NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution has sold “Law & Order” to local broadcast stations for weekend syndication beginning Fall 2011, marking the very first time the iconic, Emmy-award winning drama will be available in broadcast syndication, it was announced today by Sean O’Boyle, Executive Vice President, Syndication Sales, NBC Universal Domestic TV Distribution.
“Law & Order” has been sold to station groups representing more than 80% of the U.S. including FOX, CBS, Cox, Gannett, Hearst and Sunbeam. Stations in the nation’s top markets debuting “Law & Order” next fall include WNYW-TV / WWOR-TV New York, KTTV-TV / KCOP-TV Los Angeles and WFLD-TV / WPWR-TV Chicago from the FOX station group; KYW-TV / WPSG-TV Philadelphia and WBZ-TV / WSBK-TV Boston from CBS; KTVU-TV / KICU-TV San Francisco and WPXI-TV Pittsburgh from Cox Communications; WXIA-TV / WATL-TV Atlanta from Gannett; KCRA-TV / KQCA-TV Sacramento from Hearst; as well as WSVN-TV Miami from the Sunbeam station group.
“With its dynamic ensemble cast, high quality story-telling, self-contained episodes and high-profile guest stars, ‘Law & Order’ is a perfect fit for local broadcast stations,” said O’Boyle. “We are thrilled to extend our partnership with the ‘Law & Order’ franchise with FOX and other leading groups. This premiere procedural series has proven itself with viewers, as well as advertisers and continues to work exceptionally well in a variety of day parts.”
“We’ve had success with the ‘Law & Order’ franchise both in syndication and as an important building block for MyNet,” said Frank Cicha, Senior Vice President, Programming, FOX Television Stations. “Acquiring ‘the mothership’ for weekends is a natural extension of this.”
“I am thrilled that ‘Law & Order’ is joining its brand mates, ‘Law & Order: Criminal Intent’ and ‘Law & Order: SVU’ in broadcast syndication—both of which are exceptional performers on local broadcast stations,” said Dick Wolf, Creator and Executive Producer of the “Law & Order” branded series. “We have a lot of momentum with this brand in the marketplace and I am excited for continued success with the flagship drama that started it all.”
“Law & Order,” the longest running crime drama in the history of television, is a classic fan favorite which sparked the most successful television brand in history—“Law & Order: Special Victim’s Unit,” “Law & Order: Criminal Intent,” as well as the new hit series, “Law & Order: Los Angeles.” Currently “Law & Order” airs on TNT cable network where it continues to be a ratings powerhouse.
“Law & Order,” which aired on NBC for 20 seasons, is a Wolf Films production in association with Universal Media Studios. Dick Wolf is creator and executive producer. “Law & Order” is distributed in the U.S. and Canada by NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution.
(Source: NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution)
