This article is very interesting to me because of the fact that this is unchartered territory for HBO, with the exception of Sex and the City. I find this to be a very untapped resource for them, because so few people get to see HBO shows unless they subscribe. I personally watch the shows on DVD, because I typically research a show and then buy a trial season, which leads to more if I am impressed. However, with a phenomenon like this, I can sample shows and know ahead of time whether I want to buy them! Another issue I wondered about was whether this would hurt the number of subscriptions for HBO, but since shows need so many episodes to run in syndication, it should have little effect at all. Look for this to start happening more often...
'Entourage', 'Curb Your Enthusiasm' for 2010
By Melissa Grego -- Broadcasting & Cable, 3/9/2009 12:00:00 AM MT
HBO has a question for cable networks and stations about three comedies, including Entourage: Is that something you might be interested in?
By the end of March, the pay-TV network will be in the marketplace selling syndication runs for Entourage, Curb Your Enthusiasm and Sex and the City.
Executives have already held meetings with buyers about the off-HBO runs of Entourage and Curb. By the end of this month, they will start making formal sales presentations, says Scott Carlin, HBO president of domestic distribution. Carlin's team is also talking to stations about the second broadcast syndication cycle for Sex and the City.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/189606-HBO_Opens_Syndie_Sales.php
3 comments:
I think offering Entuorage and Curb Your Enthusiasm for syndication is a good for people who may not necessarily want to pay the increasing cable bills. By having the programs on basic cable, more people can sample the program if they don't want to buy DVDs just to see if they like it. Ultimately, if they like it enough, they might buy the DVDs, which would help HBO. Also, selling their content provides them with money for advertising while increasing their exposure to basic cable viewers.
These shows are just the start. It's always hard to know just what shows/programs HBO owns the syndication rights for but imagine being a syndication salesperson and going into the HBO program library. Wow...isn't the potential great? All those shows that aired ONLY on HBO that could be sold for airing on other channels or distribution platforms. BTW, is there a longterm disadvantage? Harm to HBO's core brand?
I have personally experienced HBO syndicated television. When SATC aired on TBS I watched an episode and was hooked. Now I own all the seasons on DVD. I think with these two shows on cable, it will reach those who don't pay for HBO and those who like the shows might purchase DVDs, increasing sales. I don't think those who pay for HBO will mind that their shows will run on cable because they view these shows seasons in advance. All in all I think it could really boot the popularity of HBO and its shows.
Post a Comment