Drama Takes Bigger Share of Prime Time

NEW YORK: Dramas accounted for 40 percent of the U.S. network prime-time schedule in the 2008/09 season, Nielsen reports, up from 36 percent in the prior season, while reality’s share stayed constant at 28 percent.

In the most recent completed television season, 199 programs were aired, up from 191 in 2007/08. Of these, 79 were dramas and 55 reality shows (as compared with 68 and 53, respectively). Sitcoms’ share of the prime-time schedule fell from 16 percent (30 shows) to 14 percent (27 shows). Just five feature films aired in prime time on the U.S. broadcast networks in 2008/09, and eight news series airing in the period.

Dramas made up nine of the top 20 programs in the 2008/09 season, lead by NCIS, CSI, The Mentalist and Desperate Housewives. However, topping last year’s rankings were reality/variety shows: American Idol and Dancing with the Stars.