Basketball Bounces Syndie Ratings

March Madness infected the syndication ratings in the week ending March 23, as shows with clearances on CBS affiliates were preempted by the early round NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament games in some markets and many programs went into repeats.

Live with Kelly and Michael leaped to the top of the talk bracket despite the fact that it was live on only two days, airing repacked shows on the other three. Compared to last season at this time, Live, which has been scoring its best ratings in six years this season, grew 16%.

Usually talk leader Dr. Phil, which is cleared on numerous CBS stations, was in repeats on four of the five days, but still improved 13% from last year, while slipping into a tie for second place with Ellen. Ellen, which was in originals all week, gained 4% from the week before.

Other talkers in the plus column week to week included Maury, which climbed 10% in households and finished first among both women 18-34 and women 18-49, while jumping 25% among women 25-54; Steve Harvey, which rose 6%; Steve Wilkos ,which spiked 15%; and Jerry Springer, which surged 18%.

Meanwhile, Rachael Ray grew 15% in the metered markets with Vice President Joe Biden’s appearance yesterday, compared to the prior Monday.

Among the newcomers, Queen Latifah gained 10% and widened its already commanding lead over this year’s rookie crop.

In access, viewer interest in the suicide of L’Wren Scott, the longtime girlfriend of Rolling Stones lead singer Mick Jagger, sent several magazines higher despite competition from the basketball tournament. Leader Entertainment Tonight advanced 9% from the prior frame, while Access Hollywood shot up 13%, the largest week-to-week improvement of any top-tier magazine. Compared to last year at this time, Extra had the biggest increase of any mag, adding 7%, while its Extra Weekend ballooned 50%.

The week’s top-rated daytime talk shows in the women 25-54 demo were:

• Ellen (1.6, +7% from the week before)
• Live with Kelly and Michael (1.5, unchanged), tied with Maury (1.5, +24%)
• Dr. Phil (1.4, down 22%)
• Dr. Oz (1.1, unchanged), tied with Steve Harvey (1.1, +10%) and Wendy Williams (1.1, unchanged)
• Steve Wilkos (1.0, +11%)

In the household rating rankings that follow, % change is from the previous week; * indicates a new season high rating; ** indicates a new season low; NC indicates no change from the previous week; NA mean not applicable.

TALK SHOWS

1. Live with Kelly and Michael (Disney-ABC) 2.9 NC

2. Dr. Phil (CTD) 2.7 -18%

2. Ellen (WBDTD) 2.7 +4%

4. Maury (NBCU) 2.2 +10%

5. Dr. Oz (Sony) 2.0 NC

6. Steve Harvey (NBCU) 1.9 +6%

7. Katie (Disney-ABC) 1.5 NC

7. Steve Wilkos (NBCU) 1.5 +15%

9. Wendy Williams (Debmar-Mercury) 1.4 NC

9. Rachael Ray (CTD) 1.4 NC

11. Jerry Springer (NBCU) 1.3 +18%

12. The Doctors (CTD) 1.2 NC

13. Queen Latifah (Sony) 1.1 +10%

14. Bethenny (WBDTD) 0.7 NC

14. Arsenio (CTD) 0.7 NC

16. The Test (CTD) 0.6 NC

16. Trisha (NBCU) 0.6 NC

18. The Better Show (Meredith) 0.2 NC

FRESHMEN TALKERS

1. Queen Latifah (Sony) 1.1 +10%

2. Bethenny (WBDTD) 0.7 NC

2. Arsenio (CTD) 0.7 NC

4. The Test (CTD) 0.6 NC

COURT SHOWS

1. Judge Judy (CTD) 6.7 -6%

2. People’s Court (WBDTD) 1.8 NC

3. Divorce Court (Twentieth) 1.6 +7%

4. Judge Alex (Twentieth) 1.5 +7%

4. Judge Mathis (WBDTD) 1.5 +7%

6. Paternity Court (Orion Television) 1.0 NC

MAGAZINE SHOWS

1. Entertainment Tonight (CTD) 3.8 +9%

2. Inside Edition (CTD) 2.8 -10%

3. TMZ (WBDTD) 1.8 NC

3. Access Hollywood (NBCU) 1.8 +13%

5. Extra (WBDTD) 1.6 NC

6. The Insider (CTD) 1.2 -8%

7. Right This Minute (MGM) 1.1 NC

8. Dish Nation (Twentieth) 0.9 -10%

9. America Now (Trifecta) 0.4 +33%

9. OK! TV (Trifecta) 0.2 -33%

GAME SHOWS

1. Wheel of Fortune (CTD) 7.0 +1%

2. Jeopardy (CTD) 6.1 -8%

3. Family Feud (Debmar-Mercury) 5.3 +2%

4. Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (Disney-ABC) 2.2 NC

OFF-NET SITCOMS

1. Big Bang Theory (WBDTD) 6.1 +3%

2. Modern Family (Twentieth) 4.3 NC

3. Two and a Half Men (WBDTD) 3.4 NC

4. Family Guy (Twentieth) 2.7 -7%

5. How I Met Your Mother (Twentieth) 1.9 -5%

5. Seinfeld (Sony) 1.9 NC

5. The Cleveland Show (Twentieth) 1.9 +6%

8. Friends (WBDTD) 1.8 NC

9. King of the Hill (Twentieth) 1.7 +13%

10. Rules of Engagement (Sony) 1.5 NC

10. The Middle (WBDTD) 1.5 NC

12. Community (Sony) 0.5 NC

OFF-NET WEEKLY HOURS

1. House (NBCU) 3.5 +53%

2. Law & Order: SVU (NBCU) 3.3 -3%

3. Law & Order: Criminal Intent (NBCU) 2.6** -16%

4. Castle (Disney-ABC) 2.2 -12%

5. Criminal Minds (CTD) 2.1 -5%

6. CSI: Miami (CTD) 2.0 -5%