8:00 p.m. The Simpsons - Viewers: 9.43 million (#2), A18-49: 4.7/12 (#2) 8:30 p.m. King of the Hill - Viewers: 7.74 million (#3), A18-49: 3.7/ 9 (#2) 9:00-10 p.m. Family Guy - Viewers: 10.86 million (#3), A18-49: 5.5/13 (#1)
Last fall, The Simpsons opened the season with 11.63 million viewers and a 5.3/14 in the demo, with Family Guy at 9.93 million viewers and a 4.8/11 among adults 18-49, based on the final nationals. Both shows, no doubt, look healthy in the upcoming season.
Source: Marc Berman at Mediaweek / Nielsen Media Research data
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Great news for Family Guy (greenlight specials for Episodes 5 and 6 now please!) - but that has to be real disappointing for the Simpsons. They're coming off a damned fine box office (around $190mil now) with less than 10mil viewers and a year to year season premiere drop in ratings? Sure, good ratings but ouch in the expectations department.