Despite challenges from NCAA basketball preemptions, the magazine shows all post increases from their coverage of Elizabeth Taylor’s death in the week ending March 27. Other genres also do well despite lower PUT levels.
WEEKLY SYNDICATED RATINGS ROUNDUP
Liz’s Star Shines On Entertainment Mags
Coverage of the death of legendary actress Elizabeth Taylor sent ratings for the syndicated magazine soaring in the week ending March 27. Despite ongoing preemptions from the annual NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament and sharply lower PUT levels, every mag was up from the week before with some shows scoring their highest ratings in more than a year.
Magazine Shows
Leader Entertainment Tonight (CTD) grew 8% in households to a 4.2, and 22% among women 18-34. Inside Edition (CTD) added 4% to a 2.9; Access Hollywood (NBCU) jumped 10% in households to a new season high 2.3, and 17% among women 18-34; TMZ (WBDTD) inched up 5% to a 2.1; Extra (WBDTD) spiked 12% in households to a new season high 1.9, and rose 20% among women 18-34; and The Insider (CTD) had the biggest increase in the category, 20% in households to a 1.8, and 25% in the women 18-34 demo.
Talk Shows
Some talk shows were also able to gain ground over the prior week, although the soon-to-conclude Oprah (CTD) was flat at a 3.4 after three straight weeks of declines which had brought the talker’s ratings down 40% to a season low. And Live with Regis and Kelly (Disney-ABC) slipped 4% to a 2.5.
On the positive side, Dr. Phil (CTD), which was in reruns all week and did not air in seven metered markets, including Los Angeles, due to March Madness, nevertheless climbed 14% in households to a 2.4 and 18% in women 25-54. Dr. Oz (Sony) advanced 10% to a 2.3; Ellen DeGeneres (WBDTD) rose 22% to a 2.2; Maury (NBCU) was up 5% to a 2.0; and The Doctors (CTD) leaped a healthy 13% to a 1.7.
BRAND CONNECTIONS
Court Shows
Judge Judy (CTD) was the No. 1 daytime strip for the third week in a row, beating second-place Oprah by more than 1.4 million viewers. Week to week Judy improved 5% in households to a 4.3, and jumped 38% among women 18-34. Judge Joe Brown (CTD) followed Judy as the No. 2 court, gaining 6% to a 1.9; People’s Court (WBDTD) was unchanged at a 1.8; Judge Mathis (WBDTD) tumbled to a new season low 1.4 after losing 7%; and Judge Alex (Twentieth) was up 8% to a 1.3.
First-Run Freshmen
Swift Justice with Nancy Grace (CTD) was the rookie champ for the 28th straight week, holding steady at a 1.2. Nate Berkus (Sony) picked up 11% to a 1.0; Judge Karen’s Court (Litton) was up 17% to a 0.7, tying Don’t Forget the Lyrics (Twentieth), which was flat at a 0.7; and America’s Court with Judge Ross (Entertainment Studios) remained at a 0.3.
Game Shows
Among game shows, Wheel of Fortune (CTD) slowed 10% from the week before to a 6.5; Jeopardy (CTD) tacked on 5% to a 5.8; Who Wants to be a Millionaire (Disney-ABC) and Family Feud (Debmar-Mercury) were unchanged at 2.3 and 1.7, respectively, while Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? (Twentieth) sank to a new series low 0.8 after losing 11%.
Off-Net Sitcoms
Among off-net sitcoms, leader Two and a Half Men (WBDTD) eked out a 2% increase to a 5.4; Family Guy (Twentieth) fell 10% to a 3.7; Everybody Loves Raymond (CTD) and My Wife and Kids (Disney-ABC) both dropped 4% to 2.5s; while Seinfeld (Sony) recovered 9% to a 2.5.
Off-Net Weekly Hours
Among weekly hours, Criminal Minds (CTD) continued to lead with an unchanged 3.0. Law & Order: Criminal Intent (NBCU) rebounded 17% to a second-place 2.7; Without a Trace (WBDTD), Bones (Twentieth) and The Closer (WBDTD) were all flat at 2.3, 2.2 and 2.1, respectively, while Numbers (CTD) and Monk (NBCU) were each down 9% to 2.0s.
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