Digital Platform: Syndicators Holding Back Content from Web

It may be frustrating to those who here of this awesome new show that came out that they here so much about but may not be home to catch it and may not have a DVR system in their home and end up missing some of the newest shows out. The first thing one would think to do is hit the web and search video platforms such as Hulu for their shows, but you will quickly learn that they these firstrun syndication shows just are not available.

Many industry experts feel that you will never find a full episode of every show, or even full libraries of entire seasons. Why is this? What it really comes down to is ratings and money. The television stations want to have to tune in and catch the shows on their air.  Interesting thing is you will find segments of shows like Ellen, Regis & Kelly, and Nate Berkus on digital platforms, but never will you find a full episode of any other these shows. All these snid-bits of the shows are strategically chosen and placed throughout the available digital platforms as business and marketing tactics.

Again it comes down to the syndicators really trying to force you to tune into the television stations. Ken Werner president of Warner Brothers makes a great point; "Why would we ever jeopardize or barter ratings. That's an enormous source of revenue for us. A tenth of a ratings point translates into meaningful dollars." Although deals are eventually made for previous seasons of shows with platforms like Netflix, it is crucial to guard the firstrun syndie shows from hitting the net. If syndicators just let the content out to these platforms no money would be made and in turn audiences would loose the content that they are trying so desperately to watch.

What's new in First-Run Syndication?
Talk

Katie Couric (Disney-ABC) – clearance level at 93 percent
Bethenny Frankel (Warner Bros.) – cleared on the Fox-Owned stations; six-week summer tryout
Trisha Goddard (NBCUniversal) – no update at NATPE
Steve Harvey (NBCUniversal) – clearance level at 85 percent
Ricki Lake (Twentieth Television) – clearance level at 93 percent
Jeff Probst (CBS Television Distribution) – cleared in 24 of the top 25 markets

Court
Justice for All with Cristina Perez (Entertainment Studios) – no update at NATPE

Game
Baggage (Sony Pictures Television) – reported clearances at 70 percent of the country; no update at NATPE

Magazine

America Now (Raycom) – current slow roll-out
Dish Nation (Twentieth Television) – clearance level at 70 percent
The Electric Playground (PPI Releasing) – upgraded from weekly hour to half-hour strip
RightThisMinute (Sony Pictures Television) – current slow rollout

Sitcom
The First Family (Entertainment Studios): 104 half-hour episodes ordered
Mr. Box Office (Entertainment Studios): 104 half-hour episodes ordered

(source: tvmediainsights.com)