We did something similar last summer, and I figured now would be as good a time as ever to provide a handy list of who distributes the new broadcast series; meaning who collects the syndication profits if the show is lucky enough to get there. I'll do this network-by network:
ABC
Disney-ABC Domestic TelevisionAmerican Housewife
Conviction (U.S.A. only)
Designated Survivor (U.S.A. only)
Sony Pictures Television
Notorious
20th Television (FOX)
Speechless
By this, American Housewife is in best shape because it is the only show that ABC fully owns the distribution rights to. All shows are at least co-produced by ABC Studios, but Notorious and Speechless may have a harder time getting renewed if they end up being bubble shows.
CBS
CBS Television Distribution
Bull
MacGyver
Man with a Plan
NBC Universal Television Distribution
Pure Genius
Not Found
Kevin Can Wait
The Great Indoors
Though I can't locate information pertaining to who distributes Kevin Can Wait and The Great Indoors, both are CBS Studios productions and knowing how the network operates, they probably have the distribution rights. Pure Genius must be a show that's love by CBS brass and comes at a relatively low licensing fee. It seems so unlike the network to pick up a show solely distributed by the distributor of another major broadcast network, nonetheless a medical drama when they already have another one on the fall slate in Code Black.
The CW
Warner Brothers Television Distribution
Frequency
CBS Television Distribution
No Tomorrow
No Tomorrow will join a select few low-rated shows that CBS Television distributes for our 10-hour network, though by premise it seems like a good fit for other CBS productions in Jane the Virgin and Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. Riverdale is coming midseason, and like the rest of the Greg Berlanti shows is distributed by Warner Brothers. Thank God for the W part of The CW, says Warner Brothers, as other networks shut them out more and more in favor for their own shows.
FOX
20th Television (FOX)
The Exorcist
Pitch
Son of Zorn
Warner Brothers Television Distribution
Lethal Weapon
Lethal Weapon, FOX's sole outside distribution this fall, got the best drama slot on the schedule, possibly even the best slot overall. But promising new series Pitch and Son of Zorn are shows that FOX will enjoy financially if they make it to syndication. And if they flop, at least they have all of their midseason shows to fall back on, because it turns out Lethal Weapon is the sole new outside distribution on their entire schedule.
NBC
NBC Universal Television Distribution
The Good Place
20th Television (FOX)
This is Us
Sony Pictures Television
Timeless
NBC is an interesting case. They ordered 13 new series this season, plus Law & Order: You the Jury and the return of The Celebrity Apprentice, so it's really more like 15 new shows. Of those, 3--count it, 3--made the fall schedule. Of which only one of them is distributed by NBC Universal, and it's the one which has an episode order capped off at 13 as it is. In the case of potential new smash This is Us, they don't even take part in the production of it, so their only potential way to make profit off this show is through the first-run ad revenue. Of the midseason shows, they produce most, but not all of them. Limited-run The Blacklist: Redemption will be produced by Sony like the mothership, while comedy Trial & Error and DC comedy Powerless are both Warner Brother productions (turns out that they can score a pickup or two on broadcast TV after all). The real question is how they fit all these shows in.