and had 247 episodes (according to wikipedia) and yet it has all but flopped in syndication. A show can have 100+ episodes but that alone doesn't mean it'll work in syndication.

B/c some will think that the show's topical nature of the time is dated by some standards.

In order for a show to be successful in local syndication, it needs to appear to the audience that watches in the hours when syndicated shows are typically like during the early evening or late night. The Brady Bunch was a bigger hit in syndication because latchkey kids watched it after school and that led to a few revivial attempts and two movies. South Park and the Simpsons have some topical nature but they appeal to young men who advertisers want to reach.

B/c some will think that the show's topical nature of the time is dated by some standards.
Yes Murphy Brown was very topical and I'm sure that has hurt the performance of the show in syndication. Other shows like I Love Lucy, Leave it to Beaver, The Dick Van Dyke Show and others avoided being topical and as a result the episodes of those shows are timeless and have remained popular in syndication for decades.

also the Brady Bunch
While there has been a handful of shows that have become more popular in syndication then their original run, there hasn't been a show that has generated such a long spanning life as Star Trek. It truly exploded in syndication and at one point (don't know if this is true any longer) the most profitable per episode creation for a studio all after its original run.

While there has been a handful of shows that have become more popular in syndication then their original run, there hasn't been a show that has generated such a long spanning life as Star Trek. It truly exploded in syndication and at one point (don't know if this is true any longer) the most profitable per episode creation for a studio all after its original run.

Baywatch probrally is the most recent example of a show that became more popular in syndication than it's original network run. Once NBC cancelled it after it's 1 season network run it was brought back in first run syndication and became the most popular show in the world at one point.

There are so many scripted shows on the najor terrestrial networks vying to make 100 episodes just for syndication. A question is, can there be too many scripted series for syndication?

There are so many scripted shows on the najor terrestrial networks vying to make 100 episodes just for syndication. A question is, can there be too many scripted series for syndication?

Plenty of shows are buried in the vaults and with many episodes in the library to boot. Despite all the channels out there, some shows will never see the light of a rerun again.

what's BBT?:confused:
This is a phrase I wish I could hear asked more.

Three's Company may be yet another example of a show going into syndication before 100 episodes. The show was first syndicated in the fall of 1979; at the same time its fourth season was being broadcast on ABC.

~Ben

The limit for syndication now is actually 88 episodes, not 100.

100 is preferred, but 88 is the minimum.

When are syndicated TV prints updated? I mean this to say when do syndicated programs get a newer closing logo?

For example, Hogan's Heroes was syndicated in 1971, and that year witnessed the founding of Viacom (short for "Video and Audio Communications"). The original Viacom closing logo, which on most of the 168 episodes had replaced the Bing Crosby Productions (BCP) logo, looked like this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nspAwnHmpUw

Viacom changed its logo to this in 1976:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=fvwp&NR=1&v=wkuAcTdL6sI

And slightly updated in 1978 for videotaped stock:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXULMf1KPhg
(a warp-speed version also exists)

For 1986, it looked like this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hogkyz6VsLo
(warp-speed and extended versions also existed)

The question that begs to be answered is this: how often are syndicated prints of TV shows updated? Four years? Five years?

Theoretically, because Hogan's Heroes began its syndicated course in the fall of 1971, then applying the four-year syndication print update rule would bring forth:
1971 to 1975 = 1971 Viacom logo (no BCP logo)
1975 to 1979 = 1971 Viacom logo (no BCP logo)
1979 to 1983 = 1976 Viacom logo (no BCP logo)
1983 to 1987 = 1978 Viacom logo (follows BCP logo)
1987 to 1991 = 1986 Viacom logo (follows BCP logo)
1991 to 1995 = 1990 Viacom logo (follows BCP logo)
1995 to 1999 = 1995 Paramount Domestic Television logo (follows BCP logo)

~Ben

100 episodes is a healthy number for stripping (running 5 days a week) and of course more is better, but lots of shows have had very successful runs in syndication with fewer than that, in some case much fewer. Addams Family and The Munsters are the first examples that come to mind. Without stopping to look I'd say there are only about 70 episodes of each and yet those shows were perennial favorites on local stations for years.

