Post-Sweeps Letdown Hits Syndication

The first week following the February sweep traditionally brings slightly lower ratings for most of first-run syndication and this year was no exception as heavy promotion returned to normal levels and many shows went into repeats in the week ending March 10.

However, the top three talk shows were all running ahead of last year’s pace. For example, Dr. Phil, the talk leader in both households and women 25-54, dipped 9% from the week before but still grew 7% from last year at this time and made it 22 wins in 25 weeks.

Live with Kelly and Michael was a strong second with a steady 2.7, up 4% from a year ago.

In third place, Ellen was unchanged week to week, but was still up 8% from last year.

Among talk newcomers, Katie continued to rule by a wide margin, while standout rookie Steve Harvey went into reruns and slipped 13%.

In access, the entertainment magazines were all down or, at best, flat after getting a nice boost from their coverage of the Academy Awards in the prior session.

In the household rating rankings that follow, an asterisk indicates a new season high rating; % change is from the previous week; NC indicates no change from the previous week.

TALK SHOWS

1. Dr. Phil (CTD) 3.1 -9%

2. Live with Kelly and Michael (Disney-ABC) 2.7 NC

3. Ellen (WBDTD) 2.6 NC

4. Dr. Oz (Sony) 2.5 NC

5. Maury (NBCU) 2.2 -4%

6. Katie (Disney-ABC) 1.8 -5%

7. Rachael Ray (CTD) 1.5 NC

8. Steve Wilkos (NBCU) 1.4 -7%

8. The Doctors (CTD) 1.4 NC

10. Jerry Springer (NBCU) 1.4 NC

11. Steve Harvey (NBCU) 1.3 -13%

12. Anderson Live (WBDTD) 1.1 NC

13. Wendy Williams (Debmar-Mercury) 1.0 -17%

14. Jeff Probst (CTD) 0.7 NC

15. Ricki Lake (Twentieth) 0.6 -14%

15. Trisha (NBCU) 0.6 NC

17. Jeremy Kyle (Debmar-Mercury) 0.5 NC

FRESHMEN TALKERS

1. Katie (Disney-ABC) 1.8 -5%

2. Steve Harvey (NBCU) 1.3 -13%

3. Jeff Probst (CTD) 0.7 NC

4. Ricki Lake (Twentieth) 0.6 -14%

4. Trisha (NBCU) 0.6 NC

MAGAZINE SHOWS

1. Entertainment Tonight (CTD) 3.7 -8%

2. Inside Edition (CTD) 3.2 -3%

3. TMZ (WBDTD) 2.1 NC

4. Access Hollywood (NBCU) 1.9 NC

5. Extra (WBDTD) 1.6 NC

6. OMG Insider (CTD) 1.4 -7%

7. Dish Nation (Twentieth) 1.0 NC

COURT SHOWS

1. Judge Judy (CTD) 7.3 -3%

2. Judge Joe Brown (CTD) 2.5 NC

3. People’s Court (WBDTD) 1.9 +6%

4. Judge Mathis (WBDTD) 1.4 -7%

5. Judge Alex (Twentieth) 1.3 -7%

5. Divorce Court (Twentieth) 1.3 NC

GAME SHOWS

1. Wheel of Fortune (CTD) 7.5 -1%

2. Jeopardy (CTD) 7.0 +3%

3. Family Feud (Debmar-Mercury) 5.2 NC

4. Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (Disney-ABC) 2.4 -4%

5. Baggage (GSN) 1.1 NC

OFF-NET SITCOMS

1. Big Bang Theory (WBDTD) 7.5 +3%

2. Two and a Half Men (WBDTD) 5.3 -4%

3. Family Guy (Twentieth) 3.7 NC

4. How I Met Your Mother (Twentieth) 2.7 NC

5. Seinfeld (Sony) 2.4 NC

5. King of the Hill (Twentieth) 2.4 +9%

OFF-NET WEEKLY HOURS

1. Law & Order: SVU (NBCU) 4.4 +7%

2. Law & Order (NBCU) 2.8 -3%

3. Criminal Minds (CTD) 2.5 -7%

3. CSI: Miami (CTD) 2.5 -4%

5. House (NBCU) 2.4 +4%

5. Castle (Disney-ABC) 2.4 -4%