Most shows were flat or down in the week ending Aug. 14. Among the exceptions were a few talk shows, one magazine, one game show, two off-net sitcoms and a handful of off-net weekly hours.
WEEKLY SYNDICATED RATINGS ROUNDUP
Syndicated Ratings Hit Summer Slowstice
Syndication ratings continued to drift in the week ending Aug. 14 as PUT levels eroded and most shows used the dog days of summer to burn off repeat episodes.
Talk Shows
There were a few bright spots, however. Three talk shows saw their ratings jump from the week before — Rachael Ray (CTD), Ellen DeGeneres (WBDTD) and Dr. Oz (Sony). Ray was up 8% both week to week and year to year to a 1.4 in households, and surged 33% from the week before among women 18-34.
Ellen rose 7% week to week to a 1.5, but was flat year to year and Oz added 5% to a 2.0 and was unchanged from last year.
Live with Regis and Kelly (Disney-ABC) continued to lead the summer gabfest race for a fourth straight week, although it remained at a 2.3.
A tenth of a point behind were Dr. Phil (CTD) and Maury (NBCU), which both held steady at a 2.2, while Oprah (CTD) stayed at her series low 1.9 for a third consecutive week.
BRAND CONNECTIONS
Magazine Shows
Extra (WBDTD) was the only magazine to grow from the week before, improving 7% to a 1.5. Category leader Entertainment Tonight (CTD) held steady at a 3.3; Inside Edition (CTD) sank 7% to a 2.6; while TMZ (WBDTD), Access Hollywood (NBCU) and The Insider (CTD) held firm at 1.8, 1.6 and 1.5, respectively.
Court Shows
Judge Judy (CTD) continued to be the No. 1 show in syndication with a 6.4, which was a 2% dip from the week before, but a 52% leap from last year at this time. Among the other courtrooms, Judge Joe Brown (CTD), People’s Court (WBDTD), Judge Mathis (WBDTD) and Divorce Court (Twentieth) were all flat at 2.6, 1.9, 1.5 and 1.5, respectively.
First-Run Freshmen
Swift Justice with Nancy Grace (CTD) won the rookie race for 48th consecutive week, holding steady at a 1.5. Don’t Forget the Lyrics (Twentieth) dropped 11% to a 0.8; Nate Berkus (Sony), Judge Karen’s Court (Litton) and America’s Court with Judge Ross (Entertainment Studios) were all unchanged at 0.8, 0.7 and 0.4, respectively.
Dish Nation (Twentieth), an entertainment news show that is getting a six-week tryout, posted a 0.9 rating/2 share metered market average for its first four weeks. This was down 31% from its lead-in and down 50% from its year-ago time period average.
Game Shows
Back in the national ratings, game shows were mixed. Wheel of Fortune (CTD) inched up 2% to a 6.1; Jeopardy (CTD) faded 2% to a 5.0; Family Feud (Debmar-Mercury) fell 4% to a 2.5; Who Wants to be a Millionaire (Disney-ABC) and Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? (Twentieth) were both unchanged at 2.3 and 1.0, respectively.
Off-Net Sitcoms
Off-net sitcoms were also quiet. Two and a Half Men (WBDTD) lost 2% from the week to a 6.0; Family Guy (Twentieth) erased 4% to a 4.3; My Wife and Kids (Disney-ABC) grew 7% to a 3.1; Seinfeld (Sony) advanced 4% to a 2.7; while Everybody Loves Raymond (CTD) was flat at a 2.6.
Off-Net Weekly Hours
Law & Order: Criminal Intent (NBCU) led the off-net weekly hours with an unchanged 3.8. Second-place Criminal Minds (CTD) gained 7% to a 3.1. Without a Trace (WBDTD) spurted 11% to new season high 3.0; Monk (NBCU) picked up 4% to a 2.5; and The Closer (WBDTD) climbed 9% to a 2.5.
Comments (1)
Lisa Baskin-Corl says:
August 23, 2011 at 5:28 pm
The reason for slumps is that viewers are sick and tired of repeat after repeat. Not everyone is away for the
summer or at the beach, etc and the Networks had better wise up to the fact that new summer shows are
extremely important as well as some over the hill shows.