CBS Television Distribution Snags Domestic Rights to TV Land's 'Hot in Cleveland'

CBS Television Distribution has acquired the broadcast domestic distribution rights for TV Land's Betty White comedy Hot in Cleveland.

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“When Hot in Cleveland debuted it was immediately hailed as an instant classic by TV critics, in the same vein as traditional four-camera sitcoms such as Everybody Loves Raymond, Friends, Seinfeld and Frasier," said Scott Koondel, president of distribution for CBS Television Distribution. "In a marketplace where the sitcom pipeline is dry, there is a pent-up demand by stations for a big, broad-skewing sitcom like this. It will seamlessly slip into any TV station’s lineup."

Currently in its third season, ratings have been soft, with the season opener luring just under 2 million total viewers. When it debuted in June 2010, the half-hour sitcom was the highest-rated telecast in TV Land's young history, averaging 4.8 million viewers. The announcement comes at an opportune time for the comedy, co-starring Valerie Bertinelli, Jane Leeves and Wendie Malick.

“Hot in Cleveland placed TV Land at the forefront of the recent sitcom resurgence and boosted our position as a destination for original programming,” said Larry W. Jones, president of TV Land. “Our audience has fallen in love all over again with these four sitcom veterans and we’re sure the viewers who discover the show in syndication will fall in love with them too.”

Hot in Cleveland centers on three best friends (Bertinelli, Leeves and Malick) from Los Angeles who find their lives forever changed when their plane makes an unexpected landing in Cleveland. They rent a house that comes with an opinionated caretaker (White). The series is filmed in front of a live studio audience.

Sean Hayes and Todd Milliner of Hazy Mills Productions serve as executive producers. Suzanne Martin directs and also serves as an EP, showrunner and writer. Lynda Obst, Larry W. Jones and Keith Cox are also on board as EPs.