The Ghost And Mrs. Muir, Please Don't Eat The Daisies, F-Troop, The Bill Cosby Show and many other two-season shows were offered in syndication at one time or another. Heck, what about The Honeymooners 'classic 39' episodes? They ran and ran and ran for almost 30 years before Jackie Gleason opened the vaults and shared the 'lost' episodes. Even the 1957 version of Blondie has made the rounds in syndication--all 26 episodes!

Those are all examples of shows that have been stripped in syndication. Shows with even fewer episodes such as The Prisoner and Eischied have turned up for syndicated runs, usually in late-night weekend time slots.

So while number of episodes is an important consideration, there isn't a minimum to qualify as you put it. It's a simple matter of whether it'll sell.


Here are a few more examples for you:

(I looked up all the totals!)

Car 54, Where Are You? 60 episodes
The Addams Family 64
The Munsters 70
F Troop 65
Gilligan's Island 98
Gidget 32
The Flying Nun 83
The Monkees 68
Julia 85
The Courtship Of Eddie's Father 73
The Partridge Family 96
Chico and the Man 88
Welcome Back Kotter 95
Mork and Mindy 91
Soap 93
Archie Bunker's Place 97

A few more that just made it over 100:

My Favorite Martian 107
The Patty Duke Show 104
The Brady Bunch 117
The Odd Couple 114
Room 222 112
Rhoda 109
Taxi 114

I'm thankful for the fact that syndication rules are sometimes fairly lenient otherwise many of the shows I just listed would never get shown. Another factor to consider is that in the 1950s and 60s, a season would last for 39 weeks (The Honeymooners Classic 39 only represented one full season) while today a season is only 22 weeks long. So back then even if you were only on for a short time that still represented a fair amount of work and it was sufficient to qualify for syndication. Today, a show that lasts for 4 seasons, which would be considered a minor hit, will only have reached 88 episodes, hence 88 being the new magic number. But, even so, there are exceptions that sometimes defy logic. In recent years, while casually channel surfing and looking at the TV listings, I have noticed on Canadian TV at various times the likes of "Joey", "Two Guys and a Girl (And A Pizza Place)", "Ned and Stacey", and even (drum roll, please!) "Joanie Loves Chachi" get the heavy rotation treatment, plus "Three's A Crowd" and "The Ropers" will sometimes fill in for "Three's Company" so I wouldn't put too much stock in any of the rules that exist today. If it gives you more access to more shows that otherwise wouldn't get seen, I think it's great---but please, no more "Joey"!

I would assume that, if a successful scripted network TV series has completed two full seasons and has been renewed for a third full season, then the TV show would vie for syndication eligibility during that third season. A fourth full season would help the scripted TV series meet the minimum requirement of 80 episodes for a viable syndication package.

Remember the last time a scripted network TV series was cancelled after 3 full seasons or 4 full seasons? ABC's "Hope & Faith", with 73 episodes, was the last network TV show to be cancelled after three full seasons. "Everybody Hates Chris", with 88 episodes, was the last network TV show to be cancelled after four full seasons.

Carter Country aired in NC five days a week for years and there was only 44 episodes of that.

Also ALF and NewsRadio ended with about 97 episodes.

Home Improvement went into syndication in September 1995 after 100 episodes and ended in May 1999 after another 100 episodes.

8 Seasons 204 episodes (1991-1999)

Can a scripted broadcast TV show end up having too many episodes for one syndication package? An example is when said TV show airs 300 or more episodes.

Gunsmoke aired 635 episodes over 20 seasons, and the series' run is split into three separate packages (the half-hour B&W episodes, the one-hour B&W episodes, and the one-hour color episodes).

[quote=James28]Can a scripted broadcast TV show end up having too many episodes for one syndication package? An example is when said TV show airs 300 or more episodes.

