Rafters Pack In The Viewing Audience

Newcastle Herald

Thursday November 27, 2008

with Amy Edwards and Anita Beaumont

NEW Aussie drama Packed to the Rafters has finished the year on a ratings high in Newcastle.

The show, which stars Rebecca Gibney as Julie Rafter and is about a couple struggling to keep their three children permanently out of the nest, has become the highest-rating drama of 2008.

The season finale screened on Prime on Tuesday night with a second season already announced.

Since its premiere on Tuesday, August 26, PTTR has won its 8.30pm timeslot every week in Newcastle, averaging 99,840 viewers.

In comparison to last year, Prime's highest-rated program was Kath & Kim with an average audience of 89,518.

A drama has not generated so much excitement since NBN's Underbelly, which had an average audience of 91,421.

The Underbelly prequel, which will screen next year, will follow the booming illegal heroin and marijuana trade of the '70s and '80s in Sydney and Melbourne.