Individual episodes become more like movable units on a master schedule. But once the exclusivity window closes and ratings settle, larger programming needs trump expectations for chronology. Thanks to exclusivity agreements, the relative bounty of episodes, and higher audience share, syndicators are more likely to maintain sequencing during an initial strip-syndication cycle. Crossing this threshold means it’s possible to “strip syndicate,” or air the show five days a week for 20 weeks without repeating. Stations are traditionally interested in acquiring first-run syndication rights only once a series has amassed 100 episodes-roughly four standard seasons (although there are some notable exceptions to this rule). Syndicators have the right to program leased episodes in whatever order they please, but sometimes they will follow chronology, especially if a show has never been syndicated before. Traditionally, sitcoms like Friends do better in syndication than dramas, while self-contained programs, such as the Law & Order franchise, perform better than cliffhanger-style serials like Lost and most reality shows-which are difficult to understand without a good deal of back story. For syndicators and advertisers, there’s a direct correlation between programming flexibility and market value. Those who watch TV shows on DVD or Hulu can track a series by season and episode number, but such habits run counter to the original conception of these shows as stand-alone entertainments-precisely what makes them ideal syndication commodities. It’s only in recent years that viewers expect to see nonserialized shows presented chronologically. Rather than license the entire 11-year, 251-episode run of M*A*S*H, for example, a station may cherry-pick a few seasons (the early, McLean Stevenson years, perhaps) and create a subcycle out of the larger whole. Furthermore, stations don’t always purchase an entire series. And certain guest stars, in the limelight for one reason or another, can make episodes newly relevant. During the holidays, it’s more important to air thematically appropriate episodes than adhere to strict series chronology. These episodes can command higher ad rates and can serve as attractive lead-ins to other network shows. Certain episodes are more popular than others, so it’s in a station’s best interest to play them more often.
But why do stations program shows out of sequence? Such shuffling is typical of syndication schedules. Wednesday’s episode, “Weight Loss,” skips ahead to the Season 5 premiere. Later that night, a special marathon offered several out-of-sequence episodes from Season 2. Tuesday’s episode, “Chair Model,” was the 10 th episode of Season 4. TBS is syndicating episodes of The Office every night this week at 6:30 p.m.
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