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D/FW News Sweeps

txchipk

txchipk

The November sweeps are over. From the overall ratings in the articles (below), I'm not sure any of the big 4 have very much to get excited about. The combined viewership of the 5-7AM, 5PM, 6PM, and 10PM KDFW, KXAS, WFAA, and KTVT newscast sunk 10-25% compared to last November.

KDFW: Continues to grow and do well in the morning with "Good Day" -- it's most watched newscast and #1 of the 4 local newscasts at that time. Otherwise, flat at 5PM and down at 6PM and 10PM, where it is still in 4th place.

KTVT: Moves to #2 at 10PM, but can't convert huge CBS prime time lead-in advantage as 80,000 homes don't stick around once CBS prime time ends. Continues to place 4th in mornings, 5PM, and 6PM. "Wheel of Fortune" came in #1 at 6:30, but watched by 100,000 (!) less homes when compared to its previous run on WFAA. At 4PM, KTVT trails KXAS's 4PM newscast despite lead-in from "Dr Phil" (#1 between 3-4PM) and KXAS having to build on poor performing "Ellen" (#4 between 3-4PM).

WFAA: Down across the board and by fairly substantial amounts. "Daybreak," for example, off over 30% and barely ahead of KTVT's little watched newscast. 10PM now 3rd.

KXAS: Still number one at 10, but like WFAA, down in all the major newscasts in the morning, 5PM, 6PM, and 10PM from last November.

Star-Telegram: http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/entertainment/13310184.htm
Morning News: http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/d...tings_1202gl.ART.State.Edition2.18ee05c1.html
 
> The November sweeps are over. From the overall ratings in
> the articles (below), I'm not sure any of the big 4 have
> very much to get excited about. The combined viewership of
> the 5-7AM, 5PM, 6PM, and 10PM KDFW, KXAS, WFAA, and KTVT
> newscast sunk 10-25% compared to last November.
>
> KDFW: Continues to grow and do well in the morning with
> "Good Day" -- it's most watched newscast and #1 of the 4
> local newscasts at that time. Otherwise, flat at 5PM and
> down at 6PM and 10PM, where it is still in 4th place.
>
> KTVT: Moves to #2 at 10PM, but can't convert huge CBS prime
> time lead-in advantage as 80,000 homes don't stick around
> once CBS prime time ends. Continues to place 4th in
> mornings, 5PM, and 6PM. "Wheel of Fortune" came in #1 at
> 6:30, but watched by 100,000 (!) less homes when compared to
> its previous run on WFAA. At 4PM, KTVT trails KXAS's 4PM
> newscast despite lead-in from "Dr Phil" (#1 between 3-4PM)
> and KXAS having to build on poor performing "Ellen" (#4
> between 3-4PM).
>
> WFAA: Down across the board and by fairly substantial
> amounts. "Daybreak," for example, off over 30% and barely
> ahead of KTVT's little watched newscast. 10PM now 3rd.
>
> KXAS: Still number one at 10, but like WFAA, down in all the
> major newscasts in the morning, 5PM, 6PM, and 10PM from last
> November.
>
> Star-Telegram:
> http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/entertainment/13310184.htm
> Morning News:
http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/dws/ent/> stories/DN-TVratings_1202gl.ART.State.Edition2.18ee05c1.html
>
Congratulations to KTVT. Their 10 pm newscast is getting better PLUS their website is the best for local stations. It is far more user friendly. than WFAA's and it's much defended "Pop unders" .Kathy Clements-Hill feels they need them,but when you want to look at the radar for severe weather or an important story, the "pop under" blocks you for for a few seconds. The Ch.11 website allows you to view more stories plus the weather forecast and when they had that deplorable cop killer on, the web site showed the interview in its entireity.Tracy Rowlett and company are primed to over take Ch.5,it's only a matter of time. Why Ch.5 is a ratings success is a puzzler. Only David Finfrock stands out as very good. Mike and Jan show thier politcal leanings alot with no apologies. Clarice it's finally time to retire at Ch.4
Channel 8 ,hint hint, Remove Kathy she is dragging you down.
 
> Tracy Rowlett and company are
> primed to over take Ch.5,it's only a matter of time. Why
> Ch.5 is a ratings success is a puzzler. Only David Finfrock
> stands out as very good. Mike and Jan show thier politcal
> leanings alot with no apologies. Clarice it's finally time
> to retire at Ch.4
> Channel 8 ,hint hint, Remove Kathy she is dragging you down.
>

I'm not sure news directors and/or programmers in this market actually watch TV. (And in the case of Ch. 8, they don't even watch their own station.) I agree that the continued success of Mike and Jane at 10pm at Ch. 5 is a puzzler. I think most viewers in this market like something that's comfortable, and even if they're bad, Mike and Jane have been around for more than two decades apiece, and that's probably why most viewers tune in. When Tracy Rowlett dropped off the airwaves after leaving Ch. 8, most viewers probably forgot about him, and I don't think Ch. 11 promoted him heavily enough when he returned. And Karen Borta is, in my opinion, not the co-anchor Tracy needs. I don't think there's anyone in this market who could be paired with Tracy successfully.

As for Ch. 8, they're a running joke. The new news set does nothing to improve their image...in fact, I think it attempts to distract the viewer from the ongoing train wreck that they call a newscast. Although I gotta give them credit for running the entire Hank Nava news conference the other night without breaking in with reporters' inane commentary, even breaking into the last few minutes of WNT to do so. That was pretty compelling, IMO. Why they don't do it for every officer gunned down in the line of duty is beyond me, but that's a subject for another rant.

I have to admit I watch Ch. 4 at 9 most nights, because I like a faster-paced newscast (although I could do without all the dramatic music and graphics). Heather and Steve are at least solid, if a little breathless and overdramatic. And, yes, I switch over to Mike and Jane at 10 occasionally, just because it's easier to hit the channel UP button one time instead of three. Every once in a while I'll watch 11, but their newscast begins to bog down about the time Kristine Kahanek comes on. And I'm not sold on former athletes as sportscasters, despite the good job Giff Nielsen does on KHOU in Houston. Babe Laufenberg should stay on radio.

But overall, I can understand why viewership is down across the board...people are getting tired of the same old thing, but they're not willing to try something new, so they tune out. That's pretty much what I do.<P ID="signature">______________
"Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity." - Robert Heinlein

dan</P>
 
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