Sponsored Content: Crosswords

Game Show Blocks
May 6, 2008

One of the things I noticed when looking at February numbers was the dramatic growth enjoyed by “Crosswords” when aired in tandem with another game show.  And that’s important as we look forward to fall 2008 where we see quite a few game show blocks developing on the horizon that will include “Crosswords”, “Family Feud” and newcomer “America Plays Trivial Pursuits”

Historically, game shows have always done well when aired in blocks. Remember network daytime game rotations? A staple of daytime for many years. And it goes without saying that the pairing of “Wheel” and “Jeopardy” has had profound impact on the fortunes of television stations for many years.

Game blocks are ideal for today’s daytime viewer. Stay-at-home viewers have never been entirely sedentary. Active people at home, however, do watch television – they just watch it differently. Game shoes, by their nature, allow viewers to tune in late and not feel as though they missed something or tune out early without feeling cheated. The pacing, diversity of game play, prizing and scoring systems all combine to offer a multi-dimensional viewing experience ideally suited to modern daytime television watchers and game blocks have the advantage of keeping these key viewers interested longer.

And, did I say that Crosswords had a great book when aired in blocks?

CROSSWORDS is an Integral Part of the Game Show Block in Markets Across the Country!

February 2008

Philadelphia

KYW/CBS – 9:30am

• Retains 100% of its FAMILY FEUD lead-in in Households, Women 18-49 and Women 25-54

Boston

WHDH/NBC – 2:30pm

• Up over its Nov 2007 average +33% in Households and +50% in Women 18-49 and 25-54
• Boosts its FAMILY FEUD lead-out over Nov 07 by +20% in Households and +100% in Women 18-49

Houston

KTXH/MNT – 12:30pm

• Improves the time period by +67% over Feb 07

Seattle

KONG/IND – 6:30pm

• Retains 100% of its MILLIONAIRE lead-in; delivers 100% of its MILLIONAIRE lead-out
• Improves the time period by +50% over DR. KEITH ABLOW in Feb 07
• Up +13% over its Nov 07 average

Minneapolis

KSTP/ABC – 3:00pm

• Delivers 100% of its FAMILY FEUD lead-out share
• Up +25% over its Nov 07 average
• Helps its FAMILY FEUD lead-out grow +30% over its Nov 07 average
• Improves the time period by +36% over AMERICA’S FUNNIEST HOME VIDEOS in Feb 07

Cleveland

WOIO/CBS – 9:30am

• Retains 100% of its FAMILY FEUD lead-in
• Improves the time period by +65% over GREG BEHRENDT in Feb 07
• FAMILY FEUD/CROSSWORDS block is up +12% over its Nov 07 average

Denver

KTVD/MNT – 1:00pm

• CROSSWORDS/TEMPTATION block is up +44% over its Nov 07 average

St. Louis

KPLR/CW – 12:30pm

• Up +16% over its Nov 07 average
• Builds on its TEMPTATION lead-in by +1 share

Pittsburgh

WPXI/N – 1:30pm

• Up +30% over its Nov 07 average
• MILLIONAIRE/CROSSWORDS block ranks #2 in its time period, beating ALL MY CHILDREN, DIVORCE COURT, JUDGE YOUNG and JERRY SPRINGER

San Diego

KGTV/ABC – 4:00pm

• Improves the time period +100% over MILLIONAIRE in Nov 07
• Outdelivers its MILLIONAIRE lead-out by +1 share

Hartford

WTIC/FOX – 2:00pm

• Up +43% over its Nov 07 average   

Nashville

WZTV/FOX – 12:00n

• Up +29% over its Nov 07 average

Cincinnati

WKRC/CBS – 10:30am

• FAMILY FEUD/CROSSWORDS block is up +28% over its Nov 07 average
• FAMILY FEUD/CROSSWORDS block ranks #2 in its time period, beating TODAY SHOW 3, DIVORCE COURT and PEOPLE’S COURT

Milwaukee

WMLW/IND – 1:30pm

• Improves the time period by +100% over JUDGE LOPEZ in Feb 07
• FAMILY FEUD/CROSSWORDS block is up +125% over its Nov 07 average  

Las Vegas

KVCW/CW – 10:30am

• Improves the time period by +33% over MY WIFE & KIDS in Feb 08
• CROSSWORDS/FAMILY FEUD block is up +67% over its Nov 07 average

Richmond

WTVR/CBS – 10:30am

• Builds on its MILLIONAIRE lead-in by +1 share
• MILLIONAIRE/CROSSWORDS block is up +13% over its Nov 07 average

Source: NSI WRAP Overnights+ as dated. Year-ago and sweep-ago on rating. L-I on ¼ hr TP share. HHs, Women 18-49 and Women 25-54



-Ritch Colbert

Posted by Sponsored Content: Crosswords on May 6, 2008 | Comments (1)