Latest Rochester TV Ratings

[Mark_Giardina]

Following the rules set down by this board, I will not provide numbers, but here is a break down of the latest Nielsen book in Rochester.


12Noon

WHAM TV
WROC
WHEC


6pm

WHAM-TV
WHEC
WROC

11pm

WHAM-TV
WHEC
WROC

In one time slot 13 and 10 were virtually tied in the category of audience while 13 was slightly ahead in households.

8 barely beats out 10 at noon for second place because WROC airs the popular “Price is Right” from 11am until 12:00. Otherwise 8 continues to lag behind 10 and 13 in the other time slots.

Sorry but I didn’t get the figures for the 5pm newscasts or the early morning shows. Previous books showed 13 and 10 in first and second place from 5am-7am followed by 8 trailing the pack a distant third.



<P ID="signature">______________
"I won't be wronged, I won't be insulted and I won't be laid a hand on.
I don't do these things to other people and I expect the same from them".</P>

 

[tvfriend]

Very disappointing book for 8. I don't know what else they can do. I thought 8 had a solid showing in May. Broke some big stories, had good lead-ins. Is it the diary system?

 

[Media_Man]

Anyone have the TV ratings for Syracuse?

Just curious

 

[Mark_Giardina]

Re: The Problem at Channel 8

> Very disappointing book for 8. I don't know what else they
> can do. I thought 8 had a solid showing in May. Broke some
> big stories, had good lead-ins. Is it the diary system?
>
Unfortunately 8 is still suffering from the strike that occurred back in the 1970s. Since then the station has had a ‘revolving door’ when it comes to both on-air talent and ownership.

Yes WROC-TV has finally settled down to where they have established a reputation for breaking stories. What is truly sad for 8 is that Rochester viewers tend to be very conservative when it comes to selecting their local news. Meaning that people watch 13 because of Don Alhart’s longevity at WHAM-TV. As for 10, the introduction of Rich Funke as their main anchor will only improve 10’s ratings.

Another problem for 8 appears to be this new philosophy of “ 8 on your side”. The concept being for example if there is a rash of burglaries, 8 will do an investigative story as to what neighborhoods are impacted and what is being done to prevent future burglaries. This appears to be a good concept for covering news, yet I’ve noticed that there have been times when 10 and 13 have gone with ‘hard news’ leads, while 8’s leads can be at times, shall I say ‘ fluffy’.

Another problem 8 faces has is being affiliated with CBS. While Bob Schieffer has done an excellent job replacing Dan Rather as the main anchor, the network still comes in third place to NBC and ABC. That doesn't help local affiliates.

8’s early morning show also suffers from poor ratings compared to 10 and 13 and an even poorer early morning news program, “Early Morning” on CBS.

The people at WROC-TV work very hard to be competitive but it seems no matter how hard they try, they just don’t generate the ratings. I’ve suggested before on here is that one of 8’s major problems is that they don’t have enough reporters to compete with 10 and 13. If Nexstar would just open up its wallet and allow 8 to hire more veteran reporters, who know the market, then perhaps the station’s ratings might improve.

But who listens to me anyways?


<P ID="signature">______________
"I won't be wronged, I won't be insulted and I won't be laid a hand on.
I don't do these things to other people and I expect the same from them".</P>

 

[tvfriend]

Re: The Problem at Channel 8

Funke didn't help Channel 10 at all. They slid at 6. I think the diary system has to go. It's unreliable and a look at the wildly fluctuating numbers for 8 lends validity to my theory.

 

[benwolf]

Re: The Problem at Channel 8

Mark,

I enjoy your posts but this one is a litle off the mark.

#1- I don't think "the strike" remains a factor, or was even one back then. Channel 8 lost its dominance some time before that, to Ch.10, even before Tom Decker had left the anchor desk.

#2- There are many CBS affiliates who are dominant in local news and even have #1 morning shows. Based on your argument, Channel 8 would be far and away the leader at 11 after a strong CBS prime-time lead-in. Stations that blame the network are making excuses. People will tune in the local news that better reflects the community they live in and has the personalities that appeal to them. I feel that's why they're still #3. I don't think any of their main personalities are actually from Rochester.

And then there's that morning show....


