In January this year, Brand Republic reported that the one-hour special would command record advertising rates of around $2m (£1.1m) for a 30-second slot, a record for a sitcom and the kind of figures usually reserved for the annual Super Bowl.
In the UK, spots will be sold on a "platinum rating" or "super special" as Channel 4 did last year with the final episode of 'Big Brother'.
In New York, the final episode was shown on the big screen in Times Square and NBC devoted three hours of its schedule to the farewell episode. Viewers in Britain will have to wait until the end of the month to see whether anything comes of the on-again off-again romance bewteen Ross and Rachel, played by David Schwimmer and Jennifer Aniston.
However, fans' reactions posted on a website about the finale were mixed. One fan said: "Thought it was a very fitting end. Have enjoyed the show for many years and glad they kept us guessing right up until the bitter end."
However, another fan commented: "Having just watched the final episode, it was predictable, melancholy, with a few humorous points but not particularly noteworthy for such an important episode. It should have ended years ago, but for $1m an episode, who can blame them?"
The show, which made its debut in 1994, made household names of Schwimmer, Aniston, Courtney Cox Arquette (Monica), Matthew Perry (Chandler), Lisa Kudrow (Phoebe) and Matt LeBlanc (Joey).
Fans of Joey need not fear however, his spin-off show 'Joey' is due to hit screens in autumn, following his life after his friends move on.
Meanwhile, in the UK, 'The Simpsons' will make its Channel 4 debut in November, moving over from BBC, along with new series of 'The Sopranos' and 'The West Wing' in June, and 'The Osbournes' in July.
If you have an opinion on this or any other issue raised on Brand Republic, join the debate in the .
_1.jpg)
.jpg)
