How Much Do Stars Make On Reruns

Ever watched a beloved sitcom or drama for the tenth time and wondered about the fortunes lining the pockets of the actors who brought those characters to life. The question of How Much Do Stars Make On Reruns is a fascinating one, touching on residuals, syndication, and the long tail of entertainment economics. It’s a world where a single episode can continue to generate income for an actor decades after its initial airing, proving that a star’s earning potential doesn’t always end with the final season.

The Sweet Spot of Residual Payments

When we talk about how much stars make on reruns, we’re primarily discussing residual payments. These are payments made to actors and other performers when their work is re-broadcast or distributed in new ways beyond its original network run. It’s a crucial component of an actor’s financial security in Hollywood. The exact amount and duration of these residuals depend heavily on the type of contract the actor signed and the specific union they belong to, such as the Screen Actors Guild - American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA). Here’s a breakdown of how residuals often work:

• Initial Network Run The first few airings of an episode typically don’t generate residuals.
• Syndication Once a show is sold into syndication (meaning it’s licensed to other networks or streaming services), residuals kick in. The more times an episode airs in syndication, the more royalties an actor can earn.
• Streaming and Digital Sales The rise of streaming platforms and digital downloads has added another layer to residual payments, often with complex and evolving contract terms.

The structure of these payments can be quite intricate. For instance, a primary cast member might receive a higher percentage of residuals than a recurring guest star. Furthermore, residuals are often calculated based on a percentage of the gross revenue generated by the show’s rerun sales. A table illustrating a simplified example could look like this: