The reality of reality television is that it doesn't repeat well and therefore is hardly a player in domestic syndication.

NBC's "Fear Factor," though, has proved an exception to that rule: After launching its off-network afterlife in June as a weeknight strip on FX, the show's ratings climbed slowly during the summer months and into the fall, improving Nielsen household numbers by about 23% and adults 18-49 viewership by 37% compared with "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Cops," which FX previously aired in its 7 p.m. slot.

In a way, those results were not a surprise: "Fear" consistently has drawn high second-airing numbers on NBC, often topping 70% of its original broadcast figures, according to Nielsen.

But now comes the real test: In September, "Fear" became the first among the current crop of network primetime reality series to enter the national syndie market, selling to 169 markets and reaching about 98% of the nation (with 48% of stations airing it twice a day). Outlets carrying the show include the Fox owned-and-operated stations as well as stations representing Viacom, Sinclair, Clear Channel, Raycom and Media General.

While it is too early to gauge accurately how well "Fear" is performing ratings-wise as a syndicated property -- overnight big-market numbers have been in the lukewarm 1.3-1.4 range -- producer Endemol USA and NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution have high hopes because of the show's ongoing first-run strength and its successful export to 106 nations.

Says Endemol USA president David Goldberg, "By today's reality standards, it's really the first of its kind."

Why "Fear" has broken through in repeats, when shows such as CBS' "Survivor" and Fox's "American Idol" cannot, is clear: Each "Fear" episode is self-contained, with no carryover or recurring story lines. The suspense begins and ends within a single hour.

"The fact that it has a new stunt coming up every few minutes really sells it as an off-network property -- that and the stand-alone aspect, of course," FX senior vp programming and acquisitions Chuck Saftler says. "'Fear Factor' is also a great utility player: You can put it on in any daypart and find an audience because of its easy accessibility."

While early syndication figures have not been entirely encouraging -- possibly indicating oversaturation because "Fear" continues to run weekly on NBC and nightly on FX -- NUDTD senior vp and national sales manager Sean O'Boyle is not yet concerned.

"The numbers usually start to percolate after the time change happens off of daylight-saving and it gets dark earlier, so people get home from work earlier," he says. "There still is the question in general of whether reality repeats well, but on NBC, 'Fear Factor' has repeated as well as have sitcoms."

As for the theory that too much exposure could hurt "Fear's" chances as a syndie entry, O'Boyle adds: "'Friends' went off of NBC as hot as it had ever been despite having had numerous syndication runs. I'm convinced that multiple platforms only enhance the brand."

Also working in "Fear's" favor is its uncanny demographic balance: The show draws viewership across the board, from children to grandmothers.

"That demo story is going to go a long way toward contributing to this show's longevity over the long haul," Goldberg says.