The show is finally going into cable syndication.
Yup, you read that right, $1 billion. For the first time ever, Fox is reportedly considering selling re-runs of the incredibly successful show to a cable network, according to TV Guide. Analysts estimate that The Simpsons could fetch $1 billion from a cable syndication deal.
The Simpsons is actually in a very unusual situation for such a successful show. Usually, shows are sold into syndication after 100 episodes and they go to the highest bidder. But because The Simpsons was one of the only animated shows on TV when it was initially sold, broadcasters who bought the rights wanted exclusivity as long as new shows were being produced on Fox.
But now, the company seems willing to consider a cable sale. From the TV Guide article:
With the company now mulling a cable sale, it’s unclear what has changed. There has been speculation that The Simpsons might end after next year’s 25th season, which would mean the iron-clad exclusive deal with stations would change. Or perhaps Twentieth has found a way to alter the existing broadcast-syndication deal with TV stations and finally add cable to the mix.
TV Guide speculates that the move will spark a bidding war between FX (also a News Corp. company), Viacom (which could show reruns on Comedy Central or Spike), Turner (TBS) and NBC Universal (USA). It remains to be seen if this also marks the beginning of the end of The Simpsons.
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