• Los Angeles Times, Friday, September 28, 2007 12:01 PM

Warner Bros. and NBC Universal have finalized three deals, including one that could lead to the launch of a new daytime talk show next year featuring comedian Bonnie Hunt that will run on TV stations owned by NBCU. The company also renewed for its TV stations two highly successful syndicated shows: "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" and "Extra!" Both are produced by Warner Bros.

Under terms off the deals, DeGeneres will run on NBC through 2011 while "Extra" gets until at least 2012. NBC has begun to rely more on Warner after its own production folks came up with some costly flops in daytime talk, including "The Megan Mullally Show" and "The Jane Pauley Show."

Warner wouldn't talk about financial details, but Ken Werner, president of its Domestic Television Distribution division, says there is still money to be made in syndication deals with TV stations. "Broadcasters have realized that they must have distinctive and quality first-run programming," he says. "That's what sets them apart from their competition. And we want to be a supplier to everyone."

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