NBC stations renew ‘The Ellen Degeneres Show’ through 2017

“The Ellen DeGeneres Show” has been renewed through the 2016-2017 television season, distributor Warner Bros. has announced.

The talk show, now in its 10th year, has seen its ratings swell 13% this season compared with the previous period. It has steadily been moving up the hierarchy of daytime television since Oprah Winfrey retired nearly two years ago.

“Dr. Phil” continues to beat “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” in overall viewers, but DeGeneres’ program now jockeys with “Dr. Phil” for the lead among women ages 25-54, the demographic typically sold to advertisers in daytime television. Tough-talking “Judy Judy” continues to draw the largest daytime audience.

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“The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” which is produced in Burbank on the Warner Bros. lot, had one year remaining on its current contract. The show continues to gain viewers, increasing its appeal to station owners. Warner Bros. on Monday said it reached agreements to extend the show an additional three seasons.

NBCUniversal’s 10 NBC television stations, including KNBC-TV Channel 4 in Los Angeles, will continue to form the backbone of distribution for the show.

In addition, “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” will run on an additional 179 stations owned by a collection of companies, including Hearst Television, Gannett, Belo, Sinclair Broadcast Group, LIN Television, Post-Newsweek Stations, CBS Television Stations, Raycom Media, Scripps Media, Allbrighton Communications and Cox Broadcasting.

“‘Ellen’ is the crown jewel of the NBC Owned Television Stations’ daytime lineup,” Valari Staab, president of NBC Owned Television Stations, said in a statement. “In fact, ‘Ellen’ is the top choice for women 25-54 in her time period in seven of our markets, including New York, Los Angeles and Chicago, this season.”

Ken Werner, president of Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution, said the show would reach viewers in 96% of the country.

“Day in and day out [Ellen] and her team produce a unique and compelling hour of entertainment which is appointment television for legions of women,” Werner said. “We are absolutely thrilled that NBC, Ellen, Warner Bros. and all of our station partners will be continuing our successful relationship for years to come.”

“The Ellen DeGeneres Show” premiered in September 2003. It is produced by A Very Good Production and WAD Productions Inc. in association with Telepictures, a division of Warner Bros.

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