For NBCU Trio, Four More Years

'Maury,' 'Jerry' and 'Steve' are re-upped through 2014

By Paige Albiniak -- Broadcasting & Cable, 10/25/2010 12:01:00 AM

Daytime for many stations will continue to be defined by NBC Universal’s trio of so-called “conflict talk” shows—Maury, Jerry Springer and Steve Wilkos—through September 2014. Tribune, Sinclair and Hearst have renewed the three shows, bringing each’s national clearance to more than 50% and assuring that all three will remain on the air for the next four years.

“We are thrilled to continue our partnership with Maury, Jerry and Steve,” said Sean Compton, Tribune Broadcasting’ president of programming and entertainment, in a statement. “Each show has delivered significant ratings growth on a year-to-year basis and continues to drive big revenue increases for the Tribune stations. These shows serve our viewers and advertisers very well.”

All three shows are up year-to-year in households and young women. Maury, starring 71-year-old host Maury Povich, is currently the fifth-ranked syndicated talk show, tying Warner Bros.’ Ellen DeGeneres in the week ended Oct. 3. Season-to-date, Maury is averaging a 1.9 live plus seven day rating among households, according to Nielsen Media Research, up 12% from last year.

Maury also performs well among daytime’s key female demographics, improving 8% from last year among women 18-34 and 8% among women 25-54. Maury is daytime’s top talker among young women, tying CBS Television Distribution’s Oprah for first place among women 18-34.

Jerry Springer and Steve Wilkos, a Springer spin-off hosted by Springer’s former security guy, are at a 1.3 live plus seven day household average, tied for eighth place among talkers. Wilkos is showing growth, improving by 18% among households, 33% among young women, and 14% among both women 18-49 and women 25-54. Springer, in its 20th season, has grown 18% among households and 17% among young women. The show is flat among women 18-49 and 25-54, and is slightly edged out among total viewers by Wilkos, now in its fourth season.

“These shows are fun, and they are consistent,” says Barry Wallach, president of NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution. “They’ve been on the same stations for a long time, and people know where to find them.”