“Mike & Molly” Being Shopped For Syndication For 2014

[Brian Damage]

Two successful CBS sitcoms are headed to the syndication market -- and for one of them, the move comes surprisingly early, B&C reports.

Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution will offer “Mike & Molly” and “2 Broke Girls” to cable nets and TV stations next month, the story reports. The move comes right on schedule for “Mike & Molly,” which is approaching season three, but it’s unusually quick for “2 Broke Girls,” which recently wrapped its freshman season.

Why bring “2 Broke Girls” to market so early? Because the competition for off-network comedies is fierce.

“In the past couple of years, cable networks have begun trying to snap up popular sitcoms early to lock in their deals and get a jump on the competition,” the report notes. The piece cites the example of “The Big Bang Theory,” which -- like “Mike & Molly” -- is executive produced by Chuck Lorre. “When ‘Big Bang’ came to market two years ago, at least five cable networks turned in bids: NBCU's USA, News Corp.'s FX, Tribune's WGN, Viacom's Comedy Central and Turner's TBS, which ultimately won,” the B&C piece reports.

The competition for “2 Broke Girls,” which won’t be available for its syndie launch until 2015, is expected to bring early bids from TV stations.

“Mike & Molly” will be available for its off-network premiere in 2014.

http://www.tvweek.com/blogs/tvbizwire/

[Brian Damage]

Off-network rights to two top sitcoms have been sold to the CBS Television Stations and the Weigel station group, Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution and the CBS TV Stations announced.

“Mike & Molly” is ready to premiere in fall 2014 on the stations, while “2 Broke Girls” will debut in 2015. A cable deal for “2 Broke Girls” went to TBS, as reported separately. A cable deal announcement for “Mike & Molly” is expected next week, Warner Bros. said.

The station deal gives “Mike & Molly” and “2 Broke Girls” clearances in 35% of the country, the company said.

The company announced: “The CBS Television Stations will serve as the primary launch group, taking the show[s] for their stations in New York (WLNY-TV), Los Angeles (KCAL-TV), Philadelphia (WPSG-TV), Dallas (KTXA-TV), San Francisco (KBCW-TV), Boston (WSBK-TV), Atlanta (WUPA-TV), Detroit (WKBD-TV), Seattle (KSTW-TV), Tampa (WTOG-TV), Miami (WBFS-TV), Sacramento (KMAX-TV) and Pittsburgh (WPCW-TV). The series also [have] been bought by the Weigel station group for its stations in Chicago (WCIU-TV) and Milwaukee (WDJT-TV/WMLW-TV).

Ken Werner, president, Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution, said in a statement: “We are thrilled to be in the sitcom business with the CBS Television Stations. What a unique opportunity to be able to acquire two A-level sitcoms that will debut in consecutive years, having run on the same night on the number one broadcast network. CBS saw the power of such a purchase and pursued it.”

http://www.tvweek.com/blogs/tvbizwire/

[JamesG]

"Mike & Molly" Heads to Syndication on FX in 2014
7/3/2012
by Michael O'Connell


Warner Bros. Television has firmed up its early sale of off-network syndication rights to "Mike & Molly".

Following reports of early deals for its CBS comedies "Mike & Molly" and "2 Broke Girls", and the latter's sale to TBS, FX announced Tuesday that it will host exclusive syndication of the Mark Roberts-created sitcom starting in September 2014.





"Mike & Molly", which stars Billy Gardell and Melissa McCarthy and was the most-watched new series of the 2010-11 season, joins fellow CBS comedies "How I Met Your Mother" and "Two and a Half Men" in FX's syndication portfolio.

Warner Bros. president of domestic distribution Ken Werner began shopping both "Mike & Molly" and "2 Broke Girls" to broadcasters, ahead of the traditional schedule, just a month ago. USA Network's acquisition of "Modern Family" after its freshman season has been cited as a strong case for the early deal.

"2 Broke Girls", which just completed its freshman season, won't premiere on TBS until 2015.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/mike-molly-syndication-fx-2-broke-girls-344620