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In March, The Conners will be airing its 100th episode, the traditional threshold for a series to be able to enter off-network syndication. And in September, the spinoff series will follow the mothership Roseanne into broadcast syndication.
Lionsgate’s Debmar-Mercury has cleared the Werner Entertainment-produced The Conners in more than 85% of the U.S. with multi-year deals that will make the series, starring Sara Gilbert, John Goodman, Laurie Metcalf and Lecy Goranson, available in access and early fringe time periods (3 PM – 8 PM) on the CBS Television Stations and stations owned by Gray, Nexstar, Lockwood, Scripps and Weigel.
Werner Entertainment in August enlisted Lionsgate’s Worldwide Television Distribution Group and company-owned distribution company Debmar-Mercury, with the Worldwide Television Distribution Group handing global distribution, including SVOD, AVOD, basic cable and FAST rights, and Debmar-Mercury shepherding domestic syndication.
Lionsgate recently made an unusual deal with the CW for Conners repeats to air on the broadcast network in primetime.
Now in its sixth season on ABC, The Conners ranked as the network’s most watched comedy series last season.
“With Tom Werner providing the highest-rated sitcom to enter off-network syndication in recent memory, The Conners will serve as the cornerstone of many of our great station partners’ late afternoon and early evening schedules for many years to come,” said Ira Bernstein and Mort Marcus, co-presidents of Debmar-Mercury.
With fewer broadcast comedy series ordered and very few making it to six seasons, the off-network syndication pipeline has largely dried up.
The deal was negotiated by Bernstein, Marcus and Lionsgate President of Worldwide Television Distribution Jim Packer for the studio, UTA and Jackoway Austen on behalf of Werner Entertainment.
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