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Q: "TV show licensing" ( Answered,   1 Comment )
Question  
Subject: "TV show licensing"
Category: Arts and Entertainment > Television
Asked by: charlotteboy-ga
List Price: $20.00
Posted: 19 Nov 2003 16:13 PST
Expires: 19 Dec 2003 16:13 PST
Question ID: 278383
If I wanted to start a cable TV channel, how can I license old
programs like Gilligan's Island, the Munsters, let's make a deal, etc.
anything that could be a rerun?
Answer  
Subject: Re: "TV show licensing"
Answered By: hlabadie-ga on 21 Nov 2003 21:42 PST
 
The programming content that you describe is acquired through
syndication contracts. The broadcast station or cable channel
purchases from a syndicator the right to run a show a certain number
of times for the duration of the contract. Syndication includes two
basic types of content, first-run, that is, shows such as Gene
Roddenberry's Andromeda or the game show Jeopardy that are produced to
be directly syndicated, and off-network (often truncated to off-net),
shows that were originally broadcast on one of the television
networks, and which are either still in production (Everybody Loves
Raymond, ER, The Practice, etc.) or have ceased production, in which
latter category are the shows you mention.

While the details of a syndication contract can vary and be
complicated, the essential purchase con be made either through a
simple fee (X$ per episode) or through barter, the second being the
more common. Under a barter arrangement, the channel or station pays a
combination of fee and commercial time for the right to run the show.
The purchaser gives to the syndicator some of its commercial spots
during the time period, and the syndicator then sells those spots to
advertisers. The syndicator then inserts commercials into the tape or
satellite distribution of the program when it is sent to the
purchaser. The purchaser retains the remaining commercial spots for
sale to local advertisers.

Thus, it is only necessary to contact the syndicator of a particular
show, and to come to an agreement on the terms, in order to obtain the
right to run the show. All of the major media companies have
television production studios, and all have divisions that arrange for
syndication of their products.

For instance, Gilligan's Island is owned by Time-Warner, and it is
syndicated by Warner Brothers Television. The Munsters is owned by NBC
Universal, and it is syndicated by Universal Domestic Television.
MediaCorp (Twentieth Century Fox), Viacom (Paramount), Walt Disney
(Buena Vista), Sony (Columbia), and other studios all have libraries
of off-net shows that can be obtained for local broadcast or cable
distribution through their syndicators.

Syndication 101
Syndication: The Basics
http://www.snta.org/php/display.php?p=syndication

"Syndication is a method of delivery of programming to local
television stations nationwide. Like network programming, it can be
first-run. Or it can be programming that has had a previous successful
run on a network or elsewhere, airing at various dates and times on
stations locally."


Syndicated Network Television Association Members
MEMBERS
http://www.snta.org/php/display.php?p=members


BUENA VISTA
http://www.snta.org/php/display.php?p=PR_SP_syndicator&s_id=4

http://www.tvplex.com

"Established in 1990 Buena Vista Television Advertising Sales is
responsible for selling national advertising time in first-run
syndicated and off-network syndicated television programs distributed
by Buena Vista Television. Buena Vista Television is a producer and
distributor of various television programming for ABC/Disney."


Howard Levy
Executive Vice President,  
Howard.Levy@disney.com
phone: 212.456.1740
fax: 212.456.0395
7 West 66th Street
New York, NY 10023

Jim Engleman
Senior Vice President, Midwest
Jim.Engleman@disney.com
phone: 312.595.7777
fax: 312.595.7701
401 N. Michigan Ave. Chicago, IL 60611

Norman Lesser
Senior Vice President, East
Norman.Lesser@disney.com
phone: 212.456.1741
fax: 212.456.0395
7 West 66th Street
New York, NY 10023



PARAMOUNT
http://www.snta.org/php/display.php?p=PR_SP_syndicator&s_id=2

"Paramount Advertiser Services is the advertising sales unit of
Paramount Domestic Television and is responsible for selling national
advertising time in Paramount's first run and off-network syndicated
programs, as well as major theatrical releases.... Current off?network
programs include Frasier, Sabrina and Spin City. Additionally, Becker,
CBS' hit sit-com, will be available beginning in the Fall of 2003."


