Dallas-Fort Worth TV

CW33's The RC Project proudly puts the vacu- in vacuous

Ed Bark — 2010-03-16T09:09:28-05:00

RC Project duo Candice Crawford and Roni Proter of CW33 By ED BARK Resembling a public access TV pilot from Poughkeepsie -- only infinitely worse -- CW33's The RC Project somehow premiered Monday in the nation's fifth-largest TV market. ...RC Project, co-starring the station's Roni Proter, arrived at the close of CW33's new 5 p.m. local newscast, a companion to the existing 5:30 p.m. edition.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., March 15) -- rare early morn sweep for Fox4

Ed Bark — 2010-03-16T09:08:45-05:00

WFAA8 took first place in total viewers at both 5 and 6 p.m. The 25-to-54 races were decided by mere hundredths of ratings points, with Fox4 nipping both WFAA8 and the Peacock at 5 p.m. while WFAA8 squeaked past CBS11 at 6 p.m. Using the round-off system, we're basically talking three-way and two-way ties. ...Among 18-to-49-year-olds, CBS' only first-run attraction, Rules of Engagement, had the most viewers from 7:30 to 8 p.m. while NBC's new Chuck won from 7 to 7:30 p.m. The other golds in this measurement went to Fox's 24 at 8 p.m. and Fox4's local newscast in the 9 p.m. hour.

Idol seems out of step this season, says former producer and current mainstay of So You Think You Can Dance

Ed Bark — 2010-03-15T11:39:41-05:00

Executive producer/judge Nigel Lythgoe at last week's So You Think You Can Dance auditions on the SMU campus in Dallas. Photo: Ed Bark ...He was Idol's co-executive producer for the Fox blockbuster's first seven seasons before leaving in August 2008 to become fully engaged with the network's So You Think You Can Dance as both a producer and judge.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., March 12-14) -- HBO's The Pacific tops Sunday's cable charts

Ed Bark — 2010-03-15T11:38:02-05:00

Among 18-to-49-year-olds, it was beaten by Fox's Family Guy CBS' Undercover Boss and ABC's Desperate Housewives in the 8 p.m. hour but outdrew all comers from 9 to 10 p.m. ...In Friday's local news derby tallies, WFAA8 and CBS11 shared firsts at 10 p.m. WFAA8 had a narrow win in total viewers and CBS likewise squeaked by among 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

Fun with Mike & Jane (hmm, maybe this should be a recurring feature!?)

Ed Bark — 2010-03-12T15:55:19-06:00

By ED BARK NBC5 anchor Jane McGarry, newly infatuated with her fledgling Facebook FanPage, has been posting tidbits and pictures like a maniac since opening shop this week. ...Jane fights back with this recent prose post: "Going to work and it feels like spring so I think I'll try a new orange jacket -- plus the ankle bracelet -- gotta have the ankle bracelet :)"

Footloose with Fox4's Fiona Gorostiza

Ed Bark — 2010-03-12T09:45:15-06:00

Fox4's Fiona Gorostiza strikes her "Cheerleader Pop" pose during Dallas auditions for So You Think You Can Dance. Photos: Ed Bark By ED BARK Fox4's fun-seeking Fiona Gorostiza thinks she can dance -- and can. ...It presumably beat barefoot walking on hot coals, which Gorostiza, 31, did around this time last year during a Good Day segment from Fair Park conducted by the Firewalking Institute of Research and Education.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., March 11) -- viewers divorce themselves from Marriage Ref, go mental instead

Ed Bark — 2010-03-12T09:44:15-06:00

By ED BARK NBC's The Marriage Ref improved on its dinky 30 Rock lead-in Thursday, but still trailed the Big Four broadcast network field in the 9 p.m. hour. ...In local news derby results, CBS11 and WFAA split the golds at 10 p.m. CBS11 cruised in total viewers, but WFAA8 had the edge with 25-to-54-year-olds, the favored target audience for news programming.

WFAA8 anchor Shelly Slater soon will be delivering more than the news

Ed Bark — 2010-03-11T22:34:38-06:00

Slater, who joined Dallas-based WFAA8 in September 2006, said she is due in early August and "we find out the sex of the baby on St. ..."I haven't announced anything on-air about the baby," she added, "but my husband and I are thrilled, nervous and anxious all at the same time."

Idol voters slit show's throat (and not just by axing two North Texans)

Ed Bark — 2010-03-11T21:03:36-06:00

Finalists Casey James of Fort Worth; Tim Urban of Duncanville By ED BARK American Idol's 12 finalists emerged Thursday night after viewers evicted two distinctive song stylists while also trimming the North Texas 4 in half. ..."A lot of incredible talent is going home tonight," a stunned Scott said after in-over-her-head Katie Stevens, 17, got the night's final Top 12 spot.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., March 10) -- Idol, crime, ballgame

Ed Bark — 2010-03-11T16:39:59-06:00

Fox's prime-time lead-off hitter, the return of Human Target, took aim at 203,589 viewers, losing narrowly to CBS' Old Christine in the first half-hour before outpointing that same network's Gary Unmarried in the second. ...NBC5 again cruised to a pair of 6 a.m. wins before the 7 to 9 a.m. portion of Fox4's Good Day righted itself to beat the three network morning shows in both ratings measurements.

Idol: No Tex hex for Lone Star foursome

Ed Bark — 2010-03-11T06:17:19-06:00

Vote-offs resume on Thursday. Fox photos By ED BARK American Idol's four North Texas males, composing half the remaining field, received uniformly good reviews Wednesday, marking a first for Todrick Hall in particular. ...Kara --- "I thought you were going to be going home a few weeks ago. And now I actually think you're kind of in it, and you may just about be in the top of the boys right now."

CBS11 names Miami's Adrienne Roark as news director (updated with official station confirmation)

Ed Bark — 2010-03-10T15:12:59-06:00

Roark said in a statement, "I am honored to be given the opportunity to be a part of such a distinguished news team, and I have great respect for what KTVT and KTXA mean to the Dallas-Fort Worth community." ...Reliable sources say that news director Kurt Davis of KENS-TV in San Antonio also was a finalist for the news director position.

Friedman tabbed to co-anchor NBC5's waker-upper

Ed Bark — 2010-03-10T14:38:10-06:00

NBC5 has named Scott Friedman as the co-anchor of its local early morning newscasts, teaming him with incumbent Deborah Ferguson. ...Jane McGarry, co-anchor of NBC5's 5 and 6 p.m. newscast, earlier revealed Friedman's new assignment on her Facebook FanPage, where she also writes, "I'm in the attic looking for old work photos.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., March 9) -- Idol still a four-letter word to competitors

Ed Bark — 2010-03-10T11:48:51-06:00

It was a reversal of fortune for the second episode of NBC's competing Parenthood, which ran fourth in total viewers while vaulting to a very close second (behind ABC's The Forgotten) among 18-to-49-year-olds. ...The 33's 5:30 p.m. local newscast, still not in HD, beat both the CBS Evening News and ABC's World News in the 18-to-49 demographic after besting CBS on the previous night.

White vs. Perry: a view through the looker glass

Ed Bark — 2010-03-09T17:32:55-06:00

But five days before he even announced his candidacy in February 1995, Gramm sat down with Mike Wallace for a 60 Minutes piece that focused on his lack of good looks. ...

NBC5's Jane McGarry launches Fanpage, gets word out

Ed Bark — 2010-03-09T17:13:55-06:00

By ED BARK Unfair Park's quick-as-a-whip Robert Wilonsky, yours truly and no doubt many others got the same email Monday from NBC5 anchor Jane McGarry. ...PROGRAMMING NOTE: Insatiable fans of ABC's The Bachelor can get another dose Wednesday morning when Dallas pilot Jake Pavelka and his fiancee, Vienna Girardi, do their first local TV interview on WFAA8's Good Morning Texas (airing at 9 a.m.).

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., March 8) -- House afire, Castle a kingmaker

Ed Bark — 2010-03-09T10:18:54-06:00

In Monday's local news derby results, WFAA8 rode Castle's strong showing to comfy twin wins at 10 p.m. in total viewers and 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming. ...Also of note: The 33's 5:30 p.m. local newscast, which will be expanded to an hour with a 5 p.m. start time next week, outdrew the CBS Evening News among 18-to-49-year-olds.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., March 5-7) -- despite no surprises, Oscars soar above last year's total

Ed Bark — 2010-03-08T09:50:57-06:00

Oscar hosts Steve Martin, Alec Baldwin at show's end with Best Director winner Kathryn Bigelow for The Hurt Locker. Photo: Ed Bark By ED BARK In the end, predictability didn't matter. ...In Friday's numbers, NBC's premiere of the celebrity-driven genealogy series Who Do You Think You Are? drew 115,367 viewers to finish second at 7 p.m. behind CBS' venerable Ghost Whisperer (162,871 viewers).

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., March 4) -- ups and downs for Marriage Ref

Ed Bark — 2010-03-05T10:08:19-06:00

By ED BARK NBC's time slot premiere of Jerry Seinfeld's The Marriage Ref emerged as its most-watched show of the night while still drawing less than half the audience for CBS' competing The Mentalist. ...In local news derby results, CBS11 and WFAA8 split the golds at 10 p.m. CBS11 won in total viewers while WFAA8 ran first with 25-to-54-year-olds, the favored target audience for news programming.

Remarkable run: half of Idol's remaining eight guys are North Texans

Ed Bark — 2010-03-05T08:01:42-06:00

Pictured are Tim Urban (front row left); Casey James (front row center); Alex Lambert (back row center); Todrick Hall (back row right). Fox photo By ED BARK Todrick Hall survived another undue burst of bullets from judges while Casey James remained in play despite a clawing from The Cougar. They join fellow North Texans Alex Lambert and Tim Urban among the final eight males on Fox's American Idol, which in Season 9 is still prime-time's most-watched weekly series.

Olympics-skewed Feb. sweeps yield asterisk-emblazoned golds for WFAA8, NBC5, Fox4

Ed Bark — 2010-03-04T12:35:07-06:00

By ED BARK WFAA8 won the biggest local newscast prizes of the February "sweeps" with closely contested first place finishes at 10 p.m. in the two major audience categories. ...The 6 a.m. newscast competitions, which were the least-affected by the Olympics, ended with narrow wins by NBC5 in both total viewers and 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

Nguyen moves from CNN to CBS after earlier logging time at D-FW's CBS11

Ed Bark — 2010-03-04T12:33:12-06:00

By ED BARK Betty Nguyen, a six-year veteran of CNN after formerly working at D-FW's CBS11, is moving to CBS News to be an anchor/correspondent. ...She spent six years at the station before joining CNN in 2004 as anchor of the all-news network's weekend morning editions of CNN Newsroom.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., March 3) -- Idol, CBS crime, Leno pace the field

Ed Bark — 2010-03-04T10:54:31-06:00

Live performances from the remaining 10 women semi-finalists on Idol lured 488,614 D-FW viewers from 7 to 9 p.m., with CBS' Criminal Minds running a solid second at 8 p.m. with 366,460 viewers. ...In the late night wars, Jay Leno's third Tonight Show after returning from his prime-time grave again bested David Letterman's Late Show despite the latter's high-profile guest list of Jerry Seinfeld, Tom Brokaw and Barbara Walters (reading a Top 10 list).

Schack shucks WFAA8 to take top meteorologist job in old Kentucky home

Ed Bark — 2010-03-03T15:25:02-06:00

By ED BARK Jennifer Schack, weekend meteorologist at Dallas-based WFAA8, will be leaving the station after her last shift on March 7th to become the head forecaster at ABC station WTVQ-TV in Lexington, KY. ...Schack, who joined WFAA8 in October, 2008, grew up in California, KY and graduated with a degree in Independent Studies: Meteorology from Thomas More College in Crestview Hills, KY.

Tied to a whipping post: favorite son Casey James no longer unscathed among Idol's North Texas 4

Ed Bark — 2010-03-03T10:34:56-06:00

Clockwise from bottom left: North Texans Casey James, Alex Lambert, Tim Urban and Todrick Hall perform on Idol. Fox photos By ED BARK "The Cougar" (Kara DioGuardi) clawed at her favorite hottie cub Tuesday night while fellow judge Simon Cowell head-patted two contestants he'd savaged the week before. ...Simon -- "I would say, 'Tondrick (sic), move but don't sing.' Because this is not working out at all for you.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., March 2) -- Leno wins again while CBS11/WFAA8 split late night election returns

Ed Bark — 2010-03-03T09:22:31-06:00

Tuesday's 10 p.m. local newscasts were driven by state and local election returns, with CBS11 nipping WFAA8 in total viewers by a Nielsen vote of 223,948 to 217,162. ...The 5 and 6 p.m. news numbers were mostly controlled by Fox4, which won at 5 p.m. in total viewers and ran the table at those hours among 25-to-54-year-olds.

The power of raw, mostly silent video

Ed Bark — 2010-03-02T15:10:46-06:00

Fort Worth-based NBC5's website, nbcdfw.com, has posted a two-and-a-half minute video from the scene without any breathless reporter additives. ...On the website, the video is accompanied by a print story that fills in the details, plus a headline reading, "4-Alarm Fire Devours Block of Greenville Avenue."

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., March 1) -- seems like old times: Leno smacks Letterman

Ed Bark — 2010-03-02T10:00:35-06:00

Elsewhere on Monday's landscape, ABC's climactic two-hour The Bachelor: On the Wings of Love, starring Dallas pilot Jake Pavelka, won the 7 p.m. hour in total viewers before finishing second from 8 to 9 p.m. behind new episodes of CBS' Two and a Half Men and The Big Bang Theory. ...On to the local news derby results, where WFAA8 rode a strong lead-in from After the Final Rose to a doubleheader win at 10 p.m. in total viewers and 25-to-54-year-olds, the preferred advertiser target audience for news programming.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., Feb. 26-28) -- Undercover Boss gets silver/gold opposite Olympics closing ceremony

Ed Bark — 2010-03-01T12:58:58-06:00

At 9:30 p.m. Sunday, the sneak preview of NBC's Jerry Seinfeld-produced The Marriage Ref won its time slot with 298,597 total viewers while also emerging as master of its domain among 18-to-49-year-olds. ...In Friday's local news derby tallies, CBS11 edged WFAA8 in total viewers to win the 10 p.m. gold, but Fox4 made a rare trip to the top of the podium with a win among 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

NBC reboots, NBC5 hopes to get a leg up

Ed Bark — 2010-03-01T02:03:37-06:00

The Monday-Friday 9 p.m. lineup, subject to change as winter yields to spring, will be Law & Order; the promising new drama series Parenthood; Law & Order: SVU; Jerry Seinfeld's comedy-panel show, The Marriage Ref and Dateline. ...His long-term goal is to regain the dominance he had over David Letterman's Late Show, which thumped Conan O'Brien's Tonight for much of their seven-month faceoff.

TV news as we know it/knew it/fear it might become (with a little self-analysis, too)

Ed Bark — 2010-02-26T14:51:16-06:00

And Dallas-based WFAA8 on the surface at least seems lucky to be on its own in a market where Fox4, NBC5, CBS11 and CW33 all are owned from afar by their increasingly intrusive corporate masters. ...WFAA8 and CBS11 aren't yet in the "shared content" business, but Fox4, NBC5 and CW33 have been business partners since last spring as part of a Local News Service that's also taken hold in many other markets.

NBC5's Ferguson gets a Gracie

Ed Bark — 2010-02-26T14:34:14-06:00

By ED BARK Deborah Ferguson, who co-anchors Fort Worth-based NBC5's early morning newscasts and has been at the station since 1991, is among the local category winners of a Gracie Award. ..."I wanted to be a reporter ever since I was a little girl, but I never imagined getting an award as big as this," Ferguson says.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., Feb. 25) -- four out of five for Idol over Olympics (updated)

Ed Bark — 2010-02-26T10:44:24-06:00

On Thursday night in D-FW, the overall haul was 508,973 viewers, with a peak audience of 665,057 between 10:30 and 10:45 p.m. for the final minutes of the women's figure skating competition. ...NBC5 won in total viewers at 6 p.m. and tied WFAA8 for first in that measurement at 5 p.m. Fox4 stayed solid with 25-to-54-year-olds, copping the golds at both hours.

Still standing: North Texas 4 survives first viewer voting onslaught

Ed Bark — 2010-02-26T10:17:51-06:00

American Idol's remaining Top 20 includes Duncanville's Tim Urban (left, front row); North Richland Hills' Alex Lambert (2nd from left, top row); Fort Worth's Casey James (4th from left, top row); and Arlington's Todrick Hall (2nd from right, top row). Fox photo By ED BARK Duncanville's Tim Urban looked stunned. ...Urban, 20, and Lambert, 19, join fellow North Texans Todrick Hall, 24, of Arlington, and Casey James, 27, of Fort Worth, among the ratings smasheroo's final 20 contestants.

Sometimes the camera should be in their faces -- as Fox4 showed by playing "Gotcha" to good effect

Ed Bark — 2010-02-25T13:43:14-06:00

And there are recurring abuses, including Fox4 "Street Squad" reporter James Rose's decision last November to needlessly put a minor traffic violator on camera after she told him emphatically and repeatedly, "No, I don't want to be on TV." ...Veteran consumer reporter Steve Noviello, in one of his frequent "On Your Side" pieces, zeroed in on the now defunct Red Cat Consignment Boutique, which had been located in the Lake Highlands Village shopping center before abruptly shutting down.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., Feb. 24) -- Idol again spanks Olympics; Mavs-Lakers endgame whips 10 p.m. local newscasts

Ed Bark — 2010-02-25T10:49:55-06:00

Mavs rock/sock Lakers at AAC. Photo: Ed Bark By ED BARK It proved to be a tough night for North Texas' male quartet, but another good night for American Idol Wednesday. ...In other local news derby results, CBS11's 10 p.m. win in total viewers didn't hold up among 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

Lone Star? Only Fort Worth's Casey James passes judgment among Idol's four North Texas males

Ed Bark — 2010-02-25T05:40:07-06:00

Clockwise from bottom left Wednesday night: Duncanville's Tim Urban, 20; Fort Worth's Casey James, 27; Arlington's Todrick Hall, 24; and North Richland Hills' Alex Lambert, 19. All photos from Fox By ED BARK It's tough being told you murdered a song -- as Todrick Hall was -- or that your only chance for survival is your cuteness -- as Tim Urban was. ...American Idol's four North Texan males went live Wednesday night in an effort to please viewers in the end and the show's taste-making judges for starters.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., Feb. 23) -- Idol thrashes Olympics in third of five faceoffs

Ed Bark — 2010-02-24T10:17:03-06:00

Houston's Paige Miles and Amarillo's Lacey Brown. Fox photos By ED BARK Fox's American Idol took a 2-1 lead over NBC's Olympics with a big smackdown Tuesday night. ...In local news derby results, WFAA8 and CBS11 tied for the lead at 10 p.m. in total viewers, but CBS11 had the gold to itself among 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

No business like snow business

Ed Bark — 2010-02-23T12:49:00-06:00

But the much-hyped sequel mostly turned to dust Tuesday. Photo: Ed Bark By ED BARK They just can't help themselves. ...A thousand and one editions of sports anchor Dale Hansen's "Unplugged" commentaries on WFAA8 pale next to forecaster Pete Delkus topping a newscast by saying, "Plunging temperatures could mean sweater weather tomorrow, with the cold snap just beginning.

THE TRADE: removal of malignant tumor rejuvenates Mavs and returns them to living

Ed Bark — 2010-02-23T12:27:14-06:00

The above statistics, put up on Fox Sports Southwest Monday night, are jaw-dropping in what they say about the Mavs' defense since the acquisitions of Caron Butler, Brandon Haywood and DeShawn Stevenson from the Washington Wizards. ...Owner Mark Cuban deserves credit for seeing the obvious and pulling the trigger on a trade that brought new grit to the team while also cleansing it of a constantly injured head case who occasionally showed up for half a game or so.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., Feb. 22) -- Olympics droop but still dominate

Ed Bark — 2010-02-23T12:05:40-06:00

By ED BARK NBC's 11th night of Olympics coverage, stretching all the way to 11:15 p.m. Monday, drew the smallest crowds to date in D-FW. A significant audience drop-off from 11 to 11:15 p.m., when the Peacock stuck around for the ice dancing medals ceremony, left the Winter Games with an overall average of 461,468 viewers.

The 33 adding another 30 minutes

Ed Bark — 2010-02-23T10:14:08-06:00

The 33's Walt Maciborski, Amanda Salinas and Rebecca Miller. By ED BARK Initial plans for a February conversion to HD have been delayed, but The 33 continues to push ahead with more news in the early evening. David Duitch, news director for the CW station, says a 5 p.m. local newscast will be added on March 14th, joining a 5:30 p.m. edition that launched on Sept. 21st.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., Feb. 19-21) -- more golden ratings for Olympics, but CBS also looks like a winner with Undercover Boss

Ed Bark — 2010-02-22T10:36:24-06:00

Sunday's 6 to 10 p.m. slice averaged 542,904 D-FW viewers, with CBS taking the silver at 8 p.m. with a new episode of Undercover Boss squaring off against a firstrun hour of ABC's Desperate Housewives. ...In Friday's local news derby, CBS11 topped the downsized 10 p.m. competition in total viewers while WFAA8 prevailed with 25-to-54-year-olds, the preferred advertiser target audience for news programming.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., Feb. 18) -- Olympics blade runners propel NBC

Ed Bark — 2010-02-19T09:44:09-06:00

By ED BARK NBC's seventh night of Olympics coverage, highlighted by the men's figure skating final, cruised to gold in prime-time and late night Thursday. ...In local news derby results, WFAA8 topped a downsized field at 10 p.m. in both total viewers and 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., Feb. 17) -- the Olympics strike back

Ed Bark — 2010-02-18T10:19:24-06:00

The 8 to 9 p.m. portion of the Winter Games, on a night fueled with gold medal performances by skier Lindsey Vonn and snowboarder Shaun White, amassed 644,699 D-FW viewers against Idol's final selection of its Top 24 semi-finalists (407,178 viewers). ...Fox4 had a big day in the morning competitions, sweeping the 6 a.m. Nielsens and also beating the three network morning shows among 25-to-54-year-olds with the 7 to 9 a.m. portion of its Good Day.

Left out but still in: Duncanville's Tim Urban a virtual mystery guest among Idol's Top 24

Ed Bark — 2010-02-17T23:19:00-06:00

89416 until the closing minute of Wednesday's American Idol. Photo: Ed Bark By ED BARK American Idol's Season 9 Top 24 is unprecedentedly thick with Texans, numbering six among the Fox juggernaut's semi-finalists. ...Still, Idol needs to do a much better job of coming clean on the program itself rather than leaving viewers mystified as to why the show's Top 24 finalists only added up to 23 until Urban somewhat magically appeared as the closing credits rolled and the 12 chosen males each danced for a few seconds.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., Feb. 16) -- battle of the titans: Olympics vs. Idol

Ed Bark — 2010-02-17T09:54:22-06:00

Idol also won the 7 to 9 p.m. slot among advertiser-coveted 18-to-49-year-olds, with the Winter Games barely holding off a new episode of ABC's Lost in the silver medal competition from 8 to 9 p.m. ...NBC5 swept the 6 a.m. Nielsens and added four more golds at 5 and 6 p.m. Even though NBC admittedly is losing money with these Olympics, it's still nice to have them as a promotional platform.

North Texas duo in Idol's 24, with maybe more to come

Ed Bark — 2010-02-17T08:10:37-06:00

Fox photos By ED BARK American Idol anointed seven of its 24 semi-finalists Tuesday night, with 24-year-old Todrick Hall of Arlington and Casey James, 27, of Fort Worth, still in the running for the Fox's mega-hit's Season 9 crown. ...Still alive are 20-year-old Tim Urban of Duncanville and Alex Lambert, 19, of North Richland Hills, who will learn their fates Wednesday night when Idol picks the rest of their 24 semi-finalists.

Schneider gets reins at CBS11/TXA21 (updated with interview)

Ed Bark — 2010-02-16T11:41:56-06:00

"It's really going to be a continuation of what we're doing here," Schneider said when asked how he'll make his stamp on CBS11/TXA21. ...CBS11's self-standing investigative unit basically has gone out of existence with the recent departure of reporter Bennett Cunningham and the producer who was in charge of what once was a full-time, three-person team of Cunningham, Robert Riggs and Ginger Allen.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Mon., Feb. 12-15) -- Olympics, NBA All-Star game, etc.

Ed Bark — 2010-02-16T09:36:15-06:00

In other local news derby results, NBC5 swept Friday's 6 a.m. competitions while Fox4 took both 6 p.m. golds and WFAA8 did likewise at 5 p.m. ...All four stations opted to play for keeps at 5 and 6 p.m. NBC5 swept those competitions in both ratings measurements and likely will do very well both this week and next with Olympics coverage serving as afternoon and prime-time sandwich bread.

NBC5's glimmer twins

Ed Bark — 2010-02-15T13:47:54-06:00

NBC5's former 10 p.m. anchor duo, Jane McGarry and Mike Snyder, were dubbed "JAM" in a now somewhat infamous 1990s station promo that amazingly still hasn't made it to youtube. ...They're camera-ready and thensome, bringing youth and fashion model appeal to newscasts that long have been transparently thinner in content than those on WFAA8 in particular and Fox4 and CBS11 for the most part.

"I mean, I've got the Stones on my iPod, but I've also got rap" -- NBC5 anchor Jane McGarry talks about life beyond the 10 p.m. news

Ed Bark — 2010-02-12T14:52:48-06:00

McGarry will remain at NBC5 as co-anchor of the 5 and 6 p.m. newscasts, where her former 10 p.m. partner, Mike Snyder, has been deployed since NBC5 replaced him in July with Brian Curtis. ...McGarry, who is in her early 50s but would not specify her age, said she still considers herself "totally a full-time player here at Channel 5 and totally a full-time player in moving ahead into this next thing.

