Syndie Viewing Takes A Big Tumble

Most syndicated shows declined amid a severe drop in PUT levels (persons using television) in the last full week before the February sweep. For example, none of the 15 talk shows was able to improve from the week before in the session ending Jan. 28.

However, Dr. Phil convincingly led the talkers for the 73^rd week in a row (including one tie), despite a relatively minor 3% pullback from the prior frame to a 3.4 live-plus-same-day national Nielsen rating.

Ellen DeGeneres lost 7% to a 2.5; Live with Kelly and Ryan gave back 12% to a 2.3; and Maury tumbled 12% to a 1.5.

Compared to last year, true crime franchise Crime Watch Daily had the biggest annual increase in the category, improving 10% from last year to a 1.1 and holding steady week to week at its season high.

Elsewhere, the recently renewed Page Six TV was the highest rated newcomer to avoid a downturn, holding firm at a 0.8, its best rating of the season.

In access, all of the top magazines lost sizable ground except Extra, which avoided the downtrend with a steady 1.3, its second-highest rating of the season.

Judge Judy, which has dominated the court shows for an astounding 1,114 straight weeks, scored a strong 7.3 and landed in a photo finish for the overall syndication lead with Family Feud, with the advantage going to the latter by a tenth of a rating point.

Feud was the only game show not to decline, remaining at a 7.4 and easily beating the quiz and giveaway strips for a ninth straight week.

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

• Dr. Phil (1.5, -6% from the week before)
• Ellen DeGeneres (1.2, -14%)
• Live with Kelly and Ryan (1.0, -17%), tied with Maury (1.0, -9%)
• Wendy Williams (0.9, -10%)
• Steve Wilkos (0.8, unchanged)

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) 3.4 -3%

2. Ellen DeGeneres (WBDTD) 2.5 -7%

3. Live with Kelly and Ryan (Disney-ABC) 2.3 -12%

4. Maury (NBCU) 1.5 -12%

5. Steve (NBCU) 1.4 -7%

5. Wendy Williams (Debmar-Mercury) 1.4 -7%

7. Rachael Ray (CTD) 1.3 -7%

8. Steve Wilkos (NBCU) 1.2 -8%

8. Jerry Springer (NBCU) 1.2 -8%

8. Dr. Oz (Sony) 1.2 NC

11. Crime Watch Daily with Chris Hansen (WBDTD) 1.1 NC

12. Harry (NBCU) 0.9 NC

13. The Real (WBDTD) 0.8 NC

13. The Doctors (CTD) 0.8 -11%

FIRST-RUN ROOKIE SHOWS

1. Daily Mail TV (CTD) 1.1 -8%

2. Page Six TV (20th Television) 0.8 NC

3. Funny You Should Ask (Entertainment Studios) 0.5 NC

4. Pickler & Ben (Disney-ABC) 0.3 NC

COURT SHOWS

1. Judge Judy (CTD) 7.3 -4%

2. Hot Bench (CTD) 2.4 -8%

3. People’s Court (WBDTD) 1.6 -6%

4. Judge Mathis (WBDTD) 1.2 -8%

5. Divorce Court (Twentieth) 1.0 NC

6. Judge Faith (Trifecta) 0.6 -14%

GAME SHOWS

1. Family Feud (Debmar-Mercury/FMNA) 7.4 NC

2. Wheel of Fortune (CTD) 6.9 -3%

2. Jeopardy (CTD) 6.9 -3%

4. Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (Disney-ABC) 1.8 -5%

INTERNET VIDEO

1. Right This Minute (Disney-ABC) 1.5 -12%

OFF-NET TRUE CRIME

1. Dateline M-F (NBCU) 1.5 -6%

MAGAZINE SHOWS

1. Inside Edition (CTD) 3.3 -8%

2. Entertainment Tonight (CTD) 3.2 -9%

3. TMZ (WBDTD) 1.5 -6%

4. Access (NBCU) 1.4 -13%

5. Extra (WBDTD) 1.3 NC

6. Celebrity Page (Trifecta) 0.3 NC

OFF-NET SITCOMS

1. Big Bang Theory (WBDTD) 5.5 -4%

2. Modern Family (Twentieth) 2.7 +4%

3. The Goldbergs (Sony) 1.9 NC

4. Last Man Standing (Twentieth) 1.8 -10%

5. Two and a Half Men (WBDTD) 1.7 NC

6. Family Guy (Twentieth) 1.6 NC

7. Mike and Molly (WBDTD) 1.5 -12%

8. Two Broke Girls (WBDTD) 1.2 -8%

8. Seinfeld (Sony) 1.2 NC

10. The Cleveland Show (Twentieth) 1.1 NC

OFF-NET WEEKLY HOURS

1. Law & Order: SVU (NBCU) 4.3 +5%

2. Dateline Weekly (NBCU) 3.7 -3%

3. Blue Bloods (CTD) 1.9 +6%

4. CSI Miami (CTD) 1.7 +13%

5. Law & Order: Criminal Intent (NBCU) 1.6 -27%

6. American Ninja Warrior (NBCU) 1.5 +15%