Sony Clears 'Rules of Engagement' in Nearly Half the Country

Sony has cleared off-CBS sitcom Rules of Engagement in 45% of the country, including the top three markets, said John Weiser, Sony's president of distribution, on Friday (June 17). The show will premiere in fall 2012.

In the top three markets, the show was acquired by Tribune's WPIX New York, CBS' KCAL Los Angeles and Weigel's WCIU. Belo and Meredith also have picked up the show in some markets.

This fall, Rules of Engagement will anchor a new one-hour comedy block on CBS' Saturday nights. Prior to that, it's been a utility player, airing on CBS' top-rated Monday nights and last season on Thursdays at 8:30 p.m.

The show stars Oliver Hudson, Bianca Kajlich, Patrick Warburton, Megyn Price, and David Spade. Tom Hertz, Doug Robinson and Jack Giarraputo serve as executive producers on Rules of Engagement, which is produced by Adam Sandler's Happy Madison Productions and CBS Television Studios in association with Sony Pictures Television.

Paige Albiniak

Contributing editor Paige Albiniak has been covering the business of television for more than 25 years. She is a longtime contributor to Next TV, Broadcasting + Cable and Multichannel News. She concurrently serves as editorial director for The Global Entertainment Marketing Academy of Arts & Sciences (G.E.M.A.). She has written for such publications as TVNewsCheck, The New York Post, Variety, CBS Watch and more. Albiniak was B+C’s Los Angeles bureau chief from September 2002 to 2004, and an associate editor covering Congress and lobbying for the magazine in Washington, D.C., from January 1997 - September 2002.