Marc Hirsch
President, Paramount Advertiser Services,  
Marc_Hirsch@paramount.com
phone: 212.654.6901
fax: 212.654.4910
1633 Broadway
11th Floor
New York, NY 10019

Paul Montoya
SVP- General Sales Manager,  
Paul_Montoya@paramount.com
phone: 212.654.6931
fax: 212.654.4950
1633 Broadway
11th Floor
New York, NY 10019


Titles produced by Paramount Network Television Productions [us]
http://www.imdb.com/List?production-companies=Paramount%20Network%20Television%20Productions%20%5Bus%5D&&tv=on&&heading=18;produced+by;Paramount%20Network%20Television%20Productions%20%5Bus%5D

   2. "Becker" (1998)
   5. "Clueless" (1996)
  27. "Seven Days" (1998)


TRIBUNE
http://www.snta.org/php/display.php?p=PR_SP_syndicator&s_id=7

http://www.tribtv.com

Clark MoreHouse
Senior Vice President, Advertiser Sales,  
cmorehouse@tribune.com
phone: 212.210.1060
fax: 212.210.1055
220 E. 42nd Street
New York, NY 10017



TWENTIETH TELEVISION
http://www.snta.org/php/display.php?p=PR_SP_syndicator&s_id=3

http://www.fox.com

"Twentieth Television, the syndication division of Fox Television, is
a leading supplier of off-network and first-run programming as well as
theatrical movie packages."


Bob Cesa
EVP, Barter Advertising and Cable Sales, Eastern
Bobc@fox.com
phone: 212.556.2520
fax: 212.391.6870
1211 Avenue of the Americas
16th Floor
New York, NY 10036

David Barrington
SR VP, Eastern
Daveb@fox.com
phone: 212.556.2425
fax: 212.391.6870
1211 Avenue of the Americas
16th Floor
New York, NY 10036



Titles distributed by Fox Network [us]
http://www.imdb.com/List?distributors=Fox%20Network%20%5Bus%5D&&tv=on&&heading=18;distributed+by;Fox%20Network%20%5Bus%5D


"  5. "Adventures of Brisco County Jr., The" (1993)
   6. "Ally McBeal" (1997)
  23. "Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction" (1997)
  26. "Bobby's World" (1990)
  93. "Millennium" (1996)
 112. "Parker Lewis Can't Lose" (1990)
 115. "Party of Five" (1994)
 131. "Simpsons, The" (1989)
 134. "Sliders" (1995)
 138. "Space: Above and Beyond" (1995)
 140. "Strange Luck" (1995)
 143. "That '70s Show" (1998)
 150. "Tracey Ullman Show, The" (1987)
 212. X-Files, The (1993) (TV)"


UNIVERSAL
http://www.snta.org/php/display.php?p=PR_SP_syndicator&s_id=8
http://www.uni-television.com

"Universal Domestic Television (UDT) produces first-run television
programs for broadcast stations and cable outlets in the U.S., as well
as the international market."


Elizabeth Herbst
EVP, Ad Sales,  
Elizabeth.Herbst@Unistudios.com
phone: 212.373.7770
fax: 212.373.7641
1325 Avenue of the Americas, 5th Floor
New York, NY 10019

Tim Miller
VP, Ad Sales,  
Tim.Miller@Unistudios.com
phone: 212.373.7767
fax: 212.373.7641
1325 Avenue of the Americas
5th Floor
New York, NY 10019



NBC UNIVERSAL

Re: [AMIA-L] Universal Vaults Story
http://palimpsest.stanford.edu/byform/mailing-lists/amia-l/2003/08/msg00258.html

"With more than 4,000 titles, Universal has one of Hollywood's largest
and most eclectic film libraries. It boasts Alfred Hitchcock's
thrillers ? "Rear Window," "Psycho" and "The Birds" ? alongside Steven
Spielberg's gems such as "Jaws," "Jurassic Park" and the Oscar-winning
"Schindler's List."

