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Ratings: Top-rating programs: Drama/comedy series before 2004

Top 20 drama series and serials (including comedy) shown on television; Australian programs listed in bold

Next update to be advised

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

Programs listed here include overseas as well as Australian titles, where relevant. Ratings for the top 10 Australian series are listed in Release of Australian productions: TV ratings: Drama/comedy series before 2004.

After 2004, ratings for comedy and drama are listed separately; see Top-rating programs: Drama series and Comedy series.

2003

Rank	Title	Network	Total people (‘000)	Rating¹
1	Kath & Kim (Series 2)	ABC	1,755	13.0
2	CSI: Crime Scene Investigation	9	1,641	12.1
3	Friends	9	1.630	12.0
4	CSI: Miami	9	1,579	11.7
5	Law & Order: Criminal Intent (Thursday)	10	1,515	11.2
6	McLeod’s Daughters	9	1,502	11.1
7	Malcolm in the Middle	9	1,490	11.0
8	Law & Order – SVU	10	1,481	10.9
9	E.R.	9	1,431	10.6
10	Blue Heelers	7	1,397	10.3
11	All Saints	7	1,363	10.1
12	The All New Simpsons Hour	10	1,355	10.0
13	Everybody Loves Raymond (Tuesday)	10	1,343	9.9
14	Without a Trace	9	1,335	9.9
15	The Bill	ABC	1,332	9.8
16	Home and Away	7	1,330	9.8
17	Becker	10	1,249	9.2
18	Law & Order	10	1,233	9.1
19	Monarch of the Glen	ABC	1,193	8.8
20	Frasier	9	1,112	8.2

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.
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

Rank	Title	Network	Total people (‘000)	Rating¹
1	Friends	9	1,850	13.9
2	All Aussie Adventures	10	1,721	13.0
3	Malcolm in the Middle	9	1,632	12.3
4	E.R.	9	1,619	12.2
5	Blue Heelers	7	1,508	11.3
6	All Saints	7	1,507	11.3
7	Becker (Sun)	10	1,461	11.0
8	24	7	1,431	10.8
9	Everybody Loves Raymond (Tuesday)	10	1,429	10.8
10	McLeod's Daughters	9	1,410	10.6
11	CSI: Crime Scene Investigation	9	1,370	10.3
12	The All New Simpsons	10	1,365	10.3
13	Home and Away	7	1,309	9.9
14	The Bill	ABC	1,281	9.6
15	Kath & Kim	ABC	1,254	9.4
16	Alias	7	1,230	9.3
17	The Guardian	10	1,220	9.2
18	Smallville	9	1,187	8.9
19	The Secret Life of Us	10	1,177	8.9
20	Frasier (repeat)	9	1,175	8.8

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.
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

Rank	Title	Network	Total people (‘000)	Rating¹
1	E.R.	9	1,939	14.8
2	Friends	9	1,757	13.4
3	Blue Heelers	7	1,757	13.4
4	Always Greener	7	1,738	13.3
5	All Saints	7	1,595	12.2
6	All Aussie Adventures	10	1,554	11.9
7	McLeod's Daughters	9	1,505	11.5
8	Home and Away	7	1,395	10.6
9	Ally McBeal	7	1,394	10.6
10	Judging Amy	9	1,375	10.5
11	Malcolm in the Middle	9	1,374	10.5
12	Monarch of the Glen	ABC	1,353	10.3
13	Heartbeat	7	1,331	10.2
14	Everybody Loves Raymond (Tuesday)	10	1,319	10.1
15	The Simpsons Hour (Wednesday)	10	1,317	10.0
16	Dharma and Greg	7	1,287	9.8
17	Boston Public	7	1,268	9.7
18	CSI: Crime Scene Investigation	9	1,257	9.6
19	Stargate SG-1	7	1,254	9.6
20	Becker	10	1,211	9.2

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.
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

Rank	Title	Station	Rating
1	Friends	9	18.2
2	Spin City	9	15.9
3	E.R.	9	15.0
4	Blue Heelers	7	13.7
4=	Seachange	ABC	13.7
6	The Drew Carey Show	9	11.9
7	Monarch of the Glen	ABC	11.8
8	The Bill	ABC	11.4
9	All Saints	7	11.2
10	Dharma and Greg	7	11.1
11	Ally McBeal	7	10.9
11=	Home and Away	7	10.9
13	Ballykissangel	ABC	10.7
13=	JAG	7	10.7
13=	3rd Rock from the Sun	7	10.7
16	The Practice	7	10.1
16=	Will and Grace	7	10.1
18	Water Rats	9	9.4
19	Stargate SG-1	7	9.3
20	Cold Feet	7	9.1

Source: ACNielsen, TV Trends 2001.

Notes:
All people, five-city metro average, based on surveys 1 to 10 in 2000 (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

Rank	Title	Station	Rating
1	Friends	9	20.4
2	Jesse	9	17.4
3	Seachange	ABC	16.3
4	Blue Heelers	7	15.6
5	E.R.	9	14.2
6	Water Rats	9	14.1
7	Ally McBeal	7	13.4
8	Home Improvement	7	12.4
9	The Drew Carey Show	9	12.2
10	The Bill	ABC	11.8
11	3rd Rock from the Sun	7	11.4
12	Dharma and Greg	7	11.0
13	Home and Away	7	11.0
14	All Saints	7	10.8
15	JAG	7	10.7
16	Heartbeat	7	10.2
17	Stargate SG-1	7	10.1
18	The Practice	7	9.8
19	Chicago Hope	7	9.2
20	Stingers	9	8.4

Source: ACNielsen, TV Trends 2000.

Notes:
All people, five-city metro average, based on surveys 1 to 10 in 1999, 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

Rank	Title	Station	Rating
1	Friends	9	20.5
2	Blue Heelers	7	18.0
3	Suddenly Susan	9	17.7
4	Water Rats	9	16.5
5	Veronica’s Closet	9	15.5
6	Heartbeat	7	15.1
7	E.R.	9	14.5
8	Caroline in the City	9	13.8
9	The Drew Carey Show	9	13.4
10	Seinfeld	10	13.2
11	Seachange	ABC	12.4
12	Ally McBeal	7	12.3
13	The Bill	ABC	11.7
13=	Spin City	9	11.7
13=	The Simpsons	10	11.7
16	Stingers	9	11.2
17	JAG	7	10.6
18	All Saints	7	10.4
18=	Ballykissangel	ABC	10.4
20	The X Files	10	10.0

Source: ACNielsen, TV Trends 1999.

Notes:
All people, five-city metro average, based on surveys 1 to 10 in 1998, 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.

Top-rating programs: Drama series; Comedy series

Release of Australian productions
TV ratings:: Drama/comedy series; Drama series; Comedy series