in March, Conners The 100th episode will air, which is the traditional threshold for a series to enter off-network syndication. In September, the spin-off series will follow the mother ship Roseanne In the broadcasting union.
Lionsgate’s Debmar-Mercury cleared Werner Entertainment’s production Conners in more than 85% of the U.S. through multi-year deals that will make the series, starring Sarah Gilbert, John Goodman, Laurie Metcalfe, and Lacey Goranson, available in early access and prime time slots (3 p.m.-8 p.m.) on CBS affiliates and owned television stations Gray, Nexstar, Lockwood, Scripps, and Weigel.
Werner Entertainment in August enlisted Lionsgate’s Worldwide Television Distribution Group and corporate-owned distribution company Debmar-Mercury, with Worldwide Television Distribution Group delivering global distribution, including SVOD, AVOD, basic cable rights, FAST rights and Debmar-Mercury sponsoring domestic syndication .
Lionsgate recently struck an unusual deal with The CW for Connors The broadcast is repeated on the broadcast network in prime times.
Now in its sixth season on ABC, Conners It ranked as the network’s most-watched comedy series last season.
“With Tom Werner delivering the highest-rated sitcom to enter off-network syndication in recent memory, Conners “It will serve as the cornerstone of many of our partners’ major station schedules in the late afternoon and early evening for many years to come,” said Ira Bernstein and Mort Marcus, co-presidents of Debmar-Mercury.
With fewer sitcoms airing, and very few series reaching six seasons, off-network syndication channels have largely dried up.
The deal was negotiated by Bernstein, Marcus, Lionsgate global television distribution president Jim Bakker for the studio, UTA and Jackoway Austen on behalf of Werner Entertainment.