The Modern Family train keeps on rolling and soon, it’ll be rolling out to a few of the trend-setting TV markets in 2013. 10 Fox stations, all owned by Tribune Broadcasting, in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and other big markets will pay mid-six figures PER WEEK for rights to the show.
Now, it may seem like it’s not a big deal, as Modern Family airs on the ABC network (but is produced by Fox). In this age of subsidiaries and parent corporations, it would seem that it’s just another case of Fox feeding itself. It doesn’t really affect the viewer, except for the fact that you’ll be able to see the TV show multiple times during the weekday.
It is a big deal to the creators of the sitcom. Most TV shows hope and pray they can last long enough to get to syndication, as that’s where the big bucks lie. These syndication deals are worth millions of dollars.
The most interesting aspect of this Modern Family syndication deal is when it is coming in the life of the Modern Family series. Most shows aren’t syndicated until they’ve had 4 or 5 seasons under their belt. This is true for The Big Bang Theory, which was also just announced as going into syndication, for a little bit less than the Modern Family deal. The Big Bang Theory is well into its fourth season and still gaining ratings. Modern Family is just into its second season and seems a bit riskier of an undertaking to syndicate it so early.
Is this because networks are so lacking in new syndicated programming that they’re grasping at anything that happens to be hot at the moment?
But that’s not really here nor there, as I’m sure the creators of the show are raising their champagne glasses, quite happy with the deal that was forged. What will this mean for the future of syndicated television is uncertain.
"Now, it may seem like it’s not a big deal, as Modern Family airs on the Fox Network. In this age of subsidiaries and parent corporations, it would seem that it’s just another case of Fox feeding itself."
Um…No. Modern Family is an ABC show.