Land replacing McGarry as NBC5's 10 p.m. co-anchor

Ed Bark — 2010-02-12T12:58:09-06:00

The new lineup begins immediately, on Night 1 of NBC's Winter Olympics telecasts. By ED BARK Jane McGarry, a fixture for nearly two decades as NBC5's 10 p.m. newscast co-anchor, has been re-assigned to the Fort Worth-based station's 5 and 6 p.m. editions, where she'll team with veteran Mike Snyder. McGarry's 10 p.m. replacement, beginning Friday, Feb. 12th on the first night of NBC's Winter Olympics telecasts, is incumbent anchor/reporter Meredith Land, who will team with Brian Curtis.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., Feb. 11) -- NBC5, WFAA8 top windfall ratings for snowfall newscasts

Ed Bark — 2010-02-12T12:51:08-06:00

Please don't send camera crews. Photo: Ed Bark By ED BARK D-FW viewers turned out in larger numbers for a snow news day Thursday, with the early morning editions getting the biggest bumps. ...NBC5's 10 p.m. newscast more than tripled that lead-in, but still ran fourth in total viewers on what turned out to be veteran Jane McGarry's last night as co-anchor.

Snow 'n' tell: the sequel

Ed Bark — 2010-02-11T17:29:32-06:00

Marianne Martinez and friend on CBS11's 5 p.m. news. Photos: Ed Bark By ED BARK And it kept on fallin', prompting D-FW's major TV news providers to provide viewers with a blizzard of extended coverage Thursday afternoon. ...Clockwise from bottom left: NBC5's Randy McIlwain; WFAA8's Brett Shipp; NBC5's Scott Gordon and Fox4's Fil Alvarado. Pretty as a picture and in full makeup, too.

Snow 'n' tell: a keepsake album from Thursday's D-FW dawn patrols

Ed Bark — 2010-02-11T11:07:29-06:00
Clockwise from bottom left: NBC5's Ashanti Blaize; Fox4's Adrian Arambulo; WFAA8's Jim Douglas; Fox4's Saul Garza; NBC5's Lindsay Wilcox; CBS11's Robbie Owens; CBS11's Joel Thomas and a cheery, hand-built snowman from WFAA8's Cynthia Vega. Photos: Ed Bark By ED BARK D-FW's early morning news programs love having their foot soldiers in uniform during cold, inclement weather. ...Foul weather news -- and plenty of it -- still packs 'em in. That's why you see so many local newscasts -- at all hours of the day -- leading off with their weathercasters in times when a drop of rain or a 10-degree plunge in temperatures hangs in the balance.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., Feb. 10) -- Leno leaves, NBC5 immediately perks up at 10 p.m.

Ed Bark — 2010-02-11T11:06:44-06:00
Running a solid second behind CBS11, the Peacock pumped up to 271,452 total viewers while nipping CBS11 for first place among 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming. ...CBS' sitcom combo of Old Christine and Gary Unmarried edged Fox's Human Target at 7 p.m. in both total viewers and 18-to-49-year-olds, the preferred audience for non-news programming.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., Feb. 9) -- Idol rolls before viewers pass on Past Life, Mavs

Ed Bark — 2010-02-10T09:41:45-06:00
That easily it made it the day's most-watched attraction, with CBS' NCIS again taking the silver with a game 420,751 viewers at 7 p.m. opposite Fox's Idol. Past Life then dove downward, with the 8 p.m. premiere of the paranormal whodunit drawing just 190,016 viewers to finish fourth behind CBS' NCIS: Los Angeles (400,392), ABC's Lost (318,956) and the second hour of NBC's The Biggest Loser (196,803).

Idol update: North Texas ups and downs

Ed Bark — 2010-02-10T08:00:20-06:00
Arlington's Todrick Hall looms large after Idol's 1st Hollywood cuts. By ED BARK American Idol's first Hollywood round came and went Tuesday night with at least two North Texans going home while three clearly survived. Among the 90-some contestants moving on to Wednesday night are 24-year-old Todrick Hall of Arlington (a personal favorite), Casey James, 27, of Fort Worth (who auditioned in Denver) and 20-year-old Tim Urban of Duncanville.

New bottom lines on Fox4's 9 p.m. newscasts

Ed Bark — 2010-02-09T11:34:19-06:00
Sophia Reza had company on Monday's 9 p.m. newscast. Photo: Ed Bark By ED BARK Your eyes are being asked to multi-task as part of a new look on Fox4's 9 p.m. newscasts. ...In the above picture, reporter Sophia Reza introduced a story on telephone "Sexting" while Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie contemplated a lawsuit over widely disseminated reports that they aren't having sex anymore because their relationship (not marriage) is on the rocks.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., Feb. 8) -- House finds homes before CBS takes over

Ed Bark — 2010-02-09T10:25:49-06:00
By ED BARK Monday's last February "sweeps" hurrah before the Winter Olympics kick in found Fox's House typically winning the 7 p.m. hour before CBS ran the prime-time table. House had 285,025 D-FW viewers in holding off NBC's Chuck (230,073) and the first hour of ABC's The Bachelor: On the Wings of Love (223,948), starring Dallas flyboy Jake Pavelka.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., Feb. 5-7) -- another steamrolling Super Bowl

Ed Bark — 2010-02-08T10:36:14-06:00
Victorious Saints QB Drew Brees with son, Baylen; The Who's Roger Daltrey and Pete Townsend after Supie halftime show. Photos: Ed Bark By ED BARK A little thing called Super Bowl XLIV occupied 74 percent of all D-FW TV sets in use Sunday, topping last year's audience by more than 450,000 viewers. ...At 6 p.m., CBS11 recorded rare twin wins, edging WFAA8 in total viewers and running first by a more comfortable margin with 25-to-54-year-olds, where Fox4 and WFAA8 tied for second.

Old, tired and all but dead: Mavs crap out against Timberwolves

Ed Bark — 2010-02-05T22:18:01-06:00
A disconsolate Dirk hangs head after latest Mavs loss. Photo: Ed Bark By ED BARK Let's be blunt. ...The Mavs looked formidable in the early going, but have cratered miserably as the season wears on. You just DON'T lose to a team that was 11-38 going into Friday's game and had just three road wins.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., Feb. 4) -- WFAA8 takes lead in mini-10 p.m. sweeps sprint

Ed Bark — 2010-02-05T10:44:35-06:00
That's a deflating performance for CBS11, which inherited 434,323 viewers from the last 15 minutes of CBS' The Mentalist while WFAA8 got 257,879 from ABC's Private Practice. ...Fox's Bones opened big at 7 p.m., with its 271,452 total viewers doubling the audience for ABC's runnerup The Deep End (135,726 viewers).

Making a list: 17 North Texans and 9 from elsewhere in the state are in Idol's Hollywood contingent

Ed Bark — 2010-02-04T11:24:02-06:00
Signs of the times at summer's Dallas auditions. Fox photo By ED BARK It takes a little doing to determine just how many North Texans are going to Hollywood for next week's make-or-break American Idol survival rounds. ...Kimberly Carver, 26, Denton Michael Castro, 21, Rockwall Stephanie Crews, 18, Dallas David Duke, 23, Waxahachie Todrick Hall, 24, Arlington Erynne Hundley, 19, Keller Casey James, 27, Fort Worth (auditioned in Denver) Hope Johnson, 19, Arlington Alex Lambert, 19, North Richland Hills Savannah Low, 17, Arlington Sydnee Randall, 19, Midlothian Erica Rhodes, 24, Irving Lloyd Thomas, 29, Dallas Dawntoya Thomason, 27, Dallas Heather Todd, 25, Kerens Tim Urban, 20, Duncanville Maegan Wright, 21, Richardson

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., Feb. 3) -- final Idol audition hour powers prime-time numbers

Ed Bark — 2010-02-04T09:13:31-06:00
In local news derby results, WFAA8 returned to the 10 p.m. winner's circle by edging runnerup CBS11 in both total viewers and 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming. ...That's because NBC's Olympics telecasts, which begin on Friday, Feb. 12th, will push NBC5's 10 p.m. newscasts deeper into the night for 11 of the 20 weekdays while also likely diminishing the late night news audience on Fox4, WFAA8 and CBS11.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., Feb. 2) -- roosts ruled by Idol, Lost and double shot of NCIS

Ed Bark — 2010-02-03T09:46:30-06:00
Idol also ran a comfy first with advertiser-coveted 18-to-49-year-olds, but Lost took the silver by an appreciable margin over NCIS. ...In local news derby results, CBS11 ran the table at 10 p.m. for a second straight weekday in total viewers and 25-to-54-year-olds, the favored advertiser target audience for news programming.

Nose for news at NBC5

Ed Bark — 2010-02-02T11:18:11-06:00
NBC5 virtually invited a snark attack by letting anchor Jane McGarry go one-on-one with an odoriferous, sight gag graphic during Monday's 10 p.m. newscast. ...Her splendiferous home spread in the current D magazine is evidence that the veteran news reader buys only the best -- and can afford to do so.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., Feb. 1) -- rack 'em up for CBS/CBS11

Ed Bark — 2010-02-02T10:44:29-06:00
Two and a Half Men was the day's biggest draw, with 407,178 D-FW viewers from 8 to 8:30 p.m. The Big Bang Theory (380,033 viewers) kept most of the audience before CSI: Miami (386,819 viewers) built it back up a bit. ...CBS sagged in the first hour of prime-time, though, where new episodes of How I Met Your Mother and Accidentally On Purpose ran fourth in total viewers behind Fox's league-leading House (257,879 viewers).

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., Jan. 29-31) -- Grammys roll, but Pro Bowl also scores some points

Ed Bark — 2010-02-01T13:42:40-06:00
CBS' three-and-a-half hour Grammy Awards telecast expectedly won big Sunday night while the NFL's much-maligned Pro Bowl showed that you can always put lipstick on a pigskin when it comes to D-FW viewers' fondness for all things NFL. ...NBC's The Jay Leno Show, nearing the Feb. 11th end of its mostly disastrous prime-time run, continued to struggle with a fourth-place 115,367 viewers at 9 p.m. CBS' Numb3rs led the way at that hour with 223,948 viewers.

Gables makes WFAA8 weekend morning debut; station also stages a three-way GOP guv debate

Ed Bark — 2010-02-01T01:00:32-06:00
One day duo: Debbie Denmon and Shon Gables. Photos: Ed Bark By ED BARK Dressed for balmier weather in a pink, sleeveless top, Shon Gables dawned on WFAA8 viewers Sunday morning in tandem with incumbent Debbie Denmon. ...But candidates also were grilled in depth during one-on-one segments in which the sharpest, most persistent questioners were longtime Dallas Morning News political reporter Wayne Slater and Len Cannon of Houston's KHOU-TV.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., Jan. 28) -- Fox makes its Bones

Ed Bark — 2010-01-29T10:42:18-06:00
That more than doubled the crowds for competing programs, including ABC's Dallas-made The Deep End (135,726 viewers) and CBS' Survivor fill-in special, Live For the Moment (95,008 viewers). ...CBS' repeat of The Mentalist took first at 9 p.m., edging Fox4's local newscast while NBC's The Jay Leno Show and a Private Practice reprise lagged far behind.

App-centuate the positive for WFAA8

Ed Bark — 2010-01-28T11:52:13-06:00
That so far puts it ahead of national entities such as msnbc.com, HuffingtonPost.com, Time mobile, CBS News and The Today Show according to itunes current list of top 100 free news apps. ...10th place WFAA8 launched its app on Jan. 15th, according to the itunes chart, although the station didn't officially announce it until Jan. 25th.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., Jan. 27) -- Idol Dallas auditions on single network outdraw State of the Union on four

Ed Bark — 2010-01-28T09:54:58-06:00
Idol rolled in with 807,570 D-FW viewers on Fox, dominating the 7 p.m. hour by a seven-to-one margin over the most-watched competing program, ABC's repeat of Modern Family (115,367 viewers). ...In Wednesday's local news derby results, the 10 p.m. race was downsized to three competitors when CBS chose to air a full rerun of Two and a Half Men that delayed CBS11's start time to 10:17 p.m. WFAA8 took both 10 p.m. golds, winning in total viewers and 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

Idol auditions in Dallas send 31 to next rung in Hollywood

Ed Bark — 2010-01-28T08:07:17-06:00
Golden Ticket winners Dawntoya Thomason of Dallas and Michael Castro of Rockwall were featured exclusively on Fox4's "Idol Insider" segment during Wednesday's 9 p.m. newscast. Photos: Ed Bark By ED BARK Thirty-one Hollywood-bound "Golden Ticket" holders, including a kitten with a whip who co-starred as a kid on Barney, emerged laughing, crying and screaming from Wednesday's American Idol auditions in Dallas. ...

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., Jan. 26) -- another Idol cakewalk

Ed Bark — 2010-01-27T09:40:28-06:00
The first half of NBC's The Biggest Loser came up a lightweight with 230,734 viewers while ABC's first-run episodes of Scrubs (27,145 viewers) and Better Off Ted (20,359 viewers) couldn't even be called featherweights. ...Still, that was good enough to win its time slot opposite CBS' The Good Wife repeat, the second half of ABC's two-hour Lost reprise and, of course, NBC's lame duck Jay Leno Show.

NBA All-Star game from Dallas won't have easy skating

Ed Bark — 2010-01-26T13:02:54-06:00
By ED BARK The 2010 NBA All-Star game obviously is a big deal both for Dallas and Jerry's Palace, where the league's elite will cavort. ...The Vancouver Olympics' biggest ratings obstacle again is likely to be Fox's American Idol, which beat the 2006 Games several times in head-to-head competitions.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., Jan. 25) -- CBS takes night off; rival networks capitalize

Ed Bark — 2010-01-26T11:07:50-06:00
CBS slipped into first place at 8 p.m. with a Two and a Half Men rerun, which fell to third with 18-to-49-year-olds behind the second hour of The Bachelor and Fox's 24. WFAA8, fueled by an usually potent ABC lead-in program in the 9 p.m. hour, won the late night local news derby in both total viewers and 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

Staying a spell: New Fox action-comedy cop series begins six-month stretch, with Dallas Fair Park as home base

Ed Bark — 2010-01-25T13:08:11-06:00
Whitford plays Dan Stark, a throwback detective lauded for saving the governor's son 30 years ago. Now he's a largely forgotten drunk who finds himself teamed with the considerably younger Jack Bailey (Colin Hanks), a snarky under-achiever who's also been sentenced to a life of mostly solving petty crimes. ... Hanks and Whitford during Code 58 session. Fox photo Both Whitford and Hanks also will have to get accustomed to living in Dallas.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., Jan. 22-24) -- high profile weekend with NFL conference championships, Conan finale, Haiti telethon

Ed Bark — 2010-01-25T10:48:39-06:00
Conan O'Brien played himself off Friday with ample help from Will Ferrell, Beck, Ben Harper, ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons and his Tonight Show band. The song, appropriately, was "Freebird." Photo: Ed Bark By ED BARK Sunday night's Saints-Vikings overtime spine-tingler dominated D-FW television screens, amassing an average of 1,574,422 viewers on Fox.

Two Texas teams in latest Amazing Race

Ed Bark — 2010-01-22T13:30:37-06:00
The 16th edition of The Amazing Race, premiering Feb. 14th, will include Dana and Adrian Davis of Arlington and Jody Kelly/Shannon Foster, respectively of Round Rock and Georgetown. CBS photos By ED BARK CBS has announced the 11 teams for The Amazing Race 16, with two of them from Texas. ...Still kickin' -- Dallas real estate legend Ebby Halliday, who turns 99 on March 9th, will be a guest on this Saturday's edition of Fox News Channel's Huckabee (7 p.m. central and repeated at 10 p.m.).

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., Jan. 21) -- Conan's ratings balloon here, too

Ed Bark — 2010-01-22T10:08:26-06:00
By ED BARK Conan O'Brien's penultimate Tonight Show hit a high point in D-FW Thursday, outdrawing all of NBC's prime-time programming and also punching out CBS' competing Late Show with David Letterman. ...There was comparatively scant interest in the dying days of The Jay Leno Show, which managed just 54,290 viewers in the 9 p.m. hour opposite CBS' The Mentalist (427,537 viewers), ABC's Private Practice (332,529 viewers) and Fox 4's local newscast (122,153 viewers).

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., Jan. 20) -- Idol dominates, Target dips

Ed Bark — 2010-01-21T14:41:45-06:00
The Fox cash cow rolled up its biggest Season 9 numbers to date locally, drawing 678,630 viewers at 7 p.m. That's almost five times the audience for NBC's runnerup Mercy, which had 142,512 viewers at the same hour with a new episode. ...Another CBS crime hour, CSI: NY, as usual topped the 9 p.m. Nielsens in both ratings measurements, with NBC's soon-to-be-dumped Jay Leno Show running fourth across the board while Fox4's local newscast took a pair of seconds.

Handler views Dallas through unique prism

Ed Bark — 2010-01-20T11:08:37-06:00
Chelsea Handler on Tuesday's Jay Leno Show. Photos: Ed Bark By ED BARK I've been watching NBC's nighttime talk shows to see what the hosts might say next. ..."I am just three days away from the biggest drinking binge in history," he said, referring to his decision to leave the show at the end of this week rather than submit to NBC's plan to push it back a half-hour in favor of a new late-nighter hosted by Leno.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., Jan. 19) -- Idol/Fox4 news beat up on CBS crime repeats

Ed Bark — 2010-01-20T10:26:34-06:00
The margin was even more lopsided among advertiser-coveted 18-to-49-year-olds, with Idol drawing 303,329 viewers in this age range while the first hour of NBC's second-place The Biggest Loser had 101,110. ...In local news derby results, WFAA8 won the 10 p.m. crown in total viewers, with Fox4 making a rare appearance in first place among 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

WFAA8 hires two new weekend anchors

Ed Bark — 2010-01-19T14:55:27-06:00
Newcomers Shon Gables and Casey Norton and incumbent Debbie Denmon will be changing WFAA8's weekend anchor mix. By ED BARK Dallas-based WFAA8 is adding two new weekend anchors, station management confirmed Tuesday. Shon Gables, who had been freelancing at WPIX-TV in New York and also hosting the syndicated Black Enterprise Business Report, will be the ABC station's new morning weekend anchor, starting next week.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Sun.-Mon., Jan. 17-18) -- Cowboys' closeout falls short of 2 mil mark

Ed Bark — 2010-01-19T10:34:17-06:00
Brett 'n' Tony meet post-game. Photo: Ed Bark By ED BARK Building to a peak between 2:15 and 2:30 p.m. -- and then dwindling after that -- Sunday's Cowboys playoff exit on Fox fell well short of being the team's most-watched game of the season. ...24 returned with a second two-hour dose on Monday night, averaging 264,666 viewers from 7 to 9 p.m. It narrowly lost to ABC's first hour of The Bachelor from 7 to 8 p.m., but beat The Bach in the following hour.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (catchup round -- Thurs., Jan. 7 to Sat., Jan. 16

Ed Bark — 2010-01-18T15:16:23-06:00
Local news derby: CBS11 rolled to its second straight sweep of the 10 p.m. ratings while NBC returned to both top spots at 6 a.m. Fox4 swept the 5 p.m. competitions and also notched another win at 6 p.m. with 25-to-54-year-olds. ...Local news derby: WFAA8 ended CBS11's three-night streak with a 10 p.m. win in total viewers while NBC5 uncommonly won at that hour with 25-to-54-year-olds.

Cowboys routed, but key first quarter cave-in clearly set the tone

Ed Bark — 2010-01-17T22:22:00-06:00
And for me, the beginning of the end for the Cowboys Sunday was the boneheaded, momentum-sucking decision NOT to go for it on 4th and 1 just outside the Vikings 30 yard line with 5:48 left in the 1st quarter. ...It sowed the seeds of an eventual 34-3 drubbing in which the defense pretty much held up for three quarters while an increasingly rattled Romo ran for his life in the face of a fearsome pass rush.

Over and out for NBC5 anchor Brendan Higgins, CBS11 news director Scott Diener

Ed Bark — 2010-01-17T17:36:56-06:00
"With Brendan's contract coming to an end, he and the station have agreed that Sunday will be his last day as a member of the NBC D-FW team," Tully said. ...In a companion statement announcing his hiring at KCBS/KCAL, Diener said, "I am honored to be given the opportunity to lead the largest and one of the most distinguished local television news teams in the country and look forward to coming home to the Los Angeles area with my family."

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., Jan. 6) -- People's Choice Awards pace CBS, propel CBS11 news

Ed Bark — 2010-01-07T10:54:32-06:00
By ED BARK D-FW viewers snuggled up with CBS' annual People's Choice Awards ceremony Wednesday night before sticking with CBS11's late night newscast for the latest b-r-r-r-r-r-r-eaking news on sub-freezing weather. ...Fox4's 9 p.m. local newscast, also well-stocked with chilling cold weather tales, made a respectable runnerup showing with 176,444 viewers to easily whip NBC's The Jay Leno Show (108,581 viewers) and ABC's new episode of Ugly Betty (74,649 viewers).

Wingwoman role for Fox4's Gutierrez; CBS11 announces day and date for 4 p.m. news expansion

Ed Bark — 2010-01-06T10:28:00-06:00
Fox4's Krystle Gutierrez; CBS11's Keith Garvin and Tracy Kornet By ED BARK Dissatisfied with flat and generally second-place ratings for its early morning Good Day program, Dallas-based Fox4 has decided to re-fold Krystle Gutierrez into the anchor desk mix. The plan is for her to periodically sit with co-anchors Tim Ryan and Lauren Przybyl, who joined the program in September after a lengthy search for Megan Henderson's replacement.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., Jan. 5) -- Orange Bowl has minimal ap-peel opposite new CBS crime episodes

Ed Bark — 2010-01-06T09:43:24-06:00
By ED BARK Absent any local or regional rooting interest, Fox's Orange Bowl telecast got squeezed Tuesday night by a trio of first-run CBS crime hours. ...In other local news derby results, NBC5 also won a downsized 10 p.m. race among 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

Odds/ends from WFAA8's Big D NYE telecast

Ed Bark — 2010-01-05T12:41:39-06:00
Shelly Slater then and now: still toothsome after all these years. By ED BARK Credit WFAA8 anchor Shelly Slater for having a mega-toothy smile and a self-deprecating sense of humor during the station's live New Year's Eve telecast of Victory Park's Big D NYE celebration. ...Former WFAA8 PM Magazine host Leeza Gibbons also made the Big D NYE scene, in the company of sports anchor Dale Hansen and weathercaster Pete Delkus, who served as co-hosts.

Babe, Burger still talking contract renewals with CBS11

Ed Bark — 2010-01-05T11:34:22-06:00
CBS11 sports anchor Babe Laufenberg and weatherman Mike Burger By ED BARK As the New Year dawns, two CBS11 veterans remain at least semi-immersed in contract renewal talks with the D-FW station. ...Fox4 and NBC5 also are owned by their respective networks, leaving Belo-owned WFAA8 as the D-FW market's only mom-and-pop operation, at least in comparison to its rivals.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., Jan. 4) -- purple passion among viewers, purple haze on the field

Ed Bark — 2010-01-05T10:57:22-06:00
TCU's humbling 17-10 Fiesta Bowl loss to Boise State Monday night otherwise vanquished all competing programming, including ABC's local angled season premiere of The Bachelor: On Wings of Love and NBC's two-hour return of Heroes. ...CBS punted with a night full of reruns, but still managed to run second from 8 to 10 p.m. with Two and a Half Men (196,802 viewers), The Big Bang Theory (210,375) and CSI: Miami (210,375).

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot -- special Cowboys edition

Ed Bark — 2010-01-04T11:39:31-06:00
In contrast, the preceding day's Cotton Bowl at Cowboys Stadium -- Mississippi vs. Oklahoma State on Fox -- managed a smallish 352,888 viewers to rank as Saturday's most-watched attraction. The mega-audience for Dallas' regular season closer barely topped this season's previous record of 1,737,293 viewers for the Sept. 20th unveiling of Jerry's Palace, in which the Giants beat the Cowboys 33-31 on NBC's Sunday Night Football.

Cable/network wars are good business for print news neutrals (and other D-FW news updates)

Ed Bark — 2010-01-03T12:09:23-06:00
But the agreement, which will keep Fox's broadcast and cable programming available to Time Warner's 13 million subscribers, came only after a barrage of pricey, back-and-forth full-page ads in major market newspapers, including The Dallas Morning News. ...full-pagers that envisioned a desultory life without NFL playoff games, some of college football's BCS bowl games, American Idol, etc. "Get tough with Time Warner Cable," the ads trumpeted, providing horrified viewers with a 1-866 number and a website to vent.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., Dec. 22) -- crime, Mavs make merry, merry

Ed Bark — 2009-12-23T09:24:44-06:00
That easily outpointed Fox4's runnerup 9 p.m. local newscast (162,871 viewers), with CBS' repeat of The Good Wife (135,726) pulling in third ahead of ABC's reprise of Oprah Winfrey's Christmas At the White House special (101,795 viewers) and NBC's hapless Jay Leno Show (81,436 viewers). ...Also on the holiday repeat front, Fox's two-hour Carrie Underwood special drew 101,795 total viewers from 7 to 9 p.m. That was a bigger overall audience than ESPN had for the one-sided Las Vegas Bowl between victorious BYU and Oregon State.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., Dec. 21) -- ESPN's Monday Night Football routs broadcast offerings

Ed Bark — 2009-12-22T08:53:18-06:00
In the 9 to 10 p.m. hour, football more than doubled the audience of CBS' CSI: Miami repeat, even though New York by that time was already deep into its 45-12 crushing of Washington. ...Among broadcast networks, it ran second in the first hour to ABC's I Want A Dog For Christmas, Charlie Brown (122,153 viewers) before lagging behind CBS' 8 to 9 p.m. reruns of Two and a Half Men (237,521 viewers) and The Big Bang Theory (190,016 viewers).

