‘Law & Order’ Clearances Top 80% In U.S.

NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution has sold Law & Order to TV stations for weekend syndication beginning fall 2011, marking the first time the Emmy-award winning drama will be available in broadcast syndication, it was announced today.

Law & Order has been sold to station groups representing more than 80% of the U.S. including Fox, CBS, Cox, Gannett, Hearst and Sunbeam.

Stations in the nation’s top markets debuting Law & Order next fall include WNYW-WWOR New York, KTTV-KCOP Los Angeles and WFLD-WPWR Chicago from the Fox station group; KYW-WPSG Philadelphia and WBZ-WSBK Boston from CBS; KTVU-KICU San Francisco and WPXI Pittsburgh from Cox Communications; WXIA-WATL Atlanta from Gannett; KCRA-KQCA Sacramento, Calif., from Hearst; as well as WSVN Miami from the Sunbeam station group.

“With its dynamic ensemble cast, high quality story-telling, self-contained episodes and high-profile guest stars, Law & Order is a perfect fit for local broadcast stations,” said Sean O’Boyle, EVP, syndication sales, NBC Universal Domestic TV Distribution.. “We are thrilled to extend our partnership with the Law & Order franchise with Fox and other leading groups.”

“We’ve had success with the Law & Order franchise both in syndication and as an important building block for MyNet,” said Frank Cicha, SVP, programming, Fox Television Stations. “Acquiring ‘the mothership’ for weekends is a natural extension of this.”

“I am thrilled that Law & Order is joining its brand mates, Law & Order: Criminal Intent and Law & Order: SVU in broadcast syndication — both of which are exceptional performers on local broadcast stations,” said Dick Wolf, creator and executive producer of the Law & Order branded series. “We have a lot of momentum with this brand in the marketplace and I am excited for continued success with the flagship drama that started it all.”