[quote]


My thought is that the only way a series would have "too many" episodes is if there were so many episodes that by the time the series ends it's network run, viewers have grown tired of it and no longer wish to watch it. I guess a series could run too long to the point of exhausting viewers.


Or rather, there is a point at which additional episodes simply don't add any more value to the syndication package, and actually an additional season could hurt the value. An example is "Roseanne", a series that was well-viewed and critically acclaimed but I doubt anybody cares to see that last season, which nearly destroyed the reputation of the show. I believe that those episodes add little to no value to the syndication package and as such is part of the reasons those episodes are often skipped entirely in syndication. I know on one of my local stations which aired the show for decades, they always skip over the last season entirely and go right back to the first season.

So yes, I guess there can be, but not in the sense that a station wouldn't pick up a show for having too many episodes. Look at "Beverly Hills, 90210" it aired for 10 seasons and had over 300 episodes and did extremely well in local syndication and airs on cable til this very day.

Nanny and the Professor - 54 episodes - did quite well in syndication all through the later 1970s.

As far as split syndication packages for longrunning series, My Three Sons was divided in this way: Seasons 1-5, 11, 12 and Seasons 6-10.

Carter Country aired in NC five days a week for years and there was only 44 episodes of that.

I remember that, I believe it aired on WSOC channel 9 in my area.

Three's Company may be yet another example of a show going into syndication before 100 episodes. The show was first syndicated in the fall of 1979; at the same time its fourth season was being broadcast on ABC.

~Ben

Where did you get that idea? ABC ran an hour block of TC reruns on its daytime lineup in 1981, so you can rest assured those episodes had not previously been offered in syndication.

I know this is a rare situation, but how many scripted TV shows on cable (basic or premium) have aired 100 or more original episodes?

I know this is a rare situation, but how many scripted TV shows on cable (basic or premium) have aired 100 or more original episodes?

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (104 episodes)
The New Leave It To Beaver (105 episodes)
Wizards of Waverly Place (106 episodes)
iCarly (109 episodes)
Rugrats (172 episodes)
Hey Arnold (100 episodes)
Weeds (102 episodes)

More cable shows which had 100+ episodes:

The Closer (109 episodes)
Monk (125 episodes)
Psych (109 episodes, still active)
Burn Notice (111 episodes)

I know this is a rare situation, but how many scripted TV shows on cable (basic or premium) have aired 100 or more original episodes?


I would think it's not all that rare...

Strong Medicine (Lifetime)- 132 Episodes
Army Wives (Lifetime)- 117
Monk (USA)- 125 episodes

I would assume that, if a successful scripted network TV series has completed two full seasons and has been renewed for a third full season, then the TV show would vie for syndication eligibility during that third season. A fourth full season would help the scripted TV series meet the minimum requirement of 80 episodes for a viable syndication package.

Remember the last time a scripted network TV series was cancelled after 3 full seasons or 4 full seasons? ABC's "Hope & Faith", with 73 episodes, was the last network TV show to be cancelled after three full seasons. "Everybody Hates Chris", with 88 episodes, was the last network TV show to be cancelled after four full seasons.
Yeah, this is pretty much how it works. Most syndication deals are made during the shows' third seasons (especially sitcoms which are generally more profitable in syndication). If a show is renewed for a full third season after airing two full seasons, it's basically guaranteed at least one more season to get it close enough to 88 to be syndicated, unless the ratings situation is really disastrous.

Another cable series that made it to exactly 100 episodes is FX's Nip/Tuck.

I think it's a safe bet that with the ratings this show gets that it will easily reach 100 episodes and more.
I thought it had to be on at least 5 years or maybe 4. I see a lot of shows on METV that weren't on that long.

Starsky & Hutch was re-run for many years and had only 92 episodes.

I must say that is has been nice reading these comments about syndication and deals. I like looking at short lived shows that make it syndication.

Another show on premium cable that produced over 100 episodes was the HBO 30-minute drama In Treatment, which aired from 2008 to 2010. 106 episodes of In Treatment were produced over just three seasons. its original airings were five nights a week over 7 weeks (in season three, the original airings were four nights a week).

