Jan 31, 2007
MGM DOMESTIC TELEVISION DISTRIBUTION SELLS COMEDY CENTRAL'S® RENO 911! AND CHAPPELLE'S SHOW TO TOP THREE MARKETS FOR FALL '07 SYNDICATION LAUNCHLOS ANGELES, CA January 31, 2007 -- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (MGM) announced today its domestic television distribution operation has sold RENO 911! and Chappelle's Show, two of Comedy Central's most popular shows in the top three markets - New York, Los Angeles and Chicago. By clearing these cities, MGM has secured a national syndication launch for both programs.
The announcement was made today by Jim Packer, President, Worldwide Television Distribution, MGM. The shows are syndicated by MGM through the studio's strategic relationship with New Line Television.
"It's exciting to see the station response to RENO 911! and Chappelle's Show," said Packer. "Our sales campaign started right before NATPE and to come out of the convention with a launch on both shows is a testament to the strength of the programs and our distribution operation."
In New York, MGM sold RENO 911! and Chappelle's Show to Tribune-owned WPIX, while in Los Angeles, MGM sold RENO 911! to CBS-owned KCAL and Chappelle's Show was sold to Fox-owned KTTV/KCOP. In Chicago, MGM sold both shows to Fox-owned WFLD/WPWR. Both programs have also cleared 15 additional markets.
"With prominent broadcast partners such as Fox, Tribune and Paramount all involved with the launch of RENO 911! and Chappelle's Show, its clear stations see the real value of these popular shows," said John Bryan, Executive Vice President, Broadcast Strategy, MGM. "We'd like to thank all of the groups for their support and look forward to making these shows a great success this fall."
About Comedy Central
Comedy Central, television's only all-comedy network, is a 24-hour, advertiser-supported, basic cable comedy service available to over 90 million viewers nationwide and is the #1 network in primetime among men 18-24 as well as a consistent Top Ten-rated network among all adults 18-49. A leader in delivering content everywhere you need to be, Comedy Central has broken out of the traditional boundaries of the living room to offer cutting-edge originals both online, through the network's broadband channel at comedycentral.com, and on-the-go via arrangements with all the major wireless carriers. Hit series include RENO 911!, The Colbert Report, Drawn Together, Mind of Mencia, Chappelle's Show and, of course, the Peabody and Emmy-winning series The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and South Park. Comedy Central is owned by, and is a registered trademark of, Comedy Partners, a wholly-owned division of VIACOM Inc.'s (NYSE: VIA and VIA.B) MTV Networks. For more information visit Comedy Central's press-only Web site at www.comedycentral.com/press or the network's consumer site at www.comedycentral.com.
About New Line Television
New Line Television is a division of New Line Cinema (www.newline.com), the most successful independent film company in the world. The division develops, produces and distributes TV projects for the broadcast networks, cable and first-run syndication, as well as distributes New Line feature films across the television landscape. In addition to the production, marketing and distribution of theatrical motion pictures, New Line Cinema has divisions devoted to home entertainment, music, theater, merchandising and international. A pioneer in franchise filmmaking, New Line's Oscar-winning The Lord of the Rings trilogy is one of the most successful film franchises in history. New Line is a division of Time Warner, Inc.
About Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc.
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc., through its operating subsidiaries is actively engaged in the worldwide production and distribution of motion pictures, television programming, home video, interactive media, music, and licensed merchandise. The company owns the world's largest library of modern films, comprising around 4,000 titles. Operating units include Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc., Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc., United Artists Films Inc., MGM Television Entertainment Inc., MGM Networks Inc., MGM Distribution Co., MGM International Television Distribution Inc., Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Home Entertainment LLC, MGM ON STAGE, MGM Music, MGM Consumer Products and MGM Interactive. In addition, MGM has ownership interests in international TV channels reaching nearly 110 countries. MGM ownership is as follows: Providence Equity Partners (29%), Texas Pacific Group (21%), Sony Corporation of America (20%), Comcast (20%), DLJ Merchant Banking Partners (7%) and Quadrangle Group (3%). For more information, visit www.mgm.com.\