Olympics Discombobulate Syndie Ratings

The first full week of the Rio Summer Olympics caused massive preemptions of syndicated shows in the session ending Aug. 14. In fact, several programs were retitled as “Olympic Specials” and completely broken out of the averages in anticipation of the sharply lower coverage levels.

One of the very few strips actually getting a boost was NBCUniversal’s Access Hollywood, which led into the Olympics or the pre-Olympics specials every day in many large markets, and jumped 29% from the prior week to a 1.8 live-plus-same-day national Nielsen rating. However, that was down 33% from the show’s rating in the first week of the London 2012 Summer Olympics.

Out-performing Access Hollywood, which finished third among the magazines, were leader Entertainment Tonight, which grew 8% to a four-week high 2.8, and second-place Inside Edition, which lost 4% to a new season low 2.4.

TMZ was fourth in the category, sinking 7% to a 1.3, which equaled its season low.

In daytime, only six talk shows were not retitled or otherwise broken out of the averages by Nielsen, and of those, Dr. Phil was easily the highest rated despite airing repeats against the games and giving back 17% to a 2.0. Phil was also the most-watched talker in terms of total viewers.

Maury was next in the household ratings, recovering 7% from its series low in the prior frame to a 1.5.

Ratings for Live with Kelly, which had been first or tied for first nine times in past 10 weeks, were broken out of the averages for the Olympics all week.

Judge Judy was the highest-rated strip in syndication for the second week in a row even though it dipped 6% to a still-potent 6.1with five days of reruns against the Olympics competition.

Family Feud eased 8% to a 5.9 in second place overall, but topped the game shows for the 16^th straight week.

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

• Dr. Phil (0.9, -18%), tied with Maury (0.9, unchanged)
• Steve Wilkos (0.8, +14%)
• Jerry Springer (0.7, unchanged) 
• Wendy Williams (0.6, -14%)

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. Dr. Phil (CTD) 2.0 -17%

2. Maury (NBCU) 1.5 +7%

3. Steve Wilkos (NBCU) 1.2 NC

4. Jerry Springer (NBCU) 1.1 NC

4. Wendy Williams (Debmar-Mercury) 1.1 NC

6. The Real (WBDTD) 0.7 +17%

DAYTIME ROOKIE SHOWS

1. Crime Watch Daily (WBDTD) 0.7 -13%

2. Crazy Talk (NBCU) 0.4 NC

COURT SHOWS

1. Judge Judy (CTD) 6.1 -6%

2. Hot Bench (CTD) 2.0 -9%

3. People’s Court (WBDTD) 1.5** -6%

4. Judge Mathis (WBDTD) 1.3 NC

5. Divorce Court (Twentieth) 1.0 -9%

6. Judge Faith (Trifecta) 0.7 -13%

GAME SHOWS

1. Family Feud (Debmar-Mercury/FMNA) 5.9 -8%

2. Wheel of Fortune (CTD) 5.2 -4%

3. Jeopardy (CTD) 4.9** -6%

4. Celebrity Name Game (Debmar-Mercury/FMNA) 1.1 -15%

4. Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (Disney-ABC) 1.1 -8%

INTERNET VIDEO

1. Right This Minute (MGM) 1.0 NC

MAGAZINE SHOWS

1. Entertainment Tonight (CTD) 2.8 +8%

2. Inside Edition (CTD) 2.4** -4%

3. Access Hollywood (NBCU) 1.8 +29%

4. TMZ (WBDTD) 1.3 -7%

5. The Insider (CTD) 0.9 -10%

6. Dish Nation (Twentieth) 0.8 NC

7. Celebrity Page (Trifecta) 0.3 NC

OFF-NET SITCOMS

1. Big Bang Theory (WBDTD) 4.2** -16%

2. Modern Family (Twentieth) 2.3** -12%

2. Two and a Half Men (WBDTD) 2.3 -4%

4. Family Guy (Twentieth) 1.9 -10%

5. Mike and Molly (WBDTD) 1.8 NC

6. Two Broke Girls (WBDTD) 1.7** -11%

7. How I Met Your Mother (Twentieth) 1.5 NC

7. Seinfeld (Sony) 1.5 -6%

9. The Cleveland Show (Twentieth) 1.4 -7%

10. King of the Hill (Twentieth) 1.3 -13%

OFF-NET WEEKLY HOUR DRAMAS

1. Law & Order: SVU (NBCU) 3.7 -10%

2. The Closer (WBDTD) 2.6 NC

3. Blue Bloods (CTD) 1.7 NC

4. Castle (Disney-ABC) 1.4 +8%

4. Scandal (Disney-ABC) 1.4 +17%

6. The Good Wife (CTD) 1.1 +10%