It's often struck me that one sees the same old movies reappearing
with unexplainable frequency on both cable and network channels. The
one that comes to mind as among the most ubiquitous is "The Shawshank
Redemption." What's the reason for this? Is there something about the
original financial arrangements in the TV rights to such frequently
reaired movies that enables reruns at lower cost?

---

Clarification of Question by nautico-ga on 03 Sep 2005 14:18 PDT

Pink, make that an answer!

Nautico,

Thanks for accepting the information that I located!

I've reposted it below, with a bit of extra info.

"While the top three basic cable networks, TNT, USA and TBS, heavily
promote such shows as 'Monk,' 'Dead Zone,' and reruns of 'Sex in the
City,' reruns of theatrical movies nevertheless represent 82 percent
of their entire prime-time schedules, according to data released
Wednesday by Warner Bros. Media Research.

'They are pretty much a sure thing,' said Eric Frankel, president of
Warner Bros. Domestic Cable Distribution. 'They can get high ratings
over 20 to 30 plays. We're shocked that the 59th run of a movie can be
among the highest-rated programs that week.'

'The Shawshank Redemption,' for example, has shown countless times and
unfailingly will garner strong ratings. The same goes for 'Miss
Congeniality,' 'Pretty Woman,' 'Armageddon,' and 'What Women Want,'
among others.

The report surveyed the ratings performance of theatrical movies on
all basic cable networks over the past two years.

Among the findings were that these movies offer built-in audience
recognition, require minimal promotional support, and are successfully
used as promotional platforms for a network to launch its original
programming."

The Shield Fans Forum
http://theshieldfans.com/forum/index.php?target=viewmesg&select=103&offset=139&PHPSESSID=1d888fdb0ba8f5fe77d79a525d95eaee

Here's another article about the same survey, with some of the actual
survey results at the bottom of the page:

Cached copy, from Multichannel News: Movies Have Basic Appeal
http://64.233.187.104/search?q=cache:CFlBtpRXItwJ:www.multichannel.com/index.asp%3Flayout%3DarticlePrint%26articleid%3DCA45818

This is the search string that led me to the articles linked above:

Google Web Search: movies network replays "shawshank redemption"
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=movies+network+replays+%22shawshank+redemption%22

Best,
Pink

Thanks, Pink! You cement your reputation with each successive answer,
but then you already knew that.

Nautico,
You may get the impression that I am "stalking", but you just ask
interesting questions.
I have asked the same one in Germany, where it sometimes seems that
the state-owned broadcasters rent a film for 48 hours and quickly pass
it around for viewing.  You'd a thunk they would coordinate enough to
avoid this since they don't earn advertising and repeat showings
cannot enhance viewer statistics.
In the States (and maybe in Germany; we've just had a scandal about
kick-backs on sports broadcasts) there is financial inducement from
companies with "product placement" in movies  - the latest "James
Bond" driving a BMW, etc.
Good question, Myoarin

Just a little correction: There are no "state-owned broadcasters" in
Germany. German laws strictly prohibit such institutions. German
public TV and radio stations (as opposed to commercial broadcasters)
are "broadcasting services under public law" (öffentlich-rechtliche
Sendeanstalten), but they are not state-owned.

Scriptor

I've recently been wondering the same thing.
Thanks for asking.

"The Shawshank Redemption" didn't do very well in its initial
theatrical release, but it has attracted a large and devoted audience
on television and video. It is the second highest-ranked movie of all
time at the Internet Movie Database:

http://imdb.com/chart/top

Another movie that was mediocre at the box office, yet has acquired a
cult-like following is "The Beastmaster." And, of course, there are
the perennials: "It's a Wonderful Life" and "The Wizard of Oz."

I don't find it surprising that such movies are shown over and over on
TV. They continue to get good ratings. Television stations like good
ratings. Some movies are perpetual cash cows, and until the milk runs
dry, they are likely to be broadcast repeatedly.

Here's some interesting info:

"While the top three basic cable networks, TNT, USA and TBS, heavily
promote such shows as 'Monk,' 'Dead Zone,' and reruns of 'Sex in the
City,' reruns of theatrical movies nevertheless represent 82 percent
of their entire prime-time schedules, according to data released
Wednesday by Warner Bros. Media Research.

'They are pretty much a sure thing,' said Eric Frankel, president of
Warner Bros. Domestic Cable Distribution. 'They can get high ratings
over 20 to 30 plays. We're shocked that the 59th run of a movie can be
among the highest-rated programs that week.'

'The Shawshank Redemption,' for example, has shown countless times and
unfailingly will garner strong ratings. The same goes for 'Miss
Congeniality,' 'Pretty Woman,' 'Armageddon,' and 'What Women Want,'
among others.

The report surveyed the ratings performance of theatrical movies on
all basic cable networks over the past two years.

Among the findings were that these movies offer built-in audience
recognition, require minimal promotional support, and are successfully
used as promotional platforms for a network to launch its original
programming."

http://theshieldfans.com/forum/index.php?target=viewmesg&select=103&offset=139&PHPSESSID=1d888fdb0ba8f5fe77d79a525d95eaee

Thanks, Scriptor, that distinction has escaped me, lo, these many
years.  Makes sense:  if they were state-owned, they would be
tax-supported, instead of being funded by legally enforced fees.
Myoarin

Nautico,

Thank you muchly for the kind words, the five stars, and the hefty
tip! It's always a pleasure to be able to help a customer who is as
astute and pleasant as you are. If you have any clones lying around,
please ask 'em to check out Google Answers. :-D

~Pink