Science cabler nabs 'Fringe' reruns
Amazon also said to be a contender for SVOD rights to WBTV drama
By Andrew Wallenstein
Posted: Wed., May. 23, 2012, 6:57pm PT

Fox series "Fringe" has been sold into syndication to an unlikely buyer: Discovery-owned cabler Science. And a second, even more unusual buyer may be coming to the party.

Discovery confirmed that the off-network deal was completed Wednesday. Pact is non-exclusive, which will allow Warner Bros.' syndie arm to bring in a second buyer in the subscription VOD window.

That's a category where Netflix and Hulu Plus have emerged as eager buyers, but they may be upstaged in this instance by Amazon, which sources say has been aggressively courting the property in a bid to finally break into the off-net marketplace where they've been quiet to date.

Last month, Fox ordered a final fifth season of 13 episodes of the sci-fi hour from WBTV, which agreed to trim its license fee on the show because it was looking to pack as many episodes as possible into the sale. (The fifth season will bring the show's episode tally to 100.) "Fringe's" audience is small enough to make it a question mark for renewal in recent years, but it has been helped by a fervent fan base that is vocal across social media.

Read the entire variety.com article here.