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In the archive
Top programs

Top 20 drama series and serials (including comedy) shown on television, 1998–2003

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

Programs listed here include overseas as well as Australian titles, where relevant. Australian programs highlighted and in bold.

Archived lists of the top 10 Australian series each year before 2004 are available under Australian content. From 2004, ratings for comedy and drama are listed separately.

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.
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.

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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.
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.

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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.
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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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