Question about network reruns

[installLSC]

Of course both now and in the past, most summer or holiday reruns of network shows are from the previous season. But I have a vague memory that in the past (say pre-1990) that reruns could also be from previous seasons too. Am I right? How far back did networks go for their rerun episodes?

 

[SteveRichards]

How far back a network could go for a repeat episode would likely depend primarily on two things: The licensing agreement the network has with the company that produced the show and whether or not older episodes/seasons are already in syndication.

 

[anabate123]

For example, when Golden Girls was syndicated on US broadcast stations between 1990 and 1997,
it was on these stations.

Alexandria, MN - KSAX ABC 42
Atlanta, GA - WXIA NBC 11
Charlotte, NC - WBTV CBS 3
Charleston, SC - WCIV NBC 4 (later became WCIV ABC 4)
Chattanooga, TN - WDEF CBS 12
Cleveland, OH - WKYC NBC 3
Cincinnati, OH - WSTR 64 (later became WSTR UPN 64)
Columbia, SC - WIS NBC 10
Columbus, OH - WCMH NBC 4
Dallas, TX - KDFW CBS 4 (later became KDFW Fox 4)
Davenport, IA - WQAD ABC 8
Detroit, MI - WKBD Fox 50 (later became WKBD UPN 50)
Duluth, MN - WDIO ABC 10
Dubuque, IA (Cedar Rapids, IA) KDUB ABC 40 (later became KFXB Fox 40)
Eau Claire, WI - WQOW ABC 18
Florence, SC - WPDE ABC 15
Greenville, SC - WSPA CBS 7
Hibbing, MN - WIRT ABC 13
Indianapolis, IN - WTTV 4 (later became WTTV UPN 4)
Johnstown, PA - WTAJ CBS 10
Kansas City, MO - KMBC ABC 9
Kokomo, IN - WTTK 29 (later became WTTK UPN 29)
La Crosse, WI - WXOW ABC 19
Lexington, KY - WLEX NBC 18
Los Angeles, CA - KCAL Ind 9
Louisville, KY - WFTE Ind 58 (later became WFTE UPN 58)
Macon, GA - WMGT NBC 41
Minneapolis, MN - KSTP ABC 5
Nashville, TN - WTVF CBS 5
Orlando, FL - WESH NBC 2
Redwood Falls, MN - KRWF ABC 43
Rochester, NY - WROC CBS 8
Shreveport, LA - KSLA CBS 12
Springfield, MO - KYTV NBC 3
Stuebenville, OH - WTOV NBC 9
Pittsburgh, PA - WTAE ABC 4
Youngstown, OH - WKBN CBS 27

 

[cbsfan95]

For example, when Golden Girls was syndicated on US broadcast stations between 1990 and 1997,
it was on these stations.

Alexandria, MN - KSAX ABC 42
Atlanta, GA - WXIA NBC 11
Charlotte, NC - WBTV CBS 3
Charleston, SC - WCIV NBC 4 (later became WCIV ABC 4)
Chattanooga, TN - WDEF CBS 12
Cleveland, OH - WKYC NBC 3
Cincinnati, OH - WSTR 64 (later became WSTR UPN 64)
Columbia, SC - WIS NBC 10
Columbus, OH - WCMH NBC 4
Dallas, TX - KDFW CBS 4 (later became KDFW Fox 4)
Davenport, IA - WQAD ABC 8
Detroit, MI - WKBD Fox 50 (later became WKBD UPN 50)
Duluth, MN - WDIO ABC 10
Dubuque, IA (Cedar Rapids, IA) KDUB ABC 40 (later became KFXB Fox 40)
Eau Claire, WI - WQOW ABC 18
Florence, SC - WPDE ABC 15
Greenville, SC - WSPA CBS 7
Hibbing, MN - WIRT ABC 13
Indianapolis, IN - WTTV 4 (later became WTTV UPN 4)
Johnstown, PA - WTAJ CBS 10
Kansas City, MO - KMBC ABC 9
Kokomo, IN - WTTK 29 (later became WTTK UPN 29)
La Crosse, WI - WXOW ABC 19
Lexington, KY - WLEX NBC 18
Los Angeles, CA - KCAL Ind 9
Louisville, KY - WFTE Ind 58 (later became WFTE UPN 58)
Macon, GA - WMGT NBC 41
Minneapolis, MN - KSTP ABC 5
Nashville, TN - WTVF CBS 5
Orlando, FL - WESH NBC 2
Redwood Falls, MN - KRWF ABC 43
Rochester, NY - WROC CBS 8
Shreveport, LA - KSLA CBS 12
Springfield, MO - KYTV NBC 3
Stuebenville, OH - WTOV NBC 9
Pittsburgh, PA - WTAE ABC 4
Youngstown, OH - WKBN CBS 27

KFDA in Amarillo, TX and KSWO in Lawton, OK/Wichita Falls, TX also carried the show during it's early days in syndication

 

[onairb2014]

KPIX 5 in San Francisco carried it for a little while(maybe as a replacement for 'The Cosby Show'), but it didn't last long.