February sweeps

While the results for WBZ, WCVB, WHDH and WBTS stayed the same for the most part, WFXT saw its ratings decline in some key time periods. The ratings were called into question after WFXT experienced a sudden rise in ratings toward the end of the February book. The four other stations noticed the anomaly and filed formal complaints with Nielsen.

Fox wins in 18-49s with a huge boost from the Super Bowl. But remove that, and the network barely beat Univision. A new leader in late night, ABC’s resurgence and more.

Fox is ahead by a big margin 18-49s when you include the Super Bowl. But when you drop the game, CBS is No. 1, and ABC isn’t far behind, plus it still has the Oscars.

According to Nielsen C3 data for the month of February, broadcast primetime ratings in the crucial 18-49 demo were down 12% versus the year-ago period, while cable losses were far less dramatic (-3%). Altogether, the Big Four networks averaged an aggregate 7.8 rating in the demo, down from an 8.9 in February 2015.

Jeff Hoffman became president-GM of Graham Media’s WKMG Orlando in July. The CBS affiliate has made ratings strides with a “Getting Results” approach to TV news. In the February ratings period, WKMG won outright at 11 p.m. in total viewers as well as the 25-to-54 age group most important to news advertisers. Hoffman talks about the successes.

Five out of six courtrooms record ratings increases over a year ago. Judge Judy is first-run’s overall winner. Other genres didn’t fare so well in this year’s February sweep.

The latenight show posts a 0.93 rating among viewers 18-49 for the month, well ahead of ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live, which was second with a 0.54