NBC UNIVERSAL DOMESTIC TELEVISION DISTRIBUTION HAS SOLD EMMY AND GOLDEN GLOBE WINNING COMEDY "30 ROCK" IN OFF-NETWORK SYNDICATION
Series Sold To Fox and Tribune Broadcast Stations In The Nation's Leading Markets
Critically Acclaimed and Hit Series Set For Fall 2011 Debut
New York, NY� July 8, 2009 � NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution has sold Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning comedy "30 Rock" to local broadcast stations in the nation's top markets in off-network syndication, it was announced today by Barry Wallach, President, NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution.
The hit series from Broadway Video & Little Stranger, Inc. in association with Universal Media Studios, will make its syndication debut in fall 2011.
"30 Rock" has been sold to the Fox Television Stations and Tribune Broadcasting stations in the nation's top markets, including WNYW-TV New York (Fox), KTTV-TV Los Angeles (Fox), WGN-TV Chicago (Tribune) and WPHL-TV Philadelphia (Tribune).
Negotiations were led by Sean O'Boyle, Executive Vice President/General Sales Manager, NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution, who worked with Frank Cicha, Senior Vice President, Programming, Fox Television Stations and on the Tribune Broadcasting side, Sean Compton, Senior Vice President, Programming and Entertainment.
Additional Fox stations include KDFW-TV/KDFI-TV Dallas, KRIV-TV/KTXH-TV Houston, KSAZ-TV/KUTP-TV Phoenix, WOFL-TV/WRBW-TV Orlando and KMSP-TV/WFTC-TV Minneapolis. Tribune stations that have also acquired "30 Rock" include WDCW-TV Washington D.C., KCPQ-TV/KMYQ-TV Seattle, KRCW-TV Portland, WSFL-TV Miami, KSWB-TV San Diego, KTXL-TV Sacramento, WXMI-TV Grand Rapids, WPMT-TV Harrisburg and WNOL-TV/WGNO-TV New Orleans.
"We are thrilled with the reaction from the marketplace, which has exceeded even our own aggressive expectations and clearly the market has recognized the quality writing, the outstanding ensemble cast and the overall tremendous appeal that '30 Rock' delivers," says Wallach. "Our partners at Tribune, Fox and beyond are all eagerly anticipating '30 Rock's' arrival to their lineups in fall 2011."
Nominated for a record 17 Emmy nominations in 2008, "30 Rock" earned seven 2008 Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Comedy Series for the second consecutive year and tied the record for most comedy Emmys in a single season. The series delivered a 3.9 in Adults 18-49 during the just completed 2008-2009 TV season, having grown 44% from its first to third season, according to Nielsen Media Research. "30 Rock" also had the highest percentage growth in key adult demographics among all primetime sitcoms last season.
"30 Rock" is told through the comedic voice of Emmy and multiple Golden Globe winner Tina Fey as variety show producer "Liz Lemon" and features Emmy and multiple Golden Globe winner Alec Baldwin as top network executive "Jack Donaghy" and Tracy Morgan as "Tracy Jordan," the unpredictable star of Lemon's hit variety show, "TGS with Tracy Jordan."
Rounding out the cast are Jane Krakowski as "Jenna Maroney," the co-star of "TGS"; Scott Adsit as the variety show's producer "Pete Hornberger"; Jack McBrayer as "Kenneth," the over-eager and effortlessly endearing NBC page; Judah Friedlander as "Frank," the sardonic slacker on the writing staff; Katrina Bowden as Lemon's young, flighty assistant, "Cerie"; and Keith Powell as "Toofer," the sophisticated yet sarcastic, Harvard-alum writer.
Throughout the seasons, "30 Rock" has welcomed an impressive array of guest stars, including Emmy-nominated performances by Steve Buscemi, Edie Falco, Carrie Fisher and Rip Torn, as well as Tim Conway and Elaine Stritch who garnered Emmy Awards in 2008 and 2007 respectively.
Season three was no less star-studded with high-profile guest stars, including Oprah Winfrey, Steve Martin, Megan Mullally, Jennifer Aniston, Salma Hayek, John Hamm and Will Arnett (2008 Emmy nominee for his role as Devin). Other guest stars have included Jerry Seinfeld, Whoopi Goldberg and former Vice President Al Gore.
On top of all of its Emmy Awards, "30 Rock" has also won a Golden Globe for Best Television Series, a Screen Actor's Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an ensemble in a Comedy Series, two Producers Guild's Danny Thomas Producer of the Year Awards in Comedy Episodic Television, two Writers Guild Awards for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series and a WGA Award for Episodic Comedy and a Television Critics Association for Outstanding Achievement in Comedy. Also recognized by the AFI Awards as one of 10 Most Outstanding TV Programs of the Year, "30 Rock" was honored with nominations by the People's Choice Awards for Favorite New Comedy Series.
"30 Rock" is from Broadway Video & Little Stranger, Inc. in association with Universal Media Studios. The executive producers are Lorne Michaels ("Saturday Night Live"), Tina Fey, Marci Klein ("Saturday Night Live"), David Miner ("Human Giant") and Robert Carlock ("Friends").
About NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution
NBC Universal is a leader in providing entertainment programming to the domestic and international marketplaces. The NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution division is responsible for the distribution of NBC Universal product to all forms of television throughout the United States and Canada. This includes distribution of current and library film and television product, including formats and non-scripted programming, in the pay, free, and basic markets, as well as the domestic syndication of first-run syndicated TV programs and theatrical and TV movie packages.
Current first-run strip syndicated programming at NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution includes Access Hollywood, Deal or No Deal, The Jerry Springer Show, The Martha Stewart Show, Maury and The Steve Wilkos Show. Current first-run weekly syndicated programming includes The Chris Matthews Show, The Wall Street Journal Report with Maria Bartiromo and the off-network distribution of 30 Rock, The Office, Heroes, House, Law & Order, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and many more series.
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