Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution Locks Up Multiyear Deals For Syndicated Launch Of The Closer And Third-Cycle Sale Of Without A Trace

February 11, 2009

Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution (WBDTD) has locked up multiyear deals for the off-network syndication launch of The Closer and the sale of the third cycle of Without A Trace in syndication, it was announced today by WBDTD President Ken Werner.

"More then ever, stations are on the lookout for quality off-network hours to augment and enhance their existing franchises," said Werner. "We have been in the market with 'The Closer' and the third cycle of 'Without a Trace' for less then a month. The station reaction has been tremendous. To be cleared so quickly on such quality stations is a testament to the shows and underlying strategy."

The highest-rated program in the history of advertiser-supported cable television, The Closer has now been sold in more than 85% of the country for a fall 2010 launch in off-network syndication, with two-year deals covering the 2010�2011 and 2011�2012 seasons. This comes after an earlier announcement that WBDTD had sold the show to the Fox Television Stations in 16 markets, including New York, Los Angeles and Chicago. Additionally, The Closer has now been cleared on stations from the following groups: CBS Television Stations, Raycom, Capitol Broadcasting, Local TV, Hearst-Argyle Television, Tribune Broadcasting, Young Broadcasting, LIN TV, Turner, Newport Television, Weigel Broadcasting, Post-Newsweek Stations, Four Points Media Group, Meredith, Cox Television, Grant Television, Gannett Broadcasting, McKinnon Broadcasting, Freedom Communications, ComCorp, Bonten Media Group, Barrington Broadcasting Group, Hubbard Broadcasting and ACME Television. The Closer ranks as the #1 series on ad-supported cable among Households, Total Viewers, Adults 25�54 and Women 25�54, and is currently concluding its fourth season on TNT (Mondays at 9 p.m. ET/PT).

Also in off-net, WBDTD has sold the third syndication cycle of Without A Trace to stations representing 85% of the country, renewing the hit drama series through the 2010�2011 and 2011�2012 seasons on the CBS Television Stations in 18 markets � including New York, Los Angeles and Chicago, among others � as well as to stations from more than two dozen groups. In addition to the CBS stations, Without A Trace has been sold to stations from the following broadcasters: Sinclair Broadcast Group, Tribune Broadcasting, Raycom, Meredith, Newport Television, Post-Newsweek Stations, Four Points Media Group, Media General, Belo, Freedom Communications, New Vision Television, Barrington Broadcasting Group, Bonten Media Group, McKinnon Broadcasting, Dispatch Broadcast Group, Weigel Broadcasting, Journal Broadcast Group, Allbritton Communications, Grey Television, ACME Television and Hearst-Argyle Television, among others. Without A Trace is currently in its seventh network season on CBS (Tuesdays at 10 p.m. ET/PT).

The Closer stars Golden Globe winner and Emmy� Award nominee Kyra Sedgwick, J.K. Simmons, Corey Reynolds, Robert Gossett, G.W. Bailey, Tony Denison, Michael Paul Chan, Raymond Cruz, Gina Ravera, Phillip P. Keene and Jon Tenney. Created by James Duff, the series is executive produced by Duff and Greer Shephard & Michael M. Robin, with Sedgwick serving as co-executive producer. "The Closer" is produced by The Shephard/Robin Company in association with Warner Bros. Television.

Without A Trace stars Emmy� Award and Golden Globe winner Anthony LaPaglia, Poppy Montgomery, Academy Award� and Golden Globe nominee Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Enrique Murciano, Roselyn Sanchez and Eric Close. Created by Hank Steinberg, the series is executive produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, Jonathan Littman, Steinberg, Jan Nash, Greg Walker and David Amann. Without A Trace is produced by Jerry Bruckheimer Television in association with CBS Productions and Warner Bros. Television.