And to all a good night: D-FW television's list of 2009 departures

Ed Bark — 2009-12-21T12:10:27-06:00
KEN ARNOLD (helicopter pilot, NBC5) -- Dropped in January when station opted to lease choppers from Garland-based Sky Helicopters, Inc. ...MEGAN HENDERSON (co-anchor, Fox4's Good Day) -- Left station in February after five-and-a-half years to join the early morning team at KTLA-TV in Los Angeles.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., Dec. 18-20) -- Cowboys-Saints have it Big Easy in D-FW

Ed Bark — 2009-12-21T09:20:28-06:00
By ED BARK On a Saturday night brimming with Christmas parties and sports bar patronage, the Cowboys' pulsating win over New Orleans tickled the in-home Nielsen ratings to a total of 1,384,405 D-FW viewers on two channel choices. ...All 14 of this season's Cowboys games have topped the one million mark, with the smallest crowd still the 1,065,449 who watched Dallas defeat Tampa Bay on Fox's opening day telecast.

Cowboys get December monkey off back, making Galloway a horse's ass -- again

Ed Bark — 2009-12-20T14:11:47-06:00
Romo is all smiles after big win; Galloway chokes on cigar. By ED BARK The Cowboys' delicious win over previously unbeaten New Orleans amounts to one big doody sandwich for a certain loud-mouthed and reliably wrong prognosticator. ...The host of course was "keeping it real" while one of his sidekicks, Ian Fitzsimmons, had the temerity to say that Dallas at least had a chance against New Orleans.

No more James gang at Fox4 news

Ed Bark — 2009-12-20T13:31:45-06:00
Baron James says goodbye on Friday's 10 p.m. news. Photo: Ed Bark By ED BARK Fox4 anchor Baron James, his contract not renewed, has left the station a month earlier than previously planned. ..."I can't thank you enough for being a part of my journey, allowing me into your homes, for the support you've given me over the last decade," he said.

Former TV meteorologist Kristine Kahanek weathers new career, publishes second kids book

Ed Bark — 2009-12-18T10:27:18-06:00
Former CBS11 meteorologist Kristine Kahanek, who left the station in May after a seven-year stint, will be signing, selling and reading the second book in her children's series Friday (Dec. 18). The venue is Plano's Legacy Books, where Kahanek and the illustrator of Katie and the Magic Umbrella: On Snowflake Trail will be appearing from 6 to 8 p.m.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., Dec. 17) -- CBS thrives against rivals' repeats

Ed Bark — 2009-12-18T09:32:28-06:00
Its 346,101 viewers in the 9 p.m. hour easily surpassed the combined audience for Fox4's local newscast (108,581), NBC's The Jay Leno Show (101,795) and ABC's repeat of Private Practice (67,863). ...Saddled with a 9:45 to 10 p.m. lead-in of just 74,649 viewers from the Private Practice repeat, WFAA8's late night news spring-boarded to 210,375 viewers.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., Dec. 16) -- Fox4 shines in the morning, sinks with Dance finale

Ed Bark — 2009-12-17T10:25:19-06:00
Dance, won by Boston hip hop/krump artist Russell Ferguson of Boston, drew just 115,367 viewers from 7 to 9 p.m., beating only a bloc of comedy repeats on ABC and nipping a new episode of CBS' The New Adventures of Old Christine in the first half-hour. ...In local news derby results, CBS11 again cashed in on the popularity of its network crime lead-in by romping to lopsided victories at 10 p.m. in both total viewers and 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

Cowboys again in the crosshairs while commentators wade into Phillips

Ed Bark — 2009-12-16T15:21:55-06:00
Wade Phillips took the Cowboys' home opener loss hard. Photo: Ed Bark By ED BARK Well, at least the Cowboys haven't been trampled by anyone yet, although that obviously could change Saturday night in New Orleans. ...So once again, revving up my warm-to-the-touch sports opinion motor, I say to a riled-up Cowboys nation and its fomenters: Imagine the outcry if that had happened to reviled Coach Wade Phillips and his Cowboys 11.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., Dec. 15) -- although it's been said many times, many ways, crime pays (on CBS)

Ed Bark — 2009-12-16T09:01:55-06:00
By ED BARK CBS wrapped its holiday season programming in body bags Tuesday night, with new episodes of NCIS, NCIS: Los Angeles and The Good Wife making merry, merry in the D-FW Nielsen ratings. ...CBS11's 10 p.m. newscast again benefited from CBS' potent prime-time lineup, edging a trampolining WFAA8 for first place in total viewers while tying NBC5 for first place among 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., Dec. 14) -- CBS drowns out sing-a-longs with comedy/crime

Ed Bark — 2009-12-15T10:53:33-06:00
The 7 to 9 a.m. portion of Fox4's Good Day ran second to NBC's Today while ABC's Good Morning America lagged well behind in third place during George Stephanopoulos' first day as the program's co-anchor. ...Coming off a puny Oprah lead-in at 4 p.m. WFAA8 ran an across-the-board, out-of-the-money fourth at 5 p.m. The ABC station likewise finished a distant fourth at 6 a.m. with 25-to-54-year-olds, behind longtime doormat CBS11.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., Dec. 11-13) -- Christmas shopping, balmy day and another December loss help hold down Cowboys' crowd

Ed Bark — 2009-12-14T10:17:56-06:00
Cowboys QB Tony Romo officially hates December. Photo: Ed Bark By ED BARK Sunday's Dallas loss to San Diego at Jerry's Palace proved to be a turnoff in more ways than one. ...The 7 to 9 a.m. portion of its Good Day then beat the three network morning shows in both measurements, including the last Good Morning America for Diane Sawyer before she begins anchoring ABC's World News on Dec. 21st.

Fakeout: Looks like a Christmas commercial, but instead it's a promo for . . .

Ed Bark — 2009-12-11T11:33:34-06:00
First we see expectant-looking little kids.... See if you can guess the punchline before this very nicely produced 30-second spot hits the finish line.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., Dec. 10) -- Christmas season crime again propels CBS/CBS11

Ed Bark — 2009-12-11T10:42:30-06:00
A first-run episode of Fox's Bones dented CBS' armor at 7 p.m., winning in total viewers with 162,871 of 'em. But CBS' Survivor: Samoa prevailed with 18-to-49-year-olds. NBC's The Jay Leno Show again had a tough time, beating only a rerun of ABC's Private Practice in total viewers but fading to a distant fourth in the 18-to-49-year-old demographic.

Heading West: CBS11 president/GM Steve Mauldin takes top job at KCBS/KCAL-TV in Los Angeles (updated)

Ed Bark — 2009-12-10T13:07:18-06:00
Steve Mauldin in recent pose at CBS11/TXA21 studios. Photo: Ed Bark By ED BARK Two weeks after CBS11 topped the 10 p.m. news ratings for the first time ever, president and general manager Steve Mauldin is leaving the station to assume the same position at CBS-owned KCBS/KCAL-TV in Los Angeles. ...Dunn, in the CBS release, praised Mauldin as "one of our most experienced executives running major market duopolies, having done so in both Dallas and Miami to great effect -- both in terms of driving sales growth and leading his stations to first place in late news.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., Dec. 9) -- CBS runs prime-time table with new crime/comedy

Ed Bark — 2009-12-10T09:43:52-06:00
CBS likewise swept both ratings measurements from 7 to 9 p.m. with a lineup of New Adventures of Old Christine, Gary Unmarried and Criminal Minds, Wednesday's most-watched program in total viewers. ...WFAA8 won in total viewers at both 5 and 6 p.m., but again couldn't cut the mustard with 25-to-54-year-olds.

'Tis not the season for WFAA8's GMT After Dark

Ed Bark — 2009-12-09T11:30:33-06:00
D-FW viewers expecting to see A Charlie Brown Christmas and a new holiday-themed Disney special (Prep & Landing) instead were subjected to a live edition of the station's Good Morning Texas After Dark. ...And especially not on a night when you're rubbing out two family-targeted Christmas shows in favor of GMT hosts tra la la-ing about products whose purveyors buy air time to hawk them.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., Dec. 8) -- big night for Leno, NBC5's late-nighter

Ed Bark — 2009-12-09T11:29:47-06:00
It was against repeat crime hours on CBS and ABC, but that's what NBC was betting on. So this may provide a glimmer of hope for NBC-owned and affiliated stations, many of whose late night newscasts took a ratings bath in the November "sweeps." ...WFAA8's live edition of Good Morning Texas After Dark, which preempted ABC's A Charlie Brown Christmas and a new Disney animated holiday special, ran fifth in the 7 p.m. hour among broadcast networks with 74,649 viewers.

Dirk gets up close, unusually personal in Fox Sports Southwest's latest In My Own Words special

Ed Bark — 2009-12-08T16:49:01-06:00
By ED BARK Dallas Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki opens up and admits to a trauma-induced eating/drinking bender on a new episode of Fox Sports Southwest's In My Own Words series. He tells interviewer Dana Larson that last May's media feeding frenzy over his since-ended relationship with Cristal Taylor prompted him to go "on a binge there where I ate and drank everything in sight, probably all of May and June.

Local news expansion at CBS11 will send Inside Edition to TXA21

Ed Bark — 2009-12-08T10:32:36-06:00
Inside Edition's Deborah Norville during stop in D-FW. Photo: Ed Bark By ED BARK An official announcement is coming soon, but CBS11 management has confirmed a late afternoon programming shift that will send Inside Edition to sister station TXA21 to make room for an expanded 4 p.m. local news hour. ...On Monday night, a live Delkus cut-in during the syndicated Entertainment Tonight was immediately followed by a foundation repair commercial from former WFAA8 forecaster Troy Dungan, whom Delkus succeeded.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., Dec. 7) -- a Carrie Christmas for Fox

Ed Bark — 2009-12-08T09:24:58-06:00
Carrie and company in crowd-pleasing holiday special. Fox photo By ED BARK Fox warmed up for January's return of American Idol with brisk ratings for a two-hour holiday special starring Season 4 champ Carrie Underwood. ...The special beat all competing broadcast network programming, save for CBS' new episode of Two and a Half Men, which had 257,195 viewers from 8 to 8:30 p..m.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., Dec. 4-6) -- more Giants-sized ratings for Cowboys

Ed Bark — 2009-12-07T12:05:19-06:00
This season's ratings champ, among 12 games, is still the first Cowboys-Giants game, which unveiled Jerry's Palace to the tune of 1,737,293 viewers for NBC's Sunday Night Football. ...Friday's ratings marked a rare time slot win for NBC's The Jay Leno Show, which prevailed across the board at 9 p.m. in total viewers, 18-to-49-year-olds and 25-to-54-year-olds.

CBS11 investigative reporter Bennett Cunningham balks at salary cut, abruptly leaves station

Ed Bark — 2009-12-04T15:16:12-06:00
Cunningham, 41, said he saw a dim future ahead of him at the CBS-owned station after being offered a 10 percent pay cut that would have reduced his annual salary by $17,000. ...In his memo to staffers, Diener said, "We very much wanted Bennett to stay on and continue to contribute to our success, but Bennett tells me he wants to take advantage of his law degree .

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., Dec. 3) -- NBC plays nearly dead in prime-time on day of big sale

Ed Bark — 2009-12-04T10:11:48-06:00
Among 18-to-49-year-olds, Leno finished fourth while Community and Parks & Recreation ran third (ahead of a new hour of ABC's sagging FlashForward). ...Presented with another meatless Leno burger lead-in, NBC5's 10 p.m. newscast ran fourth in both total viewers and 25-to-54-year-olds, the main target audience for news programming.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., Dec. 2) -- Rudy out-duels Rockefeller in battle of annual Christmas specials

Ed Bark — 2009-12-03T10:57:12-06:00
By ED BARK Rudolph's brightly lit pathfinder again was a ratings beacon for CBS Wednesday night, emerging as prime-time's most-watched program after a 7 p.m. duel with the lighting of the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree on NBC. ...CBS' Criminal Minds repeat mopped up with a 9 p.m. win in total viewers while tying for first with Fox4's local newscast among 18-to-49-year-olds.

Yeah? Sew? Henderson threads the needle at KTLA

Ed Bark — 2009-12-02T15:47:20-06:00
Fox4's Good Day continues to have a tough time of late in the early morning D-FW ratings. ...Well, on a recent waker-upper, she was captured sewing on a button for news clown Frank Buckley.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., Dec. 1) -- NBC's heavyweights outdraw CBS' skimpily clad skinny bods

Ed Bark — 2009-12-02T10:34:26-06:00
By ED BARK The last hour of NBC's Biggest Loser clashed with CBS' annual Victoria's Secret fashion show Tuesday night while also giving NBC5's 10 p.m. newscast an enticing view of a world without a lousy Jay Leno Show lead-in. ...Loser also edged Victoria's among 25-to-54-year-olds, but the models nipped the misshapen in the 18-to-49 demographic, prize audience for entertainment programming.

WFAA8 loads up on CBS11 with sharp-worded rhetoric, but doesn't entirely hit its bullseyes

Ed Bark — 2009-12-01T13:30:16-06:00
At 10 p.m., for instance, WFAA8 lost 38,531 viewers in the 25-to-54 demographic, a dip topped only by fourth place Fox4's free-fall of 40,365 viewers in the year-to-year November sweeps. ...WFAA8 still won at 10 p.m. and 6 p.m. in the 25-to-54 demographic while relinquishing the crown to Fox4 at 5 p.m. and again running third at 6 a.m. But the station's year-to-year losses will have to be shored up.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., Nov. 30) -- Leno vs. reruns is still a bust

Ed Bark — 2009-12-01T11:28:12-06:00
CSI: Miami and ABC's Castle were both in repeats at 9 p.m. But a new episode of Leno performed dismally anyway while NBC5's 10 p.m. newscast again paid the price despite upping the slim audience it inherited. ...WFAA8 won the total viewer Nielsens with 217,162, but CBS11 ran first by a comfier margin with 25-to-54-year-olds, the advertiser-favored audience for news programming.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed.-Sun, Nov. 25-29) -- after the "sweeps" comes the catchup

Ed Bark — 2009-12-01T01:29:42-06:00
Macy's annual parade got the ratings ball rolling on Thanksgiving. By ED BARK The local newscast ratings wars have cooled down for a bit, even if the tempers at some stations haven't. ...As usual, that wiped out all competing programming, but still couldn't outdraw the regular season unveiling of Jerry's Palace, when the Cowboys lost to the Giants on NBC's Sunday Night Football while 1,737,293 watched.

Squeezing through: Nielsen shows CBS11 beating WFAA8 by a speck for its first 10 p.m. news win in total viewers while WFAA8 declares it a tie (updated)

Ed Bark — 2009-11-30T09:13:41-06:00
WFAA8 wins with advertiser-favored 25-to-54-year-olds and otherwise claims first-place tie. Photos: Ed Bark By ED BARK No matter how it's sliced, CBS11's 10 p.m. news win in total viewers is less than paper thin. ...In other local news sweeps results, WFAA8 won by a more comfortable margin at 10 p.m. among 25-to-54-year-olds, with CBS11 a close, competitive second.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., Nov. 24) -- WFAA8 wins big, but CBS11 still on top in 10 p.m. news combat

Ed Bark — 2009-11-25T11:12:04-06:00
In the next: WFAA8's 10 p.m. news -- at 9:59. By ED BARK WFAA8 bolted out of Dancing with the Stars faster than sports anchor Dale Hansen from a vegan dinner Tuesday night. ...In Tuesday's other local news derby results, NBC5 ran the table at 6 a.m. and looks as though it will score narrow November sweeps wins over Fox4 in both total viewers and 25-to-54-year-olds.

Anchor Baron James being dropped by Fox4

Ed Bark — 2009-11-25T10:37:37-06:00
By ED BARK Fox4 anchor Baron James, who co-anchors the station's 5 and 10 p.m. newscasts with Clarice Tinsley, is being let go after roughly a decade in the D-FW market. ...Known for his flashy on-air wardrobes, James previously worked in Pittsburgh at ABC station WTAE-TV and before that with NBC affiliate WSFA-TV in Montgomery, Alabama.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., Nov. 23) -- CBS11 gets more breathing room on eve of Dancing denouement

Ed Bark — 2009-11-24T12:44:47-06:00
And a 10 p.m. win, no matter how small the margin, would be the station's first ever at 10 p.m. So there's lots a stake, even if the loser in the end might well say it doesn't matter all that much because this is a 52-week-a-year competition, blah, blah, blah. ...Monday's prime-time results were dominated by Dancing's final performance edition, which drew 373,247 total viewers from 7 to 8:30 p.m. and also won among 18-to-49-year-olds, the preferred advertiser target audience for non-news programming.

This just in: A night in the lives of D-FW's 10 p.m. news titans -- WFAA8 and CBS11 (Mon., Nov. 23)

Ed Bark — 2009-11-24T10:02:55-06:00
CBS11 reporter Nerissa Knight's piece on "Secret Black Friday Deals" also had the scent of an infomercial, although DealTaker.com in fact turns out to have a lot of good information on bargains and day-after-Thanksgiving deals. ...Cowboys bitch about refs but profit from missed call -- CBS11 sports anchor Babe Laufenberg, who does the team's radio-casts with Brad Sham, showed he's no homer by telling viewers that the Cowboys' lone, game-winning TD against Washington Sunday should have been nullified.

This just in: A night in the lives of D-FW's 10 p.m. news titans -- WFAA8 and CBS11 (Fri., Nov. 20)

Ed Bark — 2009-11-23T13:48:37-06:00
WFAA8, which copied its arch rival's ratings "sweeps" gambit on Thursday's 10 p.m. edition, went ahead with another 23-minute helping of news and weather before yielding to its first batch of sponsors' messages. ...The station also wound up its week-long "Social Experiment" series with Ginger Allen's look at a young single woman who is getting around town without a car. Not exactly earthshaking stuff, but moderately interesting.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., Nov. 20-22) -- Cowboys nooner slogs past one mil mark

Ed Bark — 2009-11-23T09:53:57-06:00
Still on top is the regular season debut of Jerry's Palace, in which Dallas narrowly lost to the Giants on NBC's Sunday Night Football. ...NBC5 took the gold at 6 a.m. in total viewers, but WFAA8 scored a rare win among 25-to-54-year-olds by finishing a nose ahead of Fox4.

New KERA13 documentary is wholly Trinity -- circa '60s/'70s

Ed Bark — 2009-11-23T08:21:16-06:00
The Trinity River has alligator gar and endless possibilities. By ED BARK The Trinity Killer is still at large on Showtime's Dexter, but presumably will be disposed of by season's end. ...23rd at 9 p.m. central, does not re-dredge the stormy pros and cons of a nine-mile tollway to be built over the storied river while it's simultaneously being redeveloped into the country's largest urban park.

This just in: A night in the lives of D-FW's 10 p.m. news titans -- WFAA8 and CBS11 (Thurs., Nov. 19)

Ed Bark — 2009-11-20T12:46:05-06:00
Reporter Jason Whitely told the tale of Jason Simpkins, who was stopped on suspicion of theft (wrongly as it turned out) and then taken downtown for having a four-ounce can of "Law Enforcement Strength" pepper spray. ...The CSI star turned out to be supporting player Wallace Langham, who appeared Friday morning at a new Fort Worth CSI attraction that CBS11 also promoted during Wednesday's 10 p.m. newscast.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., Nov. 19) -- tighter 'n' tighter at 10 p.m., electrical fire included

Ed Bark — 2009-11-20T09:44:02-06:00
A fire knocked out NBC5's late night lineup Thursday. nbcdfw photo By ED BARK Oarsmen/women are rowing ever more furiously in the bowels of the big Ben-Hur boats. ...Nielsen shows NBC's Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien and Late Night with Jimmy Fallon registering "hashmarks" (no measurable audience) from 10:35 p.m. to 12:35 a.m. And yes, there's a definite explanation for that.

Oprah's long countdown to a sign-off is going to be just fine with WFAA8

Ed Bark — 2009-11-20T07:51:48-06:00
And as that day grows nearer, interest likely will only heighten in The Oprah Winfrey Show, which launched on Sept. 8, 1986 and has long been anchored at 4 p.m. on WFAA8. ...On Wednesday, the day before her Harpo Productions announced a quit date, Oprah drew just 67,863 viewers in running third behind Fox4's double dip of Judge Judy (74,649 and 95,008 viewers) and NBC's homegrown First At Four newscast (87,988 viewers).

"I don't want to be on TV. Thank you" (but she was anyway)

Ed Bark — 2009-11-19T16:46:55-06:00
That's reporter James Rose on the left. By ED BARK Fox4 has an aggressive, hard-charging reporter in James Rose, whose "Street Squad" segments are featured weekly on the station's 9 p.m. newscasts. ...She was shown on TV anyway, even though Rose seemingly had his pick of other motorists who didn't mind being seen with him while Fox4's cameras rolled.

This just in: A night in the lives of D-FW's 10 p.m. newscasts (Wed., Nov. 18)

Ed Bark — 2009-11-19T13:27:56-06:00
CBS11, in a pitched battle with WFAA8 for the 10 p.m. lead in total viewers and advertiser-favored 25-to-54-year-olds, is looking for any edge it can get down the homestretch of the November "sweeps," which end on the night before Thanksgiving. ...Fox4 and NBC5 had little to offer of note, although the Peacock's Grant Stinchfield at least provided a little comedy relief with his semi-earnest story on how people are spreading swine flu to themselves by touching their faces too much.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., Nov. 18) -- Mavs roll up nice numbers; CBS11 stops 10 p.m. bleeding

Ed Bark — 2009-11-19T09:29:53-06:00
Dirk and Drew Gooden bang bodies, beat Spurs. Photo: Ed Bark By ED BARK The Dallas Mavericks' OT win against the Spurs, again powered by Dirk Nowitzki's close-out clutch-icity, drew the hometown five's biggest D-FW audience of the season after a late start to accommodate ESPN. ...In Wednesday's 10 p.m. local news results, CBS11 stopped a 5-night losing streak to WFAA8 to remain perilously atop the total viewer Nielsens with five weekdays left before the November "sweeps" end on the day before Thanksgiving.

This just in: A night in the lives of D-FW's 10 p.m. newscasts (Tues., Nov. 17)

Ed Bark — 2009-11-18T14:06:13-06:00
Fox4 paid the most respects, with James Rose posted live at the demolition site Tuesday after anchor Baron James set the table by telling viewers, "Reunion Arena went out in style, crumbling and collapsing in a massive cloud of dust." ...Worth watching -- Ace WFAA8 general assignment reporter Jim Douglas had an eye-opening story on a backlog in DNA testing that resulted in the very belated arrest of a sub-human who abducted and sexually assaulted a 13-year-old Cleburne girl 10 years ago. The FBI had the abductor's DNA for more than four years after he was held on another charge.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., Nov. 17) -- 10 p.m. blues deepen for CBS11

Ed Bark — 2009-11-18T12:02:08-06:00
NBC5 won at 5 p.m. in total viewers and shared the gold with WFAA8 at 6 p.m. Among 25-to-54-year-olds, Fox4 ran first at 5 p.m. and WFAA8 was tops at 6 p.m. ...The second hour of Fox's So You Think You Can Dance prevailed from 8 to 9 p.m. before Good Wife mopped up with a 9 p.m. win.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., Nov. 16) -- WFAA8 rallying with 4th straight 10 p.m. win

Ed Bark — 2009-11-18T11:20:50-06:00
The 6 a.m. ratings brought better news for Fox4, which was nipped by the Peacock in total viewers but won among 25-to-54-year-olds for the first time since Wednesday, Nov. ...Oprah Winfrey's interview with Sarah Palin had modest returns at 4 p.m. The show narrowly won its time period against Judge Judy, but its 128,940 total viewers came up short of WFAA8's 5 p.m. local newscast (142,512).

This just in: A night in the lives of D-FW's 10 p.m. newscasts (Mon., Nov. 16)

Ed Bark — 2009-11-17T14:04:15-06:00
It's just Pete doing his dumb weather, so let's screw around -- WFAA8 temperature taker Pete Delkus was deep into his near-freezing forecast when he laughed and then lectured anchor mates Campos, John McCaa and Dale Hansen, who were carrying on off-camera. "You have no idea the concentration level you have to have to go on the air and be a professional like I am when these three are over here playing the games that they're playing behind me," Delkus told viewers.

"And Kevin McCarthy on sports"

Ed Bark — 2009-11-16T13:05:17-06:00
Circa 1986, here's a very nice collection of opening newscast teases for D-FW's Ch. 4, 5 and 8. Just three of the featured anchors then are with their current stations now.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., Nov. 13-15) -- Punchless Pokes still pack 'em in

Ed Bark — 2009-11-16T11:41:31-06:00
NBC's marquee Sunday Night Football matchup of the Colts and Patriots dominated the prime-time numbers with 495,400 viewers, with WFAA8's 10 p.m. newscast pulling in a respectable 291,811 viewers to rank as nighttime's second-most watched attraction. ...WFAA8 took both of Friday's golds at 6 p.m. while tying Fox4 and NBC5 for first in total viewers at 5 p.m. Fox4 won at the earlier hour with 25-to-54-year-olds.

