In the summer of 2013, it was announced that the series would be tested on seven Fox-owned stations in New York, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Phoenix, Houston and Tampa. In October 2013, it was announced that
The Real would be nationally syndicated beginning September 15, 2014. In February 2015, Warner Bros. announced the series had been renewed for a second season. In October 2015, the series was renewed for a third and fourth season, allowing it to air through 2018. The program switched to broadcasting live in its fourth season, allowing viewers "a seat at the table" starting September 2017. In January 2018, the series was renewed for a fifth and sixth season. In November 2019, the series was renewed for a seventh and eighth season through the 2021–2022 television season. SallyAnn Salsano, who created the show, was executive producer along with Rachel Miskowiec until 2015, when Miskowiec took over; In August 2021, Tenia Watson was announced as the new executive producer for the eighth season. The show is produced by 495 Productions and
Telepictures Productions and distributed by
Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution. On April 8, 2022, it was reported that
The Real had been cancelled and the eighth season would be its last. Production costs due to COVID-19 have been attributed to the show's cancellation. The final episode aired on June 3. Reruns from the final season of
The Real aired until September 2. ==Co-hosts==