Final answer:
The statement that a prime-time series with a rating of 17 or 18 and a share of between 28 and 30 was generally a success is true, indicating strong viewership and advertiser appeal during the network era.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that a prime-time series with a rating of 17 or 18 and a share of between 28 and 30 was generally a success is true. During the peak years of the network era, these numbers indicated a strong performance for a television series. Television ratings measure the percentage of households with televisions that are viewing a particular program, whereas the share represents the percentage of televisions in use at the time that are tuned to that program. Given the context of the network era, where major networks like ABC, CBS, and NBC were the primary sources of television content, a rating in the high teens coupled with a share approaching 30% signified that a significant portion of the potential audience was tuning in to that show during its prime-time slot. In an era before the proliferation of cable channels and digital streaming platforms, achieving such numbers was indicative of a show's popularity and its appeal to advertisers, especially those targeting the coveted eighteen to forty-nine demographic.