TBS & MTV Nab Cable Rights to "New Girl" - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

JamesG · 08-12-2014, 01:32 PM

TBS & MTV Nab Cable Rights to "New Girl"
by Nellie Andreeva
August 12, 2014

I’ve learned that TBS and MTV will share the basic cable syndication rights to Fox comedy "New Girl" in a five-year deal with Twentieth Television. The comedy starring Zooey Deschanel will make its cable debut in fall 2015 and will air on TBS and MTV weekdays for the following five years.

Created by Liz Meriwether and produced by Chernin Entertainment in association with 20th Century Fox TV, "New Girl" was a breakout hit, starting off as one of the biggest comedies in years. Its live+same day ratings have softened since, but the show remains Fox’s highest-rated comedy and is a top draw in time-shifted viewing and among the younger viewers coveted by advertisers.

That proved key for the off-network sale of "New Girl", said Steve MacDonald, EVP of Cable Sales, Twentieth Television. The ratings strength in Live+7 viewing, the currency used by buyers, “shows you the size and substance of a brand,” he said.

With their different demo targets, 12-34 for MTV and 18-34 and 18-49 for TBS, “we had a situation in which two totally different networks lined up incredibly well with very little duplication,” MacDonald added.

With its theme, a coming-of-age comedy about a girl out of college finding her way with the help of her friends, he feels "New Girl" would mesh well with MTV original scripted series like comedy "Awkward".

At TBS, "New Girl" would be a good demo fit for the network’s early fringe sitcoms, "Friends" and "Seinfeld", and it also is considered a solid potential companion for "2 Broke Girls" in primetime.

Like "New Girl", CBS’ "2 Broke Girls", which TBS acquired in 2012 in a blockbuster deal, also will be available in fall 2015.

"New Girl’s" fourth season premieres on Fox on September 16.

Twentieth TV introduced "New Girl" and fellow 20th TV-produced comedy, "Last Man Standing", at NATPE and recently shopped the Fox series, landing the joint deal with TBS and MTV.

"Last Man" is expected to be taken out next. The streaming rights to "New Girl" were previously sold to Netflix.

http://deadline.com/2014/08/able-rig...go-to-tbs-mtv/

ryan423 · 08-12-2014, 03:28 PM

Interesting purchase for TBS. With six seasons of "Cougar Town," and the addition of "New Girl" and "2 Broke Girls" all available for fall 2015, the network is clearly going after women. This might also mean less 2-hour blocks of the same programs. I'm all for reruns of Friends, Seinfeld, Raymond and King of Queens, but I'll only sit through an episode, maybe two, before turning to something else.

08-12-2014, 01:32 PM	#1
JamesG Freakshow Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 01, 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 57,112	TBS & MTV Nab Cable Rights to "New Girl" *TBS & MTV Nab Cable Rights to "New Girl"* by Nellie Andreeva August 12, 2014 I’ve learned that TBS and MTV will share the basic cable syndication rights to Fox comedy "New Girl" in a five-year deal with Twentieth Television. The comedy starring Zooey Deschanel will make its cable debut in fall 2015 and will air on TBS and MTV weekdays for the following five years. Created by Liz Meriwether and produced by Chernin Entertainment in association with 20th Century Fox TV, "New Girl" was a breakout hit, starting off as one of the biggest comedies in years. Its live+same day ratings have softened since, but the show remains Fox’s highest-rated comedy and is a top draw in time-shifted viewing and among the younger viewers coveted by advertisers. That proved key for the off-network sale of "New Girl", said Steve MacDonald, EVP of Cable Sales, Twentieth Television. The ratings strength in Live+7 viewing, the currency used by buyers, “shows you the size and substance of a brand,” he said. With their different demo targets, 12-34 for MTV and 18-34 and 18-49 for TBS, “we had a situation in which two totally different networks lined up incredibly well with very little duplication,” MacDonald added. With its theme, a coming-of-age comedy about a girl out of college finding her way with the help of her friends, he feels "New Girl" would mesh well with MTV original scripted series like comedy "Awkward". At TBS, "New Girl" would be a good demo fit for the network’s early fringe sitcoms, "Friends" and "Seinfeld", and it also is considered a solid potential companion for "2 Broke Girls" in primetime. Like "New Girl", CBS’ "2 Broke Girls", which TBS acquired in 2012 in a blockbuster deal, also will be available in fall 2015. "New Girl’s" fourth season premieres on Fox on September 16. Twentieth TV introduced "New Girl" and fellow 20th TV-produced comedy, "Last Man Standing", at NATPE and recently shopped the Fox series, landing the joint deal with TBS and MTV. "Last Man" is expected to be taken out next. The streaming rights to "New Girl" were previously sold to Netflix. http://deadline.com/2014/08/able-rig...go-to-tbs-mtv/

08-12-2014, 03:28 PM	#2
ryan423 Member Senior Member Join Date: Oct 15, 2007 Posts: 1,829	Interesting purchase for TBS. With six seasons of "Cougar Town," and the addition of "New Girl" and "2 Broke Girls" all available for fall 2015, the network is clearly going after women. This might also mean less 2-hour blocks of the same programs. I'm all for reruns of Friends, Seinfeld, Raymond and King of Queens, but I'll only sit through an episode, maybe two, before turning to something else.