The syndicated AA ratings now include viewing of multiple runs of the same show, resulting in double-digit boosts to numbers in many cases. Among the bigger beneficiaries are Judge Judy, Judge Joe Brown, Swift Justice with Nancy Grace, Don't Forget the Lyrics, Family Feud and a number of off-net sitcoms.
WEEKLY SYNDICATED RATINGS ROUNDUP
Nielsen Ratings Change Powers Syndies
Ratings for Judge Judy (CTD) surged 63%, the most of any show, to a new season high 7.0 and tied long-time leader Wheel of Fortune (CTD) as the No. 1 first-run show in syndication in the week ending April 3.
The week marked a change in how Nielsen determines ratings for syndication. AA or Average Audience ratings will now include viewing of multiple runs of the same show, which previously had been included only in GAA or Gross Average Audience ratings.
Court Shows
Other court shows, which are often telecast back to back, also had powerful showing under the new Nielsen methodology. Judge Joe Brown (CTD), the second-highest-rated courtroom, jumped 42% from the week before to a new season high 2.7; People’s Court (WBDTD) climbed 11% to a 2.0; and Judge Alex (Twentieth) was up 31% to a new season high 1.7.
First-Run Freshmen
Rookie champ Swift Justice with Nancy Grace (CTD) also had a banner week, leaping 50% to a new series high 1.8. Nate Berkus (Sony) was flat at a 1.0; Don’t Forget the Lyrics (Twentieth) ballooned 43% to a 1.0, tying Berkus; Judge Karen’s Court (Litton) rallied 29% to a new season high 0.9; and America’s Court with Judge Ross (Entertainment Studios) remained at a 0.3.
BRAND CONNECTIONS
Talk Shows
Elsewhere in daytime, the soon-to-conclude Oprah (CTD) remained at its season low 3.4 for a third straight week and suffered the only year-to-year decline of any talk show, losing 15% from the same week last year. Dr. Phil (CTD) grew 13% from the week before to a 2.7; Live with Regis and Kelly (Disney-ABC) advanced 4% to a 2.6; Dr. Oz (Sony) was unchanged at a 2.3; Ellen DeGeneres (WBDTD) dropped 5% to a 2.1; and was tied by Maury (NBCU), which gained 5% to a 2.1.
Game Shows
Among games, Family Feud (Debmar-Mercury) was the big winner, with a 47% increase from the week before to a new season high 2.5. Wheel of Fortune (CTD) accelerated 8% to a 7.0; Jeopardy (CTD) inched ahead 3% to a 6.0; Who Wants to be a Millionaire (Disney-ABC) rose 9% to a 2.5; and Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? (Twentieth) spiked 25% to a 1.0.
Magazine Shows
Magazines, which got a huge boost in the prior week from the death of Elizabeth Taylor, came back to earth. Leader Entertainment Tonight (CTD) gave back 10% to a 3.8; Inside Edition (CTD) was flat at a 2.9; TMZ (WBDTD) added 5% to a 2.2; Access Hollywood (NBCU) fell 13% to a 2.0; Extra (WBDTD) eased 11% to a 1.7, although Extra Weekend grew 50% from last year at this time to a 0.9; while The Insider (CTD) was widely preempted by the president’s March 28 address on Libya and slipped 11% to a 1.6.
Off-Net Sitcoms
Off-net sitcoms benefited from the Nielsen change, with the top five all hitting new season highs. Leader Two and a Half Men (WBDTD) rose 37% from the week before to a 7.4; Family Guy (Twentieth) grew 27% to a 4.7; My Wife and Kids (Disney-ABC) jumped 36% to a 3.4; Everybody Loves Raymond (CTD) ratcheted up 28% to 3.2; and George Lopez Show (WBDTD) was up 50% to a 3.0.
Off-Net Weekly Hours
Among weekly hours, Law & Order: Criminal Intent (NBCU) took over the lead with a 22% gain from the prior frame to a new season high 3.3. Criminal Minds (CTD) dropped to second but was up 7% to a 3.2; Monk (NBCU) mushroomed 35% to a 2.7; and there was a three-way tie for fourth place at a 2.4 among Without a Trace (WBDTD), which picked up 4%; The Closer (WBDTD), which clicked for a 14% increase to a new season high; and Numbers (CTD), which added 20%.
Comments (1)
Melinda Santana-Carey says:
April 12, 2011 at 2:07 pm
Reinventing the ratings. This will certainly give a boost to TV. Soon the feds will be referring to the 14 trillion dollar deficit as “the 14 trillion dollar investment in our nation’s future.”