Tribune Entertainment has snatched up the syndication rights to Fox TV's hit talent competition, "American Idol," it was announced Friday.
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"Idol" reruns will begin airing weekends nationwide in September, Daily Variety reported.
Tribune Entertainment is expected to offer the show free of charge in exchange for seven minutes of advertising during each hourlong episode, Variety said. The package will be offered to broadcasters during the National Association of TV Program Executives convention later this month in Las Vegas.
Cable's Fox Reality Channel is kicking off a rerun marathon of all 43 episodes of "Idol's" fourth season Saturday as a lead-in to the Jan. 17 premiere of Season 5 on Fox.
"American Idol" was the highest-rated of all network primetime series in total viewers and in adults 18 to 49 for each of the last two seasons.
