SUMMER, SPORTS TAKE TOLL ON SYNDIES

Syndication was the ratings loser in the week ending June 18, as viewers enjoyed an embarrassment of programming riches, including the U.S. Open Golf tournament, hockey’s Stanley Cup and soccer’s World Cup. A White House press conference on President George W. Bush’s unannounced trip to Iraq on June 14 also lured viewers over to cable news.

Among the magazines, CBS Paramount’s Entertainment Tonight was one of two shows in the genre to improve. ET was up 5% to a 4.5 household rating, according to Nielsen’s live plus same day ratings. That’s a 2% jump from last year.

Next week, ET will reach two important milestones: Linda Bell Blue, the show’s hard-driving executive producer, will mark her 11^th year marshalling the program through an endless stream of Hollywood news and gossip; and ET will mark its 10^th year as the No. 1 syndicated news magazine on television.

The genre’s second-place program, King World’s Inside Edition, scored a 3.2, up 3% for the week and 7% for the year. Inside Edition was the only other magazine to see an increase and one of only four first-run shows to improve.

CBS Paramount’s The Insider, the ET spin-off also executive produced by Bell Blue, held steady at a 2.5 in third place, but dipped 4% for the year. In fourth place, NBC Universal’s Access Hollywood dropped 8% to a 2.2. The show was flat year to year. Warner Bros.’ Extra! lost 5% to a new season low of 2.0, unchanged from last year.

Among the talk shows, the two biggest names had their worst week of the season. King World’s Oprah fell 2% to a new season-low 5.3, a loss of 5% from last year. That’s the second straight season low for Oprah, which like most of syndication is in summer repeats. King World’s Dr. Phil dropped 9% for the week to a 4.1, but was unchanged year to year.

Buena Vista’s Live with Regis and Kelly was the only talk show to increase, jumping 3% to a 3.2, but still off 6% for the year. NBCU’s Maury was down 4% to a 2.5, an 11% drop from last year. Warner Bros.’Ellen Degeneres was widely preempted by sports, leaving only two days that were counted by Nielsen. The show held steady for the week and year at a 1.8. NBCU’s Jerry Springer tied Ellen, flat for the week but down 10% for the year.

Among the rookie talkers, Warner Bros.’ Tyra Banks was unchanged for the week at a 1.4. Meanwhile, NBCU’s Martha dropped to a new season-low of 1.1 for the second consecutive week, an 8% drop.

In court, CBS Paramount’s Judge Judy was another genre leader to plunge to a new season low. At a 4.2, the show was down 7% for the week and 2% from last year. CBS Paramount’s Judge Joe Brown held second place at a 2.8, unchanged for the week but down 7% from last year. Warner Bros.’ People’s Court was third at a 2.6, flat for both the week and year. Twentieth’s Divorce Court at a 2.4 was flat for the week and down 4% for the year.

King World’s Wheel of Fortune, the top game, at a 6.8 was down 6% for the week and 1% from last year. King World’s Jeopardy! fell 7% for both the week and the year to a 5.4. Both Buena Vista’s Who Wants to be a Millionaire and Tribune’s Family Feud held steady for the week and year at a 2.9 and 2.1, respectively.

After hitting new season lows for the past three weeks in a row, King World’s Everybody Loves Raymond rebounded to a 5.1, up 4% for the week but still down 11% for the year. Sony’s Seinfeld, coming off of two weeks of season lows, was up 2% to a 4.7, although still down 13% from last year.