The shelves also are filled with chapters of television history:
"Leave It to Beaver," "Woody Woodpecker," "The Munsters" and "Magnum
P.I.""


Titles distributed by Universal TV [us]
http://www.imdb.com/List?distributors=Universal%20TV%20%5Bus%5D&&tv=on&&heading=18;distributed+by;Universal%20TV%20%5Bus%5D

"  2. "Airwolf" (1984)
   3. "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" (1955)
   5. "Baretta" (1975)
   6. "Bionic Woman, The" (1976)
   7. "Charles in Charge" (1984)
  11. "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys" (1995)
  13. "Knight Rider" (1982)
  14. "Kolchak: The Night Stalker" (1974)
  15. "Leave It to Beaver" (1957)
  19. "Munsters, The" (1964)
  20. "NBC Mystery Movie, The" (1971)
  24. "Simon & Simon" (1981)
  25. "Six Million Dollar Man, The" (1974)
  31. "Xena: Warrior Princess" (1995)"



WARNER BROS. DOMESTIC TELEVISION DISTRIBUTION
http://www.snta.org/php/display.php?p=PR_SP_syndicator&s_id=1
http://www.warnerbros.com

"Warner Bros. Media Sales is responsible for selling national
advertising time in first-run and off-network television programs
distributed by Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution (WBDTD)
and Telepictures Distribution. WBDTD is one of the leading
distributors of first-run and off-network programming in the domestic
television marketplace..."

Michael Teicher
Executive Vice President - Media Sales,  
Michael.Teicher@warnerbros.com
phone: 212.636.5310
fax: 212.636.5366
1325 Ave. of the Americas, 31st Floor
New York, NY 10019

Roseann Cacciola
Senior Vice President, General Sales Manager, Eastern
Roseann.Cacciola@warnerbros.com
phone: 212.636.5307
fax: 212.636.5350
1325 Ave. of the Americas, 31st Floor
New York, NY 10019


TIME-WARNER

Titles distributed by Warner Bros. Television
http://www.imdb.com/List?distributors=Warner%20Bros.%20Television%20%5Bus%5D&&tv=on&&heading=18;distributed+by;Warner%20Bros.%20Television%20%5Bus%5D

"  6. "Addams Family, The" (1973)
   8. "Adventures of Superman" (1952)
   9. "ALF" (1986)
  10. "Alice" (1976)
  12. "All-New Scooby and Scrappy-Doo Show, The" (1983)
  13. "All-New SuperFriends Hour, The" (1977) 
  14. "Alvin & the Chipmunks" (1983)
  21. "Avengers, The" (1961)
  45. "Flipper" (1964)
  47. "Gilligan's Island" (1964)
  52. "Harry O" (1974)
  53. "Here's Lucy" (1968)
  69. "Maverick" (1957)
  70. "Mayberry R.F.D." (1968)
  73. "My Favorite Martian" (1963)
 112. "Welcome Back, Kotter" (1975)"



SONY

Corporate Fact Sheet
Sony Corporation of America (SCA)
Outline of Principal Operations
http://www.sonypictures.com/corp/corporatefact.html

