Twentieth Gets Cash for ‘Family Guy,' Sells 'American Dad'

Deal clears sitcoms in 40% of U.S., may signal strengthening in syndication market

By Paige Albiniak -- Broadcasting & Cable, 1/5/2010 4:42:04 PM

In what may be the first sign the syndication market is strengthening, TV stations paid cash to renew Twentieth Television's off-Fox animated hit Family Guy for a second four-year cycle, taking the show through the 2014-15 season.

"From a timing standpoint, the marketplace is getting better, advertising is getting better, and TV stations are getting healthier. We saw that as an opportunity," says Paul Franklin, Twentieth's executive VP of sales.

Stations from the Tribune and Fox groups have renewed the show, with Tribune's WGN sharing Family Guy with Weigel's WCIU in Chicago. Family Guy receives cash license fees and stations keep 5 ½ minutes of advertising in each episode, while Twentieth keeps 1 ½ minutes.

"Family Guy has played a key role for our stations' sitcom blocks by delivering strong numbers and healthy demos.  I'd be stupid to not renew one of our highest rated shows," said Sean Compton, Tribune's senior VP of programming and entertainment, in a statement.

Family Guy is the second highest rated off-net sitcom in syndication, just behind Warner Bros.' Two and a Half Men, at a 3.5 live plus same day season-to-date household rating, according to Nielsen. It's syndication's top-rated program among adults 18-34 and 18-49, tying Two and a Half Men in the latter demographic for the top spot.

In addition to Family Guy, stations have picked up Twentieth's other animated offering - American Dad, which is also produced by Seth MacFarlane. Stations acquired American Dad on an all-barter basis with stations keeping 4 1/2 minutes of advertising and Twentieth keeping three minutes. American Dad thus far has been cleared in 40% of the country in more than 19 markets, including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia and Dallas.

American Dad will premiere this fall on TV stations on weekends only with a concurrent run on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim. It will become a strip in fall 2011.