OLN Gets Syndication Rights to 'Survivor'

monkeyboy

<font color=purple>Strangely fascinated by zombies
Joined
Jul 25, 2003
Comcast Corp.'s Outdoor Life Network has secured syndication rights to "Survivor," the hit reality-TV show, the cable-television channel said Wednesday.

OLN President Gavin Harvey said the series has the potential to transform the channel, which is best known for airing the Tour de France bicycle race. "It's a terrific show for us," he told reporters on a conference call.

Financial terms of the deal weren't disclosed.



The syndication of "Survivor" will be a test case to show whether reality-TV reruns can attract big audiences, when most of them are contests and the ending is already known.

Executives said during the call that, though many viewers may know the ending, there is enough drama built into each "Survivor" episode to hold their interest.

OLN hopes to bring back large numbers of viewers who already have seen "Survivor," as well as attract new viewers.

Show creator Mark Burnett said during the call that the deal represents an "incredible windfall for us to finally reach syndication. Beyond the economic benefit, we feel it's going to help ... build more awareness" for future seasons.

The deal is for the first ten seasons, which have completed production, with the option for OLN to acquire seasons 11 and 12.

"It seems very successful, but only 20 million out of 250 million people in this country have really seen it, so it really has along way to go," Burnett said. "A lot of people have never even seen it before."

OLN plans to launch the show, beginning with the first season, on the last day of the Tour de France.

Burnett said he chose OLN over the new 24-hour reality-TV channel planned by News Corp.'s Fox because of "the economics of the deal" and the network's commitment to promote the show.

OLN, which airs recreational programming such as skiing and bull riding, will begin airing episodes of "Survivor" Monday through Thursday at 7 p.m. and 10 p.m., as well as on weekends
 
Nice! I didn't get into Survivor until the last few seasons so it'll be cool for me to watch the first few!

Now when does the Tour end?
 

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