Logo

Syndies Start Sweeps on High

May 8, 2007  •  Post A Comment

Despite a dip in the size of television viewing audiences, syndicated series entered the first two weekdays of the May sweep period on a high for the week ending April 29th, with talk shows and newsmagazines in particular on the rise.
Coming off a week marred by preemptions due to the Virginia Tech campus shootings, the vast majority of syndicated series showed improvement, according to Nielsen Media Research. In the talk show arena, all but one strip showed improvement or held even for the week with “Dr. Phil” showing the biggest week-to-week percentage gain of any show due to a 16 percent jump to a 5.2 rating.
The only talk show to best “Phil” was mentor “Oprah” who rose 13 percent to a 5.9 score. There is currently only a 0.7 difference in the ratings between the two shows, tied for the smallest difference this season.
“Live with Regis and Kelly” got a sharp spike due to the return of Mr. Philbin to the small screen following six weeks off due to heart bypass surgery. His return on April 26, earned the series a 4.4 rating.
In fourth place among talk shows, “Ellen DeGeneres” grew 10 percent to a 2.3 rating, edging out “Maury” which was also up 10 percent to a 2.2.
Rookie “Rachael Ray” was next in line, up 11 percent to a 2.1, with former President Bill Clinton’s appearance on April 26 scoring a 2.3 rating. “Montel Williams” was up 6 percent to a 1.7, “Martha” grew 8 percent to a 1.3. The only series to take a tumble was “The Tyra Banks Show” which slid a tenth of a point to a 1.2 rating.
Among newsmagazines, all five were up over the previous week with category leader “Entertainment Tonight” up 2 percent to a 5.1, “Inside Edition” up 13 percent to a 3.5, “Access Hollywood” rising 4 percent to a 2.6, “The Insider” up 9 percent to a 2.5, and “Extra” up 5 percent to a 2.2.
Three of those strips were up over the same week in 2006 as well with “Entertainment Tonight” growing 2 percent, “Access Hollywood” rising 4 percent and “Extra” up 5 percent year-to-year.
(Editor: Romanelli)

Your Comment

Email (will not be published)