Weigel returns "Everybody Loves Raymond" to free broadcast TV
Classic episodes of the contemporary sitcom will air weeknights in prime-time on the retro multicast network.
Weigel Broadcasting’s retro television network MeTV is veering into more-recent, contemporary offerings with the introduction of the CBS sitcom “Everybody Loves Raymond” to its prime-time schedule.
Starting October 13, episodes from all nine seasons of the sitcom will start airing on MeTV. The show will run in the 9 p.m. Eastern Time slot, with two episodes aired each weeknight. The network will also offer double-header episodes on Sunday nights at 10 p.m. Eastern Time.
It marks the first time that a broadcast network has offered reruns of Everybody Loves Raymond since the show concluded its run on CBS in 2005. The show aired in syndication on local TV from the mid-2000s to the late 2010s, and has enjoyed an extensive run on cable networks like TV Land and IFC in recent years.
The show marks a rare departure for MeTV, which typically licenses shows from the mid-20th century. But executives at Weigel say the show fits in well with the network’s commitment to airing family-friendly sitcomes and series that have multi-generational appeal.
“What makes Everybody Loves Raymond special is that it is truly rooted in the timeless traditions of classic comedy, with standout characters, performances, writing, humor, heart and quality,” Neal Sabin, the Vice Chairman of Weigel, said in a statement.
MeTV is widely available on digital broadcast TV across the country. A national feed of the network is also available on Sling TV, Philo, Frndly TV, Dish Network and DirecTV.