Fall 2005 Local Syndication; Fall 2008 Cable Syndication to fX!

[Pavan]

Twentieth Television has cleared The Bernie Mac Show in 30% of the country for a fall 2005 rollout.

"Quality sitcoms are still one of the best investments a station can make," said Bob Cook, president and chief operating officer of Twentieth Television. "The Bernie Mac Show captures the humor that all families can relate to, and the star of the show has established himself not only on television, but in film, books and as a hugely popular standup comedian."

So far, the show has been cleared on Fox’s WNYW (TV)/WWOR-TV New York; KTTV (TV) /KCOP (TV) Los Angeles; WJBK (TV) Detroit; and KRIV (TV) and KTXH (TV) Houston.

It is also cleared on Weigel Broadcasting’s WCIU-TV Chicago; Viacom Inc.’s WPSG-TV Philadelphia, KTXA-TV Dallas and WNDY(TV) Indianapolis; and Sinclair Broadcast Group Inc.’s WBFF-TV and WNUV-TV Baltimore.

[Pavan]

More station buyings:

Twentieth TV has sold reruns of hit Fox sitcom "The Bernie Mac Show" to eight more cities after racking up deals in a dozen markets late last month, putting the show in 45% of the U.S.
"Bernie Mac" will become available to stations in fall 2005.

New deals include KTVU/KICU San Francisco, WBFS Miami, WUPA Atlanta and XETV/XUPN San Diego.

WBDC in Washington has also bought it.

[PPDillhole]

They have to have 5 seasons first though right? Right.

[Pavan]

Continuing to stockpile rerun sitcoms to bolster its Nielsen ratings, FX has bought exclusive cable rights to Twentieth TV's "The Bernie Mac Show" for a four-year license term.
The parties declined to comment on dollar figures, but a sluggish marketplace for off-network shows allowed FX to get "Bernie Mac" for the modest price of $235,000 a half-hour.

In previous years, FX paid $600,000 an episode for Twentieth's "Malcolm in the Middle," $490,000 a half-hour for Carsey-Werner Distribution's "That '70s Show" and $400,000 an episode for Twentieth's "King of the Hill."

With "Bernie Mac," however, Twentieth could end up collecting another $200,000 an episode or more from the 90 seconds of advertising time it will hold back within each half-hour run of the show on FX. These barter carve-outs have become par for the course in off-net syndication.

FX gets "Bernie Mac" in the fall of 2008 after the show completes a three-year exclusive run on TV stations in off-network syndication. Twentieth's syndication sales staff has already cleared "Bernie Mac" in 75% of the U.S.

If the Fox Network cancels "Bernie Mac" before it reaches its fourth year, FX will pay less than $235,000 a half hour because fewer episodes will make the show less valuable in cable reruns.

For each additional year that Fox renews "Bernie Mac" beyond year four, Twentieth tacks an extra six months onto FX's four-year contract. But there's a cap: FX will not have to buy any additional episodes beyond seven years should the show continue to get picked up by Fox.

Bob Cook, president and chief operating officer of Twentieth TV, engineered the deal. "Bernie Mac" is co-produced by Regency TV and Fox TV Studios.

[Pavan]

If anyone gets the Cable WB (it's called WB 100+), you'll get to see Bernie Mac 5 days a week:

The WB 100+ has acquired the off-network rights to Twentieth Television’s The Bernie Mac Show.

The show is likely to air in access, paired with Sony Pictures Television’s The King of Queens, debuting in syndication this fall.

Representatives from The WB 100+ would not comment on license fees.

Warner Bros.’ Will & Grace is the other off-net sitcom aired by The WB 100+, which is comprised of cable-delivered television stations that supply The WB Television Network to markets ranked No. 100 and smaller.

[JD2635]

UPN KAIL in Fresno will have Bernie Mac but Bakersfield will air Bernie Mac on KWFB (one of cable WB 100+ channel groups!)

[Pavan]

Bernie Mac will launch Sept. 8, 2008 on FX:

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/blog/20...ve-mister.html

[Scoobiedoo30]

I think I heard where Bernie Mac Show Contract with local Station's will be expireing in the spring of 2009.

[Pavan]

And where did you hear that? Please state the source when posting facts like that.

[Scoobiedoo30]

I heard it from another member from the Board

[Pavan]

And I already told you on that thread that he was "guessing."

[Scoobiedoo30]

this September will be the 4th Year of that Bernie Mac is on in Syndication