Sinclair, CBS onboard Name Game

US stations owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group and CBS Television Stations have picked up a new gameshow called Celebrity Name Game for launch in fall 2014.

The show has been cleared by 58 Sinclair stations and four O&Os belonging to CBS. The sales, combined with other deals with KAZT Phoenix (Londen Media Group) and WKYC Cleveland (Gannett), push clearances for the show past 80% of the US, including 19 of the top-20 markets.

Sinclair has acquired the show for stations including WTTA Tampa and WUCW Minneapolis, while CBS has secured it for KPIX/KBCW San Francisco, WBZ/WSBK Boston, WUPA Atlanta and WWJ/WKBD Detroit.

Additionally, Belo’s WHAS Louisville has joined the line-up, while Tribune previously cleared the show on its 25 stations, which include WPIX New York, KTLA Los Angeles and WGN Chicago.

“Celebrity Name Game makes a strong addition to our access and early fringe line-up, given the success we’ve enjoyed with Family Feud in these same time periods,” said Bill Butler, VP of programming and promotion at Sinclair.

Produced by FremantleMedia North America (FMNA) and syndicated domestically via Debmar-Mercury, the show is hosted by The Late, Late Show’s Craig Ferguson.

The half-hour strip was developed by Courteney Cox and David Arquette’s Coquette Productions (Cougar Town), veteran showrunner Scott St John (Deal or No Deal) and Laura Robinson/Richard Gerrits’ North 44 Productions.

Based on the board game Identity Crisis, the show teams celebrities with contestants to identify famous names, including actors, singers, athletes, pop culture figures, politicians and cartoon characters.

FremantleMedia will distribute the format outside the US.