Syndication Ratings: Talkers Up as February Sweep Winds Down

'Dr. Phil,' 'Steve Wilkos,' 'Steve Harvey' all hit highs

By Paige Albiniak -- Broadcasting & Cable, 3/5/2013 1:42:30 PM

Syndies came on strong in the third full week of the February sweep, the week ending Feb. 24. This year's February sweeps period kicked off on Jan. 31 and came to a close on Feb. 27.

Talk shows were the week's star performers with three hitting new season highs: CBS Television Distribution's Dr. Phil, and NBCUniversal's Steve Wilkos and newcomer Steve Harvey. 

Dr. Phil scored its best rating in more than a year, a 3.5 live plus same day household average, according to Nielsen Media Research, up 9% for the week and the year. Phil also was tops among women 25-54, improving 11% to a 2.0 in daytime's key demographic.

The race for second place continues to be tight between Disney-ABC's Live! with Kelly and Michael and Warner Bros.' Ellen DeGeneres. Both shows climbed 8% from the prior week, tying at a 2.8. Year to year, Live! is flat in households, while Ellen is up 12%.

In fourth place, Sony Pictures Television's Dr. Oz added 4% for the week to a 2.6, but is still down 13% from last year at this time.

NBCUniversal's Maury grew 9% to a 2.5 and fifth place among households, but continued to lead the talk field among women 18-49 and women 18-34 with a 1.7 and 1.5, respectively. 

Wilkos, which is emerging as a rising star in its sixth season, posted its best week ever, jumping 6% for the week and 21% for the year, to a new all-time high 1.7. That marks the largest year-to-year increase of any talk show.

Meanwhile, CTD's Rachael Ray cooked up weekly and yearly gains of 6% to tie Wilkos.

NBCU's Jerry Springer was flat at a 1.5 for the seventh straight week. CTD's The Doctors climbed 8% to a 1.4. Debmar-Mercury's Wendy Williams held steady at a 1.3. Warner Bros.' Anderson Live, which will end its run after this season, advanced 10% to a 1.1, while Debmar-Mercury's Jeremy Kyle, which also will leave the air after this season, came in last, and was the only talk show to decline, sliding 17% to a 0.5.

Among the talk rookies, Steve Harvey had its best week yet, rallying 6% to a new series high 1.7 and further closing the household gap with this season's rookie leader, Disney-ABC's Katie, which also added 6% to a 1.9. Among women 25-54, however, Harvey continued to prevail, moving up 10% to a 1.1, to top the freshman talkers in the key demo for the second week in a row.

CTD's canceled Jeff Probst strengthened 14% to a 0.8, tying Twentieth's also-canceled Ricki Lake, which was flat. NBCU's Trisha, which will return next season, was steady at its series-high 0.6.

Among the court shows, CTD's Judge Judy clocked a new season-high 7.6, up 3% both for the week and the year to lead all shows in daytime. In second place, CTD's Judge Joe Brown improved 4% to a 2.5. Warner Bros.' People's Court and Judge Mathis each were flat at a 1.9 and 1.6, respectively. Twentieth's Judge Alex added 8% to a 1.4, but the show is down 26% for the year, more than any other court show that scores at least a 1.0 household rating. Twentieth's Divorce Court, and Entertainment Studios' America's Court, Justice for All and We the People all were flat at a 1.3, 0.8, 0.4 and 0.2, respectively.

Magazines all were steady or higher. CTD's leader, Entertainment Tonight, climbed 5% from the prior week to a 4.0. CTD's Inside Edition and Warner Bros.' TMZ remained at a 3.2 and 2.0, respectively. NBCU's Access Hollywood improved 6% to a 1.9, equaling its season high. Warner Bros.' Extra spiked 7%, the category's biggest improvement, hitting a 1.6, its second-highest rating of the season. CTD's new omg! Insider was stable at a 1.4, while Twentieth's rookie, Dish Nation, remained at a 1.0.

Disney-ABC's Who Wants to Be a Millionaire scored game's biggest gain, adding 13% for the week to a new season-high 2.7. CTD's leader, Wheel of Fortune, picked up 5% from the prior session to a 7.7, scoring second place on syndication's overall leaderboard. CTD's Jeopardy! rose 5% to a 6.9. Debmar-Mercury's Family Feud finished 4% higher at a 5.4, while NBCU's rookie, Baggage, lost 8% to a 1.1.

Finally, Warner Bros.' The Big Bang Theory inched up 1% from the previous frame to a 7.8, topping syndication's household chart. Warner Bros.' Two and a Half Men moved ahead 6% to a 5.4. Twentieth's Family Guy gained 3% to a 3.7. Twentieth's How I Met Your Mother was flat at a 2.8. SPT's Seinfeld gained 4% to a 2.4. Twentieth's King of the Hill declined 4% to a 2.2, tying Warner Bros.' Friends, which improved 5% to a 2.2. CTD's Everybody Loves Raymond remained at a 1.9.