Fox Television Stations and WBDTD Sign Multi-Series, Multi-Year Renewal Deal for Popular First-Run Series Which Will Be Reformatted for Seamless Broadcasts
(New York & Burbank) – In an unprecedented deal, Fox Television Stations and Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution have signed a multi-year deal renewing popular, daily syndicated series “Extra,” “TMZ,” “TMZ Live” and “The Real” which will be reformatted to eliminate end breaks to allow for seamless viewing. The new deal was unveiled today by Jack Abernethy, CEO, Fox Television Stations, and Jeffrey Schlesinger, President, Warner Bros. Worldwide Television Distribution.
In making the announcement, Abernethy stated: “Seamless transitions between programs are long overdue in local television. We are proud to be partnering with Warner Bros. on such an industry game-changer. These programs are an important part of our lineup and we are happy that they will be back for multiple years with this new formatting.”
Said Schlesinger: “Fox has offered unparalleled promotional and programming support for our series and we are very pleased these long-running franchises will continue to thrive on their stations, and even more so as a result of this new seamless format.”
“Extra,” now in its 26th season of entertainment news, moved to Fox for the first time this fall from the NBC-owned stations, and with new anchor and managing editor, Billy Bush, along with a progressive new format, has invigorated time periods across the Fox stations and earned the series a groundbreaking three-year renewal taking the series through the 2022-23 season. Long-time Fox Television franchise “TMZ” (now in its 12th season) and “TMZ Live” (now in its seventh season) continue to play across multiple dayparts attracting a uniquely young demographic for syndicated television and has earned those two series three-year renewals as well. Emmy-winning “The Real” (now in its sixth season) features four diverse, authentic and engaging hosts in a live, spirited and entertaining hour of daily talk and has earned that series a two-year renewal taking the series through the 2021-22 season. In addition, it was announced today that television’s original court show “The People’s Court,” has been cleared for three seasons on Fox’s flagship station WNYW (Fox 5) in New York.
Donna Redier Linsk, Executive Vice President & General Manager, Telepictures said: “Fox is a fantastic partner, and it’s clear that their support, alongside our award-winning producers and talent, has made a difference in our mutual success. I am very proud of the team at ‘Extra’ whose reimagining of a long-running franchise has been so justly rewarded.”
“In the history of the show, we’ve never had a better or more supportive partner than Fox,” said Lisa Gregorisch-Dempsey, Senior Executive Producer, “Extra.” “We are incredibly proud of ‘Extra,’ which has not only earned a second life, but this new chapter feels like we caught lightning in a bottle.”
About “Extra”
“Extra” is one of the longest running entertainment news magazine shows in syndication. Rebranded and reimagined for its 26th season, and anchored by Billy Bush, “Extra” originates from the show's new broadcast center and newsroom at The Burbank Studios in Burbank, California and maintains bureaus in New York, Nashville and Las Vegas. The two-time Daytime Emmy Award-winning program continues to feature the top entertainment stories of the day plus in-depth looks at pop culture, celebrity, sports and politics.
- Across all LPMs this season, “Extra” improves +14% over the prior September time period with W25-54 (0.8 vs 0.7 Sept 18 TP), while matching year ago levels with A25-54
- In New York, “Extra” delivers, improving over the prior year “Page Six” time period with W25-54 (+20%: 0.6 vs 0.5) and A25-54 (+25%: 0.5 vs 0.4)
- In Los Angeles, “Extra” improved over the prior year “Big Bang” time period with W25-54 (+33%: 0.4 vs 0.3) and holding the prior year with A25-54 (0.3)
Lisa Gregorisch-Dempsey is the Senior Executive Producer of “Extra.” Theresa Coffino and Jeremy Speigel are Executive Producers.
About “TMZ on TV”
“TMZ on TV” goes where stars work, live, and play and takes its audience into a world where the reality is even more fascinating than the hype. “TMZ” breaks the biggest stories in entertainment as only it can—with accuracy, irreverent humor and youthful energy. “TMZ” connects with the public across its broadcast and digital platforms by providing a fresh, unvarnished, and honest take on celebrities and their real lives. “TMZ” is the first national television show to launch as an extension of a successful website and now has multiple sites and shows, including “TMZ Sports” and “TMZ Live.” In addition to TV and Web, “TMZ” now has an additional way for fans to interact with the franchise — The TMZ Celebrity Tour. It's a show on wheels! The TMZ brand is the most trusted, the most talked about, and the highest quality entertainment news outlet in the world.
