CBS Television Distribution Syndication Bible
This information is subject to change and was last updated 03/16/09.
As of January 1, 1998, regulations created by the FCC governing the use of closed captioning of television programming went into effect. Following is a very brief explanation of how those rules will work, based on September 17, 1998 FCC rule revisions. A complete set of guidelines can be found at the FCC website:
http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/dro/caption.html
Two areas of programming are defined in the regs: New Programming and Old (pre reg) Programming. Some programming, such as commercials of 5 minutes duration or less, is considered exempt.
1) NEW PROGRAMMING: This is all programming with a first telecast date of January 1, 1998 and after. At the end of an 8 year phase-in period, 100% of all non-exempt new programming product must be closed captioned. The phase-in is benchmarked so that 25% of programming is captioned by 2000, 50% by 2002, 75% by 2004 and 95% by 2006. The formal regs state this in number of hours per quarter, but these percentages will give you a good idea of what the FCC expects of the broadcasters.
2) PRE REG/OLD PROGRAMMING: This is all programming that has aired before January 1, 1998. At the end of a 10 year period, 75% of all old programming must be captioned. Commencing January 1, 2003, 30% of non-exempt old programming must be captioned. The FCC also expects that there will be a steady incremental increase in the availability of older product with captioning and will monitor the industry’s progress. As of January 1, 2008, and thereafter, 75% of the programming distributor’s pre-rule nonexempt video programming being distributed and exhibited on each channel during each calendar quarter must be provided with closed captioning.
The individual features and series title pages have detailed information about closed captioning. All barter feature packages are closed captioned, as are most of the more recent cash feature packages. Following is a list of current syndication series (cash & barter) that are closed captioned. Series that are not currently in syndication are also included, but the list is not comprehensive.
ANDY GRIFFITH
BECKER
BEVERLY HILLBILLIES
BONANZA (260 episode package only)
THE BRADY BUNCH
BRANDED
CHARMED
CHEERS
CLUELESS
CSI
CSI: MIAMI
CSI: NY
DEAR JOHN
DIAGNOSIS MURDER
ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT
EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND
FAMILY TIES
FRASIER
FRIDAY THE 13TH – THE SERIES
THE FUGTIVE (Season 1 & 2. Check for Book & Dub inventory.)
GET SMART!
GIRLFRIENDS
GOMER PYLE
GUNS OF WILL SONNETT
GUNSMOKE (226 color episodes only)
HALF & HALF
HAPPY DAYS
HAWAII FIVE-O (209 digital versions only)
HOGANS HEROES
HONEYMOONERS
(NEW) HONEYMOONERS LOST EPISODES
HOT TICKET
I LOVE LUCY (TV Short Versions only)
THE INSIDER
JUDGE JOE BROWN
JUDGE JUDY
JUDGE MILLS LANE
LAVERNE AND SHIRLEY
LIFESTYLES OF THE RICH & FAMOUS
LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE
THE LITTLE RASCALS
LOVE AMERICAN STYLE
LUCY SHOW
MATLOCK
MAXIMUM EXPOSURE
MISSION IMPOSSIBLE (Now all seasons. Check for Book & Dub inventory.)
MOESHA
MONTEL WILLIAMS
MORK & MINDY
MY THREE SONS (In Progress, Seasons 6 – 10 only)
NASH BRIDGES
ODD COUPLE
ONE ON ONE
ONE STEP BEYOND
THE PARKERS
PERRY MASON
QUEEN OF SWORDS
REAL TV
RELIC HUNTER
RENDEZ-VIEW
RESURRECTION BLVD.
SABRINA, THE TEENAGE WITCH
SEVENTH HEAVEN
SISTER, SISTER
STAR TREK
STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE
STAR TREK: ENTERPRISE
STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION
STAR TREK: VOYAGER
STREETS OF SAN FRANCISCO (Currently Seasons 1 & 2. Check for Book & Dub inventory.)
TAXI
TWILIGHT ZONE
UNEXPLAINED MYSTERIES
THE UNTOUCHABLES (Currently Seasons 1 & 2. Check for Book & Dub inventory.)
NEW UNTOUCHABLES
VIPER
WE LOVE LUCY
WILD WILD WEST
WILD THINGS