In order for a show to be successful in local syndication, it needs to appear to the audience that watches in the hours when syndicated shows are typically like during the early evening or late night. The Brady Bunch was a bigger hit in syndication because latchkey kids watched it after school and that led to a few revivial attempts and two movies. South Park and the Simpsons have some topical nature but they appeal to young men who advertisers want to reach.

It's really the more recent South Park episodes that are topical in nature.

The earlier episodes (says, Seasons 1-9) however do fairly well in syndication.

Another question about syndication prospects:

It is true that if a TV show has aired for three full seasons (of at least 20 episodes each), then it will most likely get a fourth season (either full or shortened). But what about TV shows that premiere as midseason replacements?

Midseason replacement shows and multi-season shows with shortened episode orders for each of their seasons are less likely to have enough episodes for syndication, and they can be more vulnerable to the cancellation axe if they do not perform well enough in the ratings in their first few years.

Another question about syndication prospects:

It is true that if a TV show has aired for three full seasons (of at least 20 episodes each), then it will most likely get a fourth season (either full or shortened). But what about TV shows that premiere as midseason replacements?

Midseason replacement shows and multi-season shows with shortened episode orders for each of their seasons are less likely to have enough episodes for syndication, and they can be more vulnerable to the cancellation axe if they do not perform well enough in the ratings in their first few years.Recently shows with three full seasons are usually guaranteed a fourth. That doesn't always happen, The Mindy Project was cancelled by FOX since they didn't own it and the ratings were so low, but it did go elsewhere. And shows with three partial seasons don't have the same protection.

The syndication market has been kind of quiet for a few years now. they simply aren't producing many multi-camera sitcoms; which have historically been the series that do the best in syndication and make the most money.

Right now, crime procedurals are the biggest sellers in syndication, as they typically have close-ended storylines that can be watched out of order.

The last big sitcoms to sell into syndication were Modern Family, The Big Bang Theory and New Girl. Modern Family started off slowly in syndication but has since become a success. BBT has done well in syndication from day one. I think New Girl has been something of a flop in syndication; but I'm not really sure about that.

I don't think any of my affiliates air New Girl.

I don't think any of my affiliates air New Girl.


Right now I believe it is airing on TBS and MTV2 or MTV in reruns. I'm not sure if it is in local syndication yet, I feel like I've seen it, but can't be sure.

I also forgot about Mike & Molly and 2 Broke Girls. Both of those shows are in syndication and seem to be doing well. 2 Broke Girls airs in local as well as on cable, ditto for M&M.

Modern Family is in syndication too! I think any show that gets good ratings, can get syndication before 100 episodes!

How many forms of syndication do we have. There's local, cable, anything else? I suppose there's also streaming syndication?

How many forms of syndication do we have. There's local, cable, anything else? I suppose there's also streaming syndication?


Well yes, there is Local Syndication, Cable and streaming.

Although, technically streaming (online) isn't considered syndication, and is most often a separate contract all-together.

Most of the old-school rules are changing nowadays anyway. Studios just want to find a way to make series profitable for them, that is why many series which traditionally wouldn't be big syndication series find profitability with a streaming site like Netflix or Hulu.

Also, DVD/Blu-Ray sales are another way for series to make a profit in the after-market. Additionally, there are sites like Amazon and I-Tunes where viewers can buy individual episodes or full seasons of shows while they are still airing, this isn't technically streaming, but it is.

Modern Family is in syndication too! I think any show that gets good ratings, can get syndication before 100 episodes!


Well, some series will get sold into cable syndication if they have under 100 episodes and have been cancelled, but that is rare. Most studios will want a series to have 100 episodes or be approaching 100 before they offer it for syndication.

Most common nowadays is that if a studio knows a show is a solid hit and will be around long enough to produce 100 episodes; they may sell a show into syndication one or two seasons before that when the series has 80 or 90 episodes and then negotiate future seasons into the syndication contract.