View Full Version : Seinfeld is leaving its longtime cable home TBS for Viacom channels


TMC
09-23-2019, 12:28 AM
https://www.vulture.com/2019/09/seinfeld-comedy-central-viacom-2021.html

Viacom's TV Land, Comedy Central and Paramount Network will begin showing Seinfeld reruns starting in October 2021, ending a 19-year cable syndication run on TBS. Viacom's deal for Seinfeld's cable rights comes five days after Netflix landed streaming rights (https://www.primetimer.com/item/Netflix-lands-streaming-rights-to-Seinfeld-BRSQMz) to all 180 Seinfeld episodes in a $500 million deal. TBS first obtained cable syndication rights for Seinfeld in 1998, the year of its series finale, and began showing the hit sitcom in 2002. According to Josef Adalian, "Viacom makes particular sense for Seinfeld because its cable portfolio is diverse enough for the show to logically run on more than one of its networks, with TV Land and Comedy Central both already to home to numerous half-hour sitcoms. The new deal will let Viacom stream a handful of episodes on its various apps and websites, though not enough to let audiences binge full seasons. Viacom’s press release named only three of its networks as homes for Seinfeld reruns, but unless the deal with Sony expressly prohibits it, it would seem logical for Viacom to sometimes run the show on other properties, including the classic-TV themed Logo or, assuming its merger with CBS closes, the Pop network." Adalian also suggests that Seinfeld reruns could land on the Viacom-owned Pluto TV. TBS paid about $350,000 to $450,000 per episode for Seinfeld after initially paying a record $1 million per episode. Deadline reports Viacom's deal may be worth $200,000 to $250,000 per episode (https://deadline.com/2019/09/seinfeld-viacom-cable-rights-comedy-series-comedy-central-paramount-network-tv-land-1202740519/) since the value of a series goes down with each syndication cycle.

Schmoopie
09-23-2019, 04:47 AM
Interesting.

Hawkee
10-03-2019, 02:29 AM
The reason why Seinfeld reruns are leaving TBS for Viacom channels is because TBS is expanding their sitcom lineup but even on local stations Seinfeld reruns can still be seen in limited areas. I wonder since Seinfeld is moving to Viacom channels Nick At Nite and TV Land will finally get their wish and add Seinfeld reruns to their lineups? Because Nick At Nite and TV Land have been dying to air Seinfeld for a long time and this news is just what the doctor ordered for Nick At Nite and TV Land. I also wonder why Seinfeld is still airing in reruns on local channels just like Friends is? But I think this is a real smart move for Viacom to do and it will free up TBS's lineup to make room for new upcoming sitcoms
Bestie

DadTheKing
10-03-2019, 02:40 AM
Hi, Bestie! I hope somebody is always showing Seinfeld episodes. It was a good show. This is one of my favorites. Georges answering machine. Is it my imagination or was the tune of his message the theme song for another show? Can you remember what the name of that show was?
DTK

SledgeBarone
10-09-2020, 01:36 PM
Theme song was from Greatest American Hero, which ran on ABC in the early 1980s.

mets82
10-11-2020, 12:02 AM
We could rule out Seinfeld on The Paramount Network as that becomes an all movie channel. That leaves Nick at Nite and TV Land. Nick at Nite loves Friends based on all the airings so I don't know if it would on there. TV Land makes more sense although they will chop and edit the show.

When I thought about it, I can see why Seinfeld is leaving TBS. TBS doesn't show Seinfeld nearly as much as Friends especially in the mornings.

someguy23475
11-02-2020, 11:02 PM
I live in a market that had Seinfeld reruns as recent as a couple years ago. They may still do, just on another channel. Larger markets have more stations and thus, more holes to fill. Better than infomercials.

Nick at Night and/or TV Land will do the overkill, with four to six hours a day. That’s where cable is these days. As much as I love the show, that’s a bit much.