'South Park' ratings slip not fun
Auds killing Kenny with 46% drop in cable homes
For the first three weeks of the new season (April 7, 14 and 21 at 10 p.m.), "South Park" is averaging a 3.8 rating in cable homes. For the similar three weeks in 1998, the show averaged a 7.0 rating.
"We never expected the show to sustain 6, 7 and 8 ratings," said Michelle Ganeless, senior VP of programming for Comedy Central. Ganeless pointed out that, even at a 3.8 rating so far this season, "South Park" is the highest-rated scripted entertainment series on cable television.
Tony Fox, senior VP of corporate communications for Comedy Central, said the network has already shelled out more than $1 million to promote the new "South Park" episodes and plans to spend another $4 million-plus to market its two-hour block of original programming, led by "South Park," starting at 10 p.m. Monday through Friday the week of June 14.
Comedy Central will slot reruns of "South Park" during the May sweeps to avoid getting battered by the broadcast networks. New "South Park" half-hours return on June 16.
Ganeless said the network is also counting on getting a boost from the "South Park" theatrical movie, which Paramount will release early this summer.