> > Very disappointing book for 8. I don't know what else they
>
> > can do. I thought 8 had a solid showing in May. Broke some
>
> > big stories, had good lead-ins. Is it the diary system?
> >
> Unfortunately 8 is still suffering from the strike that
> occurred back in the 1970s. Since then the station has had a
> ‘revolving door’ when it comes to both on-air talent and
> ownership.
>
> Yes WROC-TV has finally settled down to where they have
> established a reputation for breaking stories. What is truly
> sad for 8 is that Rochester viewers tend to be very
> conservative when it comes to selecting their local news.
> Meaning that people watch 13 because of Don Alhart’s
> longevity at WHAM-TV. As for 10, the introduction of Rich
> Funke as their main anchor will only improve 10’s ratings.
>
> Another problem for 8 appears to be this new philosophy of “
> 8 on your side”. The concept being for example if there is a
> rash of burglaries, 8 will do an investigative story as to
> what neighborhoods are impacted and what is being done to
> prevent future burglaries. This appears to be a good concept
> for covering news, yet I’ve noticed that there have been
> times when 10 and 13 have gone with ‘hard news’ leads, while
> 8’s leads can be at times, shall I say ‘ fluffy’.
>
> Another problem 8 faces has is being affiliated with CBS.
> While Bob Schieffer has done an excellent job replacing Dan
> Rather as the main anchor, the network still comes in third
> place to NBC and ABC. That doesn't help local affiliates.
>
> 8’s early morning show also suffers from poor ratings
> compared to 10 and 13 and an even poorer early morning news
> program, “Early Morning” on CBS.
>
> The people at WROC-TV work very hard to be competitive but
> it seems no matter how hard they try, they just don’t
> generate the ratings. I’ve suggested before on here is that
> one of 8’s major problems is that they don’t have enough
> reporters to compete with 10 and 13. If Nexstar would just
> open up its wallet and allow 8 to hire more veteran
> reporters, who know the market, then perhaps the station’s
> ratings might improve.
>
> But who listens to me anyways?
>

 

[tvfriend]

8 has Locals

benwolf: I don't think any of their main personalities are actually from Rochester.

Maureen McGuire, Dave Yates, Rachel Barnhart, Dave McKinley, Christine Crafts are from Rochester. Steve Levine and John Kucko have been here for 10+ years.

 

[dampier]

Re: The Problem at Channel 8

> #1- I don't think "the strike" remains a factor, or was even
> one back then. Channel 8 lost its dominance some time before
> that, to Ch.10, even before Tom Decker had left the anchor
> desk.

Channel 8 used to be the dominant player in the market back in the early 1970s from what I was told. I suspect the downfall began when the other players started spending more dollars on equipment and production. Further, you cannot discount the mega-powerful "institutional" factor in TV news. Channel 8 has been playing Musical Chairs with their on-air personalities for at least 20 years now. I remember Jerry Fiore only because I have a friend who used to talk about how annoying he was in the Utica/Rome market long before. Other than that, I can't think on one anchor person since Mark Wolf on Channel 8. They come, they go... same hair gel and bright teeth with the impact of a feather.

Every name I can remember from Channel 8 started somewhere else locally - Wanda Miller, Kevin Williams, et al., all came from somewhere else.

I've lived in Rochester my entire life so I suppose I can qualify as someone who doesn't move around a lot, and grew up in a family that did likewise. Once something becomes a habit, it's very hard to change it. That's what it's like with TV newscasts.

My parents stopped watching Channel 8 in the early or mid 70s because Channel 10 was reinventing themselves with some sort of mega-focus on community with more reporters in the field. They also had John Hambleton, and there is no story more important in this town than the weather. He was the Scotty of Rochester's Weather Trek. That man alone made the choice Channel 10 for a lot of people. They also had Eddie Meath who was always beloved (even though his fashion sense scared me even back then) in this city. They never looked back to channel 8 after that and a lot of other people in the city did likewise.

I can also remember when Channel 13 news started gaining the upper hand. It was around the time ABC finally got their act together. Don Alhart and Dick Burt always did a competant newscast, but they didn't have John Hambleton. But as ABC launched "We're The One," people started watching them and my parents would watch 13 news at 6 and check out John Hambleton at 11.

Channel 13's being a part of Rochester was cemented when they grabbed the Hello News campaign from Gari. Anyone who recalls news back then still remembers Hello Rochester! ABC was still doing quite well, and more and more of my parents time began being spent with 13 news by the early 1980s. I seem to recall Bill Gutsch (sp?) who was the Kevin Williams of weather back then, and he also did very well for the area (and the planetarium). Channel 13 also had Al White doing well-promoted consumer reporting. By the mid-80s, the TV's at our house stayed on 13.

To this day, that's the first newscast I turn to myself. A lot of it has to do with Don Alhart, who remains comfort food for what is Rochester. I suspect a lot of people who stayed with 10 were happy with Gabe Dalmath too. Channel 10 wasn't stupid when they replaced him with another Rochester personality that has been around for a very long time.

Channel 8's investigative reporting will draw me to their newscast if it's something I'm interested in. I think that is an area that Channel 8 should definitely stick with. All it can take is several well done stories that draw people in, and when they see the rest of the newscast is done well also, a lot of people won't grab for their remotes to flip to something else.

Whether or not we want to admit it, personalities who are a part of our community do make a huge difference in choosing a newscast.