Batman Rescues Syndie Newsmagazine Ratings

By Andrew Krukowski

Syndicated newsmagazine shows attached themselves to “The Dark Knight” for a ratings lift during the summer doldrums.

According to Nielsen numbers, CBS Television Distribution’s “Entertainment Tonight” and Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution’s “TMZ” increased week-to-week slightly for the week ending July 27, with first-place newsmagazine “ET” moving up 3% to a 3.8 rating and third place “TMZ” jumping 5% to a 2.0.

“Knight” dominated headlines with its monumental box office opening, while other stories followed the movie’s star, Christian Bale, over an alleged assault.

Second-place CBS’ “Inside Edition” stayed flat with a 2.7. CBS’ “The Insider” (down 5%) and NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution’s “Access Hollywood” tied for fourth with a 1.8. WB’s “Extra” brought up the rear with a 1.5, down 6%.

Court shows were either blah or down slightly, with CBS’ “Judge Judy” leading the pack with a flat 4.5. Down 8% from last week, CBS’ “Judge Joe Brown” tied a flat WB’s “People’s Court” with a 2.3.

Game shows followed suit, as CBS’ “Wheel of Fortune” dipped 2% to 6.5, while “Jeopardy!,” also from CBS, increased 2% to a 5.7. Disney-ABC Domestic Television’s “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” continued to tie its season-low 2.6, and Debmar-Mercury’s “Family Feud” stayed the same with a 1.8.

CBS’ “Oprah” led the talk show group for the week with a 4.3, up 2%. However, CBS’ “Dr. Phil,” despite being down 3% week-to-week with a 3.7, can boast it’s up 3% year-to-year, the only talk show that can make that claim.

ABC’s “Live With Regis and Kelly” slipped 7% for a third-place 2.6, while NBC’s “Maury” ranked fourth with a flat 1.9.

Debmar-Mercury’s “The Wendy Williams Show” continues its six-week test market run, with positive results in New York, where Ms. Williams is a well-known deejay. In New York, “Williams’” average since the show’s debut in mid-July is a 1.5/6.

“Williams” posted a 1.0/3 average in Dallas and a 0.8/2 rating at 1 p.m. in Los Angeles. The show’s overall average since its premiere in all four markets is a 1.0/3. “Williams” is successful in key demos, especially in women, pulling in a 2.9/21 in New York City among women 18-34 and a 2.4/18 in women 18-49 in Detroit.

(5:05 p.m.: Updated Los Angeles time slot in final paragraph)