# Is it less expansive to show a movie the second time (TV)

**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-less-expansive-to-show-a-movie-the-second-time-tv/382396
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [November 30, 2006, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-less-expansive-to-show-a-movie-the-second-time-tv/382396 "2006-11-30T22:33:47Z")
**Posts on this page:** 8
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)
#### Post date: [November 30, 2006, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-less-expansive-to-show-a-movie-the-second-time-tv/382396/1 "2006-11-30T22:33:47Z")

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I notice that many of the channels will show the heck out of a movie. This makes me wonder if this is just lazy programming or if it is less expensive to show a movie subsequent times.

For instance, the Comedy Channel seems often will show Ghostbusters II several times in a weekend and I often think that if they showed Ghostbusters I and II they would get a better viewing.

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### Author: ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)
#### Post date: [November 30, 2006, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-less-expansive-to-show-a-movie-the-second-time-tv/382396/2 "2006-11-30T22:49:24Z")

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If a film/TV show is shown multiple times in the same 24 period it still only counts as one showing. It’s a cost thing.

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### Author: ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)
#### Post date: [November 30, 2006, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-less-expansive-to-show-a-movie-the-second-time-tv/382396/3 "2006-11-30T23:34:19Z")

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Or they may pay a flat fee for showing the film, with the provision that they have until such-&-such date to show it. So they’ll run it again and again over the course of anywhere from a weekend to a month to make the most out of their investment.

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### Author: ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)
#### Post date: [December 1, 2006, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-less-expansive-to-show-a-movie-the-second-time-tv/382396/4 "2006-12-01T02:29:31Z")

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I think you’ll get more nuanced responses in **Cafe Society**.

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### Author: ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)
#### Post date: [December 1, 2006, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-less-expansive-to-show-a-movie-the-second-time-tv/382396/5 "2006-12-01T03:13:00Z")

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Contracts vary. Some allow it to be shown twice within 24 hours; others allow unlimited airplay over the length of the contract; still others require payment for each time it’s shown.

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### Author: ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)
#### Post date: [December 1, 2006, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-less-expansive-to-show-a-movie-the-second-time-tv/382396/6 "2006-12-01T12:04:39Z")

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[QUOTE=tomndebb]  
I think you’ll get more nuanced responses in **Cafe Society**.  
[/QUOTE]

Darn, I would have sworn that is where I put it! Sorry and thanks for moving it for me… (where \*did \*I put it originally?)

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### Author: ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)
#### Post date: [December 1, 2006, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-less-expansive-to-show-a-movie-the-second-time-tv/382396/7 "2006-12-01T12:24:47Z")

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[QUOTE=Khadaji]  
(where \*did \*I put it originally?)[/Q]  
Great Debates

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### Author: ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)
#### Post date: [December 1, 2006, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-less-expansive-to-show-a-movie-the-second-time-tv/382396/8 "2006-12-01T12:51:17Z")

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[QUOTE=Giles]

[QUOTE=Khadaji]  
(where \*did \*I put it originally?)[/Q]  
Great Debates  
[/QUOTE]

Wow, that’s weird. I don’t even ever go into great debates. I guess it was a slip of the mouse.
