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Hit CBS Sitcoms Being Shopped for Syndication — but Why So Soon?

May 10, 2012  •  Post A Comment

Two successful CBS sitcoms are headed to the syndication market — and for one of them, the move comes surprisingly early, B&C reports.

Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution will offer “Mike & Molly” and “2 Broke Girls” to cable nets and TV stations next month, the story reports. The move comes right on schedule for “Mike & Molly,” which is approaching season three, but it’s unusually quick for “2 Broke Girls,” which recently wrapped its freshman season.

Why bring “2 Broke Girls” to market so early? Because the competition for off-network comedies is fierce.

“In the past couple of years, cable networks have begun trying to snap up popular sitcoms early to lock in their deals and get a jump on the competition,” the report notes. The piece cites the example of “The Big Bang Theory,” which — like “Mike & Molly” — is executive produced by Chuck Lorre. “When ‘Big Bang’ came to market two years ago, at least five cable networks turned in bids: NBCU’s USA, News Corp.’s FX, Tribune’s WGN, Viacom’s Comedy Central and Turner’s TBS, which ultimately won,” the B&C piece reports.

The competition for “2 Broke Girls,” which won’t be available for its syndie launch until 2015, is expected to bring early bids from TV stations.

“Mike & Molly” will be available for its off-network premiere in 2014.

One Comment

  1. Why are they doing this? Very simple. In 3 months Two and A Half Men will be moving to Thursdays and 2 Broke Girls will slide into the Monday 9PM tentpole position. Additionally a new series will will lead into both series. All of this will take place while the 2 series have to compete against juggernauts Dancing With The Stars and The Voice. Bottom Line — the ratings prospects for the future of both shows will never be as good as they are now.

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