CBS TV Distribution Sells New Daytime Talk Show THE TEST to 56% of Country

CBS Television Distribution has sold THE TEST, a daytime strip from Jay McGraw's Stage 29 Productions, into 56% of the country for a Fall 2013 launch, it was announced today by Joe DiSalvo, President of Sales at CTD.

With Tribune Broadcasting partnering in the production of the show, the syndicated strip is set to launch on 17 Tribune Broadcasting Stations, including in the three largest markets on WPIX, New York; KTLA, Los Angeles; and WGN, Chicago. It is already sold in 56% of the country, including 7 of the top 10 markets.

Hosted by actor/comedian Kirk FOX (Parks and Recreation, Forgetting Sarah Marshall), THE TEST is a one-hour conflict resolution talk show that will use lie detector and DNA tests to settle relationship and paternity disputes among the guests. It will be produced by McGraw's Stage 29 Productions, which also produces the daytime talk show THE DOCTORS.

"We're excited to extend and expand our relationships with Jay McGraw and Tribune with this new endeavor," DiSalvo said. "THE TEST fills a growing niche in daytime television that the audience is really responding to. This strip is a great fit for stations looking to expand on their confrontational talk show blocks."

"THE TEST is a fresh take on a proven genre that has been working in daytime for years," McGraw said. "Kirk's background as an actor and comedian will bring a unique perspective to the myriad relationship problems and disputes guest will bring to the show."

"THE TEST will be a strong complement to the successful original daytime programs currently airing on Tribune stations, and we are excited to again partner with CBS Television Distribution and serve as anchor of the station launch group," said Sean Compton, President of Programming and Entertainment, Tribune Broadcasting.

In addition to Tribune, THE TEST has been sold to 29 Sinclair Communications stations, among others.

CBS Television Distribution is the preeminent company in television syndication. CTD produces or distributes 12 first-run series and holds the largest distributed television library at 70,000 hours strong. Among CTD's critically-acclaimed programs are the #1 syndicated series Judge Judy; talk leader Dr. Phil; the #1 and #2 rated game shows Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy!; the Emmy Award-winning talk shows Rachael Ray and The Doctors; the #1 newsmagazine Entertainment Tonight and its sister show The Insider; the #2 newsmagazine Inside Edition; the #2 court show Judge Joe Brown; reality dating show Excused; freshman talk show The Jeff Probst Show; and popular off-network product, including the CSI and Star Trek franchises, Everybody Loves Raymond, Frasier, NCIS, Criminal Minds, NCIS: Los Angeles, The Good Wife, Blue Bloods, Hawaii Five-0, Hot In Cleveland and Undercover Boss. In addition, CTD handles the domestic television distribution of CBS News, CBS Films and Showtime. CTD is a unit of CBS Corp.

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