Peacock clears final missing syndie 'Link'
Show has been OK'd in all of top five markets
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The show is now cleared in all of the top five markets, with deals for carriage starting in January on CBS O&O WCBS New York, NBC O&O WMAQ Chicago, and CBS stations KYW Philadelphia and KPIX San Francisco.
The Los Angeles deal is significant, as the market is the second largest in the nation -- a must-have in order to launch a show into broadcast syndication.
The KNBC clearance for the Anne Robinson-hosted quizzer also means it's part of the programming consortium that NBC's syndie division created with the NBC, Gannett and Hearst-Argyle TV station groups. The deals with CBS stations had raised eyebrows among insiders who questioned whether the consortium would be well represented among the clearance list.
Other recent clearances include WDIV Detroit; KNXV Phoenix; WKMG Orlando, Fla.; WJZ Baltimore; KNSD San Diego; KSHB Kansas City; KJRH Tulsa, Okla.; and KMTV Omaha, Neb.
NBC announced the Los Angeles "Weakest Link" pickup Monday, during the syndication portion of the summer Television Critics Assn. Tour in Pasadena.
This year's TCA syndie tour featured fewer stars than it has in years; moreover, while 10 syndicators held panel sessions aimed at wooing the nation's TV critics last year, Monday's event featured panels presented by just five companies -- King World Prods., Telepictures Prods./Warner Bros. Domestic TV Distribution, Universal Worldwide Television, Pearson Television and NBC Enterprises. Alliance Atlantis, repping the company's first involvement in the syndie day of TCA, sponsored a cocktail reception.
Jeff Pryor, prexy of Pryor & Associates, the PR and marketing company that organizes the event, attributed the dropoff to syndicator budget cutbacks and the fact that most shows being launched in syndication this fall focus on formats rather than stars.
Fewer star-driven projects
"Without many star-driven projects being introduced to the marketplace, studios don't expect to get the attendance they would, so some of them didn't find it worthwhile to participate this year," Pryor said.
In the past, the event has been a forum for syndicators to introduce vehicles for talent such as Rosie O'Donnell, Roseanne and Pamela Anderson Lee. Big-name talent drew more critics, which encouraged competing syndicators to get involved.
"Considering the circumstances, we're happy with the turnout," Pryor said, estimating the number of critics who showed up at about 60. Star-driven years have drawn double that.
The cost to a company for securing a panel sesh is $7,000. While the drop in participation means this year's edition is less of a money-maker for Pryor, he said he expects an uptick in attendance down-the-line -- so it's important to hold the space on TCA's sked for syndication.
The syndie day, formerly known as "Synditel," took some knocks last year when critics expressed anger over the lack of attendance by big-name talent. Dr. Laura Schlessinger, for example, was pulled from the roster several weeks before the event, while other stars, such as Cindy Margolis, canceled at the last minute.
Critics were still scouting for talent as this year's syndication day kicked off, immediately asking why Dick Clark didn't show up to promote the NBC strip "The Other Half."
Clark's three castmates, Danny Bonaduce, Mario Lopez and Dr. Jan Adams, did show up; skein preems in syndication Sept. 10.
Lewis talks up show
King World held the opening session, on upcoming talker "The Ananda Lewis Show," which preems Sept. 10 as well. Former BET and MTV talk show host Lewis said she aims to "have real conversations" and that she believes the "American public is ready to take themselves seriously."
Telepictures presented its new host for relationship skein "Change of Heart," Lynne Koplitz, along with producers for the show "ElimiDate." Both shows debut in September.
Universal presented "The Fifth Wheel" with a panel that included host Aisha Tyler.
Universal execs said they're rolling the show out Oct. 1 in order to avoid the clutter of other shows' preems. Nielsen's official TV season start date is Sept. 17.
Pearson Television presented "Card Sharks," including host Pat Bullard.
Skein reps the company's second foray into its Goodson library, having revived another Goodson classic, "Family Feud," for syndication during the 1999-2000 TV season.
