LIONSGATE’S DEBMAR-MERCURY CLEARS WERNER ENTERTAINMENT’S‘THE CONNERS’ IN MORE THAN 85% OF THE U.S., SECURING MULTI-YEAR ACCESS & EARLY FRINGE DEALS ON LEADING STATION GROUPS STARTING IN FALL 2024
Now Entering Its Sixth Hit Season, ABC’s No. 1 Scripted Series and Sitcom of Last Season has been Cleared by CBS Television Stations and other Major Broadcasters, including Gray, Nexstar, Lockwood, Scripps & Weigel
Los Angeles, CA, February 14, 2024 – Lionsgate’s Debmar-Mercury has cleared Werner Entertainment’s hit “The Conners” in more than 85% of the U.S., securing multi-year access and early fringe deals on leading station groups starting in fall 2024. CBS Television Stations and other leading broadcasters, including Gray, Nexstar, Lockwood, Scripps and Weigel, have acquired syndication rights to ABC’s top-rated scripted show and sitcom of last season, with more slated to join the lineup.
Ira Bernstein and Mort Marcus, co-presidents of Debmar-Mercury, commented, “With Tom Werner providing the highest-rated sitcom to enter off-network syndication in recent memory, ‘The Conners’ will serve as the cornerstone of many of our great station partners’ late afternoon and early evening schedules for many years to come. This will provide them with a strong competitive advantage in their most valuable dayparts.”
In August 2023, Lionsgate’s Worldwide Television Distribution Group and leading distribution company Debmar-Mercury partnered with Tom Werner’s Werner Entertainment on a global licensing deal for the Emmy Award®-winning hit comedy, now entering its sixth season on ABC. Under the terms of the agreement, the Worldwide Television Distribution Group handles global distribution, including SVOD, AVOD, basic cable and FAST rights, while Debmar-Mercury shepherds domestic syndication. The deal covers all existing seasons of the series, as well as rights to future seasons following ABC’s first window.
“The Conners,” starring Sara Gilbert, John Goodman, Laurie Metcalf and Lecy Goranson, is produced by Werner Entertainment. Tom Werner, in association with Gilbert, serves as executive producer along with Bruce Helford, Dave Caplan, Bruce Rasmussen and Tony Hernandez.
The deal was negotiated by Bernstein, Marcus and Lionsgate President of Worldwide Television Distribution Jim Packer for the studio, UTA and Jackoway Austen on behalf of Werner Entertainment.
About Debmar-Mercury:
Lionsgate’s Debmar-Mercury distributes the Fremantle-produced game show hit Family Feud, hosted by Steve Harvey, and produces and distributes Sherri, the top-rated new, nationally syndicated daily talk show hosted by actress, comedian, best-selling author and TV personality Sherri Shepherd. Debmar-Mercury is distributing Game Show Network’s PEOPLE PUZZLER, hosted by actress, best-selling author, producer and television personality Leah Remini, to broadcast stations for fall 2023, as well as ABC’s No. 1 sitcom from Werner Entertainment, The Conners, to domestic broadcast stations starting in fall 2024. The Company also distributes the 10/90 sitcoms it pioneered including Tyler Perry’s House of Payne and spinoff Meet the Browns, Revolution/CubeVision’s Are We There Yet? (starring Ice Cube), and the Debmar-Mercury/Lionsgate Television comedy Anger Management (starring Charlie Sheen).
Debmar-Mercury is a wholly owned subsidiary of Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF.A, LGF.B), encompassing world-class motion picture and television studio operations aligned with the STARZ premium global subscription platform. The Company brings a unique and varied portfolio of entertainment to consumers around the world.
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CONTACT:
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