CMT Scores Syndie Deals with Twentieth for 'Reba,' 'Yes, Dear'

CMT has bolstered its weekday lineup, picking up a pair of syndicated family-themed series that will begin their run on the service next month.
The network has inked a multiyear licensing deal with Twentieth Television for Reba and Yes, Dear. Under the agreement, financial terms of which were not disclosed, CMT will run Reba in weekday blocks from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., starting on August 1. The Reba McEntire series, which ran for six seasons across 127 episodes on The WB and later the CW, will serve as a lead-in to CMT's primetime lineup,
For its part, Yes, Dear will precede Reba, as it will air weeknights from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Yes, Dear originally ran on CBS from 2000-2006.
These acquisitions complement CMT's current lineup, and serve as sampling platforms for its growing roster of original series, including its two highest-rated entries, My Big Redneck Vacation and Bayou Billionaires.
"The right acquisitions play a crucial role in a network's success and REBA and YES, DEAR are two shows that are absolutely right for CMT," said Mary Beth Cunin, senior vice president of programming strategy Cunin. "We believe our audience played a large role in these two sitcoms' initial success, and that same audience will continue to drive its popularity weeknights on CMT."