- Across all LPMs this season, “TMZ” is the #1 rated magazine this season with both W25-54 (1.2) & A25-54 (1.0) – Based on all market cume rating
- “TMZ” improved over the prior September time period with W25-54 (+9%: 1.2 vs 1.1) and A25-54 (+11%: 1.0 vs 0.9)
- “TMZ” continues to recruit in Access, improving +40% over lead-in with A25-54 (0.7 vs 0.5)
“TMZ on TV" is Executive Produced by Harvey Levin, Charles Latibeaudiere, Evan Rosenblum and Stuart Alpert.
About “TMZ Live”
Step inside the TMZ newsroom for an hour a day to see how news is made with “TMZ Live,” TMZ.com's one-hour daily entertainment news program. The series blends elements of the TMZ website with TV for a global conversation that starts in the newsroom and involves viewers from all over the world via Skype, phone and Twitter. Join Harvey Levin, Charles Latibeaudiere and the rest of the TMZ staff as hot topics and breaking news are argued, for a truly distinctive and entertaining take on the daily talk show. Celebrities come in to talk about breaking stories, especially those in which they are involved. It's what TMZ does best, offering a topical, fast-paced and interactive format with an honest point of view on the stories people are talking about.
- Across all LPMs, “TMZ Live” improves over the prior September TP with W25-54 (+25%: 0.5 v 0.4) and holds the prior year with A25-54 (0.4)
- Builds on its lead-in with both W25-54 (+25%: 0.5 v 0.4) and A25-54 (+33%: 0.4 v 0.3)
“TMZ Live” is Executive Produced by Harvey Levin, Charles Latibeaudiere, Ryan Regan and Stuart Alpert.
About “The Real”
“The Real” is an Emmy-nominated and NAACP Award-winning show with a panel of diverse, Emmy Award-winning hosts who are unafraid to be “real,” live, in front of a national audience. The live talk show airs daily on Fox Television Stations and in national syndication, with a rebroadcast on cable network Bounce. The bold, diverse and outspoken Emmy Award-winning hosts of “The Real,” Adrienne Houghton, Loni Love, Jeannie Mai and Tamera Mowry-Housley, all frankly say what women are actually thinking. Their unique perspectives are brought to life through candid conversations about their personal lives, current events, beauty, fashion and relationships (nothing is off limits). Unlike other talk shows, “The Real” hosts are admittedly a “work in progress,” and fearlessly invite viewers to reflect on their own lives and opinions. Fresh points of view, youthful energy and passion have made “The Real” a platform for multicultural women.
- Across all LPMs, “The Real” improves over the prior year time period with W25-54 (+20%: 0.6 v 0.5) and holds the prior year with A25-54 (0.4)
- Improves year over year in New York at 11am with W25-54 (+33%: 0.4 v 0.3) and A25-54 (+100%: 0.4 v 0.2)
Rachel Miskowiec (“Good Morning America,” “Katie,” “The Tyra Banks Show,” “Judge Hatchett,” “The Ricki Lake Show”) is Executive Producer.
About Telepictures
Telepictures, a division of Warner Bros. Unscripted & Alternative Television, is an industry-leading and Emmy® Award–winning producer of innovative, multiplatform advertiser-friendly television series and digital content for the first-run syndication, cable and digital marketplace. Programs produced by Telepictures have won 93 Emmy® Awards in the last 20 years, including Outstanding Talk Show or Outstanding Talk Show Host for 16 of the last 19 years. Telepictures series include “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” “Extra,” “Judge Mathis,” “Ellen’s Game of Games” (produced in association with Warner Horizon Unscripted Television), “The People’s Court,” “The Real,” “TMZ,” “TMZ Live” and “TMZ Sports.” For more information about Telepictures programming, please visit www.telepicturestv.com.
About Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution
Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution is one of the leading distributors of entertainment programming to the domestic television marketplace, distributing first-run syndicated series, off-network television programs and theatrical motion pictures to local broadcast television stations, as well as to pay, cable, satellite and broadcast networks and subscription video-on-demand platforms throughout the U.S.
About Fox Television Stations
Fox Television Stations owns and operates 28 full power broadcast television stations in the U.S. These include stations located in nine of the top ten largest designated market areas, or DMAs, and duopolies in 11 DMAs, including the three largest DMAs (New York, Los Angeles and Chicago). Of these stations, 17 are affiliated with the Fox Network. In addition to distributing sports, entertainment and syndicated content, our television stations collectively produce nearly 1,000 hours of local news every week. These stations leverage viewer, distributor and advertiser demand for the Fox Network’s national content.
All ratings are NSI WRAP Overnights, Live +SD, ¼ hour lead-in, cume rating, 19-20=debut through 10/11/19.
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