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Daytime Strips Rebound; Off-Net Sitcoms Decline

Jul 6, 2005  •  Post A Comment

After weeks of post-May sweeps ratings doldrums, syndicated daytime strips finally saw some growth during the week ended June 26, while the top-rated off-network sitcoms were either flat or down for the week.

The top-rated talk strip and the No. 3 show for all of syndication was King World’s “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” which scored a 5.7 national household rating, according to Nielsen Media Research. “Oprah” was up 2 percent over the previous week and down 12 percent from the same week last year. King World’s “Dr. Phil” garnered a 4.6, which was up 12 percent for the week and 15 percent from last year. Buena Vista’s “Live With Regis and Kelly” was down 3 percent for the week and even for the year with a 3.3.

All three of the top courtroom shows grew or held their ratings for the week, with genre leader “Judge Judy” from Paramount scoring a 4.5, a 5 percent increase for the week and flat for the year. Paramount’s “Judge Joe Brown” was up 3 percent for the week and down 6 percent for the year to a 3.1, while Warner Bros.’ “People’s Court” was flat for the week and year with a 2.6.

Two of the top three off-net sitcom strips hit season lows, with King World’s “Everybody Loves Raymond” dropping 5 percent for the week but growing 13 percent for the year to a 5.4. and Warner Bros.’ “Friends” down 2 percent for the week and 13 percent for the year to a 4.5. While Sony’s “Seinfeld” did not hit a season low, it was down 4 percent for the week and year to a 5.2.

The top-rated show in syndication was King World’s “Wheel of Fortune” with a 6.9, which was flat for the week and down 14 percent from last year.