OWN: OPRAH WINFREY NETWORK AND TLC SEAL OFF-NETWORK LICENSING DEAL TO ACQUIRE ‘UNDERCOVER BOSS’ FROM CBS TELEVISION DISTRIBUTION
July 11, 2011
Los Angeles, CA - OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network and TLC have acquired the off-network rights of "Undercover Boss" from CBS Television Distribution. TLC and OWN will each have access to the library and will determine their independent scheduling strategies with regularly scheduled episodes of the hit series set to begin airing Fall 2012.
" 'Undercover Boss' is a great addition to OWN's Fall lineup," said Scott Garner, senior vice president, scheduling and acquisitions, OWN. "The self-contained episodes will serve as strong anchors to complement OWN original programming."
"We think our sale of 'Undercover Boss' creates a great partnership between OWN, TLC and CTD," said Scott Koondel, president, distribution, CBS Television Distribution. " 'Undercover Boss' is a perfect fit for OWN and TLC as it focuses on improving lives, which very much reflects both networks' missions. We are excited that their viewers will have the chance to see this exceptional show."
" 'Undercover Boss' seeks to change the American workplace, and we are delighted that CBS Television Distribution has found such a good home for the series on cable," said Stephen Lambert, chief executive, Studio Lambert. "Oprah helped launch 'Boss' when she devoted a whole show to previewing the series just before its post-Super Bowl launch last year, so it's wonderful that the off-network rights have now gone to her network. In tandem, TLC's programming is focused on finding the extraordinary in the everyday, and nothing reflects that more than the journeys of the 'bosses' and the more than a million employees of the companies featured who have benefited from 73 companywide improvements, as well as dozens of people who have been promoted or received scholarships."
"Undercover Boss" is a one-hour reality series that follows high-level corporate executives as they slip anonymously into the rank and file of their own companies. Each week, a different executive will leave the comfort of their corner office for an undercover mission to examine the inner workings of their corporation. While working alongside their employees, they will learn about themselves, the effects their decisions have on others, where the problems lie within their organization, the perception of their company, and discover the unsung heroes of their work force.
Undercover Boss is produced by Studio Lambert, which is part of the All3Media Group. The series is executive produced by Stephen Lambert and Eli Holzman.
In its first season, "Undercover Boss" was the most popular new series on television with an average audience of more than 17 million viewers. In its second season, the show was a top 20 series with an average audience of more than 12 million viewers.
Last year, "Undercover Boss" was nominated for an Emmy in the Best Reality Show category. This month, the Broadcast TV Journalists Association announced nominations for its inaugural Critics' Choice Television Awards and the series was nominated in the Best Reality Show category. Earlier this year the Producers' Guild of America also nominated the producers of "Undercover Boss" in the category of Outstanding Producers of Non-Fiction Television.
About TLC
TLC is a global brand that celebrates extraordinary people and relatable life moments through innovative nonfiction programming. A top 10 cable network for women, TLC has built successful franchises around the Cake Boss, Say Yes to the Dress and Police Women brands. In 2010, 31 series averaged 1.0 million viewers or more including Sister Wives, Kate Plus 8, 19 Kids and Counting, LA Ink, and What Not To Wear.
TLC is available in more than 99 million homes in the US, and more than 50 million households in more than 30 international markets. A destination online, TLC.com offers in-depth fan sites, exclusive video content, and original editorial covering style, home, food, and more. Fans can also interact with TLC via On Demand services, on mobile platforms, including an iPhone App, and through social media such as Facebook or @TLC on Twitter. TLC is part of Discovery Communications (NASDAQ: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK), the world's number one nonfiction media company reaching more than 1.5 billion cumulative subscribers in over 180 countries.
About OWN: OPRAH WINFREY NETWORK
A joint venture between Harpo, Inc. and Discovery Communications, OWN: OPRAH WINFREY NETWORK is a multi-platform media company designed to entertain, inform, and inspire people to live their best lives. OWN debuted on January 1, 2011, in approximately 80 million homes on what was the Discovery Health Channel. The venture also includes the award-winning digital platform, Oprah.com. For more information, please visit www.oprah.com/own and www.press.discovery.com/us/own.
About CBS Television Distribution
CBS Television Distribution is the preeminent company in television syndication. CTD produces or distributes 12 first-run series and holds the largest distributed television library at 70,000 hours strong. In addition, CTD handles the domestic television distribution of CBS Films. CTD is a unit of CBS Corp.
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Media Contacts:
OWN: OPRAH WINFREY NETWORK
Wendy Luckenbill
VP, Communications
(323) 602-5566
TLC
Dustin Smith
VP, Communications
(310) 975-1640
CBS Television Distribution
Leslie Ryan
VP of Communications
(310) 264-3406