I have to admit that my first reaction when I read this was “He’s been on eight years already?”.

Syndicated talk show “Dr. Phil” has been renewed through the 2013-2014 season in 70% of the country, including 20 of the top 25 markets.

The three-year renewal will take “Dr. Phil,” now in its eighth year, through its 12th season.

via THR.com.

Of course not. But I couldn’t pass up this chance to poke fun at the ridiculous press that wants to tie everything that happens to Oprah to her Obama endorsement. As usual, this isn’t about politics, it’s about money!

CBS Television Distribution’s The Oprah Winfrey Show will depart broadcast syndication and move to Winfrey’s new cable network, OWN, when the show’s contract expires in 2011, according to a report published by Deadline Hollywood Daily’s Nikki Finke. That report is in line with what Discovery chief David Zaslav had said nearly one year ago to the day.

On Thursday afternoon executives tied to the show were issuing a round of statements saying nothing has been finalized.

via Broadcasting & Cable.

It’s been a busy day for the syndication market. Fans of The Mentalist no longer have to wonder why NCIS:LA was sold into syndication and their show wasn’t.

According to the pact between TNT and Warner Bros. Domestic TV Distribution, “Mentalist” will begin running weekly on the cable network in fall 2011, followed by a full-blown launch in 2012.

Neither side would discuss the financials of the deal, but the Simon Baker starrer is said to have fetched from $2.2 million-$2.3 million an episode.

via THR.com

Fastest syndication EVER?

After only seven weeks on the air, syndication rights for NCIS: LA have been bought by USA Network, which has already had a great syndication run with the original NCIS.

According to the Hollywood Reporter,  NCIS: LL Cool J LA is going for roughly $1.9 2.5 million per episode THR updated the story from their original report of 1.9 million).

The unusually quick deal is testament to the popularity of the “NCIS” brand — and the ability for top cable networks to capitalize on crime procedurals in syndication. In its seventh season, “NCIS” has grown to become the most-watched drama series on TV.

Update: Not quite as fast, but The Mentalist has been sold into syndication as well.

One million people will get the chance to watch the second-season premiere of  Disney-ABC Domestic Television’s Legend of the Seeker before its November 7 air date:

Starting Friday, moviegoers will be presented with one of three collectible 3D “Seeker” cards when they purchase a ticket at one of 1,300 participating movie theaters nationwide through Nov. 6.

The 1 million people who receive the card will be given the opportunity to watch “Seeker’s” second-season premiere episode on the iTunes Store before its Nov. 7 debut. Each card contains a code to be redeemed on iTunes, giving fans an exclusive free download of the episode.

more on THR

First Oprah pushed Dr. Phil out of the way for Dr. Oz, now Houston’s KPRC is. In  a battle of the Oprah-made doctors, KPRC in Houston has bumped Dr. Phil off the schedule in favor of newcomer Dr. Oz in the 3pm timeslot citing concerns over sliding ratings, and issues with the content on Dr. Phil.

via Broadcasting & Cable:

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We’ve written before about the many reporters contacting us to try and find ratings backup for an “Oprah ratings are down because she endorsed Obama” story. When we can’t provide it, they typically go ahead and write it anyway!

Will Oprah’s season premiere ratings quiet these requests? Maybe. For a week.

The talk queen herself, Oprah, opened her new season with a 39 % leap to a 6.1, its highest rating in a year and a half for the week ending Sept. 20.

via Broadcasting & Cable.

Sony’s Dr. Oz fell a bit in its third day in syndication, down a tenth from the previous two days to a 1.6 rating/5 share, according to Nielsen Media Research’s overnight weighted metered market household ratings. Still, the show remains up 23% compared to both year-ago time periods and lead-ins.

via  Broadcasting & Cable.