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2nd-Year Series Top Ratings

Dec 14, 2008  •  Post A Comment

Syndication stalwarts such as “Seinfeld” and “Friends” remain strong in off-net sitcom ratings, but sophomore syndie strips “Two and a Half Men” and “Family Guy” rule the roost.

“Men,” from Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution, is averaging a 5.0 household rating this season through Nov. 23, leading the way for off-net sitcoms.

Off-Net Programming

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The show gained 28% over last year’s launch, and leads the genre despite lacking a cable run, which is included in rating averages for most off-net programming in syndication.

“Guy,” distributed by Twentieth Television, also is holding from its premiere season last year, posting a flat 3.9 household rating. “Guy” is second in households in the genre, but dominates the programming group in young males, a rare demographic win for a syndie strip. The show posted 3% growth in males 18-34 with a 3.6 rating, a 1.5-point higher rating than its closest competitor.

The standout this year in terms of new strips is Debmar-Mercury’s “Tyler Perry’s House of Payne,” which is enjoying a 2.0 household rating since its broadcast syndication premiere in early September.

Despite the strong starts for new programming, Sony Pictures Television’s “Seinfeld,” CBS Television Distribution’s “Everybody Loves Raymond” and Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution’s “Friends” continue to compete in the genre.

“Seinfeld,” which has been in syndication for 14 seasons, lost only 3% year-to-year, and is averaging a 3.5 household rating. That number puts “Seinfeld” third in the field, behind “Men” and “Guy.”

CBS’ “Raymond,” in its eighth year of syndication, lost a good amount of steam from last year, declining 27% to a 3.0 rating. “Friends,” which has been around for 11 seasons, slipped 11% to a 2.5.

Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution’s “The George Lopez Show,” in its second year, is making strides, showing popularity in cable on Nick at Nite and growing 20% to a 3.0 rating from last year. The show is performing well in young demographics, increasing 40% versus this time last year in persons 12-17 to a 3.5 rating.

Among off-net weekend dramas, most programs are showing standard yearly declines. An exception is NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution’s “Law and Order: SVU,” which has gained 30% year-to-year to a 3.0 household rating so far this season, putting it at the top of the pack.

That strength is part of the reason NBCU is taking “SVU” into a daily strip, as it did previously with sister program “Law & Order: Criminal Intent.” “Criminal Intent” held steady from last year’s daily start with a 1.4 household rating.

The weekend leader is “CSI: NY,” new this year from CBS Television Distribution, which posted a 3.4 rating. NBC Universal Television Distribution’s “House” is the second-highest-rated new weekender with a 2.5 rating, followed by Twentieth’s “Boston Legal” (1.9) and NBCU’s “Monk” (1.8). Disney-ABC’s “Desperate Housewives” (1.5) and “Lost” (1.0) round out the freshman pack.

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