Television
November 7, 2000
ABC Secures Syndication Rights To “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” And Renews The Improv Show Through 2003/2004 Season
(November 7, 2000 – Burbank, CA) - In an unprecedented deal, ABC has secured the first syndication window for all episodes of the improv comedy hit “Whose Line Is It Anyway?,” which features Drew Carey, Ryan Stiles, Wayne Brady and Colin Mochrie, while simultaneously ordering 66 additional new episodes. The deal was announced today by Stu Bloomberg and Lloyd Braun, Co-Chairmen of the ABC Entertainment Television Group, and Peter Roth, President of Warner Bros. Television.
The agreement, which commences September 1, 2001, allows ABC the exclusive right to air up to eight additional runs of every produced “Whose Line…” episode. These episodes can be run in any daypart on the network, or can be sublicensed to any and all ABC-owned station. The deal was negotiated by Mark Pedowitz, Executive Vice President, ABC Entertainment Television Group and Craig Hunegs, Executive Vice President, Warner Bros. Television.
In making the announcement, Mr. Bloomberg stated, “As competition in our industry continues to intensify, it’s become our responsibility to find new and creative ways to further our business. ‘Whose Line…’ is a proven performer that consistently delivers an audience, and the agreement Mark brokered best enables us to strategically utilize this incredible asset.”
“This unprecedented deal represents a win-win scenario for us all, ” said Roth. “'Whose Line’ has proven itself time and time again as a creatively outstanding and a consistently reliable ratings success. We are delighted that ABC has made this long-term commitment to the series.”
Last season, "Whose Line is it Anyway?" gave ABC its best performance in the Thursday 8:00 -9:00 p.m. hour in 7 years. The improvisational comedy boosted ABC from 4th place in the hour into the No. 2 position in the course of one season. So far in the 2000-2001 season, "Whose Line…" has grown 3% in viewers from its stellar delivery last year. Dan Patterson, Drew Carey, Ryan Stiles, Denise O’Donoghue, and Jimmy Mulville are the executive producers of “Whose Line Is It Anyway?,” which premiered on ABC on August 5, 1998. Mark Leveson is producer. The show was created by Dan Patterson and Mark Leveson, and is produced by Riverside Productions, Inc. in association with Hat Trick Productions, LTD and distributed by Warner Bros. Television. # # #