Joey can’t buy Friends ad rates

NBC, the second-most watched US TV network, will get 20% less for advertising time on its spin-off comedy, Joey, than it did for the show’s predecessor, Friends.

A 30-second spot on the first episode on September 9 will cost $380,000, compared to $474,000 for Friends, said ad buyer Karen McCallum.

NBC is under pressure to replace revenue from departed hit shows, after bringing in about $5.8bn in revenue last year.