← Tyler Perry Decoded: The Deals, the Brand, the Influence

House-of-Payne-620×480

By Anslem Samuel | Published March 20, 2011 | Full size is 620 × 480 pixels

TBS In 2006, Lionsgate acquired Debmar-Mercury, a television syndication company. Already making money with Perry on the big screen, it wasn’t long before the pair expanded their partnership to include the small screen. The following year, Perry’s first sitcom House of Payne began airing on TBS. After a successful 10-show pilot run, he struck a $200 million deal for 100 episodes. By January 2009, Perry unveiled a second series, Meet The Browns, which was based on his popular play and movie of the same name and similarly led to a 80-episode deal for an equally hefty price. Perry has changed the landscape of a network known for its White bread rerun sitcoms (e.g. Family Guy and Seinfeld) to multi-cultural programming. Of the network’s six original programs, three star predominately African American cast—in addition to Perry’s shows, Ice Cube premiered his Are We There Yet? series last summer—and Mexican American comedian George Lopez scored his own talk show, Lopez Tonight, in 2009.

TBS In 2006, Lionsgate acquired Debmar-Mercury, a television syndication company. Already making money…