By Stone Martindale Jul 16, 2007, 17:12 GMT
Daily television trainwreck fans take heart, the two kings of self-invented drama and dissectors of bad choices have been given a new contract.
06/15/2007 - Jerry Springer - 34th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards - Pressroom - Kodak Theater - Hollywood, CA © Glenn Harris / PR Photos
Tribune Co.’s stations, have picked up "Maury" and "The Jerry Springer Show" from distributor NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution through the 2009-10 season, reports The Hollywood Reporter.
Tribune stations extending the two franchises include WPIX-TV in New York, KTLA-TV in Los Angeles, WPHL-TV in Philadelphia, KDAF-TV in Dallas, WDCW-TV in Washington, D.C., and KHCW-TV in Houston.
THR reports that the Sinclair-owned stations have renewed their carriage deals for the shows, including WPGH-TV in Pittsburgh, WTTE-TV in Columbus, Ohio, and WSTR-TV in Cincinnati.
"These are long-term franchises that make up the backbone of the daytime lineups for a lot of stations and work terrifically," said Barry Wallach, president of NBCU Domestic Television Distribution. "They make a lot of money locally for stations and draw a lot of audiences."
The new deals have "Maury" achieving a 12th season, and long time show "Springer" will make it to an unbelievable 19th season.
Tribune, which owns 23 stations, and NBC Universal declined to comment on the terms of the deal, according to THR.
Tribune announces the first weekday deal for the station group since the entire Tribune media empire was sold to Sam Zell earlier in the year for a reported $8.2 billion, reports THR.
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