Since its founding in 2006, CBS Entertainment’s first-run distribution division has been known as CBS Television Distribution. But starting today, in an attempt to fuse with an evolved media landscape and CBS’s brand strategy to-date, the syndication company has been rebranded to CBS Media Ventures. With a new name comes a new brand identity, which includes a logo that draws on the iconic CBS Eye and a remix of CBS’ current five-note mnemonic on its programming.
Niecy Nash may be adding talk show host to her résumé. CBS Television Distribution, the studio behind The Drew Barrymore Show, is nearing a daytime syndicated talk show set to be hosted by the Reno 911! and Claws actress. Sources say a presentation will be filmed in the near future for the potential series, which is being produced as a co-production between CTD and Ben Winston and James Corden’s Fulwell73.
The syndie star and her husband have pared down her talk/cooking show to a minimalist, makeup-free affair from their home kitchen in the Adirondacks. Shooting on iPhones, cooking largely from pantry staples and taking personal questions from viewers in every episode, Ray’s producer says she’s “the right woman for the right moment.” (Photo: Rachael Ray)
‘Drew Barrymore’ Cleared For Fall Launch
CBS Television Distribution’s new daytime talker The Drew Barrymore Show, is now a firm go for fall 2020, Steve LoCascio, chief operating officer of CBS Television Distribution, said Tuesday. CTD has added such station groups as Nexstar, Sinclair, Weigel, Scripps, Gray, Tegna, Meredith and Mission to its initial launch group of CBS-owned stations, bringing the show’s total clearance level to 85% of the country.
Drew Barrymore is officially coming to daytime TV. The actress will headline and executive produce a syndicated talk show for CBS Television Distribution, set to launch in the fall of 2020.
CBS’s Television Distribution unit has officially launched Dabl, an ad-supported digital multicast network dedicated to what it describes as “informative, project-based, feel-good content” on lifestyle topics including cooking, home renovation, design, DIY, pets and travel. CBS announced the free-to-users network in June.
Exclusives
CBS Television Distribution’s new advertiser-supported digital lifestyle network Dabl (dab·ble) is now cleared in over 80% of the country for launch on Sept. 9. In addition to the previously announced CBS Television Stations […]
Drew Barrymore is taking another run at daytime, but this time with CBS Television Distribution at the helm.The Santa Clarita Diet actress is shooting a talk show pilot with CBS in New York this week. In 2016, Warner Bros. shopped a talk show starring the actress but it could not get the show on the air because it could not find time slots in major markets.
The new digital network will debut Sept. 9, anchored by the CBS Television Stations Group. It will feature programs from the libraries of iconic personalities including Martha Stewart and Emeril.
CBS Television Distribution’s Face the Truth will not return for a second season in strip syndication, sources confirmed Friday, but the company’s The Doctors and Daily Mail TV will both be back for seasons 12 and three, respectively.
CTD adds all current and future Debmar-Mercury product, including Wendy Williams, Caught in Providence and Fremantle’s Family Feud, to Its 11-show media sales slate.
Longtime CBS Television Distribution exec Stephen Hackett announced his plans to retire on Monday, soon ceding his top post in sales to Jonathan Bingaman.
Breakthrough With Dr. Steve Perry, distributed by CBS Television Distribution, is set to launch on Jan. 7, 2019, on eight Fox O&O, in a two-week test.
Entertainment Tonight is going OTT with the launch Wednesday of ET Live, a 24/7 live streaming app. The service will take advantage of Entertainment Tonight’s deep roots in entertainment over nearly 40 years of reporting to offer entertainment news to a new generation of viewers, said Becky Brooks, SVP of multiplatform programming for CBS Television Distribution.
Phil McGraw, host and executive producer of Dr. Phil, has signed a new deal with CBS Television Distribution to continue the show through 2023. The extension adds three years onto McGraw’s current deal and will take the daytime talk show through its 21st season.
The head of CBS Television Distribution is stepping down after more than 30 years in the television syndication business. No successor has been announced.
CBS Television Distribution’s Face the Truth, starring Vivica A. Fox and produced by Jay McGraw’s Stage 29 Productions, will premiere Sept. 10, said CTD. The show will air on CBS-owned stations in 10 major markets, including New York and Los Angeles. It’s also been picked up by stations owned by Cox Television, Meredith, Graham Media, Hearst Television and Weigel Broadcasting.
CBS O&Os in major markets will anchor the launch of the conflict talk show from Jay McGraw’s Stage 29 Productions. Also on board are stations owned by Cox, Meredith, Graham, Hearst and Weigel.
