In the archive
Australian content on television

Top-rating Australian drama series and serials (including comedy) on television, 1998–2003

Five-city metro average: 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998

From 2004, ratings for comedy and drama series are reported separately; see TV ratings: Drama series and Comedy series.

2003

Kath & Kim (series 2), the top-rating Australian series in 2003, was also the no. 1 series overall. See Television: Archive: Free-to-air TV: Top-rating programs: Drama/comedy series before 2004.

Source: OzTAM; compiled by the Australian Film Commission (AFC).

Notes:
All people, five-city metro average, 1 January to 31 December 2003, average rating across whole series.
Ranked by rating. Programs with the same rating are ranked by unrounded total number of people viewing, if known.
Any comparison of ratings data should take into account that different methodology was used to compile top-program lists before January 2005 and that a different audience measurement system applied before January 2001. See About the data for more information, including definitions of terms.

2002

All Aussie Adventures, the top-rating Australian series in 2002, was also the no. 2 series overall, behind Friends (13.9). See Television: Archive: Free-to-air TV: Top-rating programs: Drama/comedy series before 2004.

The top episode of both All Aussie Adventures and Blue Heelers rated higher than the top movie in 2002 (The Sixth Sense, 13.9).

Source: OzTAM; compiled by the Australian Film Commission (AFC).

Notes:
All people, five-city metro average, 1 January to 31 December 2002, average rating across whole series.
Ranked by rating. Programs with the same rating are ranked by unrounded total number of people viewing, if known.
Any comparison of ratings data should take into account that different methodology was used to compile top-program lists before January 2005 and that a different audience measurement system applied before January 2001. See About the data for more information, including definitions of terms.

2001

Blue Heelers, the top-rating Australian series in 2001, was also the no. 3 overall, behind E.R. (14.8) and Friends (13.4). See Television: Archive: Free-to-air TV: Top-rating programs: Drama/comedy series before 2004.

Source: OzTAM; compiled by the Australian Film Commission (AFC).

Notes:
All people, five-city metro average, 1 January to 31 December 2001, average rating across whole series.
Ranked by rating. Programs with the same rating are ranked by unrounded total number of people viewing, if known.
Any comparison of ratings data should take into account that different methodology was used to compile top-program lists before January 2005 and that a different audience measurement system applied before January 2001. See About the data for more information, including definitions of terms.

2000

Source: ACNielsen, TV Trends 2001.

Notes:
All people, five-city metro average, based on surveys 1 to 10 (excludes Olympic Games weeks 38-41), average rating across whole series.
Any comparison of ratings data should take into account that different methodology was used to compile top-program lists before January 2005 and that a different audience measurement system applied before January 2001. See About the data for more information, including definitions of terms.

1999

Source: ACNielsen, TV Trends 2000.

Notes:
All people, five-city metro average, based on surveys 1 to 10, average rating across whole series.
Any comparison of ratings data should take into account that different methodology was used to compile top-program lists before January 2005 and that a different audience measurement system applied before January 2001. See About the data for more information, including definitions of terms.

1998

Source: ACNielsen, TV Trends 1999.

Notes:
All people, five-city metro average, based on surveys 1 to 10, average rating across whole series.
Any comparison of ratings data should take into account that different methodology was used to compile top-program lists before January 2005 and that a different audience measurement system applied before January 2001. See About the data for more information, including definitions of terms.