ABC 7, other ABC-owned stations renew “Tamron Hall” for two more seasons

Renewal keeps her show on the air through 2024

Looks like we’re going to hear the phrase “TamFam” for some time to come.

Disney Media and Entertainment Distribution announced Monday the renewal of Tamron Hall’s daytime talk show for its fourth and fifth seasons, taking the show through September 2024, thanks to an early pickup by the ABC-owned stations including ABC 7/WLS-TV here.

Once a major station group with top-market stations renew a show, generally other groups covering the rest of the country follow. While it is the major group with the fewest number of stations (eight), what it lacks in numbers it makes up in coverage – about 20 percent of the U.S. thanks to owning stations in six of the country’s ten largest markets in New York (WABC), Los Angeles (KABC), Philadelphia (WPVI), Houston (KTRK), San Francisco (KGO), and the aforementioned Chicago. ABC also owns stations in Raleigh-Durham, N.C. (WTVD) and Fresno, Calif (KFSN).

Currently in its third season, Hall has aired on ABC 7 at 1 p.m. since September after arriving from Weigel’s CW 26, where it spent the last two seasons. Originally, Hall was sold to all eight ABC-owned stations when it launched but the show was re-sold in the Chicago market to CW 26 due to ABC 7′ s success with Windy City Live. But earlier this year, Disney management opted to move Hall to WCL‘s 1 p.m. slot and reduced the local show to a half-hour weekly show on Friday.

Obviously, ABC 7 is liking what it sees from Hall at 1 p.m., and thus the renewal. The ABC-owned stations and Disney Media and Entertainment Distribution are both owned by The Walt Disney Company as a parent. The program is produced by another Disney subsidiary, ABC News.

“Tamron Hall is a trusted and accomplished journalist and an outstanding talk show host,” ABC News President Kim Godwin said in a statement. “She is a breath of fresh air in daytime, approaching every show and segment with her personal mix of curiosity and compassion. We are delighted to continue this collaboration with Tamron and her stellar team in presenting their distinctive brand of talk to our valued station partners, the Tam Fam and beyond.”

“ABC’s decision to give our show a two-season renewal is beyond my wildest dreams,” said Hall in a separate statement. “I am so lucky to have such great partners, from ABC to all of our stations across the country, and an amazing team who all support the spirit of the show. We wouldn’t have our success without our loyal audience. TamFam, your dedication to the show has lifted us all up so let’s keep talking, inspiring, and dreaming big!”

In a recent syndication ratings report, Hall’s show averaged a 0.6 Nielsen rating, down 14 percent from the previous week. But as we all know, this is a far different television environment than it was in the past, with fragmented viewing now the norm. The daytime show is obviously closer to making a profit for her Disney bosses, and her show as an ad-friendly choice doesn’t hurt either – not to mention a loyal viewership base as evidenced by the “TamFam” moniker. 

Hall recently scored a gig with Court TV, host of new true-crime series Someone They Knew…with Tamron Hall. The series premieres January 9.

The renewal news comes as Warner Bros. is out pitching a new daytime talker featuring Jennifer Hudson, set to debut next fall. But with Disney and ABC renewing Tamron Hall for two more seasons, one avenue for Hudson has already been shut.