This just in: A night in the lives of D-FW's 10 p.m. newscasts (Fri., Nov. 13)

Ed Bark — 2009-11-16T08:18:29-06:00
Miles By ED BARK D-FW television's two most prominent police reporters led their stations' 10 p.m. newscasts Friday, with WFAA8's Rebecca Lopez in part trying to shoot down some of the reporting by CBS11's J.D. ...He couldn't get the operation in the U.S. Also, Fox4's Natalie Solis contributed a nicely done piece on an elderly woman whose condemned West Dallas home is being rebuilt by members of the retired NFL Players Association, with former Dallas Cowboys Jay Novacek and Preston Pearson among the Good Samaritans.

WFAA8's longstanding Santa's Helpers toy drive has dealt him out, signature spokesman Troy Dungan says (updated)

Ed Bark — 2009-11-13T12:50:57-06:00
Pete Delkus and Troy Dungan at earlier Santa's Helpers event. By ED BARK It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas will be without Troy Dungan's participation in Dallas-based WFAA8's annual Santa's Helpers toy drive. ..."None of the executives (at WFAA8) have approached me about being part of the 2009 Santa's Helpers campaign," Dungan said via an extended email Thursday from Oklahoma City, where he was both visiting a grandchild and suffering from laryngitis.

This just in: A night in the lives of D-FW's 10 p.m. newscasts (Thurs., Nov. 12)

Ed Bark — 2009-11-13T11:50:48-06:00
Sports anchor Babe Laufenberg and Cowboys staffer Rich Behm By ED BARK CBS11 sports anchor Babe Laufenberg's extended exclusive interview with paralyzed Dallas Cowboys staffer Rich Behm provided an uplift on a night otherwise marked by heavy-duty crime and tragedy stories on all four stations. ...WFAA8's Thursday late nighter was uncommonly pedestrian, with anchors John McCaa and Gloria Campos narrating a heavy volume of short video blips as well as promoting Sarah Palin's upcoming Monday appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show and sports anchor Dale Hansen's latest "Unplugged" non-sports commentary on the station's ratings-challenged Daybreak program.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., Nov. 12) -- 10 p.m. news race tightens

Ed Bark — 2009-11-13T09:44:14-06:00
CBS11 ran a competitive second with 237,521 viewers at 10 p.m., but failed to capitalize on a robust lead-in from The Mentalist (427,537 viewers in the closing 15 minutes). ...With nine weekdays remaining in the November "sweeps," CBS11 retains a narrow lead at 10 p.m. in total viewers while WFAA8 holds a still slim lead with 25-to-54-year-olds.

This just in: A night in the lives of D-FW's 10 p.m. newscasts (Wed., Nov. 11)

Ed Bark — 2009-11-12T13:54:30-06:00
Sales are supposed to be illegal, but some mall kiosk vendors and online entrepreneurs still dare to peddle 'em. Little kids, we're told, tend to put their fingers in the turtles' tanks and then in their mouths. ...Still, the station seems to be going through the motions at a time when continued poor ratings for Jay Leno's 9 p.m. show afford an opportunity for Fox4 to slip ahead of NBC5 into third place at 10 p.m.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., Nov. 11) -- Country Music Association awards give ABC/WFAA8 a Swift kick

Ed Bark — 2009-11-12T08:59:33-06:00
By ED BARK ABC's three-hour telecast of the Country Music Association awards dominated the prime-time ratings from start to finish Wednesday while also lifting WFAA8's 10 p.m. newscast to a comfy win over arch rival CBS11. ...That's because the show built a ratings peak between Fox's preceding So You Think You Can Dance results show and Fox 4's 9 p.m. local newscast, both of which had notably smaller audiences.

This just in: A night in the lives of D-FW's 10 p.m. newscasts (Tues., Nov. 10)

Ed Bark — 2009-11-11T11:09:37-06:00
In other good work, WFAA8's Steve Stoler had the only interview with the best friend of a 28-year-old Wylie man who was beaten to death by five teenagers after he warned them to stop speeding through his neighborhood. ...Brought to you by Pete 'n' Dale -- The nightly "Tickle Me Elmo" byplay between weatherman Pete Delkus and sports anchor Dale Hansen found WFAA8's featured temperature-taken showing off a 1985 Cowboys schedule with a picture of the long ago announcing team of Hansen and Brad Sham.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., Nov. 10) -- crime time calls tune

Ed Bark — 2009-11-11T08:57:01-06:00
By ED BARK CBS' trio of crimesolvers ruled Tuesday's prime-time festivities, with only NCIS: Los Angeles suffering a flesh wound among advertiser-favored 18-to-49-year-olds. ...ABC's 9 p.m. country music interview special, hosted by Good Morning America's Robin Roberts, ran second in total viewers but drooped to fourth with 18-to-49-year-olds behind even NBC's The Jay Leno Show.

This just in: A night in the lives of D-FW's 10 p.m. newscasts (Mon., Nov. 9)

Ed Bark — 2009-11-10T14:39:36-06:00
We're in the heart of the four-week November "sweeps" ratings competition, with two 10 p.m. heavyweights -- WFAA8 and CBS11 -- slugging it out for first place while Fox4 and NBC5 fight for table scraps. ...NBC5's best effort of the night was from the reliably sturdy Omar Villafranca, who reported on a Denton mother who believes that her son was among those killed in 2002 by notorious "D.C. Snipers" John Allen Muhammad and Lee Boyd Malvo.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., Nov. 9) -- George Lopez sitcom repeats outdraw competing premiere of Lopez Tonight

Ed Bark — 2009-11-10T10:32:40-06:00
Monday's second biggest draw, ABC's Dancing with the Stars performance show, had 332,150 viewers from 7 to 9 p.m. before CBS' CSI: Miami won the 9 p.m. hour among the Big Four broadcast networks with 292,292 viewers. ...But Fox's House had the edge over Dancing from 7 to 8 p.m. before CBS' Two and a Half Men and The Big Bang Theory ran first in this key demographic from 8 to 9 p.m.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., Nov. 6-8) -- Cowboys run up ratings score, falling short only of home opener

Ed Bark — 2009-11-09T09:44:47-06:00
Dallas' 20-16 win over Philadelphia kept the Nielsen fires roaring with an average of 1,614,249 D-FW viewers in a game that ran from 7:30 to 10:50 p.m. That's easily the second biggest turnout for the eight regular season games to date. ...Friday's biggest prime-time draw, an edition of ABC's 20/20 featuring Diane Sawyer's interview with Rihanna, had 192,647 viewers to give WFAA8's 10 p.m. newscast a bigger than usual lead-in boost.

Cowboys win by Eagles beak, with Michaels-Collinsworth sharp throughout

Ed Bark — 2009-11-08T23:18:38-06:00
Cowboys take over after refs rule McNabb short. Photos: Ed Bark By ED BARK Did QB Donovan McNabb make it to the peak of the Eagles beak or not during the 4th quarter of NBC's Sunday Night Football gem? ...If only they could work Monday Night Football, too. The scintillating Cowboys' win, their fourth in a row, puts them at 6-2 and atop the NFC East.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., Nov. 5) -- heavy duty news day favors WFAA8 in afternoon hours

Ed Bark — 2009-11-06T09:34:47-06:00
The largest audiences gathered between 4 and 5 p.m. before regularly scheduled newscasts kicked in. In that hour, NBC5 edged Fox4 for second place in total viewers but remained third among 25-to-54-year-olds. ...Ratings for news coverage couldn't match those of CBS' The Mentalist, which easily had Thursday's biggest haul with 365,365 total viewers in the 9 p.m. hour while also winning with 18-to-49-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for non-news programming.

Shootings at Fort Hood put local TV news stations to test

Ed Bark — 2009-11-05T18:01:48-06:00
Feeling the news with Fox4's Shaun Rabb, Steve Eagar. Photo: Ed Bark By ED BARK Thursday afternoon entertainment programming abruptly gave way to the shocking events at Fort Hood, where 12 people were killed and 31 wounded in shooting that broke out shortly after 1:30 p.m. ...CBS11's Jay Gormley and Fox4's Melissa Cutler joined Gordon and Reaves, but the waiting game persisted all the way to 6:30 p.m. At that point, all four stations went to their regularly scheduled entertainment programming -- three rag mags and Wheel of Fortune.

Author/anchor/survivor Norville remembers the not-so-good-old Today daze

Ed Bark — 2009-11-05T11:49:32-06:00
Nearing 15 years as anchor of the syndicated Inside Edition and with six books to her name, she's no longer the coltish "Other Woman" who allegedly schemed to drive the older Pauley from her Today desk job in late 1989. ...All of her books have been written since then, including two for children, one on knitting and an account of life after Today titled Back on Track: How to Straighten Out Your Life When It Throws You a Curve.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., Nov. 4) -- Series swan song makes clean sweep

Ed Bark — 2009-11-05T10:07:37-06:00
By ED BARK The Yankees' closeout of Philadelphia in Game 6 of the World Series also shut down all competing programming Wednesday night. Stretching from 7 to 10:50 p.m., the Series averaged 305,578 D-FW viewers on Fox while also triumphing from start to finish among advertiser-coveted 18-to-49-year-olds.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., Nov. 3) -- V is for victory in key TV demographic

Ed Bark — 2009-11-04T09:56:36-06:00
The premiere of ABC's heavily hyped V invaded NCIS Tuesday night, nearly beating the juggernaut CBS crimesolver in total viewers and cruising past it among advertiser-favored 18-to-49-year-olds. ...WFAA8 had a prosperous go of it in the early evening hours, running the table at both 5 and 6 p.m. It was exceedingly close at 6 p.m., though, where WFAA8's margin of victory with 25-to-54-year-olds was four-hundredths of a rating point over Fox4 and five-hundredths over CBS11.

Superman: Dirk's 29 in the 4th a singular Dallas sports feat

Ed Bark — 2009-11-03T22:15:30-06:00
Dirk Nowitzki's record finish raised Mavs from dead. Photo: Ed Bark By ED BARK Sure it was only Game No. ...He willed the Mavs to this win, stunning the commentators on Fox Sports Southwest with one of the most electrifying one-man shows in Dallas sports history.

What are your ABCs of DVR viewing?

Ed Bark — 2009-11-03T10:28:38-06:00
House supposedly profits from DVR viewing; but not Jay Leno. By ED BARK Here are two dueling headlines for you. ...In other words, if you fast-forward through the advertisements, your viewership is discounted in the so-called "commercial plus three" ratings, which measure audiences for shows that are either watched live or played back within three days.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., Nov. 2) -- Series outscores 10 p.m. newscasts but football again is sports leader

Ed Bark — 2009-11-03T09:20:36-06:00
Game 5 ended at 10:26 p.m. and MNF stretched all the way to 11:16 p.m. Let's look first at the 10 to 10:30 p.m. scorecards in total D-FW viewers. ...Monday Night Football, which kicked off at 7:40 p.m., came with an eyelash of outdrawing all competing programming from 7:45 to 11:15 p.m. Pocket calculator technology shows that ABC's Dancing with the Stars performance show spoiled the party, luring 378,651 viewers from 7:45 to 9 p.m. while MNF had 365,365.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., Oct. 30-Nov. 1) -- Cowboys, Favre, Series give Fox a Sunday sports steamroller

Ed Bark — 2009-11-02T13:23:31-06:00
That made Fox4 a D-FW ratings Goliath from noon until 10:45 p.m., when the Yankees all but snuffed the life out of the Phillies with a big ninth inning and a commanding 3-1 edge in the Series. ...All seven of this fall's regular season Cowboys games have topped the one million mark in TV attendance, although Sunday's relatively easy win ranked higher only than the season-opening win over Tampa Bay, which drew 1,042,951 locally.

Mauldin vows to take CBS11 to top spot in late night news

Ed Bark — 2009-11-02T02:10:11-06:00
CBS11/TXA21 president and GM Steve Mauldin. Photo: Ed Bark My latest "Media Matters" piece in D CEO magazine is an up-close look at D-FW television executive Steve Mauldin, who runs the shows at CBS11/TXA21. It makes for timely reading as the four-week November ratings "sweeps" begin in earnest.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., Oct. 29) -- opening bell for November sweeps

Ed Bark — 2009-11-02T00:46:30-06:00
By ED BARK Facing a super-serious threat from CBS11, defending champ WFAA8 came out swinging at 10 p.m. Thursday, winning in both total viewers and advertiser-favored 25-to-54-year-olds. ...Among 18-to-49-year-olds, the key advertiser target audience for non-news programming, Yanks-Phils were outscored by NBC's Community from 7 to 7:30 p.m. and CSI in the 8 p.m. hour.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., Oct. 28) -- World Series starts slow, gets ball rolling

Ed Bark — 2009-11-02T00:04:59-06:00
Specifically, NBC's Monsters vs. Aliens: Mutant Pumpkins From Other Space beat Yankees-Phils from 7 to 7:30 p.m. before a rerun of the same special also prevailed in the 7:30 to 8 p.m. slot. ...Yanks-Phils then inched up to 172,718 viewers from 7:30 to 8 p.m., but Mutant Pumpkins upped its game, too, to 186,004 viewers.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., Oct. 27) -- Mavs' flat season opener reciprocated with smallish TV turnout

Ed Bark — 2009-11-01T23:00:57-06:00
NCIS and The Good Wife respectively won the 7 and 9 p.m. hours in total viewers while NCIS: Los Angeles ran second at 8 p.m. to ABC's Dancing with the Stars results show. ...Among advertiser-favored 18-to-49-year-olds, NCIS and ABC's It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown tied for first at 7 p.m. NBC's second hour of The Biggest Loser controlled the 8 p.m. hour before Good Wife edged the closing hour of Mavs-Wizards.

This just in: "What they told us about their affairs could save your marriage"

Ed Bark — 2009-10-27T23:13:15-05:00
By ED BARK We're on the cusp of the highly eventful November "sweeps" ratings period, which begins Thursday, Oct. 29th and stretches to the day before Thanksgiving. To get you in the proper mood, here's a cavalcade of recent promotions from CBS11, with an emphasis on 10 p.m. newscast shockers and meteorologist Larry Mowry's tireless work during dire weather.

CBS11 reporter Jay Gormley shares his wedded bliss

Ed Bark — 2009-10-27T15:32:29-05:00
Veteran CBS11 reporter Jay Gormley got married Sunday night at the Adolphus Hotel to Dallas social worker Robin Lisa Raxlin, originally from Toronto. Gormley, who also makes movies on the side in partnership with John Venable, sent the above photo to unclebarky.com and asked if it could be posted.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., Oct. 26) -- Oprah's state fair show nets WFAA8 a kewpie doll

Ed Bark — 2009-10-27T12:24:31-05:00
Inflated ratings for Oprah Winfrey's Monday Texas State Fair show also gave viewers an appetite for WFAA8's following 5 p.m. newscast. Photo: Ed Bark By ED BARK Oprah Winfrey's once in a lifetime visit to the Texas State Fair yielded an increasingly rare victory over the competing Judge Judy Monday. ...In the broadcast network universe, Monday's prime-time numbers again were paced by CBS' CSI: Miami (332,150 total viewers in the 9 p.m. hour) and ABC's Dancing with the Stars performance show (312,221 viewers from 7 to 9 p.m.).

"Did ya ever think about why you watch the news that you do?"

Ed Bark — 2009-10-26T14:23:05-05:00
By ED BARK Cornpone and cowboy-centric, this 1987 promo starred the late Dennis Weaver as an otherwise unidentified spokesman for WFAA8's newscasts. At the time Weaver was starring in ABC's shortlived Buck James series, in which he played a sawbones modeled after Houston's famed Dr. Red Duke.

Stop the Presses at last rolls on a local TV screen near you

Ed Bark — 2009-10-26T12:14:56-05:00
Mark Birnbaum, Andy Streitfeld, Manny Mendoza at April 2008 showing of Stop the Presses at AFI Dallas Film Festival. Photo: Ed Bark ...Stop the Presses is the work of veteran Dallas filmmaker Mark Birnbaum and former Dallas Morning News colleague Manny Mendoza, who joined yours truly and more than 100 staffers in taking a buyout in mid-September 2006.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., Oct. 23-25) -- big win and more mega-ratings for Cowboys

Ed Bark — 2009-10-26T09:25:10-05:00
Miles Austin celebrates another big day. Photo: Ed Bark By ED BARK The Cowboys' impressive win over Atlanta Sunday rang up another ratings bonanza for Fox, with 1,368,458 D-FW viewers partaking. ...Over on Fox, Sunday night's competing Game 6 of the Yankees-Angels Al championship series averaged 239,148 viewers to trail both football and ABC's 8 to 10 p.m. lineup of Desperate Housewives and Brothers & Sisters.

"From News 4 Texas, this is a 'Desert Showdown' update"

Ed Bark — 2009-10-23T11:39:40-05:00
Anchor Clarice Tinsley, hair piled high, gives Channel 4 viewers the latest news blips on Operation Desert Shield, complete with "hotline" volunteers on call "if you've got Middle East questions."...

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., Oct. 22) -- spurred by repeats, baseball finally scores

Ed Bark — 2009-10-23T09:52:04-05:00
In the prime-time portion of the game, Yanks-Angels ran second to ABC's FlashForward in the 7 p.m. hour, was beaten only by ABC's Grey's Anatomy at 8 p.m. and was runnerup to CBS' The Mentalist from 9 to 10 p.m. Both Mentalist and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation had repeat episodes. Baseball played better with advertiser-coveted 18-to-49-year-olds, where it beat all competing programming except Grey's Anatomy and NBC's The Office.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., Oct. 21) -- crime-fighting duo again boosts CBS/CBS11

Ed Bark — 2009-10-22T09:36:28-05:00
ABC's critically acclaimed Modern Family was its biggest draw of the night with 159,432 viewers from 8 to 8:30 p.m. Still, that was only good for a third place finish opposite the first half-hours of Criminal Minds and NBC's Law & Order: SVU. ...In local news derby results, CBS11 rode its CSI: NY lead-in to twin wins at 10 p.m. in total viewers and 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

Bumps in the road: Conomos hiccups her way through traffic update

Ed Bark — 2009-10-21T15:46:42-05:00
Stay tuned in the video below for a big grand finale hiccup during this recent Alexa Conomos traffic report on WFAA8's Daybreak. That takes a little pressure off NBC5 meteorologist David Finfrock, whose forecasts are still prone to coughing spells.

Doocy's unintended doozy: veteran Fox4 sports anchor still on sidelines while trying to regain his voice

Ed Bark — 2009-10-21T12:21:42-05:00
As previously reported in these spaces, anchor Baron James was off the air for more than two months after undergoing surgery to remove a growth from his larynx that had increasingly affected his speaking voice. ...Cogill, who previously hosted WFAA8's Good Morning Texas, was pulled from that show in late July to become the station's full-time arts and entertainment reporter.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., Oct. 20) -- another swing and a miss for baseball

Ed Bark — 2009-10-21T11:24:27-05:00
The post-season ratings rut continued Tuesday night, when Fox's Game 4 of the Yankees-Angels AL Championship Series ran an overall fourth in total viewers and only a bit better in some instances among advertiser-craved 18-to-49-year-olds. ...CBS also held serve among 18-to-49-year-olds, where baseball hit its high point with a second place finish in the 9 p.m. hour opposite NBC's The Jay Leno Show and ABC's The Forgotten.

When the cliche fits, wear it: A win is a win is a win

Ed Bark — 2009-10-20T10:47:36-05:00
And by the way, that narrow and much-vilified Cowboys loss on the road to Denver isn't looking so stinko now that the Broncos are 6-0 after an impressive Monday Night Football win at San Diego. ...But with 30 years under my belt in North Texas, I like to see the Cowboys win and figure that should be good enough right now in a league where just about everyone struggles from week to week.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., Oct. 19) -- Monday Night Football runs up score on post-season baseball

Ed Bark — 2009-10-20T09:38:00-05:00
In local news derby results, CBS11 cemented its status as the station to beat at 10 p.m. in the November sweeps by rolling to twin wins in total viewers and 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.... NBC5 again took charge of the 6 a.m. competition with another pair of firsts over Fox4, whose Good Day then regrouped to beat the three network morning shows from 7 to 9 a.m.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., Oct. 16-18) -- no Cowboys but plenty of other marquee pigskin/horsehide

Ed Bark — 2009-10-19T10:05:19-05:00
A. Saturday morning/afternoon's annual Red River Shootout between Texas and Oklahoma B. Saturday night's classic, marathon NLCS Game 2 between the Yankees and Angels C. Sunday afternoon's battle of the unbeatens -- Giants vs. Saints D. Sunday night's game between the Bears and the next Cowboys' opponent, the Falcons ...But it did slowly build an audience in late night hours, peaking at 166,075 viewers between 11:30 and 11:45 p.m. Still, NBC's Saturday Night Live beat baseball in the 10:30 p.m. to midnight slot with an identical overall average of 166,075 viewers.

Channeling your 10 p.m. viewing habits

Ed Bark — 2009-10-16T10:43:44-05:00
As the four-week November "sweeps" approach (start date is Oct. 29), CBS11 is in strong position to win for the first time ever at 10 p.m. Its network's powerful Monday-Friday arsenal of 9 p.m. crime shows has something to do with that. ...Not coincidentally, the station got a big boost -- and also made its own luck -- by opening its new Victory Park studios in January of that year while also becoming the first D-FW station to present its newscasts in high-definition.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., Oct. 15) -- there will be blood

Ed Bark — 2009-10-16T09:51:25-05:00
Fox's Bones led off with 239,148 D-FW viewers in the 7 p.m. hour, besting ABC's runner-up FlashForward (172,718), which this week was renewed for a full season. ...The Jay Leno Show then tied Fox4's local 9 p.m. newscast for third in total viewers while holding that spot on its own in the 18-to-49 demographic.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., Oct. 14) -- crime 'n' dance prance

Ed Bark — 2009-10-15T09:38:27-05:00
CBS11, with a strong tailwind from CSI: NY, dominated the 10 p.m. local news ratings in both total viewers and 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming. ...The top 5 spots in that demographic were held by ABC's World News, the NBC Nightly News, Fox4's local news and, in a fourth place tie, TXA21's That '70s Show repeat and MY27's My Name Is Earl do-over.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., Oct. 13) -- pendulum swinging at 10 p.m. news hour

Ed Bark — 2009-10-14T10:18:56-05:00
As noted previously in these spaces, CBS11's late night newscasts inherit sizable audiences on most weeknights from a network crime arsenal of CSI: Miami, CSI: NY, The Mentalist and on Tuesdays, The Good Wife. ...In other local news derby results, Fox4 and NBC5 shared the total viewers gold at 6 a.m., but Fox4 won outright with 25-to-54-year-olds.

Oprah/Dale; Dale/Oprah

Ed Bark — 2009-10-13T16:07:50-05:00
For those who didn't see it and wished they did, below is video of Oprah Winfrey's close encounter with sports anchor Dale Hansen on WFAA8's Monday 5 p.m. newscast. Also included: a clip of a high-haired Winfrey from a 1986 edition of The Ed Busch Show, which used to air on the Dallas-based station.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., Oct. 12) -- anchor Oprah gives mini-boost to WFAA8's 5 p.m. news numbers

Ed Bark — 2009-10-13T10:48:18-05:00
Dancing took the 7 p.m. hour in that key demographic before falling to third from 8 to 9 p.m. behind CBS' Two and a Half Men and The Big Bang Theory and Fox's Lie to Me. ...NBC's The Jay Leno Show ran a distant fourth at 9 p.m with 18-to-49-year-olds and also held down that out-of-the-money spot in total viewers.

TXA21 signs WRC-TV's Garvin as new "First in Prime" co-anchor (updated)

Ed Bark — 2009-10-12T22:30:17-05:00
By ED BARK Keith Garvin, a veteran TV newsman who has spent the last three years at NBC-owned WRC-TV in Washington, D.C., will be the new co-anchor of TXA21's First in Prime 7 to 9 p.m. newscasts. ...Also of note at CBS11/TXA21 -- John Knicely, hired less than two months ago as a freelance reporter, has already left the premises to take an anchoring job at CBS affiliate KMOV-TV in St.

Oprah glides through WFAA8 newscast, survives encounter with sports anchor Hansen

Ed Bark — 2009-10-12T17:51:31-05:00
Oprah Winfrey co-anchors with incumbent Gloria Campos on Monday's "special edition" of WFAA8's 5 p.m. newscast. Photos: Ed Bark By ED BARK Maybe they should hire her. ...Earlier Monday, "I went to the State Fair and ate my way through it," Winfrey said of her mid-morning taping of material for a future Oprah Winfrey Show, which serves as the ratings-challenged 5 p.m. newscast's lead-in program.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., Oct. 9-11) -- Cowboys again make Fox4 feel like a million

Ed Bark — 2009-10-12T10:15:40-05:00
But Fox's Dollhouse showed some signs of life among advertiser-craved 18-to-49-year-olds, winning the 8 p.m. hour in that measurement while Medium fell to third behind NBC's Dateline. ...Fox4 had comfortable twin wins at 5 p.m., with its double dose of Judge Judy clubbing WFAA8's Oprah Winfrey in the 4 p.m. hour while NBC5's First At Four local newscast ran second.

"Mike and Mike. They even cover showers."

Ed Bark — 2009-10-11T23:08:02-05:00
By ED BARK KXAS-TV (Channel 5) had Jane and Mike (news anchors McGarry and Snyder), immortalized in a series of mid-1990s "JAM" promos. KDFW-TV (Channel 4) had Mike and Mike (sports anchor Doocy and weatherman Burger), who got something of a copycat buildup in 1995.

