As the broadcast networks prepare to unveil their schedules for the 2009-10 season to advertisers in New York next week, Magna has taken a look at what was once a TV staple: the sitcom.
Steve Sternberg, executive VP for audience analysis at Magna, a division of Interpublic’s Mediabrands, notes in a new report that in the fall of 2003, the broadcast networks aired a record 50 comedies. By comparison, last fall there were just 22 comedies on the networks. Three of them were new and none of those will be back. The comedies that debuted midseason are not performing well either, he said.
