Semiconducting oligomers and polymers decorated with two or one dendronized tpy-Ru(II)-tpy metallocomplexes are presented. Initially, free terpyridine end-functionalized semiconducting oligomers (distyrylanthracene, quinquephenylene, mono- and trifluorenes) were prepared while in a second approach, atom transfer radical polymerization was employed for the preparation of side-chain oligomeric and polymeric (oxadiazole)s using a terpyridine initiator. These terpyridine-bearing oligomers and polymers were complexated with a Percec-type first-generation (G1) dendronized terpyridine-Ru(III)Cl-3 monocomplex, having two dodecyloxy groups. All oligomeric and polymeric metallocomplexes were characterized via NMR spectroscopies for their structural perfection and via UV-Vis and PL spectroscopies for their optical properties. The existence of the organic semiconducting blocks in combination with the terpyridine-Ru(II)-terpyridine groups afforded hybrid metallo-semiconducting species presenting the optical features of both their components. Moreover, their thin-film morphologies were investigated through atomic force microscopy, revealing, in some cases, an organization tendency in the nanometer scale. (C) 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 1939-1952, 2009