I have a question about TV syndication. Exactly how does it work? Do stations pay everytime they air an episode, or pay one yearly fee? Also, do they recieve "edited" versions of the shows or complete versions and then do the editing themselves?

I've always wondered too exactly how do they get all the episodes of a series? Do they send them a film reel or video for every episode of the series, or do they put 5 or so episodes on a tape like most of us do when we tape them?

There are two types of syndication. Up until the 80s, it worked this way: a station would pay a license fee to run all the episodes of a series a certain number of times (I believe 7 times was a standard). The stations would then receive the tapes or films from the distributor, and would be able to air them any time they wanted in any order, and could sell all the commercial time during the show. When the license for show was up, the station could renew it, or let it lapse.

This type of syndication still happens. But the premium shows are sold as "barter". This is the same way that game shows and talk shows are syndicated. The station still generally pays a license fee, but it is for a certain period of time rather than a certain number of runs. The distributor of the show retains a certain number of minutes of commercial time to sell nationally. So, for instance, "Seinfeld" reruns in New York will have some of the same commercials as "Seinfeld" reruns in Boston. Also, the distributor determines which episodes will be shown on which days, rather than the station. The local stations are limited to running the number of episodes "fed" to them via satellite every day (either one, or at the most, two). "The Cosby Show" was the first sitcom to be sold this way in reruns in the late 80s. This method is generally reserved for premium sitcoms that have not been in the syndication market for too long, such as "Seinfeld" and "Friends".

In the early days of syndicated reruns, stations sometimes did their own editing, but generally, the distributor now handles the editing and stations receive standard edited copies.

I have a satellite dish and I try to catch the "feeds" when I have time. Every once in awhile, they switch times, and satellites, but usually I can find them. Also, our guide contains this information. It is really cool. There for awhile, I was able to get an entire afternoon of "Friends" and "3rd Rock" every Saturday. But you are right, they are not always in order. One time I ran into a "Home Improvement" feed that was all Christmas episodes.

I am going to hate it when my big dish dies, because I think we are going to go for a smaller one next time.