Harry Friedman: He’s Got Games
Harry Friedman (right) is the executive producer of two of the most enduring and successful syndicated programs of all time: Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy. He is one of television’s most prolific producers, and his success is marked by his ability to maintain the traditions of both long-running shows while tweaking each just enough to keep them current and on the cutting edge. He will be honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences on April 28 at the Daytime Creative Arts Emmy Awards.
Sources say Sinclair and Tribune have agreed to carry the show from Dr. Phil McGraw and his son Jay, first announced in June 2015, giving it the clearances it needs to get off the ground this fall.
CBS Television Distribution’s entertainment magazine will call it quits after the end of its 13th season.
Steady As It Goes For Paul Franklin And CTD
In his first NATPE as president of CBS Television Distribution, Paul Franklin is overseeing a list of some of the longest-running shows in television syndication. His challenge is to hold the line or even grow the license fees for CTD’s stalwart syndication properties in an era when there’s more pressure than ever from stations and station groups to drive down fees.
Veteran CBS News producer Sharon Hoffman has been named executive producer of Entertainment Tonight. Hoffman was previously the executive producer for CBS News’ weekend editions, and in addition to her ET duties will also serve as exec producer for ET sibling show The Insider.
John Wentworth, head of public relations for CBS Television Distribution, will retire from the company in 2017. He announced his departure in an email Tuesday. A CBS veteran, Wentworth joined Paramount Television — predecessor to CBS Television Studios — in 1983.
Entertainment Tonight executive producer Brad Bessey is departing the show ahead of its 36th season. Bessey joined ET in April 2014. Sources say Bessey’s contract was not renewed for the upcoming season, which kicks off in September. Insiders say the split was amicable.
Steven LoCascio becomes chief operating officer for CBS Television Distribution, while Stephen Hackett becomes the group’s president of sales.
The 28-year veteran of Twentieth Television will oversee all of CBS Television Distribution’s domestic syndicated portfolio. His predecessor, Armando Nuñez, now assumes responsibility for all international sales as president-CEO of CBS Studios International.
A multi-million dollar lawsuit filed today against CBS has the no-nonsense host, the syndicated small claims series and spin-off Hot Bench in the legal spotlight. Seeking widespread unspecified damages, plaintiff Rebel Entertainment Partners claim that it has been denied contractually obligated payments since 2010 from the net profits of the 19-season reality court show distributed by CBS Television because it supposedly is “losing money” while paying Judge Judy herself up to $47 million a year.
CBS Television Distribution names Jonathan Bingaman EVP, domestic cable sales and Robert Schildhouse is now EVP, digital licensing and distribution.
Phil McGraw signs a new deal with CBS that will extend his top-rated syndicated talker through 2020.
John Rizzotti has been named vice president of communications for Entertainment Tonight and The Insider. Rizzotti, who spent nine years at E!, will oversee publicity for both entertainment news shows. He officially started in his new post earlier this month.
Judy Sheindlin has extended her contract with CBS Television Distribution for three more years. The new deal also includes a first-look production deal with Sheindlin’s company Queen Bee Productions Inc., which produces Hot Bench, the top-rated new show in syndication this season.
The CTD court show that is syndication’s No. 1 new entry is renewed and will also move to CBS-owned stations in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, Boston, Miami and Denver on March 30, 2015.
CTD has been pitching Man in the Middle to station groups for months. The show has been well received by stations, some of whom say Jerry O’Connell — who has guest co-hosted shows like ABC’s The View — is an energetic, talented and likeable host. His co-hosts, including his wife Rebecca Romijn, were less polished but the show was still quite good, station general managers say. It’s unclear why CTD decided not to go forward.
CTD Cooks Up Hot Spots For ‘Hot in Cleveland’
Veteran TV producer and exec Elaine Bauer Brooks has been named CBS Television Distribution’s EVP of Development. Bauer Brooks will oversee the development of new CTD programming. She joins the company from The Style Network.
Verdicts Deferred For Shows On Bubble
After this week’s annual programming marketplace in Miami Beach, the fates of a number of shows are still up in the air. “We’ll know in mid February” was a common refrain. But deals were certainly being done, by syndicators both large and small.
CBS Television Distribution’s Rachael Ray has been on CBS stations in Los Angeles and San Francisco and Tribune’s WGN Chicago and Titan’s KUBE Houston. ABC says it has not yet decided where it is going to put Rachael in the KABC and KGO lineups, but speculation is it could take 3-4 p.m. now occupied by Katie, which is not returning in the fall.
The planned four-week test in eight Tribune market is ending today after just three weeks, with expectations that it will be back in the fall, sources say. Through yesterday, the talk show averaged a 1.0 household rating and 2 share. Ratings this week grew 11% over the second week.
