Hello friend! TV shows are big business, generating billions annually through advertising, syndication, merchandising and streaming. But which iconic series have managed to bring in the highest revenues? Let‘s explore the biggest financial hits in television history.
The Rise of Lucrative Sitcoms
Over the decades, sitcoms have proven to be major cash cows for networks and producers. Lighthearted comedies play well in syndication, earning billions from rerun deals long after ending their initial runs.
Seinfeld is the crown jewel, earning $275 million from NBC during its final 2 seasons in the late 1990s according to the New York Times. But the real money came after – syndication rights sold for an astronomical $3.1 billion in the 2000s, per LA Times. Even today, Seinfeld earns millions through streaming deals and digital reruns.
Similarly, The Big Bang Theory made its stars $1 million per episode in later seasons. However, reruns are where the billions lie – TBS bought syndication rights for over $1 billion thus far (Hollywood Reporter). Other sitcoms with >$1 billion in rerun earnings include Friends and The Office.
Why are sitcom reruns so incredibly lucrative? Syndicated episodes can air daily, drawing reliable audiences year after year. Iconic sitcoms are easy to rewatch, making them perfect comfort viewing. Streaming has also fueled demand, introducing classic comedies to new generations.
The Super Bowl – $500 Million Per Broadcast
For annual revenue, the crown jewel of television is the Super Bowl. The NFL‘s championship game costs a fortune to air – Fox paid $500 million for exclusive broadcast rights to Super Bowl LIV in 2020 (Forbes). But networks earn it back and more through advertising spots costing up to $6.5 million for 30 seconds. The Super Bowl generates roughly $500 million in ad revenue annually.
The Super Bowl is routinely the most watched program of the year, drawing over 100 million US viewers. Super Bowl XLIX in 2015 set an all-time record with 114.4 million viewers according to Nielsen, further cementing its reputation as one of the most lucrative sports and entertainment events worldwide.
Sunday Night Football – $4 Billion Per Season
Beyond the Super Bowl, the NFL brings in billions more through weekly games. NBC‘s Sunday Night Football costs networks over $1 billion per year for broadcasting rights. But it earns back around $4 billion annually between advertising revenue and sponsorship deals according to Forbes – making it television‘s most profitable franchise in pure monetary terms.
Sunday Night Football averages 20 million viewers per episode, making it the highest rated primetime program for over a decade straight. NBC earns around $1.5 billion from Sunday Night ads alone, while bringing in additional billions through corporate sponsorships with brands like Pepsi and Toyota (Forbes).
The Simpsons – $14 Billion and Counting from 600+ Episodes
But no show in history comes close to The Simpsons in terms of total earnings over decades on air. The iconic animated sitcom has produced over 600 episodes since premiering in 1989, airing in over 100 countries globally.
Between lucrative syndication deals, multiple rounds of merchandise sales, and strong ratings for new episodes even 30+ years later, The Simpsons has brought in over $14 billion in revenue according to Forbes estimates. Rights holders Fox have called it the "most profitable piece of entertainment ever created."
The Simpsons’ massive lifetime earnings demonstrate how animated sitcoms can keep generating money indefinitely. Without actors aging out of roles, shows like The Simpsons and South Park stay relevant longer, earning billions over decades as opposed to live action hits.
Game of Thrones – Over $2.2 Billion, HBO‘s Biggest Hit
In the streaming era, HBO has produced some of the most talked about and lucrative series in television. The crown jewel of the network‘s original programming is Game of Thrones. Over its 8 season run through the 2010s, Game of Thrones brought HBO over $2 billion in subscriber fees according to the New York Times.
Add in DVD sales, merchandise and other ancillary revenue and Game of Thrones earnings exceed $2.28 billion. It broke viewership records with 19.3 million watching the final episode, according to HBO. The fantasy epic has been a game changer for HBO proving that original series can drive subscriptions just as well as Hollywood blockbusters.
The News Never Stops – $1 Billion for Fox‘s Top Hosts
Beyond entertainment programming, another reliable cash cow has been cable news. An analysis by the New York Times found that Fox News personalities like Sean Hannity and Tucker Carlson bring in over $1 billion per year in advertising thanks to their massive viewership. Primetime hosts can earn $40-60 million per year for the network.
Meanwhile, ratings have soared across cable news in recent years. The average viewership of top Fox News programs like Hannity is over 3 million per episode – comparable to the very top entertainment shows. According to Nielsen the top 14 most watched cable news shows are all on Fox. With viewership this high, ad revenues have skyrocketed.
Oprah Winfrey – Richest Person in TV History
No roundup of TV’s biggest earners is complete without mentioning Oprah Winfrey. According to Forbes, Oprah is worth $2.7 billion making her the richest figure in television history thanks to her iconic talk show. Airing for 25 seasons through the 1990s and 2000s, The Oprah Winfrey show brought in $300 million annually from syndication towards the end of its run.
Oprah is the only person associated with a TV show to rank among billionaires. Her fortune comes from not just the show itself but an entire business empire including her Oprah Winfey Network (OWN), investments, and multiple media and real estate ventures. Oprah‘s remarkable career demonstrates the power of TV stardom to transcend the small screen.
The Streaming Revolution
While traditional broadcast and cable networks still command large audiences in the aggregate, streaming has undoubtedly become the future. Netflix alone spends over $17 billion on content annually, allowing it to lure big name producers and actors.
Streaming-exclusive shows like Stranger Things and The Witcher can become just as popular as cable and network hits. Netflix claimed Stranger Things 3 was watched by 64 million global accounts in its first month of release. With on-demand viewing, streaming originals may already be competitive for the title of most watched series currently airing.
As digital platforms invest billions in exclusive rights and new programming, they continue to disrupt traditional television. With global subscriber bases, streaming opens up shows to larger potential audiences than ever before. We‘re likely just seeing the beginning of the pivot toward streaming programs dominating viewership and earnings in the years ahead.
The Legacy of Great Television
Analyzing the highest revenue earning shows in TV history reveals some common threads between the most lucrative series. Iconic characters, ensemble casts, and compelling storylines that lend themselves well to rewatching are themes across many financial hits. Syndication and merchandising built on cultural impact has allowed franchises from Seinfeld to The Simpsons to live on long after airing.
Television continues to captivate audiences and bring in major earnings even in the digital age. Time will tell whether viral streaming hits can ever unseat traditional giants like the NFL and The Simpsons in terms of pure revenue. But great storytelling remains at the core of any show that becomes part of the pop culture zeitgeist. With business models evolving fast, the future of the small screen promises to remain exciting for both viewers and networks alike.
