TV Land and Nick@Nite Cap Off Banner Year (2003)

[Pavan]

TV LAND AND NICK AT NITE CAP OFF BANNER YEAR!

- TV LAND'S MOST WATCHED YEAR EVER!

- NICK AT NITE FINISHES 4TH QUARTER AS THE #1 BASIC CABLE ENTERTAINMENT NETWORK WITH ADULTS 18-49!

- Original programs, First Ever Development Slate, Signature Acquisitions and First Pro Social Initiative Bolster Classic TV


Santa Monica, CA - December 19, 2003 - Nick at Nite and TV Land, America's leading Classic TV programmers, are celebrating a banner year that saw: successful audience gains in total viewers and target adult demos; an increase in original program production and development; the addition of signature acquisitions to their extensive classic TV library; and, the launch of a new pro-social initiative, demonstrating America's continued appetite for quality classic television.

With the stellar performance of the network's original specials -- which included the network's inaugural awards show, The TV Land Awards -- 2003 looks to be the most-watched year ever among TV Land's target audience of Adults 25-54. Nick at Nite's success was boosted by the launch of its signature acquisitions Roseanne and Full House as well as the continued dominant performance of The Cosby Show. Nick at Nite is ending the 4th Quarter as the #1 basic cable entertainment network with Adults 18-49, during its programming hours and finishes the year as the number-two basic cable network among Women 18-49, during its programming hours.

During the year, TV Land premiered a number of original programs reflecting the network's fun, passionate and TV-reverential on-air environment that embraces "all things television." Programming highlights included The TV Land Awards: A Celebration of Classic TV (3/12/03), a salute to enduring television shows and stars which more than 25 million viewers tuned in to with host John Ritter and featured such presenters as Halle Berry and Matthew Perry; Inside TV Land: Style and Fashion (2/14/03), a revealing look at how the stars of the small screen have became style trendsetters; and, The Alan Brady Show (8/17/03) featuring Emmy-Award winner Carl Reiner's reprisal of his character - in voice-over -- from The Dick Van Dyke Show for the first ever animated original special for TV Land. Next year the successful momentum continues with new acquisitions joining the lineup. TV Land adds Carol Burnett and Friends, The Flip Wilson Show and Green Acres and Nick at Nite welcomes Who's The Boss? and Fresh Prince of Bel Air.

As part of TV Land's Landmark initiative program and representing the network's third effort to honor classic TV, the network honored one of television's most enduring popular series, The Andy Griffith Show. A bronze statue capturing the show's famous opening sequence depicting Andy Griffith and a young Ron Howard in their roles of Sheriff Andy and Opie Taylor walking, hand-in-hand was unveiled at a special ceremony in the pastoral environment of Raleigh, North Carolina's Pullen Park in October.

On the Nick at Nite side, one of the most talked-about and celebrated sitcoms in history, Roseanne, joined the Nick at Nite lineup and the "Domestic Goddess" became the network's newest star! The five-night marathon (9/21-9/25/03) celebrating the launch of Roseanne attracted 33.2 million viewers. During this time, NAN was the most-watched basic cable network among A18-49, A18-34 and W18-34. The other key acquisition was the ever-popular Full House. This series, which became a platform for future stars Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, continues to be a viewer favorite.

Bolstered by the success of its key originals and specials throughout 2003, the networks announced their first-ever slate of original shows and specials, spearheaded by some of the most celebrated names in the history of television. The development slate, which includes new programming from Bill Cosby, Kelsey Grammer, Henry Winkler, Peter Bonerz, David Steinberg and several others, could be seen on both networks as early as 2004. Nick at Nite will pursue original comedy to complement its hit sitcom line-up, the TV Land originals will complement its TV expertise classic programming strategy

Finally, this year the networks unveiled a new pro-social initiative entitled TV Land & Nick at Nite's Family Table - Share More Than Meals that made its on-air debut on Thanksgiving Day, November 27, 2003. This initiative elevates the importance, value and benefits of families reconnecting and sharing mealtime together and addresses the television tradition of family mealtimes and their relevance to viewers' lives today. The two networks have committed over $6 million in on-air promotion for the initiative.

Now seen in over 82 million U.S. homes, TV Land's program mix features popular dramas, sitcoms, westerns, Retromercials(r) and a TV-referential interstitial environment, all programmed with a specific audience in mind - the first generation of Americans to grow up watching television and features all time classic hits like All In The Family, The Andy Griffith Show, I Love Lucy, Bewitched and I Dream of Jeannie.

Currently seen in more than 88 million U.S. homes, Nick at Nite features timeless hit comedies: The Cosby Show - this Emmy-Award winning sitcom is the network's highest-rated show; Full House - this ensemble comedy launched on the network in October and Roseanne, one of the most-talked about and celebrated sitcoms in television history.

[sally mander]

I read the same thing on other websites about how Nick is doing really well by airing Cosby, Roseanne, Full House, etc...

I also read that TBS is doing well as well with Friends, Seinfeld, etc.. Same with Maury Povich and his "...who is the daddy of my baby" shows.

To me I find all this so strange. I have heard from so many people (not just the messges I read in here) how they are so sick of Roseanne on every channel. Or how they are burned out by Friends. Same with Cosby. I don't think that show has ever left TV. Yet I hear they are doing so well rating wise. Sometimes I do wonder if the ratings are exaggerated for the sake of demographics to lure advertisers, like what is done in radio.

I can't help but wonder how much Viacom, FOX, Time Warner, pays these jokers sitting around some table saying stuff like "...well we have to air Roseanne because it reaches the 24 year old male who has long hair and tattoos" or "....we can't air Gimmie A Break because of Nell Carter...ain't no 20 something willing to watch and laugh at some fat dead lady".

How do they do their research? Or do consultants simply just "assume" that all 19-26 year olds year olds live with their girlfriend/boyfriend, have sex, drink Coors Light, smoke Marlboro Lights, and eat at Outback Steakhouse wearing Tommy jeans.

If this is true, then I am glad I have on tape Alice, Car 54, Lucy Show, Maude, Jeffersons, Emergency, etc.. I doubt most of these shows will ever see the light of day again.

BTW...I wonder how Roseanne did when it aired on TBS? What is Nick doing so differently with Roseanne that TBS didn't do? Its not like viewers can't get both.