• by David Goetzl  @dgoetzl, March 13, 2013

With various distribution platforms hungrier for content, CBS has inked a series of deals where off-network rights for “The Good Wife” will be shared by the Hallmark Channel, local stations, Amazon and Hulu. Netflix may get involved, too.

The arrangements allows CBS to take advantage of both traditional syndication opportunities (on cable and broadcast) and new ones in subscription video-on-demand (SVOD).

 “The Good Wife” will come to the Hallmark Channel on weekdays in January 2014 when the show will be in its fifth season. Local stations will gain access in the fall of 2014. CBS-owned stations have signed on and, along with others, deals are in place for distribution to 85% of the country.

Amazon Prime, which already offer the show, will have access to seasons one through three on March 14, and the fourth season later this year. Episodes are ad-free and can be viewed on a slew of platforms, from iPads to the Xbox 360 to the newest Wii. SVOD player Hulu Plus will offer previous seasons starting in September of this year.

Wells Fargo analyst Marci Ryvicker wrote in a report that CBS likely received $1 million-plus an episode for the show and may have an option to also sell it to Netlix.

Leslie Moonves, CBS Corp. CEO, stated the four-pronged distribution strategy “uses creative windowing … while realizing the full syndication value for a high-quality series. In addition, the potential for catch-up viewing across multiple platforms can provide incremental value to future broadcasts” on CBS.