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Question about syndication rights when ownership changes.

M

mississippi fan

In Jackson, Miss., Roberts Broadcasting sold CW 34 WRBJ to TBN in bankruptcy. The religious ownership expects to replace all the current 34 programing with their religious programing in May sometime. My question is what happens to 34's syndicated shows (as Law & Order CI, Seinfield, Cheaters, etc) if the CW is picked up by possibly CBS affiliate WJTV 12 as a subchannel when TBN officially changes the programing. I am assuming WJTV would have to program the free time themselves on the CW subchannel, or can they retain the contracts of the previous owners shows and continue running them? Just wondering.
 
Traditionally, a bankruptcy voids all contracts. So the new owner is not obligated to carry any previous programming, and the syndicator is allowed to find a new home.
 
A bankruptcy apparently doesn't HAVE to void all contracts...when Granite Broadcasting declared Chapter XI a few years ago, its affiliates in upstate NY (WKBW-TV in Buffalo and WTVH in Syracuse) retained their syndicated programming rights. It could be dependent on their contracts with program suppliers, and whatever deals they made subsequent to their Chapter XI filing.
 
The syndicated programming does not automatically follow the network affiliation. If those contracts don't specifically address ownership changes, TBN would have to negotiate something with the syndicator. But I'd think syndicators would be eager to get their programs off the TBN station if it's a bad fit, even if they can't get on another station.

One exception: if WRBJ was a CW plus affiliate and the new station also affiliated with CW Plus then their lineups could be identical or very similar.
 
Thanks for the response guys. Another question along that line. Roberts who owned 4 stations were sued in 09 or 10 by Fox, CBS and WB for syndicated programing not paid for. They settled with one but lost the other two. I noticed that shows as Reba, George Lopez and South Park disappeared at the same time as well as one movie package they were airing. I would guess some syndicators might be wary of them. They brought in old shows like Cash Cab and Judge Hatchett as replacements.
 
RIght now it's up for grabs. I have Direct TV and they replaced the former CW34 with CW50 out of Washington. The Jackson CW may end up as a subchannel over the new few weeks.
 
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