MGM Takes Over Distribution of Ron Hazleton's HouseCalls

Home-Improvement Series Is Currently in Ninth Season

By John Eggerton -- Broadcasting & Cable, 1/28/2008 8:22:00 PM

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer said Monday that it picked up distribution rights to Ron Hazelton's HouseCalls from Tribune.

The latter announced last month that it was getting out of the syndicated-program-distribution business.

The home-improvement series, currently in its ninth season, is cleared in more than 70% of the country and MGM is looking to line up clearance for the next two seasons during the National Association of Television Program Executives' show in Las Vegas this week.

MGM Worldwide Television co-president Jim Packer said in announcing the move that Tribune gave MGM a head-start toward those renewals "given the success they’ve had in clearing the show and selling the barter time.” 

MGM will sell 22 new episodes for each of the next two seasons of the half-hour, as well as nine years' worth of library episodes.

For complete NATPE coverage, click here.