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Stan acquires A MILLION LITTLE THINGS before 10 has completed its broadcast run

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Programming rights have significantly shifted over the previous decade from a model of a network “owning” a program to now having a particular show screening across multiple networks and on various streaming platforms.

A show may get a first run window premiere on Foxtel, but then later have a free to air broadcast premiere playout, as Seven does with the series, Chicago Fire. This series has a premiere run on Foxtel, Seven has a second window screening and now Nine have picked up repeat rights with all of season 1 and 2 available on 9Now and season 1 airing each week on 9GEM.

Even repeat rights are not as simple as they used to be with 7flix holding the repeat rights to select seasons of The Mentalist and, for a time, Nine owning other seasons and airing them in the same time slot on 9GEM.

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A Million Little Things is a US drama that airs in American on ABC (but is owned by CBS) and is aired on the same night and channel as Grey’s Anatomy and Station 19. Let’s have a look at how the series has played out:

  • 10 picked up the rights to this series
  • The main channel screened approximately 2 episodes of the first season and then pulled the show from the schedule
  • Season 1 then played out in full on 10 All Access
  • 10 never returned to season 1 of the show on broadcast and the episodes were never shown
  • 10 returns the show but moves straight into season 2 with new episodes airing weekdays at 12:30pm on 10 Peach from November 23rd
  • The final episode of season 2 aired yesterday, Thursday 17th December

However, in a twist, Stan released its monthly highlights announcing season 1 and 2 episodes would be available to stream from December 11th – almost a full week before the season finished on 10.

Although, television rights have become more complicated, this would have to be an Australian first – where a network that owns first run broadcast rights to a television series are trumped by a rival network’s streamer to have new episodes available before the expiration of the FTA broadcast playout.

So, who has the first run rights to this show?

The short answer is 10.

Stan spoke to TV Blackbox in regard to the show but could provide only details of their side of the deal. TV Blackbox understands Stan has streaming rights to Season 1 and Season 2 of A Million Little Things and it became available to them with a start date of December 11th.

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The assumption is that 10 “own” the series but have a short period of exclusivity which they did not take advantage of, which allowed Stan to screen episodes before the series was played out.

Also interestingly, but not connected to this story is that A Million Little Things is owned by CBS and distributed internationally by CBS but actually airs on CBS rival in America, ABC.

10 were contacted for comment but chose not to participate in this story.

Insiders though have told TV Blackbox that 10 still have the rights to the series and would continue with season 3 in the future. They were unable to comment on the exclusivity clause though.

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Know more about this or another Australian media story?

Contact the team anonymously at TV Blackbox

Staff Writers
Staff Writers
TV Blackbox - Where People In The Industry Get Their News!
Comments

3 COMMENTS

  1. Season 3 can be purchased on Amazon Prime to watch online for the price of $20 for the whole season, even though season is not finished, it lets you view each episode if you pay for the whole season apparently.

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