Par TV, CBS O&Os ink deals for Mandel
Paramount officials declined comment, but the studio had been expected to seal station deals in the nation's top two TV markets by mid-week (Daily Variety, July 25). "The Howie Mandel Show" is set to bow next June.
Sources familiar with deals estimated the show garnered a weekly license fee of about $35,000 to $40,000 in each market. Sources said the CBS O&Os and Chris Craft/United's WWOR New York and KCOP Los Angeles were the only serious bidders.
To date, Par has sold the show to 49 stations covering about 42% of U.S. TV households. With New York and L.A. in the bag, Par's attention will likely shift to Chicago, where CBS O&O WBBM is said to be the leading contender.
