Viewers Don't Heart 'Huckabee' Yet

Fox launches summer test

By Paige Albiniak -- Broadcasting & Cable, 7/27/2010 2:46:39 PM

Former presidential candidate Mike Huckabee's new talk show, which Fox is testing for six weeks this summer on seven stations, averaged a 0.6 rating/2 share in its Monday premiere. That's down 45% from its lead-in average of 1.1/4 and down 33% from its year-ago time period average.

On WNYW New York at noon, The Huckabee Show averaged a 0.3/1, down 50% from its lead-in and down 40% from what repeats of The Morning Show with Mike and Juliet did in the time period last July.

On KDFW Dallas at 1 p.m., the show averaged a 0.6/2, down 50% from its lead-in and down 40% from last summer, when the station was airing repeats of Warner Bros.' Tyra Banks in the timeslot.

On WFXT Boston at 10 a.m., the show averaged a 0.1/0, down 88% from its lead-in and down 80% from repeats of NBCU's Martha last July.

On WAGA Atlanta at 1 p.m., the program delivered a 1.7/4. Atlanta, where the show turned in its best performance, was the only market where Huckabee was up from its lead-in, gaining 55% from local news. Huckabee also was even with last year's repeats of Tyra.

On WJBK Detroit at noon, Huckabee averaged a 1.0/3, down 63% from its local news lead-in and down 33% from last summer's Wendy Williams. 

On WTVT Tampa at 11 a.m., the show averaged a 0.7/2, off 56% from its lead-in and down 22% from repeats of The Morning Show.

On KMSP Minneapolis at 10 a.m., the show averaged a 1.0/5, down 29% from its lead-in, but up 25% from last year's time-period occupant, Warner Bros.' Bonnie Hunt. Minneapolis was one of Huckabee's strongest markets, ranking third in the time period versus CBS' The Price is Right and ABC's The View and beating NBCU's Jerry Springer.