Syndication Ratings: Superstorm Sandy Blows Out Syndication

Ratings only available for 'Access Hollywood Live,' 'Let's Ask America'

By Paige Albiniak -- Broadcasting & Cable, 11/14/2012 12:24:50 PM

Superstorm Sandy took out all nationally-cleared syndies in the first full week of the November sweep, the week ending Nov. 4. Multi-market figures were available for two shows that aren't cleared nationally.

NBCUniversal's Access Hollywood Live, hosted by Billy Bush and Kit Hoover, reported a 1.1 rating/4 share household average in its 11 metered markets. That's up 10% from the previous week and 22% from the show's November 2011 sweep average. Among women aged 25-54, the entertainment program gained 17% for the week and year to a 0.7/5.

Warner Bros.' Let's Ask America, an interactive game show that airs on Scripps-owned stations in 14 markets, scored a 1.7/4 household average across its seven metered markets. That's flat in the rating compared the prior week, while up one share point. Among women 25-54, the show was stable at a 0.8/3.

All of syndication's nationally-cleared shows -- from Entertainment Tonight to Judge Judy to Wheel of Fortune -- were broken out by Nielsen due to lack of coverage during the week because of the storm. Anytime a show's coverage drops below 90%, Nielsen breaks it out of the ratings, which was the case for all nationally cleared shows for the entire week.