CTD Clears ‘Jeff Probst’ Talker In 55% Of U.S.

CBS Television Distribution has landed a launch group for its upcoming Jeff Probst daytime talk show for fall 2012 syndication, CTD confirmed Thursday afternoon, announcing the show has been cleared in more than 55% of the U.S.

The NBC Owned Television Stations are picking up the show in eight of its 10 markets: WNBC New York, KNBC Los Angeles, KNTV San Francisco, WCAU Philadelphia, KXAS Dallas, WTVJ Miami, KNSD San Diego and WVIT Hartford, Conn.

The show is sold in 16 of the top 20 markets, including to stations from the following groups: CBS Television Stations, Gannett Broadcasting Group, Post-Newsweek Stations, Belo Corp, Cox Television, Scripps Howard Broadcasting and LIN Television.

The show, with the longtime host of CBS primetime reality show Survivor, is being sold in two-year deals on a cash-plus-barter basis (10.5 local minutes, 4 national). CTD said the one-hour talk show will cover topics ranging from relationships and family dynamics to newsmakers of the day to families and individuals facing challenges.

Jeff Probst joins two other newcomers, Disney-ABC’s Katie and NBC Universal’s Steve Harvey, as sure bets for fall 2012 daytime television. Yet another talk show, with Ricki Lake, may join the freshman class next year. Distributor Twentieth Television has found a home for Ricki on Tribune stations in several markets, including WPIX New York.

With those big-name talk shows locking up time slots in major markets,and Sony Pictures Television’s Nate Berkus in the second season of a three-year deal on NBC owned stations, Warner Bros. will have a tough time launching its Bethenny Frankel talk show. But Warner Bros. can take a comfort in its rookie talk show Anderson, with Anderson Cooper, being renewed Wednesday in major markets, including on Fox TV Stations in Los Angeles (KTTV) and Chicago (WFLD) and moving to Fox’s WNYW in New York from WPIX there.