As part of their “Off to College With Syndication” sales pitch the Syndicated Network Television Association has lots of numbers to show off.
One interesting slide in the report shows the relatively high ratings among adults 18-24 (not a typical age range we report, but this pitch was tailored towards reaching college students) that syndicated programming gets in the summer vs. an assortment of cable and network competition. Some of the numbers are likely surprising to many folks.
Click the picture for a full sized image. Note that these numbers are from last summer (2008), but that’s what you’ve got to go with to sell advertising for this summer.
If you’re so inclined, download the entire report here.
I’m 26 so outside the demo area but I have definitely been watching Two and A Half Men and Family guy for a few years. I also watched Malcolm in the Middle while I was still in the demo.
everyday @ 1 am I make sure to catch King of the Hill. Other than that, the only other shows I watch on that list are TMZ and That 70’s Show
If King of the Hill and Family Guy deliver that kind of numbers, why aren’t American Dad and The Simpsons in syndication? I think both of them would outdeliver KotH.
How many viewers does one point of Adults 18-24 equal? One point of 18-49 is apparently 1.4 million or so, so that still has to be a big chart representing like 400,000 people or something, right?
Simpsons IS in syndication. They make BAJILLIONS a year in syndication.
It’s funny how well KoTH does in syndication, and how decent new episodes did. You’d think FOX would have jumped on that in the past few years and kept it alive. Instead the most they would promote a new episode of King would be to say this:
“And after a brand new King of the Hill, Family Guy has Stewie…”
That’s it. They’d have a promo for the new Simpsons, yet King would just be MENTIONED as a setup for the Family Guy discription. Sad.
You’d think they would have learned their lesson when they brought back King after it performed well above what they were hoping it would do 2 years ago.
“Simpsons IS in syndication. They make BAJILLIONS a year in syndication.”
Then why isn’t the show listed above? A show like TS should get better numbers that KotH for example.
All, I thought the Simpsons was in syndication as well, but it doesn’t appear at all on the last weekly list of about 130 syndicated show ratings that we have from Nielsen (covering the week of June 8-14, 2009).
I’m not sure why. I will ask one of our friends in the syndication business.
Mystery solved.
The Simpsons is NOT IN SYNDICATION.Read below for a better explanation of the Simpsons syndication situation.
Want to know what is in national syndication? Visit our friends at the SNTA!
Then, the remaining question is WHY?
Fox has been using TS to make tons of money for 20 years now, so why don’t they syndicate it?
I’ve been worrying about this for years now, but it looks like Seinfeld is finally starting to lose some of its popularity as these statistics show that teenagers/young adults these days just don’t know what it is, because there’s no excuse for watching George Lopez over it. Friends has a few more years left, but it too will fall off the radar eventually as well.
On another note is there any chance of a King of the Hill revival with these numbers? FOX has proven they can’t create another cartoon to fit with The Simpsons, Family Guy and American Dad, and I don’t expect The Cleveland Show (having seen how bad the pilot was) to be that answer.
“Fox has been using TS to make tons of money for 20 years now, so why don’t they syndicate it?”
I remember reading something somewhere that they werent allowed because of the contract. Only local syndicators can air it.
I’ve asked the question to our helpful friends in syndication, and will post their response.
Where is Seinfeld? It must not be in syndication. I know many people who are watching Seinfeld, including college-age people. It would have to be in the top 10.
Seinfeld is in syndication, it just must not be that popular with the 18-24 set, which makes sense.
In our last syndicated ratings list I grabbed from Nielsen (June 8-14) Seinfeld was the #9 syndicated show for average viewers.
I’m interested to hear more about The Simpsons situation. I always assumed it was in SYN, since the local Fox affiliate here airs it every weekday from 6PM-7PM.
OK, the earlier answer from my syndication friend about the Simpsons needs to be modified, here is the full, correct answer:
SNTA is a trade organization representing 6 members (CBS, Disney-ABC, NBCU, MGM, 20th and Warner Bros.) who sell national barter syndication. While The Simpsons is syndicated to local stations, it does not offer national advertising and that is why it is not included in the national ratings provided. The SNTA only includes ratings for member programming. As Sony is not a member of our organization, Seinfeld’s ratings are not included. For your reference, Seinfeld’s rating is a 1.8 (last summer).
This answer approximately doubled my knowledge of the syndication marketplace
Ah, that makes sense. Thanks for the research, Bill.
Thanks, Bill!
I knew syndication was such a tricky topic, but that taught me even more! I know that syndicated shows can turn quite a profit for shows (i.e. since Tyra is moving to become a CW show this fall instead of in syndication, she’ll actually make LESS), so do you think by FOX offering the Simpsons locally, they can make a higher premium?
I worked at a FOX affiliate (actually left there beginning of this year), and we didn’t re-up our contract with The Simpsons since it was getting too expensive. Instead they went with Malcolm, which was cheap as dirt.
I guess I should have been more articulate with the fact that they make the bajillions for the Simpsons also with licensing & merch.
Oh, and Kevin-
No. No chance FOX will bring back King of the Hill. They already did that once; and by cancelling it again, they apparently either didn’t learn their lesson – or they don’t care.
Chances are that FOX feels they learned their lesson on the Family Guy cancellation. So they will basically lay down in puddles for Seth so his shoes won’t get wet. In other words, giving him carte blanche on Sundays with trying out any new show he comes up with. Regardless of the quality of Cleveland, FOX already ordered 2(ish) seasons of the show.
SO with them still apoligizing to Seth, they’ve completely lost sight of King’s decent ratings at 8:30 TP