 Fox attempted to sell the rights for reruns of the show , but it was difficult to find networks that were interested ; Cartoon Network eventually bought the rights , " [ ... ] basically for free " , according to the president of 20th Century Fox Television . Family Guy premiered in reruns on Adult Swim on April 20 , 2003 , and immediately became the block 's top @-@ rated program , dominating late @-@ night viewing in its time period versus cable and broadcast competition , and boosting viewership by 239 % . The complete first and second seasons were released on DVD the same week the show premiered on Adult Swim , and the show became a cult phenomenon , selling 400 @,@ 000 copies within one month . Sales of the DVD set reached 2 @.@ 2 million copies , becoming the best @-@ selling television DVD of 2003 and the second @-@ highest @-@ selling television DVD ever , behind the first season of Comedy Central 's Chappelle 's Show . The third @-@ season DVD release also sold more than a million copies . The show 's popularity in DVD sales and reruns rekindled Fox 's interest , and , on May 20 , 2004 , Fox ordered 35 new episodes of Family Guy , marking the first revival of a television show based on DVD sales . 
