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Audiences Turn to Syndie Talk Shows

Oct 5, 2008  •  Post A Comment

Talk shows proved their ratings appeal during the second week of the syndication season, while “Deal or No Deal” led the freshman show pack.
For the week ending Sept. 21, five talk shows increased week-to-week. Only one other program from another genre, court show “Judge Judy,” moved the needle upward from last week.
CBS Television Distribution’s “Dr. Phil” and the NBC Universal Domestic Television trio of “Maury,” “The Steve Wilkos Show” and “Martha,” as well as Twentieth Television’s “The Morning Show With Mike & Juliet,” all enjoyed week-to-week increases in their household ratings.
“Wilkos” saw the largest increase, moving up 25% to a 1.0, while “Dr. Phil” was up 3% to a 3.3, making up some ground from the previous week, when some markets postponed episodes for U.S. Open coverage.
CBS TV Distribution’s “Oprah” still held the top spot with a 4.7 household rating, down 6% from the week before. The rest of the genre was flat week-to-week with the exception of Warner Bros. Domestic TV Distribution’s “Ellen,” which declined 5% week-to-week. “Ellen” still is showing an 11% increase year-to-year.
CBS Television Distribution’s “Judge Judy” gained 2% to a 4.4 household rating.
Freshman Class
For the freshman series entering their second week of national syndication, NBC’s “Deal” held on to its lead, banking a 1.5 household rating, down 6% from last week. CBS Television Distribution’s “The Doctors” was flat from the week before with a 1.3. Program Partners’ “Family Court With Judge Penny” pulled in a 0.6 rating.
Sony Pictures Television’s “Judge Karen” declined 9% week-to-week with a 1.0. For the second straight week, Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution’s “The Bonnie Hunt Show” sent its national ratings back for reprocessing.
Magazine shows are on the decline, with every program in the genre posting a dip from last week. CBS Television Distribution’s “Entertainment Tonight” led the group with a 3.7 household rating, down 8%.
The magazine shows also are down year-to-year by 15%, the largest decline among the various breeds of shows.
Chuck Larsen, president of October Moon Television, said the decline could be explained by national events, adding that the sluggish economy and the election have preoccupied viewers.
Comparable ratings for Debmar-Mercury’s “Trivial Pursuit: America Plays,” were not available at press time.

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