Brian Damage
06-29-2010, 09:54 AM
http://www.deadline.com/hollywood/
The TV syndication market is red-hot and here's more evidence: the 2 most talked-about new series of this TV season, Fox’s Glee and ABC’s Modern Family, are headed to big off-network syndication deals. We've learned that Twentieth Television is finalizing separate deals for the cable rights to both hit shows made by 20th Century Fox TV with NBC Universal’s Oxygen and USA Network. Glee will be heading to Oxygen, which we hear is paying mid-six figures per episode, plus airing a 2011 reality show to find the next Glee star. While Modern Family will land at USA Network which until now has been focused on hour long procedurals. We hear the deals were negotiated directly with the cable networks, both of whom are NBCU-owned and soon to be Comcast-owned.
That Glee reality show on Oxygen for next summer will feature contestants vying for a role on the musical dramedy. Co-creator Ryan Murphy had originally planned the contest to lead Glee’s 2nd season premiere on Fox this coming fall. But then he realized he was too busy. Additionally, we hear the Oxygen deal involves some additional Glee-related original programming. This syndication deal also will include a station component. As a source told us, "Twentieth TV sees the big picture of this show. It's intent on building this brand that is Glee: a live touring business, music download business, soundtrack album business, DVD business, now syndication business."
As for Modern Family, USA has been mulling an expansion into the half-hour business and recently ordered its first half-hour script. The network also has been looking for off-network series to support its upcoming half-hour originals and, before landing Modern Family, it made a play for Two and a Half Men, which went to TBS. The Modern Family sale marks the 2nd series from freshman class 2009-2010 picked up by USA. Last fall, the cable network shelled out $2.2M-$2.3M per episode for the rights to the CBS drama NCIS: Los Angeles.
The TV syndication market is red-hot and here's more evidence: the 2 most talked-about new series of this TV season, Fox’s Glee and ABC’s Modern Family, are headed to big off-network syndication deals. We've learned that Twentieth Television is finalizing separate deals for the cable rights to both hit shows made by 20th Century Fox TV with NBC Universal’s Oxygen and USA Network. Glee will be heading to Oxygen, which we hear is paying mid-six figures per episode, plus airing a 2011 reality show to find the next Glee star. While Modern Family will land at USA Network which until now has been focused on hour long procedurals. We hear the deals were negotiated directly with the cable networks, both of whom are NBCU-owned and soon to be Comcast-owned.
That Glee reality show on Oxygen for next summer will feature contestants vying for a role on the musical dramedy. Co-creator Ryan Murphy had originally planned the contest to lead Glee’s 2nd season premiere on Fox this coming fall. But then he realized he was too busy. Additionally, we hear the Oxygen deal involves some additional Glee-related original programming. This syndication deal also will include a station component. As a source told us, "Twentieth TV sees the big picture of this show. It's intent on building this brand that is Glee: a live touring business, music download business, soundtrack album business, DVD business, now syndication business."
As for Modern Family, USA has been mulling an expansion into the half-hour business and recently ordered its first half-hour script. The network also has been looking for off-network series to support its upcoming half-hour originals and, before landing Modern Family, it made a play for Two and a Half Men, which went to TBS. The Modern Family sale marks the 2nd series from freshman class 2009-2010 picked up by USA. Last fall, the cable network shelled out $2.2M-$2.3M per episode for the rights to the CBS drama NCIS: Los Angeles.