Business

WRITERS’ STRIKE DOESN’T RATE WITH VIEWERS

January was supposed to be the month when the networks were to feel the full brunt of the writers’ strike, but so far there’s no evidence of a mass exodus from television.

Two weeks after the networks resumed the regular season, the “strike effect” is lopsided at best. Awards season and scripted series are struggling, but sports and reality shows are picking up the slack.

A backlog of original shows kept the strike mostly hidden from viewers until this month, when the networks were expected to roll out a bunch of mediocre replacements.

A lot of popular shows are already in reruns and more will go into repeats next week, including CBS’s popular crime dramas “CSI: Miami,” “N.C.I.S.” and “The Unit.”

Except for Fox, primetime ratings for the major networks were down before the writers walked off the job on Nov. 5.

ABC has been down about 3 percent since the start of the season, while CBS is off by 8 percent, according to Nielsen figures.

NBC, which had fallen as much as 18 percent, has started to recover and is down about 13 percent.

Fox has been on a roller coaster ride since the start of the season but is up about 2 percent. (Fox is part of News Corp., which also owns The Post.)

Ad buyers blame falling ratings on a poor crop of fall shows, changing viewer habits and the general shift away from broadcast rather than any particular fallout from the strike.

“Despite no new breakout hits, the combined ratings of the five broadcast networks are down by percentages in line with normal audience erosion we’ve seen in recent years,” said Steve Sternberg, director of audience analysis at Magna Global.

The networks are expected to see a bigger drop-off later, especially as they get into May sweeps, but right now their overall strategy of stocking up on reality shows and sports appears to be stemming declines.

NBC’s latest reality entrant, “American Gladiator,” seems to be a hit and was picked up for a second season after just two episodes.

The Peacock Network also got a lift from the celebrity version of “The Apprentice,” while ABC’s “Dance Wars” notched a solid performance.

Fox’s ratings juggernaut “American Idol” also posted huge numbers, drawing more than 33 million viewers, though the premiere’s number was down from last year.

Sports coverage is also paying off. Sunday’s playoff game between the Giants and Cowboys drew more than 40 million viewers, making it the highest-rated program of the TV season.holly.sanders@nypost.com