Cut to the chase -- television always does

Ed Bark — 2009-10-09T13:16:20-05:00
Fugitive motorist finally splashes to a stop on live TV. Photo: Ed Bark By ED BARK Another idiot led police on a prolonged car chase in late morning/early afternoon hours Friday. ...WFAA8 briefly tried to escape, shifting to ABC's One Life to Live at 1 p.m. But it quickly scurried back to the action as the fugitive was bumped off the road to a water-logged stopping point.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., Oct. 8) -- crime stories again prevail on CBS, Fox

Ed Bark — 2009-10-09T09:49:38-05:00
NBC's one-hour wedding episode of The Office ran a competitive second at 8 p.m. among 18-to-49-year-olds while finishing third in total viewers ahead of the slumping Fringe. ...NBC5 resumed its winning ways at 6 a.m. with a sweep over Fox4 while CBS11 had a rare big day at 6 p.m. Its newscast won outright in total viewers and tied Fox4 for first with 25-to-54-year-olds.

Sporting life for Fox4's Ray; former colleague Aguilar gets a USA Today tout

Ed Bark — 2009-10-08T18:24:25-05:00
***One of Ray's former Fox4 colleagues, Rebecca Aguilar, is featured in a USA Today story touting her fledgling "Wise Latinas Linked" social networking page on Facebook. Aguilar says the group has more than 1,700 members since she formed it two months ago. It was her response to criticism of then U.S. Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor's 2001 comment that she hoped a "wise Latina woman with the richness of her experiences would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a white male."

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., Oct. 7) -- CBS11 again takes it to the house with 10 p.m. newscast while Fox4 prospers in other local news slots

Ed Bark — 2009-10-08T10:08:38-05:00
For the third straight weekday it swept the 10 p.m. Nielsens in both total viewers and 25-to-54-year-olds, the principal advertiser target audience for news programming. ...In prime-time results, Fox's So You Think You Can Dance won at 7 p.m. in both total viewers and 18-to-49-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for entertainment programming.

Former D-FW television news photogapher finds a picture-perfect niche

Ed Bark — 2009-10-07T14:14:17-05:00
Entrepreneurial spirit: Primus is happily getting the word out. Many TV stations have been converting to a tapeless digital format while phasing out or junking their old equipment. ...Finding and keeping a new career such as this isn't what he had in mind after learning his camera skills as a "motion picture photographer" during a six-year hitch in the Marines.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., Oct. 6) -- address is CBS, even with NCIS: Los Angeles faltering

Ed Bark — 2009-10-07T11:10:11-05:00
CBS' Late Show with David Letterman continued to best NBC's Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien in total viewers, but the redhead nipped him among 18-to-49-year-olds. In local news derby results, CBS11 was a double-winner for the second straight weeknight at 10 p.m., taking an outright gold in total viewers and tying Fox4 for first with 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., Oct. 5) -- Favre-fueled Monday Night Football dominates prime-time scoreboard

Ed Bark — 2009-10-06T09:24:07-05:00
By ED BARK A virtually canonized Brett Favre led the Vikings to victory over the already sainted Packers Monday night, with ESPN no doubt drawing a record national audience for the Monday Night Football franchise it inherited from ABC. ...Leno's total audience of 99,645 viewers fell well short of his former late night adversary, David Letterman, whose sex scandal-spurred CBS Late Show drew 159,432 viewers in decimating Conan O'Brien's NBC Tonight Show (19,929 viewers).

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun, Oct. 2-4) -- Rocky Mountain high/low for Cowboys

Ed Bark — 2009-10-05T12:38:15-05:00
That ranked Cowboys-Broncos second among this season's four regular season games, trailing only the not-so-grand opening of Jerry's Palace on NBC's Sunday Night Football (an overall average of 1,700,608 viewers). ...The Peacock also took the gold at 6 a.m. in total viewers, but lost by a sliver (three-hundredths of a rating point) to Fox4 among 25-to-54-year-olds.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., Oct. 1) -- split decision in battle of ABC/CBS titans

Ed Bark — 2009-10-02T10:34:44-05:00
But both of ABC's health care hours had the edge with advertiser-coveted 18-to-49-year-olds, in which Grey's led all four shows with 171,784 viewers in this age range. ...NBC's The Jay Leno Show again cratered, running fourth at 9 p.m. in total viewers and tying for third in the 18-to-49 demographic with Fox4's local newscast.

"Live Newt Girls" -- with a pimp impression, too!

Ed Bark — 2009-10-02T07:32:10-05:00
Lodge owner Dawn Rizos and her PR maestro, Michael Precker, on MSNBC's Rachel Maddow Show Thursday night. Photo: Ed Bark By ED BARK Um, Michael, that outfit made you look like, well, a pimp. ...Chortling over Newt Gingrich's latest dumb move, MSNBC's Rachel Maddow Show welcomed Dawn Rizos, owner/CEO of The Lodge, and her in-house PR man, Michael Precker, to Thursday night's edition.

Newt's topless trip-up gets taken to the next level -- national TV exposure for The Lodge

Ed Bark — 2009-10-01T15:47:55-05:00
He happily regaled the host with tales of his transition from an award-winning reporter for The Dallas Morning News to assistant manager at "one of the nation's premier gentlemen's clubs, which has received many local and national honors over the years for its elegance, beauty, fine cuisine and integrity." ...Numerous local media outlets already have eaten this one up, with Gingrich the fool on the hill after his conservative American Solutions for Winning the Future said it planned to honor Rizos as "Entrepreneur of The Year" for "your success in building your business and recognition of the risks you take to create jobs and stimulate the economy."

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., Sept. 30) -- crime dominates after two comedy premieres show a li'l life

Ed Bark — 2009-10-01T10:43:13-05:00
The second episode of ABC's Eastwick took a tarnished silver with just 146,146 viewers while NBC's The Jay Leno Show and Fox4's 9 p.m. local newscast tied for third (126,217 viewers each). ...WFAA8 also had a 6 p.m. win in total viewers, with Fox4 topping the 25-to-54 ratings, as it usually does at that hour.

Former WFAA8 anchor Jeff Brady reportedly has eyes on vacant San Antonio anchor job

Ed Bark — 2009-10-01T01:26:05-05:00
Jeff Brady and retiring KENS-TV anchor Chris Marrou By ED BARK The San Antonio Express-News reports and Dallas sources confirm that former WFAA8 anchor Jeff Brady is among those angling for a soon-to-be-vacant anchor post at the Alamo City's KENS-TV. ...Also of note in D-FW news circles -- Veteran Fox4 sports anchor Mike Doocy has been off the air and ill this week.

Gamesmanship at 10 over Smadi followup interviews

Ed Bark — 2009-09-30T12:08:33-05:00
Shadowy figure: CBS11's Jack Fink interviewed alleged terrorist bomber's estranged wife on Tuesday's 10 p.m. news after WFAA8's Jason Whitely first got to her in daylight hours. Photo: Ed Bark By ED BARK D-FW's two 10 p.m. news kingpins battled for bragging rights Tuesday via followup interviews with those closest to alleged terrorist bomber Hosam Maher Husein Smadi. ...CBS11 has been trailing WFAA8 in post-terrorist arrest scoops, but made a breakthrough on Tuesday's 10 p.m. edition with what it touted as "the first American television interview" with Smadi's father in Jordan.

Miles to go: WFAA8 reporter and substitute anchor leaving for New York

Ed Bark — 2009-09-30T11:50:05-05:00
By ED BARK Darla Miles, who joined Dallas-based WFAA8 in December 2006, is leaving to join WABC-TV in New York. ...She is a graduate of Spelman College in Atlanta and began her broadcasting career at the city's WCLK radio.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., Sept. 29) -- crime pays in prime-time before WFAA8 scores with 10 p.m. payback

Ed Bark — 2009-09-30T10:24:53-05:00
By ED BARK Paced by NCIS and its offspring, CBS again ruled the Tuesday prime-time domain while ABC's latest Dancing with the Stars had a Tom DeLay limp. ...The second episode of CBS' The Good Wife then mopped up with a timeslot-winning 285,649 viewers at 9 p.m. All three crime dramas also won among advertiser-coveted 18-to-49-year-olds.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., Sept. 28) -- two-pronged Cowboys attack sticks fork in competition

Ed Bark — 2009-09-29T10:59:32-05:00
Dancing, featuring Michael Irvin and Tom ("We're gonna dance 'til it breaks") DeLay grimacing in pain on a bad foot, drew 272,363 viewers from 7 to 9 p.m. CSI: Miami then had 298,935 viewers in the 9 p.m. hour. But Fox's House outdrew the first hour of Dancing among advertiser-coveted 18-to-49-year-olds while CBS' Two and a Half Men and The Big Bang Theory bested Dancing in the 8 to 9 p.m. slot.

Rowlett savoring life beyond TV news while teaching on the side

Ed Bark — 2009-09-28T12:45:45-05:00
Tracy Rowlett with his SMU broadcasting class. Photo: Ed Bark By ED BARK Off the air for more more than a year and "happy as a clam" in semi-retirement, Tracy Rowlett says he's signed off for good as one of D-FW's signature news anchors. ...Rowlett spent more than a quarter-century at WFAA8 before stunning both his employer and the local TV news industry by jumping to KTVT-TV (Channel 11) in 1999 after CBS bought the station and offered him a multi-million dollar deal.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., Sept. 25-27) -- Football boots returning series premieres on rival networks

Ed Bark — 2009-09-28T10:05:39-05:00
Also Sunday, the first two hours of filmmaker Ken Burns' National Parks opus ran four times locally on Ch. 13 from 1 to 9 p.m. The peak audience was 86,359 viewers between 4:30 and 4:45 p.m. ...Fox's 7 to 8 p.m. double dip of its new Brothers sitcom and the return of Dollhouse were all but missing in action, finishing fourth overall Friday among the Big 4 broadcast networks.

Heavy, but sometimes lightweight coverage of terrorist threat tops Thursday's 10 p.m. newscasts

Ed Bark — 2009-09-25T09:49:30-05:00
Police mug shot of Smadi, and his intended target, Fountain Place. By ED BARK "Team coverage" of the thwarted terrorist bombing of Fountain Place dominated 10 p.m. newscasts Thursday after the story broke during early evening hours. ...NBC5 quoted what amounted to hearsay from a woman, Shelly Thompson, who said, "I just heard that the guy that was the manager at the Sonic had plotted a terrorist threat or a bomb at a building in Dallas."

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., Sept. 24) -- CBS again prospers with crimebusters

Ed Bark — 2009-09-25T09:49:22-05:00
CBS' season premieres of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and The Mentalist out-duled ABC's two-hour return of Grey's Anatomy Thursday while NBC's The Jay Leno Show again had a chalk outline despite a guest appearance by Rush Limbaugh. ...CSI amassed 431,795 D-FW viewers in the 8 p.m. hour while ABC's competing first hour of Grey's had 292,292.

GMA's Roberts MIA on WFAA8's Daybreak

Ed Bark — 2009-09-24T10:31:45-05:00
In that vein, here's a howler from a recent edition of Dallas-based WFAA8's Daybreak. Co-anchor Chris Flanagan is ready to embark on his usual cross-promotional chit-chat with a Good Morning America anchor, in this case Robin Roberts.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., Sept. 23) -- crime punishes Leno, CBS11 continues on late night news roll

Ed Bark — 2009-09-24T10:30:35-05:00
Criminal Minds won its first half-hour with 18-to-49-year-olds, but Courteney Cox's Cougar edged it for the gold from 8:30 to 9 p.m. That's a very impressive showing for the show's opening night. ...The 33's fledgling 5:30 p.m. local newscast, which ran a heady second Tuesday among 25-to-54-year-olds, fell back to earth Wednesday with a distant sixth place finish in that key demographic.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., Sept. 22) -- CBS/ABC dominate with crime, dancing

Ed Bark — 2009-09-23T09:34:02-05:00
The 9 p.m. hour went to CBS' premiere of The Good Wife (358,722 viewers), which had a comfortable margin over the first outing of ABC's runnerup The Forgotten (212,576 viewers). ...NBC's The Jay Leno Show lagged for the second straight night, with its host's ample jaw broken in two places with 139,503 total viewers at 9 p.m. Leno moved up to second with 18-to-49-year-olds, beating The Forgotten.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., Sept. 21) -- big doings on first night of new season

Ed Bark — 2009-09-22T11:16:49-05:00
Dancing fell to second in the first hour (behind Fox's season premiere of House) and sunk to third from 8 to 9 p.m., where CBS' relaunch of Two and a Half Men was the top draw in the first half-hour before House returned to the winners' circle from 8:30 to 9 p.m. ahead of CBS' runnerup Big Bang Theory. ...In local news derby results, CBS11 re-entered the winners circle at 10 p.m. by beating runnerup WFAA8 in both total viewers and 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

Przybyl joins Good Day on otherwise blue Monday for Cowboys fans

Ed Bark — 2009-09-21T14:29:38-05:00
Co-anchor Tim Ryan "surprises" new deskmate with 5th grade yearbook pictures during Monday's Good Day on Fox4. Photos: Ed Bark By ED BARK Pretty in dark pink, vowel-deprived Lauren "What's a Przybyl?" ...Przybyl replaces Megan Henderson, who left Good Day in late February and coincidentally is scheduled to show up Monday evening on The 33's inaugural 5:30 p.m. local newscast.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., Sept. 18-20) -- Cowboys crash through Emmys party with mega/jumbo numbers

Ed Bark — 2009-09-21T10:46:48-05:00
Jerry was a happy man until the bitter end. Photo: Ed Bark By ED BARK The agony of defeat had more than 1.7 million witnesses Sunday night while the agonies of defeats on the Emmys settled for peanuts. NBC's Sunday Night Football, showcasing the grand regular season opener of Jerry's Palace, drew 1,700,608 D-FW viewers in dwarfing the North Texas audience for the previous Sunday's regular season kickoff at Tampa Bay (1,042,951 viewers on Fox).

Palace coup during a "classic matchup in an ultra-modern setting"

Ed Bark — 2009-09-21T03:11:20-05:00
The local TV ratings will go through the roof, too. Photos: Ed Bark By ED BARK Lose the last one in the old stadium, lose the first one in Jerry's biggest excess story. ...But after a bucking bronco of a game -- and a sterling effort by NBC's announcing team of Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth-- New York branded the Cowboys with a 33-31 loss on a last-second field goal.

Henderson returns to D-FW -- different time, different station and from afar

Ed Bark — 2009-09-20T11:58:51-05:00
Henderson, who left Fox4's Good Day at the end of the February "sweeps," will be doing daily entertainment segments on Dallas-based The 33''s 5:30 p.m. weekday newscasts, which launch on Monday, Sept. 21st. ...In an odd twist, Henderson's Good Day replacement, Lauren Przybyl, will make her Fox4 debut on the same day Henderson is scheduled to start reporting on The 33.

Today goes to the Matt for full-blown celebration of Jerry's Palace

Ed Bark — 2009-09-18T11:11:12-05:00
Lauer and Jones are beamed up on giant video screen. Photos: Ed Bark By ED BARK Jerry Jones got everything he wanted Friday -- a virtual informercial for his new Cowboys palace on the nation's No. ...Former first daughter Jenna Bush Hager made her debut as Today's newest correspondent with a taped piece on 11-year-old Dalton Sherman, whose motivational speaking has made him a youtube sensation and landed him on both the Oprah Winfrey and Ellen DeGeneres shows.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., Sept. 17) -- Leno bumped off by Mentalist repeat

Ed Bark — 2009-09-18T10:19:58-05:00
NBC's season premieres of Saturday Night Live Thursday and Parks and Recreation ran fifth in total viewers from 7 to 8 p.m. The season's first new episode of The Office improved a bit to fourth place. ...The season premiere of Fox's Bones commanded the 7 p.m. hour in total viewers and 18-to-49-year-olds, with the launch of CBS' Survivor: Samoa taking second in both measurements.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., Sept. 16) -- Peacock keeps crowing

Ed Bark — 2009-09-17T11:23:24-05:00
Nothing else came close, although Fox's critically acclaimed Glee made an encouraging showing by drawing more viewers at 8 p.m. than the network's lead-in show, So You Think You Can Dance. ...In local news derby results, NBC5 made its big Leno lead-in stand up by winning at 10 p.m. in total viewers and 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

Good Day viewers get first taste of Przybyl

Ed Bark — 2009-09-16T11:21:05-05:00
Good Day's new co-anchor arrived on tape Wednesday. Photos: Ed Bark By ED BARK Local television's least-kept secret, incoming Good Day co-anchor Lauren Przybyl (PRIZ-BULL), made her Fox4 debut Wednesday morning via a trio of videotaped segments. ...Przybyl later talked about covering the Rattlesnake Roundup as a rookie reporter in Abilene and of getting to know recurring Good Day guest Pat Green during the time the country singer served beer at George's bar in Waco while she imbibed as a Baylor student.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., Sept. 15) -- big dropoff for Jay, but he's still the 9 p.m. winner

Ed Bark — 2009-09-16T11:19:53-05:00
The final hour of CBS' Big Brother 11 ran second with 126,217 viewers, followed by a reprise of Barbara Walters' interview with the late Patrick Swayze (119,574 viewers) and Fox4's 9 p.m. local newscast (112,931 viewers). ...In local news derby results, WFAA8 bucked NBC5's lead-in advantage from Leno to win at 10 p.m. in both total viewers and 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., Sept. 14) -- it's Leno in a landslide

Ed Bark — 2009-09-15T13:53:47-05:00
Averaging a whopping 471,653 D-FW viewers and peaking at 518,154 during West's appearance in the closing 15 minutes, Leno had nearly three times the audience of CBS' runnerup CSI: Miami rerun (159,432 viewers in the 9 p.m. hour). ...The Peacock also coasted to a 10 p.m. win in total viewers, drawing 325,507 in again besting WFAA8 (239,148 viewers after a comparatively skimpy lead-in from the Dreamgirls movie on ABC).

How funny: NBC5's news teases a match for the intended comedy in Jay Leno Show

Ed Bark — 2009-09-14T23:13:10-05:00
NBC5's Brian Curtis shills for featured flasher story. Photos: Ed Bark By ED BARK The funniest comedy during The Jay Leno Show may be the nightly promotions for NBC5's 10 p.m. newscasts. On Monday's premiere, co-anchor Brian Curtis took the wheel for a second time after Leno warned late in the show, "Hey, take a look at what's happening on your late local news!"

Baron James ready for his closeups again at D-FW's Fox4

Ed Bark — 2009-09-14T13:03:30-05:00
Fox4 anchor Baron James, off the air since early July, will return to the station on Wednesday, Sept. 16th, a spokeswoman said Monday. James, who does the 5 and 10 p.m. newscasts with Clarice Tinsley, had been quieted by surgery to remove a growth from his larynx.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., Sept. 11-13) -- Cowboys look like a million in season opener on Fox

Ed Bark — 2009-09-14T11:18:01-05:00
Ending at 10:45 p.m. with a 21-15 Green Bay win, the game averaged 438,438 viewers while also wiping out the first 15 minutes of Cowboys-heavy, 10:30 p.m. local sports specials on WFAA8 (285,649 viewers) and CBS11 (106,288 viewers).... The playoff-contending Texas Rangers' rain-delayed doubleheader against Seattle, which began around 5 p.m. and stretched to 10:32 p.m. on Fox Sports Southwest, peaked with 119,574 viewers between 8:30 and 8:45 p.m.

Off-camera downer, upper at CBS11

Ed Bark — 2009-09-13T16:27:22-05:00
CBS11's Dallas HQ flooded; weatherman Jeff Jamison is a new dad. By ED BARK CBS11's Dallas offices off Central Expressway were disabled early Saturday after a burst water pipe flooded the building's basement, where most of the electronics reside. ...Meanwhile, much of CBS11's Dallas sales staff will relocate to the Fort Worth offices, "some even working out of desks in our newsroom," Diener says.

"Everyone's a memory"

Ed Bark — 2009-09-11T14:49:35-05:00
By ED BARK Three blasts from WFAA8's not-so-distant past -- anchors Jeff Brady and Macie Jepson and "Why Guy" Mike Castellucci -- are featured in this clip from a 5 p.m. newscast. ...Castellucci's now at KUSI-TV in San Diego, Brady's running a Dallas-based PR firm and this is the last I've heard from Jepson.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., Sept. 10) -- rock 'em/sock 'em NFL opener sacks 10 p.m. newscasts

Ed Bark — 2009-09-11T10:44:09-05:00
CW's season premiere of Supernatural fell to just 53,144 total viewers at 8 p.m., drooping to fifth place in both audience measurements. ...In Thursday's other local news derby results, WFAA8 also topped the three-way 10 p.m. race among 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

This just in: Przybyl spelled backwards is Lybyzrp

Ed Bark — 2009-09-10T12:21:32-05:00
Good Day's Tim Ryan primes pump for newbie. Photo: Ed Bark By ED BARK Fox4's hiring of Dallas native Lauren Przybyl as Good Day's new co-anchor, broken by unclebarky.com in late July, is yet to be announced publicly by the station. ...Doin' what they think they've gotta do -- The successes or failures of The Oprah Winfrey Show and The Jay Leno Show are crucial to the ratings fates of WFAA8's 5 p.m. newscast and NBC5's 10 p.m. edition.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., Sept. 9) -- Obama health care speech tangles with season launch of Fox's Dance

Ed Bark — 2009-09-10T10:55:51-05:00
President Obama's 7 p.m. speech to Congress on health care reform went opposite the fall season premiere of Fox's So You Think You Can Dance while the official Republican response battled the opening minutes of Fox's heavily promotedGlee. ...In local news derby results, only Fox4 and NBC5 started at the appointed 10 p.m. hour, with Fox4 edging the Peacock in total viewers and winning by a comfy margin among 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

Take Dale out to the ballgame/buy him some peanuts and crackerjack -- courtesy of our charity fundraiser

Ed Bark — 2009-09-09T14:52:07-05:00
Dale Hansen needs to be re-schooled in the great game of baseball. By ED BARK The Texas Rangers toyed with Cleveland Wednesday afternoon, demolishing the Indians 10-0 to sweep a three-game road series. ...If WFAA8 can't or won't send him to a Rangers game for a live sports segment, then why don't we do it via unclebarky.com's official "Take Dale Out to the Ballgame" fundraiser.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., Sept. 8) --WFAA8 bucks Talent to top 10 p.m. news numbers

Ed Bark — 2009-09-09T10:46:41-05:00
But the Peacock instead drooped to a rather distant second behind WFAA8, which got a comparatively puny 132,860 viewers from the 9:45 to 10 p.m. portion of ABC's Primetime: Family Secrets. ...In Tuesday's other local news derby results, NBC5 edged Fox4 and WFAA8 for first place in total viewers at 6 a.m. The Peacock and Fox4 shared the golds among 25-to-54-year-olds.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Mon., Sept. 4-7) -- smallish crowd for Cowboys' pre-season closer

Ed Bark — 2009-09-08T11:39:25-05:00
A 6:30 to 7 p.m. wrapup, with host Jerry Lewis again singing his signature "You'll Never Walk Alone," had 26,572 viewers before a 7 p.m. episode of NBC's Law & Order: Criminal Intent jumped to 99,645 viewers. In local news derby results, NBC5 and WFAA8 tied at 10 p.m. in total viewers Friday, with CBS11 still with the Cowboys until 10:17 p.m. The Peacock won outright among 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

Hansen-style: blow off Texas Rangers as long as possible (updated to include rebuttal by Hansen in "Comments" section)

Ed Bark — 2009-09-05T13:33:14-05:00
On Tuesday's 10 p.m. newscast, Hansen emphatically said the Rangers wouldn't make it to the post-season, but at least were still trying hard on that particular night by sweeping a doubleheader from Toronto. ...If Cowboys' pre-season games count for nothing -- as Hansen keeps preaching -- then why not dump them toward the middle or end of his sports segment on a night when the Rangers' fourth consecutive win in fact counted for a lot?

Reporter Katherine Blake opting out at CBS11

Ed Bark — 2009-09-04T11:20:55-05:00
CBS11's Katherine Blake and wedding pic from Facebook page. By ED BARK Katherine Blake, a member of D-FW-based CBS11's late night reporting team, is leaving the station to spend more time with her new husband and family. ...She earlier worked for KCBS-TV and KCAL-TV, both based in Los Angeles.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., Sept. 3) -- Mentalist plays mind games

Ed Bark — 2009-09-04T11:20:35-05:00
Thursday's Mentalist reprise had the day's biggest audience (259,077 D-FW viewers), with Fox4's local newscast a game but distant second with 152,789 viewers. ...CBS11 took Thursday's 10 p.m. competition in total viewers, but Fox4 had the edge with 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., Sept. 2) -- one-day somersault for early morning news ratings

Ed Bark — 2009-09-03T10:22:39-05:00
By ED BARK Lazarus rose from the dead Wednesday -- hey kids, that's a biblical reference -- when WFAA8 topped the 6 a.m. ratings for the first time since March 30th. ...Its results show drew a league-leading 232,505 total viewers in the 8 p.m. hour while also dominating that time period among 18-to-49-year-olds, the key advertiser target audience for entertainment programming.

CW 33 news director addresses rumored romance between newly hired sports reporter and Cowboys QB Tony Romo

Ed Bark — 2009-09-02T14:39:42-05:00
Rampant gossip site postings, later picked up unsubstantiated by numerous other websites, say that Candice Crawford, who covers high school sports for Dallas-based CW33 (KDAF-TV), lately has been dating Dallas Cowboys QB/horndog Tony Romo. ...Before he became the Cowboys' first string quarterback, Romo attempted to go through an intermediary to date Mesquite model Shannon Hughes, who placed second in NBC's 2005 "reality" series search for a Sports Illustrated swimsuit model.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., Sept. 1) -- it takes a lotta Talent for NBC5 to be No. 1 at 10

Ed Bark — 2009-09-02T09:30:55-05:00
It was the same Tuesday night story at 7 p.m., too, with CBS' NCIS repeat winning the hour in total viewers but falling to third with 18-to-49-year-olds behind Fox's Hell's Kitchen and NBC's Talent recap. ...Fox4 dominated the early evening news Nielsens, tying WFAA8 for first place at 6 p.m. in total viewers, but keeping the gold to itself among 25-to-54-year-olds, where it won for an eighth straight weekday.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., Aug. 31) -- country-fried ratings for ABC (mmm, good)

Ed Bark — 2009-09-01T14:06:06-05:00
The CMA Music Festival: Country's Night to Rock averaged 205,933 D-FW viewers to narrowly outpoint ESPN's competing Monday Night Football pre-season game (199,290 viewers), starring Brett Favre at QB for the (say it ain't so) Minnesota Vikings. ...In local news derby results, WFAA8 capitalized on ABC's overall big night by cruising to victory at 10 p.m. in both total viewers and 25-to-54-year-olds, the primary advertiser target audience for news programming.

