#8: High Ratings Meant Premium Ad Dollars For ABC
When Three’s Company hit its stride, advertisers paid top dollar to appear during its time slot. Strong Nielsen numbers let ABC charge premium rates for 30-second spots, especially from brands targeting younger, urban audiences. Jack Tripper’s weekly chaos reliably delivered millions of viewers in one place.
Those ad dollars were the real engine behind the show’s longevity. Even as salaries rose and behind-the-scenes drama simmered, the math kept working. As long as advertisers wanted access to that audience, ABC had every incentive to keep the misunderstandings coming and the apartment doors slamming.