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‘Hill’ climbs to season high

Mar 25, 2002  •  Post A Comment

The first week out of the February book typically proves to be a rough bump in the course of the television season. But this year, several shows have managed to buck that trend, and one strip, “King of the Hill,” actually hit a season high, according to Nielsen Media Research data for the week ending March 10.
The ratings downtrend that normally follows a sweeps period held true for the vast majority of shows. But Twentieth Television’s off-net airings of “King of the Hill” enjoyed a 6 percent spike, the largest of any off-net series, to a 3.8 rating. That score is up 58 percent over its debut week at the beginning of the season and gives “Hill” its widest margin yet over “Frasier,” which earned a 3.4. In the key adults 18 to 49 demographic, the series finished fifth among all syndicated strips, tying “Wheel of Fortune.”
For the advertiser-oriented gross average audience ratings, which are ordered when one or more markets air repeat telecasts, “King of the Hill” scored a 4.2 household rating, up from its 2.5 average in October. Only King World Productions’ “Everybody Loves Raymond” (6.6), Columbia TriStar Domestic Television’s “Seinfeld” (7.4) and Warner Bros. Domestic Television’s “Friends” (8.4) fared better.
Among game shows, Telepictures Distribution’s “Street Smarts” increased its fan base with a 6 percent jump to a 1.7 household rating and a 2.1 household GAA rating. The series is off to its best monthly start since the season began, increasing its ratings from a 1.6 in September to a 2.0 average GAA score in March. NBC Enterprises’ “Weakest Link” scored a 2.2 GAA average in March, compared with its 2.0 during February.
Still leading the pack, however, are King World’s trio of “Wheel of Fortune,” with a 10.1 GAA rating, “Jeopardy!” with an 8.5 score and “Hollywood Squares” with a 2.8 household number. Tribune’s “Family Feud” earned a 2.1 for the week.