Eeeeeee! reptile dysfunction

Ed Bark — 2009-09-01T03:01:04-05:00

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., Aug. 28-30) -- big blowouts for Cowboys, Fox4's Friday newscasts

Ed Bark — 2009-08-31T10:17:47-05:00
Live from Jerry's Palace, Dallas' 20-13 loss averaged 684,229 D-FW viewers, with a peak audience of 850,304 from 9:45 to 10 p.m. That fell short of Fox4's 750,659 viewers for the Aug. 21 home win against Tennessee, but exceeded that game's peak of 817,089 viewers. ...The golds at that hour belonged to NBC5 in both total viewers and 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

Sink or swim for Dallas entrepreneur on Shark Tank

Ed Bark — 2009-08-28T11:12:46-05:00
By ED BARK Dallas entrepreneur Gina Cotroneo, founder of Soul's Calling, will brave ABC's Shark Tank this Sunday in hopes of convincing one of the show's five investors to sink some money into her five-year-old company. She already knows the outcome of her previously taped appearance, but is contractually barred from divulging details until after the show airs (at 8 p.m. central locally on WFAA8).

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., Aug. 27) -- throwaway pre-season football game runs up prime-time score

Ed Bark — 2009-08-28T10:24:47-05:00
So Miami's less than scintillating 10-6 win over Tampa Bay ruled the prime-time roost Thursday, averaging 239,148 viewers on Fox while also drawing the lion's share of advertiser-coveted 18-to-49-year-olds. The next biggest attraction, CBS' 9 p.m. repeat of The Mentalist, had 166,075 total viewers but drew barely one-fourth as many 18-to-49-year-olds in that hour.

News 8 promo, circa 1998: "If ever there was a time, it is now"

Ed Bark — 2009-08-27T12:10:11-05:00
The rest are no longer in the picture, although weatherman Troy Dungan still drops in at Christmastime while otherwise doing foundation repair commercials that regularly pop up on his old station. Otherwise anchor Chip Moody is deceased and Tracy Rowlett, Nann Goplerud, Anna Martinez, Robert Riggs, Mary Stewart and Sonya Van Sickle are all long gone from WFAA8.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., Aug. 26) -- scant interest in Kennedy specials

Ed Bark — 2009-08-27T10:26:38-05:00
lt ran fifth at that hour behind NBC's America's Got Talent recap (192,647 viewers), Fox Sports Southwest's Rangers-Yankees game and ABC's Wipeout (119,574 viewers each) and Fox's Bones rerun (99,645 viewers). ...At 9 p.m., ABC's Kennedy hour drew 93,002 viewers to place fourth behind CBS' CSI: NY repeat (166,075 viewers), Fox4's local newscast (152,789 viewers) and NBC's Law & Order: SVU reprise (132,860 viewers).

One size fits all? Not when it came to this quickly yanked, corporate-produced promo for nbcdfw.com (updated)

Ed Bark — 2009-08-26T10:37:24-05:00
As recently reported, Fort Worth-based KXAS-TV's (NBC5) marketing and promotions departments are being gutted next month in favor of largely out-sourcing those duties to Peacock corporate headquarters in New York. ...
View more news videos at: http://www.nbcdfw.com/video.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., Aug. 25) -- NBC's Talent, Rangers near-disaster heat up prime-time numbers

Ed Bark — 2009-08-26T10:36:17-05:00
Gifted with another dream lead-in from Talent, NBC5's 10 p.m. newscast rose to the occasion by winning comfortably in total viewers and 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming. ...WFAA8 was aided by a better-than-usual performance from the struggling Oprah Winfrey Show, which uncommonly won at 4 p.m. in total viewers and tied NBC5's First at Four local newscast in the 25-to-54 demographic.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., Aug. 24) -- back-to-school battle in early morn

Ed Bark — 2009-08-25T11:18:46-05:00
Fox4's 7 to 9 a.m. continuation of Good Day tied ABC's Good Morning America for second in total viewers (behind NBC's Today) but beat all three network morning shows in the 25-to-54-year-old measurement. Meanwhile, WFAA8 may be getting a little queasy over the performance of its homegrown Good Morning Texas, which airs at 9 a.m. The show drew just 6,643 total viewers Monday and had "hashmarks" (no measurable audience) among both 25-to-54-year-olds and 18-to-49-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for entertainment programming.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., Aug. 21-23) -- Cowboys score big for debut in Jerry's punt-blocking palace

Ed Bark — 2009-08-24T10:49:33-05:00
Fox4's telecast of the Cowboys' win over Tennessee averaged a mega-sized 750,659 viewers, peaking at 817,089 from 8:15 to 8:30 p.m. Those numbers easily exceeded the turnout for CBS11's inaugural pre-season road tilt against Oakland, which loped in with an average of 531,440 viewers and a peak audience of 690,872. ...A tribute to the late Don Hewitt on CBS' 60 Minutes had 126,217 total viewers at 6 p.m., running a close second to ABC's America's Funniest Home Videos (132,860 viewers).

It's a Sept. 21 startup for 5:30 p.m. newscasts on "The 33"

Ed Bark — 2009-08-24T09:27:22-05:00
The 33's Walt Maciborski, Amanda Salinas and Candice Crawford By ED BARK D-FW-based KDAF-TV ("The 33") has announced a start date for its 5:30 p.m. local newscasts after word got out last May. ...In the May ratings "sweeps," The 33's 9 p.m. newscast averaged 39,858 D-FW viewers compared to 179,361 for Fox4's competing news hour.

Who wore what when? New website offers castoff anchor/reporter clothing at bargain prices

Ed Bark — 2009-08-21T10:05:05-05:00
Jolene DeVito, formerly an anchor at Dallas-based WFAA8 and TXCN, says she may have "created a monster" with a brand new website that specializes in sales of old on-air clothes. ...All of the site's orders have been placed by women so far, DeVito says, with shipments already on the way to anchors in Tyler, Austin and Portland, Maine.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., Aug. 20) -- pre-season football scores until The Mentalist intercepts

Ed Bark — 2009-08-21T09:15:14-05:00
At 7 p.m., ABC's second-to-last 10th anniversary edition of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire managed 126,217 total viewers to finish second behind football in that hour. ...The local news derby had a split decision at 10 p.m., where CBS11 won a downsized three-way race with 205,933 total viewers while NBC5 took first with 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

C'mon down!!! -- to Carpet One Flooring Outlet Warehouse

Ed Bark — 2009-08-20T15:35:10-05:00
And you can audition by journeying to Hurst on Saturday, Aug. 22nd for the 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. auditions at Carpet One Flooring Outlet Warehouse (formerly Stone Mountain Carpet, if that helps) at 825 Airport Freeway near Precinct Line Road. Three auditioners will be chosen and one of them will be guaranteed a bidder's spot on "Contestants' Row" during a future taping of Price in Los Angeles.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., Aug. 19) -- little love for Octomom

Ed Bark — 2009-08-20T14:54:34-05:00
The two-hour special averaged just 93,002 D-FW viewers from 7 to 9 p.m., ranking fourth overall behind NBC's pair of America's Got Talent hours, Fox Sports Southwest's Rangers-Twins game and ABC's combo of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire and Wipeout. ...Octomom fared a bit better with advertiser-favored 18-to-49-year-olds, beating Millionaire and Rangers-Twins from 7 to 8 p.m. before fading to a third-place tie with baseball in the 8 p.m. hour.

New newser at D-FW's NBC5

Ed Bark — 2009-08-19T16:46:07-05:00
By ED BARK Former NBC5 (KXAS) intern Kim Fischer will be rejoining the Fort Worth-based mothership as a full-time reporter after a stint at WOAI-TV in San Antonio. ...Fischer, set to start at NBC5 on Sept. 1st, also was the Scrappy the Eagle mascot during her time as a student at the University of North Texas before getting her first full-time TV news job at KRBC-TV in Abilene, according to her WOAI bio.

Add a new freelancer at D-FW's CBS11/TXA21

Ed Bark — 2009-08-19T16:44:40-05:00
CBS11/TXA21 management confirms that John Knicely has been hired as a freelancer for both North Texas stations. ...Before that he toiled for WPSD-TV in Paducah, Kentucky.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., Aug. 18) -- Talent beats up on premiere of Shaq Vs. and two other reality weaklings

Ed Bark — 2009-08-19T15:50:08-05:00
By ED BARK Tuesday night's launch of Shaquille O'Neal's Shaq Vs. gave Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisburger a tumble but buckled under the weight of NBC's competing America's Got Talent. ...In local news derby results, WFAA8 crawled out of a hole dug by its 9 p.m. ABC lead-in program (Prime Time: The Outsiders) to nip NBC5 at 10 p.m. in total viewers.

He's a soul patch man -- and probably a trailblazer, too

Ed Bark — 2009-08-18T13:14:18-05:00
Fox4 reporter Matt Grubs and his sprouting soul patch. Photo: Ed Bark By ED BARK Television news isn't much of a growth industry these days. ...That's clear from his official Fox4 bio, where he says in part, "My life began like most do; dropped in a basket and floated off down the Nile until I came ashore in some reeds."

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., Aug. 17) -- evergreen Dateline drives prime-time numbers

Ed Bark — 2009-08-18T09:43:20-05:00
In the daily local news derby, WFAA8 bucked the skimpy lead-in from Castle to win in total viewers at 10 p.m. But NBC5 ran first among 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming. ...NBC5 continued to prosper with twin wins at 5 p.m. The 6 p.m. golds were split by WFAA8 in total viewers and Fox4 with 25-to-54-year-olds.

Action Jackson: world's foremost Michael mimic does one-nighter at The Lodge

Ed Bark — 2009-08-18T08:15:32-05:00
Well, here's an antidote, provided you don't mind patronizing The Lodge, classiest of the city's gentlemen's clubs and the only one owned by a woman. ...Anyway, Moss, 32, has a string of film and TV credits as Jackson, including Scary Movie 3, Scary Movie 4, Date Movie, The Steve Harvey Show and MADtv.

Dallas Morning News "Special Contributors" lack certain identifying characteristics

Ed Bark — 2009-08-17T13:17:53-05:00
Dallas Morning News "special contributors" Christopher Kelly, Anthony Andro, Jeff Wilson, all of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. ...Not coincidentally, Daybreak remains in an early morning ratings ditch, fighting to stop CBS11's long downtrodden waker-upper from overtaking it for third place behind NBC5 and Fox4, which soon will debut new co-anchor Lauren Przybyl.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., Aug. 14-16) -- Yang's big sting drives Sunday ratings

Ed Bark — 2009-08-17T12:58:15-05:00
Elsewhere in Sunday's prime-time hours, ABC's Who Wants To Be A Millionaire and Shark Tank controlled the 7 to 9 p.m. hours in total viewers before the network's latest new episode of Defying Gravity drooped to third behind Fox4's front-running 9 p.m. local newscast and CBS' Cold Case repeat. In Friday's local news derby, NBC5 had twin wins at 10 p.m., topping the field in both total viewers and 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., Aug. 13) -- Slop-happy Cowboys bulldoze local latenight newscasts

Ed Bark — 2009-08-14T15:25:50-05:00
Airing from 9:09 p.m. until 12:12 a.m. Friday, the 31-10 loss averaged a dominating 531,440 D-FW viewers, peaking at 690,872 between 9:45 and 10 p.m. That compares to 489,130 viewers for last year's Saturday, Aug. 9th pre-season opener against the San Diego Chargers. ...The far-flung telecast, from Oakland's half-empty Alameda County Coliseum, had recurring audio problems in the early going and at the start of a pre-game show that drew 199,290 viewers from 8 to 9 p.m. Longtime play-by-play announcer Brad Sham also seemed off his game, and sometimes a bit snippy, too, toward on-the-field correspondent Mickey Spagnola.

The real Julia does Dallas

Ed Bark — 2009-08-13T14:59:06-05:00
By ED BARK Meryl Streep seems a cinch to pick up another Oscar nomination for her bravura turn as the late Julia Child in Julie & Julia, currently in theaters. ...Thanks to KERA-TV (Channel 13) vice president of programming Bill Young for sharing these evocative photos from Child's visit to Dallas a decade or so ago.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., Aug. 12) -- Talent again dominates before Philanthropist gives it all back

Ed Bark — 2009-08-13T10:29:28-05:00
A Talent recap in the 7 p.m. hour won that slot with 172,718 D-FW viewers, handily beating the fourth nightly episode of ABC's Who Wants To Be A Millionaire (112,931 viewers). ...Starved for a decent-sized lead-in, NBC5's 10 p.m. newscast ran third in both total viewers and 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., Aug. 11) -- big bounce back for CBS11's latenight news

Ed Bark — 2009-08-12T09:46:31-05:00
Inheriting a dinky audience from another of CBS' newly implanted Medium reruns, the station trampolined at 10 p.m. with nearly triple the audience in both total viewers and 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming. ...Medium, which will move to Friday nights at 8 p.m. next month, drew just 73,073 D-FW viewers from 9:45 to 10 p.m. CBS11's late night newscast then improved markedly to 186,004 viewers to tie WFAA8 for second place just one-tenth of a rating point behind NBC5 (192,647 viewers).

Not that long ago, NBC5 actually had teams of TV gumshoes

Ed Bark — 2009-08-11T22:11:30-05:00

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., Aug. 10) -- Millionaire cashes in bigger ratings, but still comes up short with 18-to-49-year-olds

Ed Bark — 2009-08-11T11:41:06-05:00
CBS' repeats of Two and a Half Men and The Big Bang Theory controlled the 8 to 9 p.m. slot in both ratings measurements before Dateline NBC doubled its pleasure in the 9 p.m. hour by edging CBS CSI: Miami reprise. In local news derby results, WFAA8 overcame a skimpy lead-in from ABC's Castle repeat to win at 10 p.m. in total viewers and 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., Aug. 7-9) -- Millionaire performs like (A) a million bucks; (B) two cents; (C) 25 grand; (D) newspaper stocks

Ed Bark — 2009-08-10T10:00:31-05:00
ABC's Defying Gravity, a fairly decent intergalactic scripted series which premiered the previous Sunday, had just 79,716 viewers at 9 p.m., tying for third place with CBS' Cold Case reprise. ...In Friday's local news derby results, CBS11 took the gold at 10 p.m. in total viewers while WFAA8 prevailed among 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

Battle of the Good Day music(?) makers

Ed Bark — 2009-08-10T08:30:20-05:00
But we live in times when CNN's Anderson Cooper doubles as a recurring guest co-host of Live with Regis & Kelly while NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams has agreed to do periodic comedy bits on NBC's The Jay Leno Show after previously hosting the network's Saturday Night Live. ...

Cowboys, Cowboys, Cowboys, Cowboys

Ed Bark — 2009-08-07T14:12:01-05:00
Sports guys Mike Doocy, Matt Barrie, Dale Hansen, Babe Laufenberg By ED BARK Recurring budget-slashing and downsizing at D-FW's four major TV news providers of course hasn't curtailed the gang coverage of the Dallas Cowboys training camp in San Antonio. ...CBS11's Babe Laufenberg helmed the meatiest presentation, WFAA8's Dale Hansen again covered himself almost as much as the Cowboys and Fox4's Mike Doocy made it clear that both he and some viewers miss what used to be the nightly "Doocy's Doozy."

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., Aug. 6) -- Fox/CBS split spoils

Ed Bark — 2009-08-07T14:11:26-05:00
By ED BARK Fox's summer finale of So You Think You Can Dance, which returns in the fall, had just enough punch to prevail from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday night, although a crime rerun again drew prime-time's largest audience. ...CBS then vaulted to the top with its 9 p.m. rerun of The Mentalist, which flexed with 212,576 total viewers in shrugging off Fox4's Dance-infused 9 p.m. local newscast (152,789 viewers).

NBC-owned KXAS-TV guts promotions/marketing departments, cedes control to New York corporate masters (updated Friday p.m.)

Ed Bark — 2009-08-06T22:26:43-05:00
In an email response Thursday evening, NBC5 vice president of content development Susan Tully said that any comment or statement would have to come from Liz Fischer, NBC Universal's vice president of corporate communications. ...In the new organization, creative services executives at each station will determine their local market branding campaigns and promotion strategies, working closely with a newly formed media and planning and strategy group, a division-wide sales marketing team, and an award-winning outside creative agency.")

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., Aug. 5) -- despite remote possibilities, lead-ins still matter

Ed Bark — 2009-08-06T11:30:08-05:00
On Wednesday night, it was CBS11's turn to rise to the top after a network repeat of CSI: NY dominated the competition and bequeathed 245,791 viewers from 9:45 to 10 p.m. CBS11's 10 p.m. news pretty much held serve by keeping 232,505 viewers. ...The prime-terrain otherwise was controlled by ABC's Wipeout in the 7 p.m. hour and a new edition of NBC's Talent at 8 p.m. Both shows also won among advertiser-coveted 18-to-49-year-olds, as did CSI: NY.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Tues., July 31-Aug. 4) --

Ed Bark — 2009-08-05T11:02:57-05:00
Elsewhere in prime-time, CBS' NCIS again controlled the 7 p.m. hour in total viewers, but ran a lackluster third among 18-to-49-year-olds behind an America's Got Talent rerun and Fox's Hell's Kitchen. ...In other Tuesday local news derby results, NBC5 notched two more wins at 6 a.m., with Fox4 sliding to a third-place tie with CBS11 in total viewers and dropping to fourth by its lonesome among 25-to-54-year-olds.

It's triplets at 5 for WFAA8 newscasts

Ed Bark — 2009-08-05T01:18:11-05:00
New duties: Shelly Slater joined John McCaa Tuesday at the 5 p.m. anchor desk before enduring the makeup-melting 97 degree heat outside the studio for a segment on child swim safety. Photos: Ed Bark By ED BARK Less than three years after arriving at WFAA8, Shelly Slater has joined the Dallas-based station's 5 p.m. newscasts as part of a rotating tri-anchor arrangement. ...Sharply declining ratings for the preceding Oprah Winfrey Show have knocked WFAA8 from what used to be a dominant perch at 5 p.m. The station now is in a tight three-way fight with Fox4 and NBC5 for both total viewers and 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

Texan Bachelorette "bad boy" kicks back on Good Morning Texas

Ed Bark — 2009-07-29T15:47:38-05:00
Wes Hayden with Bachelorette Jillian Harris -- and by his lonesome. By ED BARK Austin-based country singer Wes Hayden is makin' the rounds these days, tellin' everyone he's not the "controversial Bachelorette bad boy" depicted on the ABC show's most recent edition. He visited WFAA8's Good Morning Texas Tuesday morning to both plead his case on the show and in a special "Internet extension" of an interview with co-hosts Robert McCollum and Pat Smith.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., July 28) -- Talent rises way to the top

Ed Bark — 2009-07-29T13:54:59-05:00
NBC's 7 p.m. Talent repeat also topped the 18-to-49 Nielsens, but CBS' NCIS rerun had more total viewers. ...In local news derby results, WFAA8 topped the field at 10 p.m. in both total viewers and 25-to-54-year-olds, the preferred advertiser target audience for news programming.

Sources: Fox4 settles on Dallas native Lauren Przybyl as new Good Day co-anchor

Ed Bark — 2009-07-28T19:46:42-05:00
By ED BARK Dallas native Lauren Przybyl, currently an anchor-reporter at NBC affiliate WHDH-TV in Boston, will be joining Fox4's Good Day as the program's new co-anchor, informed sources tell unclebarky.com. ...Fox4 has been rotating in-house anchors on Good Day since Henderson's departure, with Natalie Solis, Dan Godwin, Krystle Gutierrez and Adrian Arambulo all joining veteran incumbent anchor Tim Ryan in the past five months.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., July 27) -- ABC/CBS split prime-time spoils

Ed Bark — 2009-07-28T11:18:20-05:00
Bachelorette couldn't click its heels among advertiser-courted 18-to-49-year-olds, though, running second to CBS' sitcom repeat quartet of How I Met Your Mother, Rules of Engagement, Two and a Half Men and The Big Bang Theory. ...But 18-to-49-year-olds greatly preferred ABC's second episode of Dating in the Dark, which thumped both CSI: Miami and Fox4's 9 p.m. newscast by a full rating point (32,412 viewers).

Hansen style: WFAA8 sports anchor leaves ESPN radio show

Ed Bark — 2009-07-28T10:43:34-05:00
The D-FW market's best sports reporter/columnist, Richie Whitt of The Dallas Observer, reports that WFAA8 anchor Dale Hansen has quit his Hour of Hansen ESPN radio show (103.3 FM), which ran from 6 to 7 p.m. weekdays. ...He'll remain at Dallas-based WFAA8, where as previously reported on unclebarky.com, Hansen has a long-term deal that will take him to 2013 and age 65.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., July 24-26) -- NBC's Storm blows hot and cold

Ed Bark — 2009-07-27T11:59:14-05:00
The two-hour launch averaged 132,860 D-FW viewers to run second overall from 8 to 10 p.m. The second hour of ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition won the first hour before Fox4's 9 p.m. local newscast topped that hour's Nielsens. ...Saturday's prime-time ratings again were drowsy, with NBC's 9 p.m. rerun of Law & Order: SVU and Fox4's competing local newscast tying as top draws with 126,217 total viewers each.

WFAA8 names new Good Morning Texas co-host, casts wider net for Gary Cogill

Ed Bark — 2009-07-26T17:34:32-05:00
By ED BARK Local actor, comedian and voice-over specialist Robert McCollum is the new male co-host of Good Morning Texas, replacing the reassigned Gary Cogill, Dallas-based WFAA8 announced Sunday. ..."After living and working in the area for more than 15 years, Rob knows D-FW and brings an interesting creative spark to GMT," the program's executive producer, Dave Muscari, said in a publicity release.

Just had to ask: FCC quickly grants CBS11 new digital channel

Ed Bark — 2009-07-26T16:21:37-05:00
The oft-slow moving government body has said yes to the station's "urgent" request earlier this month that its post-analog digital signal for over-the-air viewers be switched from the allocated Channel 11 to Channel 19. The switch will take effect on Monday, August 4th, with CBS11's sister station, TXA21, moving from Channel 19 to Channel 18 on that same date.

Bud live: Disgruntled CBS11 reporter sues station, angers management, then has lead story on Thursday's 5 p.m. newscast (updated)

Ed Bark — 2009-07-24T10:33:14-05:00
Many of his co--workers, particularly the station's minority women reporters, obviously have a different view after being singled out in the lawsuit as undeserving of the air time and visibility they're supposedly getting at Gillett's expense. ...It's very rare -- and I can't think of a precedent in D-FW -- for a reporter or anchor to continue working at his or her station while a lawsuit of this kind is pending.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., July 23) -- Fox rolls until hitting Mentalist roadblock; CBS11 then takes two at 10

Ed Bark — 2009-07-24T09:40:40-05:00
In local news derby results, CBS11 capitalized nicely on The Mentalist's largesse, winning at 10 p.m. in both total viewers and 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming. More heartening to CBS11: the newscast increased its 9:45 to 10 p.m. lead-in audience in the 25-to-54-year-old demographic and dropped just two-tenths of a rating point (13,286 viewers) in the total audience Nielsens.

CBS11 reporter Bud Gillett files sharply worded reverse discrimination suit against his station (updated)

Ed Bark — 2009-07-23T14:40:15-05:00
Just as there is more than one way to skin a cat, management in the news business can put an older, white, male, born-in-the U.S.A. reporter out to pasture and in a dead end career by locking him into an unfavorable schedule. ...The lawsuit names names, contending that CBS11 reporters Cavazos, Lucero (who also was a colleague of Gillett's at KDFW-TV), Marianne Martinez, Arezow Doost and Selena Hernandez have all been given better work schedules and more visibility than the plaintiff.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., July 22) -- latest Obama-thon draws healthy crowd

Ed Bark — 2009-07-23T14:37:32-05:00
Still, Fox's first hour of So You Think You Can Dance won the 7 p.m. hour among advertiser-courted 18-to-49-year-olds while running second opposite the president in total viewers. ...The second hour of Dance then got trounced in both ratings measurements by NBC's Susan Boyle-infused America's Got Talent, the night's biggest draw with 219,219 total viewers at 8 p.m. CBS took the 9 p.m. hour with a repeat of CSI: NY (139,503 viewers).

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., July 21) -- Peacock crows

Ed Bark — 2009-07-22T11:51:38-05:00
By ED BARK NBC's new episode of America's Got Talent rolled to another big Tuesday night win, with the Peacock's Law & Order: SVU repeat and NBC5's 10 p.m. newscast also joining in the fun. CBS' NCIS repeat opened the night with its usual 7 p.m. win in both total viewers and advertiser-favored 18-to-49-year-olds before Talent amassed 219,219 total D-FW viewers in the 8 p.m. hour to more than double the audience for any competing programming.

