Here's a breakdown of the situation:
* Licensing agreements: Networks like TBS acquire the rights to air shows through licensing agreements with the studios that produce them. These agreements are temporary and expire after a certain period.
* Rights renewal: When a license expires, the network can choose to renew it. However, there's no guarantee that the studio will be willing to renew the agreement, or that the network will be willing to pay the licensing fees.
* Family Guy's rights: The rights to air Family Guy were previously owned by TBS. However, the network's license for the show expired, and they did not renew it. The rights were likely acquired by another network, such as FX, which now airs new episodes and reruns of Family Guy.
This scenario is common in the television industry, as networks are constantly vying for popular shows. So while you can't watch Family Guy on TBS anymore, you can still find it on other networks or streaming services.