Comedy audiences slump in America

American TV viewers are tuning off sitcoms in their millions.

New ratings figures show some of the best-loved comedies have been hit by big slumps in their audiences.

Seinfeld has overtaken Friends as the most popular sitcom in syndication - ie shown on local stations across as opposed to the main networks ­ but even so its figures slumped 13 per cent.

Similarly the audience for Everybody Loves Raymond plunged 14 per cent, Will and Grace down 19 per cent and King Of The Hill down 11 per cent.

That 70s Show was the only sitcom to buck the trend, with ratings up a modest five per cent.

The new figures come from the latest 'sweeps', weeks in which ratings are calculated to set advertising rates for the rest of the season.

Published: 17 Mar 2004