Deadline has reported that ABC’s The Conners will be distributed by Lionsgate’s Worldwide Television Distribution Group and Debmar-Mercury in a global licensing deal with Tom Werner’s (Roseanne, 3rd Rock from the Sun) Werner Entertainment, which produced the series. The deal will make previous seasons of The Conners available in syndication and on streaming.
Lionsgate’s Debmar-Mercury will handle domestic syndication for the Roseanne spinoff and Lionsgate’s Worldwide Television Distribution Group will handle global distribution including FAST rights, basic cable, SVOD, and AVOD under the deal. The agreement covers rights to future seasons after ABC’s first window and all five seasons of the series.
“Lionsgate’s global reach and success across all platforms makes us extremely confident they will successfully bring The Conners to audiences worldwide,” Werner said, according to Deadline.
“We’re proud to be selected by a great force in television like Tom Werner and Werner Entertainment to bring this incredible property to buyers around the world,” said Jim Packer (A Lego Brickumentary, Loopers: The Caddie’s Long Walk), Lionsgate President of Worldwide Television Distribution, according to Deadline. “This agreement shows Lionsgate’s ability to marshal all of its resources, combining the strength and prowess of our global distribution with Debmar-Mercury’s unparalleled syndication expertise in support of a remarkable brand and series.”
“In the tradition of some of the most successful, longest-running multi-cam sitcoms, The Conners promises to be a great addition to TV stations lineups, and will offer a proven competitive advantage to broadcasters for years to come,” said Ira Bernstein (Queen of Swords, Partners) and Mort Marcus, Debmar-Mercury Co-Presidents, also according to Deadline. “Tom Werner, together with Marcy Carsey and their creative team, have been responsible for many of the mega-comedies that helped build the broadcast business in the U.S. We are excited to be able to team with Tom and with Jim Packer’s global distribution team on The Conners.”
The Conners premiered on ABC on October 16, 2018 and stars Sara Gilbert (The Big Band Theory, Roseanne), John Goodman (The Big Lebowski, 10 Cloverfield Lane), Lecy Goranson (Roseanne, The Extra Man), Michael Fishman (Undrafted, Little Rosey), Laurie Metcalf (Lady Bird, The Big Bang Theory), Ames McNamara (Made by Maddie, Roseanne), Jayden Ray (Bobcatt Moretti, Roseanne), and Emma Kenney (Shameless, Epic).