CBS Media Ventures releases 2026-27 lineup
Brings back “ET” for 46th season, adds new courtroom show, off-network “AFHV”
With NBCUniversal Syndication Studios recently withdrawing first-run syndication, CBS Media Ventures is taking a different approach by renewing existing properties and even launching a new courtroom show.
Earlier this week, the Paramount-owned syndicator officially renewed the rest of its current shows: Entertainment Tonight, Inside Edition, Flip Side, and The Perfect Line. ET is entering its 46th season this fall, and remains a 6:30 p.m. stable on CBS-owned WBBM-TV, where it’s aired without interruption since January 4, 1988. Inside Edition enters its 39th season, and is still airing on ABC-owned WLS-TV at 3 p.m. weekdays, where it’s been since December 3, 1990 (excluding the two years where it was occupied by a failed talk show), and is now anchored by Eva Pilgrim.
Game shows Flip Side (entering season three) and Perfect Line (entering season two) air in primetime on Weigel independent WCIU.
The four shows joined the recently renewed Drew Barrymore Show and longtime stalwarts Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy, which will handle distribution of both shows until September 2028, when Sony takes over.
CMV is also introducing a new courtroom show – the first in years – with Adam’s Law, featuring Adam Levy, who is Judy Sheindlin’s son, and is producing the project. Oddly enough, his mother helmed Judge Judy for 25 seasons with Paramount/CBS (and predecessor Worldvision Enterprises) until their amicable yet ugly split in 2021, but continues to distribute reruns to stations and to produce new episodes of Hot Bench, another show created by Sheindlin.
Also new is American Mayhem, a new video clip show (CBS did not specify if it is a daily strip or a weekly one). CBS syndication predecessors Paramount Domestic Television and CBS Television Distribution previously syndicated similar video clip shows Real TV and Maximum Exposure, respectively. CBS Television Distribution also distributed a similar show, Smash Cuts from 2009 to 2011. CMV also secured rights to distribute off-network episodes of America’s Funniest Home Videos, hosted by Alfonso Ribeiro. Previous versions hosted by Bob Saget and Tom Beregon have aired in off-network syndication from 1995 to 2001 (via MTM and Twentieth Television) and 2009 to 2013 (via Disney Media Distribution), respectively.
“From beloved franchises to breakout new series, this upcoming slate reflects the incredible momentum across our entire portfolio and our continued commitment to deliver top-tier original programming for our stations and partners,” said John Budkins, executive vice president of programming and syndication production for CBS Media Ventures and Stations. “With seven of the top 10 most-watched first-run syndicated titles currently on the air, we’re proud to continue to produce and distribute a wide range of high-quality shows that deliver for audiences, bringing engaging, proven entertainment to viewers in the season ahead.”
Absent from CBS Media Ventures’ announcement were current off-network shows The Neighborhood (which is ending its network run this spring) and 48 Hours. It is not known if these programs will return to syndication next season.
While I have not seen each of the returning syndicated shows from CBS Media Ventures, it’s nice knowing that one of the big players is still involved with first run syndicated programming. I remember when local stations used to have a mix of syndicated shows and local shows. Now it’s mostly hours and hours of local news and/or local lifestyle programming being used to disguise paid sponsored segments.
What about the repeats of CBS own Ghosts??? Last fall WCIU-TV was airing the first three seasons of Ghosts and by mid December it was gone and replaced by more reruns of Modern Family, I heard that it was a test run to see it would do good for a wide syndication run, but did CBS syndicate decide to run the Ghosts full time or not doing it at all???
ET in the 80s was on channel 41 81-90 moved to WOTV when it was channel 8’s call letters before going back to WOOD TV in 90-94 and moved to WZZM in fall of 1994 and has been there forever. As WMMT took Wheel & J in fall of 1993 from WZZM. Glad to see CBS staying in first run syndication as NETPE show has ended and closing up shop did you ever go to it T Dog?