Programming note: KERA devotes hour to homegrown economy special

Ed Bark — 2009-07-22T09:08:59-05:00
Dallas-based KERA-TV (Channel 13) will follow Wednesday's presidential press conference with a locally produced prime-time special titled The Economy: Facing the Mortgage Crisis. Hosted by the PBS station's Shelley Kofler and Sam Baker, the one-hour program hopes to "shed light on the complicated process of foreclosure."

What's the frequency, Kenneth? CBS11 wants a new one

Ed Bark — 2009-07-21T10:41:19-05:00
Hoping to change this picture before the start of the fall season, CBS11 is asking the FCC to grant use of Channel 19 as its post-transition frequency for non-cable or satellite subscribers using converter boxes to get the station's signal. ...But the stakes are high, particularly in a fall season in which CBS will combat NBC's Monday-to-Friday, 9 p.m. Jay Leno show with four proven crime series -- CSI: Miami, CSI: NY, The Mentalist, Numb3rs -- and the promising new legal drama The Good Wife, starring Julianna Margulies.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., July 20) -- NBC's The Wanted goes unwanted

Ed Bark — 2009-07-21T09:42:46-05:00
CBS' CSI: Miami rerun as usual led the 9 p.m. parade with 192,647 viewers, followed by the premiere of ABC's Dating in the Dark (132,860 viewers), Fox Sports Southwest's final hour of the Texas Rangers win over Boston (119,574 viewers) and Fox4's 9 p.m. local newscast (86,359 viewers). ...In the late night talk wars, CBS' Late Show with David Letterman thumped NBC's The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien in total viewers while also winning comfortably among 18-to-49-year-olds, which has been a rarity.

Fair weather fans flock to meteorologist Rebecca Miller at Fort Worth Cats game

Ed Bark — 2009-07-20T16:09:12-05:00
Meteorologist Rebecca Miller signing autographs for fans and on the pitching mound at a recent Fort Worth Cats game, where bobble-head likenesses of her were distributed. Photos from The 33's website Hey, that's quite a line waiting to get meteorologist Rebecca Miller's autograph at a recent Fort Worth Cats game. ...Miller, who joined The 33 in January after a long career at NBC5, also threw out the first pitch at the game and had bobble-head dolls distributed in her honor.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., July 17-19) -- Watson's run, Kinsler's home run liven sleepytime weekend ratings

Ed Bark — 2009-07-20T10:50:15-05:00
By ED BARK ABC's coverage of Tom Watson's near-miracle win at the British Open and Ian Kinsler's walk-off blast on Fox Sports Southwest provided at least small energy boosts to overall low weekend viewing levels. ...CBS' one-hour tribute to the late Walter Cronkite, which filled the network's 6 p.m. 60 Minutes slot, drew just 93,002 viewers in losing to ABC's competing America's Funniest Home Videos and NBC's Dateline (119,574 viewers each).

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs, July 16) -- still strong at 10, WFAA8 otherwise on the ropes

Ed Bark — 2009-07-17T08:55:50-05:00
NBC5 had a slightly worse network lead-in - 93,002 viewers from The Listener -- with its 10 p.m. newscast modestly increasing that total to 132,860 viewers. ...NBC5 won at 5 and 6 p.m. Thursday in total viewers while Fox4 ran the table among 25-to-54-year-olds.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., July 15) -- NBC5/WFAA8 split newscast spoils

Ed Bark — 2009-07-16T10:37:34-05:00
AGT then grew its audience to 252,434 viewers with a new episode at 8 p.m. Fox's competing two-hour edition of So You Think You Can Dance again was pretty much a wallflower in D-FW, drawing just 79,716 viewers. CBS won at 9 p.m. with a repeat of CSI: NY while NBC's new The Philanthropist nipped Fox4's local newscast and ABC's Primetime Crime for second place.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., July 14) -- All-Star game builds audience but still no match for America's Got Talent

Ed Bark — 2009-07-15T09:28:22-05:00
But NBC's Talent easily had the night's largest audience -- 292,292 viewers from 8 to 9 p.m. In that hour, the All-Star game managed just 166,075 viewers. ...In local news derby results, WFAA8 again flexed in its only remaining ratings stronghold, winning a downsized three-way competition at 10 p.m. in both total viewers and 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

"Brought to you by your local Coca-Cola bottler . . ."

Ed Bark — 2009-07-14T13:49:38-05:00
WBAP's Jerry Desmond, Russ Bloxom and Harold Taft. Photo: Linda Kaye KXAS-TV, now NBC5, used to be WBAP-TV until a call-letter change in 1974. Here's video of the 1969 introduction of WBAP's 6 p.m. newscast, a very spare affair featuring Jerry Desmond and Russ Bloxom at the anchor desk with Harold Taft drawing weather maps on the right-hand side of home screens.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., July 13) -- home run derby a hit on ESPN despite taking forever

Ed Bark — 2009-07-14T11:53:36-05:00
In Monday's local news derby, WFAA8 prevented a rare double grand slam by NBC5 with wins at 10 p.m. in both total viewers and 25-to-54-yer-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming. ..."The 33's" newscast continued to struggle in the 9 p.m. hour, where on many nights it's basically a place-setter for the station's far more popular 10 p.m. Family Guy repeats.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., July 10-12) -- Rangers fall out of first but still mostly No.1 in local ratings

Ed Bark — 2009-07-13T10:16:38-05:00
On Saturday, Rangers-Mariners also averaged 119,574 viewers on FSS, whipping everything in its path except a 9 p.m. rerun of NBC's Law & Order: SVU and WFAA8's late night newscast. ...The Peacock again crowed at 6 a.m. with a pair of wins while also topping the 5 p.m. Nielsens in total viewers and the 6 p.m. competitions among 25-to-54-year-olds.

All in the family: except that WFAA8 didn't mention it in coverage of the "Plano 3"

Ed Bark — 2009-07-10T19:06:38-05:00
The group's spokesman, 21-year-old Colin Zwirko, is the son of WFAA8's Walt Zwirko, a 25-year employee who produces and hosts the weekly Computer Corner segments on the station's newscasts and wfaa.com. ...The trio then were forced to take a Delta flight back home at a price of $1,900 each, according to reports by WFAA8 and The Dallas Morning News, who remain synergistic partners despite the split of Dallas-based owner Belo into two "separate" entities.

Stealth-y choice: Absent fanfare, Curtis supplants Snyder on NBC5's 10 p.m. newscasts

Ed Bark — 2009-07-10T19:04:01-05:00
The Brian Curtis/Jane McGarry era began late Thursday. Photo: Ed Bark By ED BARK Brian Curtis joined Jane McGarry on Thursday's 10 p.m. newscast, marking his first appearance as Mike Snyder's official replacement. ...Snyder, who had teamed with McGarry for 19 years at 10 p.m., remains as co-anchor of the 5 and 6 p.m. newscasts after taking a substantial salary cut to continue at the station.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., July 9) -- crime repeats propel CBS/CBS11

Ed Bark — 2009-07-10T17:19:18-05:00
But CBS then cleaned house by winning from 8 to 10 p.m. in both ratings measurements with a refried whodunit combo of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (172,776 total viewers) and The Mentalist (232,505 total viewers). The largesse from The Mentalist helped CBS11's 10 p.m. newscast to score twin wins in total viewers (166,075) and 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., July 8) -- summertime numbers hum for Peacock's Talent

Ed Bark — 2009-07-09T10:48:50-05:00
Talent amassed 292,292 viewers in the 8 p.m. hour, compared to 112,931 for the second hour of Fox's So You Think You Can Dance and 73,073 for ABC's I Survived a Japanese Game Show. ...But the Peacock stumbled at 9 p.m. with a new episode of The Philanthropist, which ran third in total viewers and second among 18-to-49-year-olds.

Curtis in as new 10 p.m. co-anchor at NBC5

Ed Bark — 2009-07-08T12:57:45-05:00
By ED BARK Brian Curtis, who joined NBC5 in 2003 and currently co-anchors the station's First at Four newscasts, will replace Mike Snyder on the 10 p.m. editions. ...Snyder, who had anchored 10 p.m. newscasts with McGarry for 19 years, will still team with her at 6 p.m. and also co-anchor 5 p.m. editions.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., July 7) -- ABC/NBC win prime-time Jackson special duel

Ed Bark — 2009-07-08T12:18:44-05:00
It didn't do that well, drawing 106,288 D-FW viewers in finishing third at 8 p.m. behind CBS' repeat of The Mentalist and NBC's America's got Talent (199,290 viewers apiece). But ABC's tabloid-ier 9 p.m. Family Secrets look at the Jacksons' possible child custody fight jumped to 152,789 viewers, outdrawing less seamy MJ specials on CBS (132,860 viewers) and NBC (126,217 viewers).

Post-Snyder 10 p.m. era ushers in subs for now on NBC5

Ed Bark — 2009-07-08T08:25:31-05:00
Kristi Nelson took Mike Snyder's long-held seat, with Jane McGarry in her usual spot on Tuesday's 10 p.m. NBC5 news. Photo: Ed Bark By ED BARK Hyperactive NBC5 sportscaster Matt Barrie -- but hey, he's growing on me -- found himself the only man in the house on Tuesday's 10 p.m. NBC5 newscast. ...Kristi Nelson, co-anchor of NBC5's First at Four newscast, stepped in for Snyder, Samantha Davies subbed for meteorologist David Finfrock and Jane McGarry continued her 19-year run as 10 p.m. co-anchor.

Ex-beauty queen is latest eye-catching addition to "The 33" newsroom

Ed Bark — 2009-07-07T17:05:18-05:00
Dallas-raised Candice Crawford already has a nice body of work. By ED BARK Former Miss Missouri USA Candice Crawford, sister of actor Chace Crawford (Gossip Girl), is joining Dallas-based KDAF-TV (Ch. 33) as a reporter specializing in high school sports. ...

Snyder out as anchor of NBC5's 10 p.m. newscasts, continues at 5 and 6 p.m. (updated)

Ed Bark — 2009-07-07T11:06:44-05:00
NBC5 anchor Mike Snyder confirmed Tuesday morning that Monday was his last night as the regular co-anchor of the Fort Worth-based station's 10 p.m. newscasts. It ends a 17-year run with Jane McGarry, who will remain on the late night broadcasts while Snyder teams with her at 6 p.m. and also co-anchors the 5 p.m. news.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., July 6) -- summertime numbers wilt/droop

Ed Bark — 2009-07-07T11:05:51-05:00
What turned out to be anchor Mike Snyder's last 10 p.m. newscast on NBC5 had 152,789 total viewers and 94,094 in the 25-to-54-year-old demographic, the main advertiser target audience for news programming. ...Fox4's 11 p.m. premiere of the syndicated Beyond Twisted, from the friendly folks at TMZ, drew 73,073 total viewers to tie for first in that time slot with WFAA8's syndicated The Insider.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Sat.-Sun., July 4-5) -- Rangers emerge with big Sunday night number

Ed Bark — 2009-07-06T14:31:45-05:00
The runnerup prime-time attraction, ABC's repeat of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, had 146,146 viewers in the 7 p.m. hour. ...Still, the game's overhang, from 10 to 10:09 p.m., outdrew the first 15 minutes of the newscast before viewers peeled away from ESPN.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs.-Fri., July 2-3) -- few fireworks in pre-holiday viewing

Ed Bark — 2009-07-06T09:53:10-05:00
WFAA8 again took the 10 p.m. competitions in both ratings measurements while also running the table at 5 p.m. The 6 p.m. golds were split between WFAA8 in total viewers and NBC5 among 25-to-54-year-olds. ...WFAA8 ran the table at 6 p.m. but again slumped at 5 p.m. Fox4 had the upper hand at that hour in both ratings measurements after getting a nice bump from the preceding Judge Judy.

Insights and Rochelle Brown are now out of sight at Fox4

Ed Bark — 2009-07-02T17:01:02-05:00
Brown, the show's first host and in later years its executive producer, was let go on the following day after more than 31 years at Fox4. ...***Fox4's Baron James, who co-anchors the station's 5 and 10 p.m. newscasts with Tinsley, will be off the air for several weeks after he has surgery to remove a growth from his larynx.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., July 1) -- Rangers swing for fences, outscore Angels and all four 10 pm. newscasts

Ed Bark — 2009-07-02T10:57:45-05:00
The Rangers, now back within a half-game of first place, also ran first from 10 to 10:30 p.m. among advertiser-coveted 18-to-49-year-olds and 25-to-54-year-olds, with the latter measurement the key target audience for news programming. ...NBC5's previously cited total viewers win in the 10 p.m. newscast competition went nicely with its first place finish among 25-to-54-year-olds.

Subtract Sandra Hernandez from "The 33" news team

Ed Bark — 2009-07-01T14:46:51-05:00
Hernandez joins a host of anchors and reporters who have left the station under news director David Duitch, who took that position a year ago after an earlier stint as news director at WFAA8 in Dallas. Duitch also has made a number of his own hires, including former NBC5 meteorologist Rebecca Miller and two "backpack journalists" who were laid off earlier this year by The Dallas Morning News.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., June 30) -- Rangers/Angels outdraw three of four 10 p.m. newscasts

Ed Bark — 2009-07-01T12:15:31-05:00
On a decidedly lesser sports front, the second episode of ABC's The Superstars drew 86,359 viewers from 7 to 8:30, less than half the crowd for CBS' competing repeats of NCIS (212,576 viewers) and The Mentalist (186,004 viewers). ...In other local news derby results, WFAA8 also overcame a skimpy lead-in from ABC's disagreeable Prime Time: Family Secrets to top the 10 p.m field among 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

Pete 'n' Dale sideshow resumes; new campaign for Daybreak begins

Ed Bark — 2009-07-01T01:56:39-05:00
Pete 'n' Dale on display during Tuesday's 10 p.m. news. Photos: Ed Bark By ED BARK WFAA8 sports anchor Dale Hansen returned from his month-long vacation Tuesday, also ending viewers' respite from the almost nightly 10 p.m. newscast hijinks between him and weathercaster Pete Delkus. ...The station continues to run third in this key battleground, with NBC5 leading and Fox4 slipping to second while continuing to rotate a series of in-house co-anchors after the late February departure of Megan Henderson to KTLA-TV in Los Angeles.

NBC5 mgt. responds to criticism of homes-for-sale series

Ed Bark — 2009-07-01T00:05:29-05:00
NBC5's Lindsay Wilcox was hot on homes in 5-part news series. By ED BARK Susan Tully, vice president of content management for Fort Worth-based NBC5, says the station's recent tour of homes-for-sale was a valid news feature. An earlier critique in these spaces derided reporter Lindsay Wilcox's 5-part series, shown during last week's 10 p.m. newscasts, as a thinly disguised advertisement modeled after the half-hour Sunday infomercial Hot On Homes.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., June 29 ) -- big day for NBC5 news

Ed Bark — 2009-06-30T09:56:05-05:00
NBC5 had a rare but relatively slim 9:45 to 10 p.m. lead-in advantage from NBC's preceding Dateline, which regurgitated Martin Bashir's 2003 look inside Michael Jackson's Neverland. ...Among 25-to-54-year-olds, WFAA8 barely registered a pulse Monday, drawing just 15,177 viewers in this age range to finish fifth at 5 p.m. behind Fox4, NBC5, CBS11 and KDAF33's repeat of According to Jim.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., June 26-28) -- Rangers' loss wins Sunday prime-time ratings

Ed Bark — 2009-06-29T11:55:07-05:00
In comparison, the network's Saturday night staples of COPS (152,789 viewers), another COPS (186,004 viewers) and America's Most Wanted: America Fights Back (139,503 viewers) all easily won their time slots. ...NBC5 swept the 6 a.m. competitions, with Fox4's American Idol-infused Good Day running third before also taking the 7 to 9 a.m. bronzes opposite the network morning shows.

For sale: NBC5 newscasts house mini-Hot on Homes infomercials

Ed Bark — 2009-06-28T23:10:10-05:00
Even so, the Fort Worth-based station outdid itself last week with a quintet of 10 p.m. newscast "reports" that played much more like Hot on Homes segments. ...Assisted by the DFW Metrotex Association of Realtors, NBC5's Lindsay Wilcox gushed about three available homes per newscast, with prices beginning in the $150,000 range Monday and ending with a trio of million dollar babies on Friday.

Fox4's Good Day ignores North Texas Idol auditions -- NOT!!!

Ed Bark — 2009-06-26T14:03:49-05:00

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., June 25) -- cable news numbers spike for Jackson death coverage, but broadcast network viewers prefer Farrah fare

Ed Bark — 2009-06-26T13:06:26-05:00
By ED BARK Thursday's deaths of Farrah Fawcett and -- out of nowhere -- Michael Jackson -- sent the cable news networks into overdrive while three of the four major broadcast networks preempted regular prime-time programming for post-mortems. ...The network's Farrah Fawcett: Her Lives, Her Loves, Her Legacy, had 212,576 viewers, handily outdrawing the network's preceding one-hour The Life and Death of Michael Jackson (126,217 viewers).

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., June 24) -- sickly ratings for ABC's Obama health care Q&A

Ed Bark — 2009-06-25T12:04:39-05:00
That ranked it a sickly eighth opposite competition from NBC's premiere of The Philanthropist (192,647 viewers); CBS' CSI: NY rerun (159,432); ESPN's closing hour of LSU's blowout of Texas in the College Baseball World Series (152,789); Univision's Don Francisco Live (119,5574); Fox Sports Southwest's Rangers-Diamondbacks game (106,288); Fox4's 9 p.m. local newscast (99,645) and two episodes of TBS' Meet the Browns (93,002 and 86,359). ...On a bit brighter side, Nightline's carryover of Prescription for America fared a little better with 106,288 viewers in D-FW, beating the first half-hours of NBC's Tonight Show (86,359 viewers) and CBS' Late Show (59,787 viewers).

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., June 23) -- few see T.O.'s waterloo

Ed Bark — 2009-06-24T11:02:35-05:00
Get Me Out of Here, which had 86,359 viewers in the 7 p.m. hour before the Peacock's two-hour season premiere of America's Got Talent ballooned to 225,862 viewers. ...ABC had a dismal Tuesday overall, with new episodes of its quite funny Better Off Ted (39,858 total viewers) and Prime Time: Family Secrets (59,787) also running distant fourths from 8:30 to 10 p.m. In contrast, first-run episodes of TNT's HawthoRNe (106,288 viewers) and Saving Grace (99,645 viewers) fared appreciably better in the 8 to 10 p.m. slot than anything ABC could offer.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., June 22) -- more digital doings

Ed Bark — 2009-06-23T14:38:34-05:00
Fox4 and NBC5, so far the least affected by the digital switchover, respectively ran the table at 5 p.m. and 6 a.m. Some readers have said the signals from WFAA8 and CBS11 can be harder to come by via a non-cable/satellite TV set hooked to a new era converter box. ...The prime-time network ratings were paced by ABC's 7 to 9 p.m. edition of The Bachelorette, which swept its time slot among total viewers, and CBS' quartet of sitcom reruns, which did likewise among advertiser-craved 18-to-49-year-olds.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., June 19-21) -- Nielsen's all caught up

Ed Bark — 2009-06-22T17:37:30-05:00
By ED BARK Nielsen Media Research caught up with itself by early Monday afternoon, and now is back in the business of reporting the previous night's ratings on the following morning. ...The 9 p.m. local news on KDAF-TV (The 33) continued to feel the pain of the digital age, drawing just 13,286 total viewers, 9,724 of them in the 25-to-54 demographic and 3,369 within the CW network's target 18-to-34 age range.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., June 18) -- digital numbers still lower overall

Ed Bark — 2009-06-22T16:36:06-05:00
NBC5 ran the table at 5 p.m., but with ratings well below those of a week ago. In fact, the Peacock's total viewer count (93,002) would have landed it in third place on June 11th. ...ABC's World News led the 5:30 p.m. pack with 106,288 total viewers, followed by the NBC Nightly News (99,645) and the CBS Evening News (73,073 viewers).

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon.-Wed., June 15-17) -- the first three digital weekdays in the books

Ed Bark — 2009-06-22T10:28:14-05:00
6 a.m. 25-to-54-Year-Olds NBC5 -- 78,918 (81,953 on previous Monday) Fox4 -- 54,635 (57,671) WFAA8 -- 48,565 (45,530) CBS11 -- 21,247 (30,353)... 6 p.m. 25-to-54-Year-Olds Fox4/WFAA8 -- 42,494 each (57,671 and 54,635 respectively on previous Monday) NBC5 --- 36,424 (48,565) CBS11 -- 12,141 (30,353)

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., June 12-14) -- post analog, the results trickle in

Ed Bark — 2009-06-22T08:52:28-05:00
Results from Friday-Sunday (June 12-14) include two sporting events that now seem like ancient history -- Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals and the concluding Game 5 of the NBA Finals. Pittsburgh's upset hockey win on Detroit's home ice, which aired Friday night on NBC during Digital D-Day, drew 106,288 D-FW viewers against the competing Rangers-Dodgers game on Fox Sports Southwest, which edged the pucksters with 112,931 viewers.

Farmer's market: a look at WFAA8's former early riser in new guise at Atlanta's WSB-TV

Ed Bark — 2009-06-17T11:05:17-05:00
Justin Farmer in old WFAA8 pic and new one on WSB-TV Web site. By ED BARK It's been a little less than a year since Justin Farmer left Dallas-based WFAA8's Daybreak to take an evening anchor-reporter job with WSB-TV in Atlanta, where his father, Don, had been a heavyweight in the 1980s and '90s. ...In this mid-April WSB report, he turns out to be a notably hyper hand-talker at the start and stop of his piece on a big shakeup in Atlanta's mayoral race.

Hush hush, sweet analog

Ed Bark — 2009-06-14T13:46:29-05:00
It's a nice sendoff/infomercial, with Delkus extolling the virtues of WFAA8 (originally KBTV) before viewers get a last look at the station's still majestic sign-off from the 1960s and '70s. "As this day in beautiful North Texas comes to an end, we hope we've been a pleasant part of your day," a woman narrator says before bidding viewers nighty-night.

Former NBC5 reporter Melissa Newton rebounds to CBS11

Ed Bark — 2009-06-12T14:22:31-05:00
By ED BARK Reporter Melissa Newton, laid off by NBC5 in mid-May, is joining CBS11 as a freelance reporter. ...Between NBC5 and CBS11, Newton worked briefly as a freelancer for KDAF-TV ("The 33)," which carries the CW network's programming and has a nightly 9 p.m. local newscast in D-FW.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., June 11) -- last day for analog, big day for NBA Finals ratings

Ed Bark — 2009-06-12T09:33:23-05:00
D-FW ratings zoomed during the closing half-hour of a game that stretched through local newscasts and also cut a swath through O'Brien/Letterman before ending at 11:16 p.m. Lakers-Magic drew a king-sized 584,584 viewers during those concluding 30 minutes, all but obliterating the audiences for both CBS' Late Show (93,002 viewers) and NBC's Tonight Show (86,359 viewers). ...In local news derby results, CBS11 won a downsized three-way 10 p.m. competition in both total viewers and 25-to-54-year-olds, the primary target audience for news programming.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., June 3-Wed., June 10) -- playing catchup

Ed Bark — 2009-06-11T13:45:04-05:00
ABC's two-hour dose of The Bachelorette punched out NBC's I'm a Celebrity from 7 to 9 p.m. CBS' CSI: Miami repeat took the 9 p.m. hour in total viewers and nipped ABC's Here Come the Newlyweds among 18-to-49-year-olds. ...ABC's Wipeout swept the 7 to 8 p.m. ratings before two episodes of the network's new The Goode Family plunged to a distant fourth place in both ratings measurements behind Fox's front-running second hour of So You Think You Can Dance.

KTLA weather clown prompts an obvious question: Is this really an upgrade for former Fox4 anchor Megan Henderson?

Ed Bark — 2009-06-03T14:22:17-05:00
By ED BARK Good Day's ratings haven't been the same since co-anchor Megan Henderson left the station after the February "sweeps" to join L.A.'s KTLA-TV on a similar early morning shift. Fox4's waker upper since has fallen to a pretty distant second place at 6 a.m. behind NBC5 while station management searches for a permanent replacement to accompany incumbent Tim Ryan.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., June 2) -- Conan paces NBC to rare decent night

Ed Bark — 2009-06-03T09:28:44-05:00
By ED BARK Conan O'Brien's second Tonight Show fell half a rating point from the first but continued to dominate David Letterman's Late Show on a night when NBC also made a little noise in prime-time. ...In local news derby results, NBC5 and WFAA8 tied for first at 10 p.m. in total viewers while the Peacock won outright among 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., June 1) -- nice numbers for Conan opener

Ed Bark — 2009-06-02T11:44:27-05:00
First guest Will Ferrell seems to have Conan's attention. By ED BARK Conan O'Brien's first Tonight Show ranked as NBC5's most-watched program Monday, but fell short of Jay Leno's Friday night swan song. ...Three of CBS' four sitcom reruns -- The Big Bang Theory, Two and a Half Men and Rules of Engagement -- won their half-hours while the network's How I Met Your Mother ran third from 7:30 to 8 p.m.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., May 29-31) -- Leno bulks up with big audience for last Tonight

Ed Bark — 2009-06-01T11:31:31-05:00
Final guest Conan O'Brien laughs it up with departing host. By ED BARK Jay Leno's goodnight to Tonight racked up Friday's biggest D-FW audience, more than doubling the crowd for NBC5's preceding 10 p.m. newscast. Keeping his ample chin up while preparing for a fall prime-time debut, Leno drew 305,578 viewers in squelching competition from WFAA8's combo of ABC's Nightline (79,716 viewers) and the syndicated The Insider (66,430).

