Zoneboy
06-20-2012, 03:09 PM
In another blockbuster off-network sale, TBS has acquired syndie rights to the CBS laffer "2 Broke Girls" from Warner Bros. Domestic TV Distribution.
Turner cabler will begin airing the Warner Bros. TV-produced series in 2015. TBS has had big success with the Eye's "The Big Bang Theory," and "2 Broke Girls" is another way the net believes it can help build its comedy brand.
TBS is said to be paying north of $1.5 million an episode for "Girls," a major commitment for a show that has only had one season in primetime. The deal is believed to top the record-setting price that TBS set two years ago when it nabbed "Big Bang Theory" rerun rights.
"Two Broke Girls," along with "Mike & Molly," has also been sold to CBS Television Stations for a syndie run. "Mike & Molly" will preem in fall 2014, with "Girls" set to go a year later.
Among the top CBS affils to air the pair are WLNY in New York, KCAL in Los Angeles and WPSG in Philadelphia. The two series have been cleared in 35% of the country.
"Girls" stars Kat Dennings and Beth Behrs as Brooklyn waitresses with big dreams. Michael Patrick King is exec producer.
Series performed strongly for CBS in its just-concluded first season. Airing at 8:30 p.m. Mondays, it was the season's top new comedy, averaging a 4.4 rating/11 share in the 18-49 demo 11.4 million viewers overall. CBS has moved the show to 9 o'clock beginning in September, sandwiched between new series "Partners" and returning comedy "Mike & Molly."
"When '2 Broke Girls' premiered last fall, it immediately found its audience and appeared to us to be a perfect fit for TBS," said TBS/TNT president Michael Wright. "It brings a fresh contemporary attitude to the classic sitcom format."
Added Ken Werner, president of Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution: "Successful cable networks have built their programming slates with a strategic mix of acquired proven off-net series along with compelling original programming."
The acquisition of "The Big Bang Theory" has lifted TBS' overall primetime ratings in a big way, and, as a lead-in, also was a factor in helping latenight talkshow "Conan" see increases in total viewers and several demos.
Net has made a major push on the syndie front, not only picking up the two CBS shows but ABC castoff "Cougar Town," which will likely air in 2013. Original series "Sullivan & Son" and "Wedding Band" are set to debut later in the year.
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118055763
Turner cabler will begin airing the Warner Bros. TV-produced series in 2015. TBS has had big success with the Eye's "The Big Bang Theory," and "2 Broke Girls" is another way the net believes it can help build its comedy brand.
TBS is said to be paying north of $1.5 million an episode for "Girls," a major commitment for a show that has only had one season in primetime. The deal is believed to top the record-setting price that TBS set two years ago when it nabbed "Big Bang Theory" rerun rights.
"Two Broke Girls," along with "Mike & Molly," has also been sold to CBS Television Stations for a syndie run. "Mike & Molly" will preem in fall 2014, with "Girls" set to go a year later.
Among the top CBS affils to air the pair are WLNY in New York, KCAL in Los Angeles and WPSG in Philadelphia. The two series have been cleared in 35% of the country.
"Girls" stars Kat Dennings and Beth Behrs as Brooklyn waitresses with big dreams. Michael Patrick King is exec producer.
Series performed strongly for CBS in its just-concluded first season. Airing at 8:30 p.m. Mondays, it was the season's top new comedy, averaging a 4.4 rating/11 share in the 18-49 demo 11.4 million viewers overall. CBS has moved the show to 9 o'clock beginning in September, sandwiched between new series "Partners" and returning comedy "Mike & Molly."
"When '2 Broke Girls' premiered last fall, it immediately found its audience and appeared to us to be a perfect fit for TBS," said TBS/TNT president Michael Wright. "It brings a fresh contemporary attitude to the classic sitcom format."
Added Ken Werner, president of Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution: "Successful cable networks have built their programming slates with a strategic mix of acquired proven off-net series along with compelling original programming."
The acquisition of "The Big Bang Theory" has lifted TBS' overall primetime ratings in a big way, and, as a lead-in, also was a factor in helping latenight talkshow "Conan" see increases in total viewers and several demos.
Net has made a major push on the syndie front, not only picking up the two CBS shows but ABC castoff "Cougar Town," which will likely air in 2013. Original series "Sullivan & Son" and "Wedding Band" are set to debut later in the year.
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118055763