A bit of an odd question that I can't seem to find out anything about online.
After a recent trip to the U.S. I noticed that certain programmes including Live with Kelly and Ellen air on different networks in different areas over the country. Is this commonplace and how does it work especially for live and daytime programmes? Is it the highest local broadcaster that gets the programme no matter the network?
A bit of an odd question that I can't seem to find out anything about online.
After a recent trip to the U.S. I noticed that certain programmes including Live with Kelly and Ellen air on different networks in different areas over the country. Is this commonplace and how does it work especially for live and daytime programmes? Is it the highest local broadcaster that gets the programme no matter the network?
Our American friends should be able to explain it a bit better than me, basically the local affiliates buy the programming in, with the evening peak syndicated from the main broadcaster they're affiliated to. You'll notice this as locally played output tends to have the local call letters as part of the logo.
In the US the terrestrial networks don't run a full 24/7 programme - they only programme certain points of the day - all do prime time, NBC, ABC, and CBS do breakfast and late night too, and ABC and CBS have daytime schedules.
Outside of this there is a market for what's known as "syndication". These are shows sold direct to local stations. Originally these were mostly repeats of network shows but since the 1980s (and in particular the massive success of Star Trek: The Next Generation) there has been a market for "first run syndication" - shows that never air on a network and only run in syndication. Both Live with Kelly and The Ellen DeGeneres Show are first run syndication shows.
I was under the impression "syndication" was an Americanism for a show being sold abroad or shown outside of its home network, and not syndication as in what rdd wrote.
Is there any particular reason why NBC and Fox don't do daytime schedules the way ABC and CBS do? I believe Fox is the smallest network out of the big four there and that may have something to do with it but NBC has been around for best part of, what, 90 odd years now?
It's not uncommon for one company to own more than one affiliate in the same market. I went to New York in 2001, FOX ran WNYW (FOX) and WWOR (UPN), it wasn't uncommon to see the same programmes on both, albeit not at the same time. They also had a Fox Kids segment on WWOR, even more bizarrely.
There are also some other curious oddities among the local affiliates. The same company in central PA operates the CBS and CW channels, so The CW gets a CBS branded news bulletin at 10pm!
CBS is part owner of the CW network with Warner Bros.
I was under the impression "syndication" was an Americanism for a show being sold abroad or shown outside of its home network, and not syndication as in what rdd wrote.
Rdd's definition is pretty accurate. Typically shows don't 'qualify' for syndication unless they hit around 100 episodes. Shows in syndication can make a lot more money than networked shows. Judge Judy Sheindlin for instance, is one of the highest paid people in television.
I was under the impression "syndication" was an Americanism for a show being sold abroad or shown outside of its home network, and not syndication as in what rdd wrote.
Is there any particular reason why NBC and Fox don't do daytime schedules the way ABC and CBS do? I believe Fox is the smallest network out of the big four there and that may have something to do with it but NBC has been around for best part of, what, 90 odd years now?
NBC did. It whittled away until it became just Days of Our Lives.
I was under the impression "syndication" was an Americanism for a show being sold abroad or shown outside of its home network, and not syndication as in what rdd wrote.
Rdd's definition is pretty accurate. Typically shows don't 'qualify' for syndication unless they hit around 100 episodes. Shows in syndication can make a lot more money than networked shows. Judge Judy Sheindlin for instance, is one of the highest paid people in television.
And that is a key reason why a show in it's third season perhaps not performing as strongly as it has been is almost guaaranteed a fourth season, especially if it is made by the networks own studio. It's also why long running shows coming to an end often get a shortened 5th season just to tip them over the 100 mark.
Outside of this there is a market for what's known as "syndication". These are shows sold direct to local stations.
A lot of syndicated shows are bought up by companies for their group of local stations.
An example is Live with Kelly its made by WABC in New York and is shown on all of the ABC owned stations but then sold to whoever wants them in the markets ABC doesn't own a station.
i think there is a some confusion over rerun syndication market and first run syndication. Pertaining to the question asked. rdd answered the question correctly. Though you will situations where a station group owner say Tribune Broadcasting, Tegna or Sinclair, they will purchase first run syndication that will run across their entire station group. For example Harry Connick Jrs new day time chat show. HARRY!, they show is being syndicated or being offered to any one who wants to buy it. But its being offer by NBC Universal. That doesnt mean it will necessarily will air on NBC stations. You also have programs that broadcast live and they are syndicated. Such as Wendy Williams. That show is broadcast live from NYC across the country. It airs on mostly Fox stations. but in some market it will air different channels. Wendy Williams also airs on BET in the US and BET in the UK as well as the former MyNET stations. Program makers love to offer their shows to major groups. The first task to get them cleared in the biggest markets then you will see ads in the industry magazines that says CLEARED IN TOP 20 or 95% of the markets cleared. Its a very lucrative business. As was mention Judge Judge is one of the biggest. Judy Shiendlin personally clears $47 million per year. She has also created another first-run syndicated show called HOT BENCH. http://variety.com/2016/tv/news/highest-paid-tv-actors-salaries-1201874142/
I just was just trying to clarify some shows have not been directly sold to some stations. Shows owned by which parent company had nothing to do with it.