"Sony Pictures Television Group

- SPE's television operations trace their history to the founding of
Screen Gems in 1948, the first television business created by a major
Hollywood studio
[...]
- SPE also grants licensing rights to its large library of television
programs and motion pictures to network affiliates and independent
stations in the United States, and to international television
stations and other broadcasters throughout the world"
[...]
"* Off-Network Syndication? THE KING OF QUEENS, DAWSON'S CREEK,
RIPLEY'S BELIEVE IT OR NOT!, SEINFELD, JUST SHOOT ME, MAD ABOUT YOU,
THE NANNY, MARRIED...WITH CHILDREN, THE STEVE HARVEY SHOW, THE LARRY
SANDERS SHOW and WALKER, TEXAS RANGER"
[...]
"* Library includes: over 35,000 television episodes, 275 television
series and more than 22,000 episodes of game show programming from 50
years of television history, including such TV classics as I DREAM OF
JEANNIE, BEWITCHED, ALL IN THE FAMILY, BARNEY MILLER, BENSON,
DIFF'RENT STROKES, MAUDE, WHO'S THE BOSS, CHARLIE'S ANGELS, FANTASY
ISLAND, MARRIED...WITH CHILDREN, THE JEFFERSONS, THE DATING GAME, THE
NEWLYWED GAME and THE THREE STOOGES"


Titles distributed by Sony Pictures Television [us]
http://www.imdb.com/List?distributors=Sony%20Pictures%20Television%20%5Bus%5D&&tv=on&&heading=18;distributed+by;Sony%20Pictures%20Television%20%5Bus%5D

" 10. "Adventures of Rin Tin Tin, The" (1954)
  12. "Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok" (1951)
  13. "All in the Family" (1971)
  19. "Andy Williams Show, The" (1962)
  21. "Archie Bunker's Place" (1979)
  24. "Barney Miller" (1975)
  30. "Benson" (1979)
  35. "Bewitched" (1964)
  41. "Born Free" (1974)
  48. "Captain Midnight" (1954)
  52. "Charlie's Angels" (1976)
  58. "Crazy Like a Fox" (1984)
  71. "Dennis the Menace" (1959)
  72. "Designing Women" (1986)
  73. "Diff'rent Strokes" (1978)
  95. "Fantasy Island" (1978)
  97. "Farmer's Daughter, The" (1963)
  98. "Father Knows Best" (1954)
 104. "Flying Nun, The" (1967)
 107. "Forever Knight" (1992)
 117. "Gidget" (1965)
 126. "Good Times" (1974)
 136. "Hart to Hart" (1979)
 139. "Hazel" (1961)
 153. "I Dream of Jeannie" (1965)
 163. "Jeffersons, The" (1975)
 187. "Mad About You" (1992)
 191. "Married... with Children" (1987)
 192. "Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman" (1976)
 193. "Matt Helm" (1975)
 194. "Maude" (1972)"


SEARCH TERMS

://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=utf-8&safe=off&q=Universal+television+syndication&btnG=Google+Search
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=utf-8&safe=off&q=Screen+Gems+syndication&btnG=Google+Search
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=utf-8&safe=off&q=Gilligan%27s+Island+syndication&btnG=Google+Search


Search Internet Movie Database for shows and their distributors.

http://www.imdb.com


hlabadie-ga
Comments  
Subject: Re: "TV show licensing"
From: eponine-ga on 19 Nov 2003 22:13 PST
 
You probably would want to look into joining NATPE
(http://www.natpe.org/), the National Organization of Television
Program Executives, or at least attend their conference in January in
Las Vegas. I believe that at the conference, TV buyers meet with
production companies to buy shows for the coming year. It looks like
with membership, you also get access to the NATPE directory, which
could help you track down who owns the rights to a particular show.

This article (http://www.museum.tv/archives/etv/I/htmlI/internationalt/internationalt.htm)
gives a little more insight into how these conferences work.

There are other content shows, too, such as MIPCOM
(http://www.mipcom.com/App/homepage.cfm?appname=100212&linkid=8106&moduleid=398&date=1)

The National Cable & Telecommunications Association's FAQ offers some
advice on starting a cable channel:
http://www.ncta.com/docs/faq.cfm?&show=&PageID=322

I have no idea how helpful it is, but there's a guidebook to starting
your own cable channel for sale here:
http://www.cablemaven.com/Startup_Page.htm . There's also a links page
pointing to associations and publications that might be informative
even if you don't buy the book.

The Munsters seems to be controlled by Universal Studios, but I
couldn't find any contact info on purchasing or licensing content.

I hope this helps.

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