Locally-based TV syndicated programming still outpaces locally based cable syndication, according to sales representative Katz Television Group.
Adult 25-54 live-plus-same day weekly ratings in the 2013-2014 season posted a Nielsen average 1.9 rating for half-hour comedies versus 0.5 for those same comedies in cable syndication. (Broadcast networks averaged a 3.9 for those same 25-54 audiences.)
Results are much the same when it comes to dramas, with a 1.1 average rating among 25-54 in broadcast TV syndication versus a 0.4 cable syndication rating.
The biggest comedy shows include “Big Bang Theory,” where it earned a 3.3 25-54 rating in broadcast syndication and a 1.3 in cable syndication. “Modern Family” posted a 2.8 rating among 25-54 viewers and a 0.5 rating in the cable syndication window.
Biggest dramas included “Law & Order:SVU,” which earned a 1.5 rating among 25-54 viewers in the broadcast syndication window and a 0.5 in cable syndication. “Bones” was at a 0.8 rating in broadcast syndication; and a 0.4 in cable syndication.
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This is hardly news. Of course, when you deal with average minute ratings broadcast still draws higher average telecast audiences. Which really means little as cable, when all of its channels are counted, usually out pulls broadcast by a significant margin. Another way to look at it would be to calculate the total time spent with sitcoms, dramas and other genres by platform as opposed to average minute ratings. The two produce quite different answers.