NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution is readying “The Office” for a fall off-network launch.
NBC’s flagship comedy has been sold to local broadcast stations representing more than 93% of the U.S., including each of the top 50 markets.
Those clearances, coupled with a cable syndication sale to TBS two years ago, brings the off- network haul for “Office’s” initial syndication run — including barter and local-station sales — to about $3 million an episode, in line with the distributor’s original projections. Despite the economic downturn, that is in line with the syndication revenue fetched by Twentieth TV’s recent offering “How I Met Your Mother.”
Along with the TBS deal, “Office” was sold to Fox Television Stations in 2007 for its initial syndication cycle. Now the series also has been cleared on CBS, Tribune, Peachtree, Sinclair, Gannett, Meredith, Hearst-Argyle, LIN and other stations.
Fox stations will carry “Office” in the top markets of New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Washington, Phoenix, Minneapolis, Orlando, Baltimore and Memphis, Tenn. CBS-owned stations will air the show in Philadelphia, Boston, Seattle, Miami and Pittsburgh. (partialdiff)
