Syndication Ratings: Slow for the Holidays
Ellen DeGeneres Reaches Season High During Week of Dec. 16
By Paige Albiniak -- Broadcasting & Cable, 12/26/2007 9:12:00 AM
With the holidays upon them, syndicated shows settled in for a short winter’s nap during the week ending Dec. 16, as shows aired repeats and audiences spent their time shopping, partying and getting ready for a busy holiday season.
Still, Warner Bros.’ Ellen DeGeneres managed to show gains, jumping 9% from the prior week to a new season-high 2.4 live-plus-same-day national household rating, according to Nielsen Media Research. Ellen was the only talk show to hit a new season high for the week. Compared with the same week last year, Ellen also improved 9%, the biggest increase over last year of any first-run syndicated strip in any genre.
CBS’ Rachael Ray also gained on the week, climbing 5% to hit a 2.1, tying its season high. An appearance by comedian and game-show host Jeff Foxworthy sent the show’s one-day ratings up 10% Dec. 11. NBC Universal’s Jerry Springer, in eighth place, climbed 8% to a 1.4.
Meanwhile, the top talker, CBS’ The Oprah Winfrey Show, was the only talker to fall to a new season low, dropping 5% to a 5.2. CBS’ Dr. Phil remained in second at a 4.5, off 6%. That was followed by Disney-ABC’s Live with Regis and Kelly at a 3.1, down 3%.
In sixth and seventh place, NBCU’s Maury and CBS’ Montel Williams were each flat at a 1.9 and 1.5, respectively. At the rear of the veteran talk-show pack, NBCU’s Martha Stewart was unchanged at a 1.2, while Warner Bros.’ Tyra Banks fell 8% to a 1.1.
Among the rookies, Warner Bros.’ celebrity gossip magazine, TMZ, cleared mainly in access and late fringe, continued to lead all rookies, holding steady at a 2.0.
Daytime’s top newcomer was Twentieth Television’s The Morning Show with Mike and Juliet, which climbed 11% to a 1.0, tying its season high. Close behind were NBCU’s Jerry Springer spinoff The Steve Wilkos Show, flat at a 0.9, and Program Partners’ Merv Griffin’s Crosswords, which jumped 13% to tie Wilkos. Sony’s Judge David Young slipped 11% to a 0.8. Twentieth’s Temptation dropped 17% to a 0.5, while Radar Entertainment’s Jury Duty gained 50% to a still anemic 0.3.
Elsewhere in daytime, the court shows were quiet with the exception of Twentieth’s Cristina’s Court, which grew 8% to a seventh-place 1.3, tying Sony’s Judge Hatchett, which was flat. Hatchett is going out of production after this season, although Sony is selling repackaged theme weeks of repeats to TV stations.
The top court show, CBS’ Judge Judy, dipped 4% to a 5.0. Fellow jurist Judge Joe Brown also fell 4% to a 2.7. Warner Bros.’ People’s Court was unchanged at a 2.4. Warner Bros.’ Judge Mathis dropped to a new season-low 2.0, down 13%. Twentieth’s Divorce Court and Judge Alex, each at a 1.9, were down 5% and flat, respectively. Sony’s Judge Maria Lopez, in ninth place, fell 11% to a 0.8.
Game shows, cleared mostly in access, all gained on the week. CBS’ Wheel of Fortune was up 3% to an 8.1. CBS’ Jeopardy! added 2% to a 6.6. Disney-ABC’s Who Wants to Be a Millionaire saw a 7% increase to a new season-high 3.2. And Debmar-Mercury’s Family Feud gained 6% to a 1.9.
The magazines weren’t too chatty leading into the holidays. CBS’ Entertainment Tonight stayed atop the magazine rack, despite a 6% dip to a 4.7. CBS’ InsideEdition, in second place, also fell 6% to a 3.4. NBCU’s Access Hollywood, CBS’ The Insider and Warner Bros.’ Extra all were unchanged at 2.5, 2.4 and 1.8, respectively.
Warner Bros.’ Two and a Half Men continued to lead the off-network sitcoms, unchanged at a 4.9. Fellow rookie Twentieth’s Family Guy was right behind at a season-high 4.8, up 7%. CBS’ Everybody Loves Raymond fell to third place, unchanged at a 4.5. Sony’s Seinfeld and King of Queens were each flat at a 4.1 and 3.1, respectively.
In weekly action, CBS’ CSI: Miami continued to lead with a 4.0, up 3%. NBCU’s Law & Order: Special Victims Unit took second with an 8% increase to a new season-high 2.8. Warner Bros.’ Cold Case, renewed earlier this month by the CBS Television Stations, was third at a 2.3, down 4%. Warner Bros.’ Without a Trace fell 8% to a 2.2. Tribune’s American Idol Rewind -- which will be distributed by Trifecta Entertainment following Tribune Entertainment’s exit from the distribution business -- held steady in fifth place at a 1.9.
Compared with the same week last year, CSI: Miami was down 20%, Without a Trace was off 19% and American Idol Rewind was down 24%. Cold Case and Law Order: SVU are both rookies.
Syndication Ratings: Ellen, Rachael Prevail
06/24/2008Syndication Ratings: Hot Days, Cold Syndies
07/01/2008Syndication Ratings: Season Lows
07/16/2008Syndication Ratings: Sweep Going Strong
05/13/2008
