Wendy Williams to Get Mid-2009 Launch
Fox-owned TV stations to launch Debmar-Mercury-distributed The Wendy Williams Show in group's 18 markets in mid-2009.
By Paige Albiniak -- Broadcasting & Cable, 8/18/2008 1:48:00 PM
The Fox-owned TV stations will launch the Debmar-Mercury-distributed The Wendy Williams Show in the group’s 18 markets in mid-2009 after a successful six-week test aired this summer.
“Everything about the Wendy preview clicked for our stations, from conception to promotion to hitting the air. It completely broke the mold. The show is now a proven winner, and we can’t wait to see it debut across the country next year,” said Frank Cicha, senior vice president of programming for the Fox TV stations, in a statement.
Debmar-Mercury and Fox partnered this summer to run a six-week test of the one-hour talk show in four Fox markets: WNYW New York, KTTV Los Angeles, KDFW Dallas and WJBK Detroit. The show, which features popular Manhattan-based radio DJ Williams, performed particularly well in Williams’ hometown but also showed positive results in key demographics across the board.
Through Aug. 15, Wendy Williams hit a 1.0 rating/3 share weighted-metered-market average for all runs in the four markets, according to Nielsen Media Research. In New York, it scored a 1.6/6, up 167% from its lead-in and up 129% from its year-ago time-period average. According to Debmar-Mercury, a four-market primary-run average boosted stations’ time periods by 80% among women 25-54 and 200% among women 18-34. In New York, the show improved WNYW’s demos by 300% among women 25-54 and 550% among adults 18-34, the company said.
“Our plan has always been to offer stations a proven performer with broad appeal to today’s viewers, as well as a production that has been perfected over the course of 30 preview episodes. Now they will have the chance to launch Wendy far ahead of the crowded pack of new talk shows on tap for fall 2009,” said Mort Marcus, co-president of Debmar-Mercury, also in a statement.
Besides Fox, Debmar-Mercury plans to put together a national lineup of stations to air the show in daytime and early fringe, said Ira Bernstein, Debmar-Mercury’s co-president.
“The good and the bad news about syndication is that you can’t immediately go out and put a lineup together in two weeks,” he said in an interview. “In the non-Fox markets, we just want to get the best stations for the show.”
The Wendy Williams Show will get a jump on several other syndicated talk shows planned for fall 2009, including Sony’s Dr. Oz and Program Partners’ Marie. CBS also has shows with former teen queen Valerie Bertinelli and Bishop T.D. Jakes in development, while Harpo Productions signed a development deal with actress Kirstie Alley. And Twentieth Television is also in early talks with former Minnesota Gov. and professional wrestler Jesse Ventura, sources confirmed Monday.
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Better hire a new director who can get closeup IsoCam shots of the stuff she's demonstrating (last week's fake eyelash demo).
ScotsmansKilt - 8/18/2008 1:37:00 PM EDT -
Better hire a new director who can get closeup IsoCam shots of the stuff she's demonstrating (last week's fake eyelash demo).
ScotsmansKilt - 8/18/2008 1:33:00 PM EDT -
Better hire a new director who can get closeup IsoCam shots of the stuff she's demonstrating (last week's fake eyelash demo).
ScotsmansKilt - 8/18/2008 1:31:00 PM EDT
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