They used to be giants: a look at WFAA8's imposing 1987 roll call

Ed Bark — 2009-06-01T04:15:12-05:00
By ED BARK No doubt about it, these are times of downsizing, content-sharing and double jeopardy for local TV newscasts around the country. ...This was a mighty ship of state at the time, charting its own course, spending the big bucks and sharing with no one, including its Belo cousin, The Dallas Morning News.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., May 28) -- bee sting

Ed Bark — 2009-05-29T13:42:14-05:00
The network's live telecast of the Scripps National Spelling Bee, which stretched to 9:18 p.m., averaged just 66,430 viewers from 7 to 9 p.m. That was well less than half the crowd for two front-running CBS crime drama repeats -- NCIS (179,361 viewers) and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (172,718 viewers). ...In the reduced three-way late night newscast competition, CBS11 won in both total viewers and 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

NBC5 reporter earns his wings

Ed Bark — 2009-05-29T09:25:55-05:00
A mockingbird homes in on NBC5 reporter Omar Villafranca. By ED BARK Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds had a sequel this week on DFW-based NBC5, with reporter Omar Villafranca part of the pecking order. Villafranca, who's also covering the vulturous Texas governor's race, found himself in the bullseye of a mockingbird's target practice while doing a story on how Dallas cops are being "pecked, clawed and dive-bombed" outside DPD headquarters.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., May 27) -- yee haw for George Strait

Ed Bark — 2009-05-28T10:32:10-05:00
The premiere of ABC's animated The Goode Family then fell to 99,645 total viewers from 8 to 8:30 p.m. to finish fifth in that measurement behind -- in order -- CBS, the Rangers-Yankees game on Fox Sports Southwest, Fox and NBC. ...In Wednesday's four-way local news derbies, WFAA8 recovered from another lowly lead-in -- ABC's The Unusuals -- to win at 10 p.m. in both total viewers (245,791) and 25-to-54-year-olds (118,377), the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., May 26) -- Diamonds is an ABC station's worst friend

Ed Bark — 2009-05-27T10:46:02-05:00
Tuesday's 8 to 10 p.m. closer drew just 73,073 D-FW viewers, beating only The CW's premiere of the pathetically bad Hitched or Ditched (19,929 viewers) in its first hour. ...CBS11's 10 p.m. presentation led the newscast division with 232,505 total viewers while NBC5 took the gold among 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Mon., May 22-25) -- numbers sag over holiday weekend

Ed Bark — 2009-05-26T16:10:33-05:00
Monday night's second season premiere of ABC's Here Come the Newlyweds limped in with 106,288 viewers in the 9 p.m. hour to finish fourth overall in that time slot. ...So much so that NBC5 won at 6 a.m. with a paltry 39,858 total viewers while the Peacock tied for first place with CBS11 among 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

Heralding Harold Taft anew -- in video of a 1982 weathercast

Ed Bark — 2009-05-22T11:59:06-05:00
So let's cleanse the palate with this look at former D-FW weather giant Harold Taft, who began at Fort Worth-based WBAP-TV (later to become KXAS/NBC5) on Oct. 31, 1949 and endured all the way until his last forecast on Aug. 30, 1991. ...The above photo is from the 1970s, when Taft teamed with (left to right) Boyd Matson (still wanted in these parts for killing a tablecloth), Chip Moody, Ward Andrews and Russ Bloxom.

The 33 makes nice to one and all in latest Web site addition (updated again)

Ed Bark — 2009-05-22T10:40:09-05:00
Lens crafter: Anchor Walt Maciborski advertises his skills as a photographer on "The 33's" Web site, which also is taking content-sharing to a new realm by linking to rival TV stations' news stories. By ED BARK Independence Day is coming soon. ...Still, it's a bit surprising to see Dallas-based KDAF-TV (Ch. 33) now voluminously linking to stories by all of its TV rivals at the bottom of "The 33 News" page on the station's recently remodeled Web site.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., May 21) -- more dancing but not as much fever

Ed Bark — 2009-05-22T09:52:29-05:00
By ED BARK Fox's two-hour launch of its latest So You Think You Can Dance competition managed the equivalent of a 7 on judges' scorecards Thursday night. ...Although still struggling in the 6 to 7 a.m. hour, Fox4's Good Day again beat the three network morning shows in total viewers from 7 to 9 a.m. But NBC's Today ran first among 25-to-54-year-olds, with Good Day a close second.

Irvin's 4th and Long spikes Spike's ratings

Ed Bark — 2009-05-21T18:00:09-05:00
Michael Irvin kept up with the Joneses at recent party. Photo: Ed Bark By ED BARK Monday's premiere of Michael Irvin's 4th and Long series delivered 1.2 million viewers nationally for Spike TV, with 76,000 of them from the Dallas-Fort Worth market. ...4th and Long, which continues for nine more episodes on Mondays at 9 p.m. (central), improved its time slot rating nationally (compared to a year ago) by 224 percent in men 18-34 and 131 percent in men 18-to-49, Spike says.

NBC5, Fox4 make big breakthroughs while CBS11 draws closer at 10 p.m. in May sweeps D-FW newscast ratings

Ed Bark — 2009-05-21T12:37:06-05:00
Dynamic duo: NBC5 early risers Deborah Ferguson, Brendan Higgins By ED BARK NBC5 had its early morning competitors for breakfast and also won the 5 p.m. newscast competition by a paper-thin margin among 25-to-54-year-olds in the just-concluded May "sweeps" ratings period. ...Fox4 won at 6 p.m. among 25-to-54-year-olds by upping its audience by 24 percent year-to-year while the May 2008 winner, WFAA8, lost 30 percent of its audience in that demographic.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., May 20) -- sweeps end with Idol on top

Ed Bark — 2009-05-21T10:42:57-05:00
Kris Allen hears he's won American Idol. Fox photo By ED BARK Kris Allen's American Idol triumph over season-long favorite Adam Lambert of course dominated Wednesday's last official night of the 2008-09 network TV season. ...WFAA8 won at 6 p.m. in total viewers, but CBS11 recorded an exceedingly rare first place finish among 25-to-54-year-olds, beating Fox4 by less than a sliver (one-hundredth of a rating point).

WFAA8: Playing hardball with the mirror ball before dancing the corporate quick step

Ed Bark — 2009-05-20T11:25:05-05:00
WFAA8 made a decidedly abrupt switch Tuesday night. Photos: Ed Bark By ED BARK It's not often these days that WFAA8's 10 p.m. newscast gets a big, fat ratings lead-in from its ABC network. ...Not surprisingly it was the only station to be given audio of the newspaper's extended jailhouse phone interview with Cristal Taylor, who claims she was Dallas Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki's fiancee and is pregnant by him.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., May 19) -- Idol wins big and Dancing wins bigger; but grim numbers for Glee

Ed Bark — 2009-05-20T11:24:02-05:00
Dancing's season finale, with former Olympic gymnast Shawn Johnson clicking her heels in the end, dominated the 8 to 10 p.m. hours with 518,154 viewers, peaking at 617,799 viewers in its final 15 minutes. ...WFAA8's 10 p.m. newscast, which the station launched early while Johnson continued to celebrate, closed out CBS11's May sweeps bid to win or tie in total viewers by racking up an audience of 418,509.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., May 18) -- Dancing, CBS dominate

Ed Bark — 2009-05-19T11:24:34-05:00
Over on Fox, the two-hour season finale of 24 drew a lackluster 139,503 total viewers, beating only NBC's two Deal or No Deal dollops from 7 to 9 p.m. 24 likewise ran a distant third with 18-to-49-year-olds despite having a solid, twisty-turny season that ended with -- don't look if you don't want to know -- Jack in a hospital-induced coma while his daughter Kim had the last words. "I'm sorry, daddy, but I'm not ready to let you go," she said tearfully before undergoing a risky off-season stem cell transplant operation that obviously will save the old man and get him up and running for Season 8 in NYC.

This just in: A night in the lives of D-FW's late night newscasts (Fri., May 15

Ed Bark — 2009-05-18T14:13:38-05:00
Reporters Byron Harris, Sana Syed and Grant Stinchfield By ED BARK This'll be a somewhat abbreviated roundup because, frankly, not a whole lot was shakin' Friday night. ..."If you can't read and write English, you can't read the (repair) manual and you can't make a record of what you've done," Harris said while standing in front of a bookshelf full of manuals for WFAA8's helicopter.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., May 15-17) -- Rangers surge, ratings inch up

Ed Bark — 2009-05-18T13:21:49-05:00
Fox's series finale of Prison Break, whose middle two seasons were shot in North Texas, limped in with just 66,430 total viewers to run fourth from 7 to 9 p.m. It also placed out of the money with 18-to-49-year-olds. In Friday's local news derby results, WFAA8 took the 10 p.m. gold in total viewers while NBC5 had a rare win among 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

Sources: NBC5's Snyder on brink of losing longtime 10 p.m. anchor spot (updated)

Ed Bark — 2009-05-17T22:05:55-05:00
By ED BARK Veteran NBC5 news anchor Mike Snyder, who has teamed with Jane McGarry on the Fort Worth-based station's 10 p.m. newscasts since 1990, apparently has been given a couple of offers he'd rather refuse. ...At 5 p.m., NBC5 is running a close second to WFAA8 in total viewers and is tied for the lead with WFAA8 among 25-to-54-year-olds.

CBS11, Fox4 hope to have newscast firsts as the May sweeps wind down

Ed Bark — 2009-05-16T10:37:14-05:00
The 6 p.m. ratings race among 25-to-54-year-olds is a case of Fox4 making its own bed with a local newscast that wins at 5:30 p.m. in this demographic opposite the three network evening newscasts. Fox4 then retains 100 percent of that audience at 6 p.m. Its 25-to-54-year-old haul at that hour is up 29 percent from last May while WFAA8 has lost 30 percent of its 25-to-54-year-old viewers.

No comment(s) on wfaa.com

Ed Bark — 2009-05-16T09:41:35-05:00
By ED BARK Lamenting the lack of civility by "a handful of users," Dallas-based WFAA8 has at least temporarily suspended comments on its Web site, wfaa.com. The announcement was posted on Friday at 7:48 p.m. (central) by operations manager Doug Boehner, who said that "abusive comments have caused harm to families and friends of those who have been the subject of news stories and other users."

This just in: A night in the lives of D-FW's late night newscasts (Thurs., May 14)

Ed Bark — 2009-05-15T12:35:17-05:00
"Michael Irvin put Rich Behm's needs ahead of his own," Fox4 anchor Steve Eagar said before the station led its 9 p.m. newscast with Sophia Reza's report from the scene. ...***CBS11 investigator Bennett Cunningham excelled again with a report on a North Texas company, Saxon Mortgage, that's racked up hundred of complaints from customers and a grade of F from the Fort Worth Better Business Bureau.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., May 14) -- big night for season finales

Ed Bark — 2009-05-15T09:26:14-05:00
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and CSI: NY (CBS) -- 305,578 viewers apiece Grey's Anatomy (ABC) -- 292,292 viewers Bones (Fox) -- 139,503 viewers Smallville (The CW) - 132,860 viewers Hell's Kitchen (Fox) -- 86,359 viewers My Name Is Earl, 30 Rock and Southland (NBC) -- 73,073 viewers apiece Parks & Recreation (NBC) -- 66,430 viewers The Office (NBC) and Supernatural (The CW) -- 59,787 viewers... Grey's Anatomy -- 145,854 viewers CSI: Crime Scene Investigation -- 119,924 viewers CSI: NY -- 103,718 viewers Smallville -- 61,583 viewers Parks & Recreation and My Name Is Earl -- 51,859 viewers apiece Hell's Kitchen and 30 Rock-- 45,377 viewers apiece The Office and Southland -- 38,894 viewers apiece Bones -- 29,171 viewers Supernatural -- 25,930 viewers

This just in: A night in the lives of D-FW's late night newscasts (Wed., May 13)

Ed Bark — 2009-05-14T13:45:07-05:00
As noted in Tuesday's roundup, the savvy veteran scooped rival stations with her quick reactions to a now famous AP photo of a U.S. soldier in pink skivvies and flip flops helping his fellow soldiers respond to a Taliban attack in Afghanistan. ...So on CBS11's sports segment, anchor Babe Laufenberg made sure to include footage of president and general manager Steve Mauldin sinking a birdie putt during a Dallas Cowboys golf outing after first getting a tip from quarterback Tony Romo.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., May 13) -- Mavs' last gasp again deflates 10 p.m. newscasts

Ed Bark — 2009-05-14T10:27:50-05:00
In other Wednesday ratings results, Fox's American Idol swaggered with 484,939 viewers in the 8 p.m. Danny Gokey was evicted, setting up next week's final between prohibitive favorite Adam Lambert and Kris Allen, whose teenybop appeal shouldn't be underestimated even though he'd be the first married contestant to win if he pulls off an upset. ...The two-hour season finale of ABC's Lost, which ended with a nuclear bomb seemingly exploding on the island, drew 152,789 total viewers to run third overall from 8 to 10 p.m. Lost also had the bronze among 18-to-49-year-olds.

This just in: A night in the lives of D-FW's late night newscasts (Tues., May 12)

Ed Bark — 2009-05-13T14:34:02-05:00
Kenyon Martin got a little flip after Game 4; Fox4 blotted out his gesture Tuesday night before sports anchor Mike Doocy weighed in. By ED BARK The Dallas Mavericks have made a lot of late night news this month -- and not primarily for their on-court playoff activities. ...Fox4, in addition to NBC5 and CBS11, also played video of LaLa Vasquez, fiancee of Nuggets star Carmelo Anthony, angrily leaving the arena Monday night after taking a swing at a security guard who was trying to escort her out.

Two Dallas Morning News layoff casualties rebound as backpack journalists for "The 33" news

Ed Bark — 2009-05-13T10:55:35-05:00
By ED BARK Two experienced reporters let go by The Dallas Morning News during April's layoffs have transitioned to the TV world as backpack journalists for "The 33's" 9 p.m. newscast and its companion Web site. ...Yan, a graduate of the University of Missouri, joined the DMN in 2004 as a metro reporter whose beats included criminal justice and education.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., May 12) -- NBC5 cements hold on early morning ratings race

Ed Bark — 2009-05-13T10:18:31-05:00
ABC's Dancing with the Stars results show and CBS' The Mentalist tied for the top spot in total viewers at 8 p.m. But Fox's season finale of Fringe (already renewed for a second season) had a slim edge at that hour in the 18-to-49-year-old demographic. CBS' Without A Trace mopped up at 9 p.m. with a win in total viewers; the concluding hour of NBC's all night edition of The Biggest Loser had the most 18-to-49-year-olds.

This just in: A night in the lives of D-FW's late night newscasts (Mon., May 11)

Ed Bark — 2009-05-12T16:02:24-05:00
GOOD WORK -- WFAA8's Jason Whitely, who sounds an awful lot like the station's Brett Shipp, took the 10 p.m. newscast into battle with a lead story on a mass auction of homes in Dallas' struggling Hacienda del Sol neighborhood. ...HAD A FEW, HAVE WE? -- NBC5 sportscaster Matt Barrie again got all revved up Monday night while reporting live from outside the American Airlines Center, where it was halftime of Game 4 between the Dallas Mavericks and Denver Nuggets.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., May 11) -- Mavs fall to CSI: Miami before running up ratings score

Ed Bark — 2009-05-12T12:06:50-05:00
Elsewhere Monday, Fox's season finale of House, in which the not-so-good doctor checked into a psychiatric hospital, drew a nice-sized 245,791 viewers in running second to the first hour of ABC's Dancing with the Stars (372,008 viewers). ...In local news derby results, CBS11 had a big night at 10 p.m., edging WFAA8 in total viewers and winning comfortably among 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

This just in: A night in the lives of D-FW's late night newscasts (Fri., May 8)

Ed Bark — 2009-05-11T12:13:18-05:00
NBC5's Matt Barrie, Mike Snyder and "The Teebow" By ED BARK Most of the wacky anchor banter resides at WFAA8, where weathercaster Pete Delkus and sports anchor Dale Hansen ridicule each other on an almost nightly basis. ...On a mostly uneventful Friday, caffeinated NBC5 sports guy Matt Barrie, pinchhitting for Newy Scruggs, injected news anchor Mike Snyder's name into a discussion of a new underwear line, "The Teebow," tied to Florida Gators quarterback Tim Tebow.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., May 8-10) -- Mavs ratings build to heart-crushing climax

Ed Bark — 2009-05-11T11:28:27-05:00
Sunday's biggest overall draw, WFAA8's 10 p.m. newscast, had 265,720 viewers before Dale Hansen's Sports Special (159,432 viewers) thumped competition from Newy Scruggs' Out of Bounds on NBC5 (59,787 viewers) and Babe Laufenberg's The Score on CBS11 (53,144 viewers). ...In Friday's four-way local news derbies, CBS11 edged WFAA8 at 10 p.m. in total viewers while the ABC station and NBC5 tied for first among 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

We Get You Ready! -- CBS11's early morning show yearns to make your day

Ed Bark — 2009-05-09T11:51:01-05:00
By ED BARK Barring a cataclysmic shift in the ratings, CBS11's early morning newscast again will come up fourth in the latest sweeps period, which runs through May 20th. They're more competitive than ever, though, prompting the station to launch a new promo touting its rise-and-shine foursome of Scott Sams, Ginger Allen, Jeff Jamison and Teresa Frosini.

This just in: A night in the lives of D-FW's late night newscasts (Thurs., May 7)

Ed Bark — 2009-05-08T12:40:33-05:00
On Fox4's 9 p.m. newscast, reporter Sophia Reza had audio of Shirley Taylor complaining, "People have been calling me, saying that they have painted her like Dirk didn't even know her. ..."What should have been a call to action for TXDot was simply disregarded," he said before interviewing stumbling agency director Bill Hale, who couldn't have looked much more ineffectual on camera in trying to explain how "we haven't had a whole lot of changes on the thing."

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., May 7) -- Fox special (on ABC) boosts WFAA8's late night news

Ed Bark — 2009-05-08T09:55:49-05:00
CBS otherwise controlled the total viewer numbers from 7 to 9 p.m. with Survivor: Tocantins and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, which as usual had the night's biggest audience (332,150 viewers). But NBC's My Name Is Earl and Parks & Recreation controlled the 7 p.m. hour among 18-to-49-year-olds before ABC's Grey's Anatomy won at 8 p.m.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon.-Wed., May 4-6) -- They're alive!!!

Ed Bark — 2009-05-07T19:39:41-05:00
It otherwise was a big day for NBC5, which ran the table at 6 a.m. and 5 and 6 p.m. But its total viewers margin at 6 p.m. was a statistically insignificant one-hundredth of a rating point (664 viewers) over WFAA8. ...The Peacock made it three for three with comfy twin wins at 6 a.m. The 10 p.m. golds were split between CBS11 in total viewers and Fox4 in the 25-to-54 demographic.

This just in: A night in the lives of D-FW's late night newscasts (Wed., May 6)

Ed Bark — 2009-05-07T16:35:13-05:00
Miles By ED BARK We'll have an abbreviated edition today, in large part because breaking news in the unseemly Dirk Nowitzki-Cristal Taylor situation kept your dutiful content provider otherwise occupied for part of the day. ...Miles got another big jump on the story late Thursday morning, when he first reported on CBS11's Web site that Taylor was both engaged to Nowitzki and apparently is pregnant.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Sun., May 3) -- Mavs roll

Ed Bark — 2009-05-07T10:41:17-05:00
By ED BARK Nielsen ratings are slowly arriving via covered wagon after major technical problems waylaid their delivery to local stations during the heart of the May "sweeps" ratings period. ...CBS had the second biggest draw with Cold Case (312,221 total viewers) while Fox's Family Guy was runnerup among 18-to-49-year-olds (136,130).

This just in: A night in the lives of D-FW's late night newscasts (Tues., May 5)

Ed Bark — 2009-05-06T12:08:04-05:00
Commercial time -- 3 minutes, 15 seconds Part 1 of Newy Scruggs' sports segment -- 1 minute, 25 seconds Commercial time -- 3 minutes, 35 seconds Part 2 of Scruggs' sports segment, including anchor cross-talk -- 1 minute, 3 seconds Tease of concluding story -- 7 seconds Commercial time -- 2 minutes, 40 seconds Concluding story and anchor sign-off -- 44 seconds ... WFAA8 anchor Gloria Campos and former First Lady Laura Bush GLO ALL AGLOW WITH LAURA -- WFAA8 anchor Gloria Campos had the only one-on-one interview with Laura Bush, whom she first very charitably described as "one of the most beloved First Ladies in modern history."

This just in: A night in the lives of D-FW's late night newscasts (Mon., May 4)

Ed Bark — 2009-05-05T12:28:04-05:00
D-FW reporters Jason Whitely, Sophia Reza and Jack Fink By ED BARK Saturday's collapse of the Dallas Cowboys' practice facility continued to prompt questions about why it happened and who might be at fault. ... DALE HAS A STROKE, OUT-PUTTS PETE -- WFAA8's heavily hyped, weeklong "Rumble in the Plaza" commenced Monday night with sports anchor Dale Hansen besting weathercaster Pete Delkus during what looked to be a very sparsely attended putting competition outside the station's Victory Park studios.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sat., May 1-2 -- CBS11's timely collapse coverage pumps up Sat. afternoon ratings

Ed Bark — 2009-05-05T11:27:09-05:00
CBS11's coverage of Saturday afternoon's collapse of the Dallas Cowboys practice facility yielded a sharp jump in the station's audience from 3:45 to 4:30 p.m. It dominated coverage of the tragedy during this period while rival stations were comparatively slow to react. ...CBS11's 10 p.m. newscast then won in total viewers while WFAA8 took the gold among 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

This just in: A night in the lives of D-FW's late night newscasts (Fri., May 1)

Ed Bark — 2009-05-04T07:43:06-05:00
D-FW newsies John McCaa, Randy McIlwain and Doug Dunbar By ED BARK WFAA8 sports anchor Dale Hansen regularly shoots his mouth off, but he's only talking about the games people play. ... NBC5's Ellen Goldberg and CBS11's Ginger Allen DOUBLE UGH -- NBC5's Ellen Goldberg generally prowls the nighttime streets as an able replacement for former "Mistress of the Dark" Susan Risdon, who left the station in 2007 to form her own media consulting firm.

Share and share alike: Fox4, NBC5 and The 33 partner up

Ed Bark — 2009-05-03T20:30:40-05:00
All for one and one for all -- content sharing coming soon. By ED BARK Fox4, NBC5 and -- surprise -- "The 33" -- will be D-FW partners in a content-sharing agreement officially set to take effect Wednesday. ...In other words, some content is identical in both newspapers, such as The Dallas Morning News' recurring use of Star-Telegram entertainment critics Christopher Kelly, Preston Jones and Cary Darling as "special contributors."

The Pete 'n' Dale sideshow -- had enough or lovin' it?

Ed Bark — 2009-05-01T12:37:21-05:00
WFAA8 is the official station of "Rumble in the Plaza," pitting sports anchor Dale Hansen and weathercaster Pete Delkus in a series of five competitions to be shown in part on next week's 10 p.m. newscasts. ...But if and when we don't cover a news story because of Delkus and Hansen messing around, I'll be the first one to scream the loudest."

This just in: A night in the lives of D-FW's late night newscasts (Thurs., April 30)

Ed Bark — 2009-05-01T12:36:13-05:00
But WFAA8 didn't tarry, restricting its coverage to a lone lead story by reporter Chris Hawes, who mostly contrasted the different approaches to the situation by officials in Fort Worth, Dallas and Arlington. ...But he was a breath of fresh air on CBS11, warning residents to attend mass gatherings at their own risk before adding, "Right now, I'm not recommending suspension of any of the social norms we do as people."

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., April 30) -- Crime pays, with an asterisk

Ed Bark — 2009-05-01T10:04:53-05:00
Also of note: the 7 p.m. return of ABC's Ugly Betty drew just 106,288 total viewers, tying The CW's Smallville for third place just a few slivers ahead of NBC's My Name Is Earl and Parks and Recreation. ...In local news derby results, WFAA8 had a big day, sweeping the 5, 6 and 10 p.m. competitions in both total viewers and 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

This just in: A night in the lives of D-FW's late night newscasts (Wed., April 29)

Ed Bark — 2009-04-30T11:34:29-05:00
Swine flu blues: FWISD shutdown leads newscasts. Photos: Fox4 By ED BARK The surprise, swine flu-fueled shutdown of Fort Worth's public school district rightly led Wednesday's late night newscasts on the four major providers. ...Missing from any of Wednesday's late night coverage was perspective on why Fort Worth is closing its school system with just one confirmed case of swine flu while the Dallas Independent School District hasn't taken such measures despite three confirmed cases to date.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., April 29) -- Lie to Me outdraws Obama news conference, although that's kind of stretching the truth

Ed Bark — 2009-04-30T08:56:47-05:00
By ED BARK Fox's decision to keep Lie to Me in place instead of carrying President Obama's news conference put the first-year series on a ratings upswing Wednesday night. ...Fox (Lie to Me) -- 245,791 viewers NBC -- 172,718 ABC -- 166,075 Univision -- 159,432 CBS -- 79,716 Fox News Channel -- 46,501 MSNBC -- 39,858 CNN -- 33,215 PBS -- 6,643 CNBC/Fox Business Channel -- "hashmarks" (no measurable audience for Obama news conference)

This just in: A night in the lives of D-FW's late night newscasts (Tues., April 28)

Ed Bark — 2009-04-29T12:09:10-05:00
WFAA8's longrunning Brad Watson messed with City Hall Tuesday. By ED BARK D-FW's late night local newscasts found themselves in the cross-hairs of the competing Mavericks-Spurs playoff game Tuesday. ...Titled "Frivolous Funding?", it noted that Dallas city officials had approved $19,750 to clean up the bronze steers near the convention center; $3,025 for a neighborhood arts program called "Speaking with Bees;" and $24,900 to fund a survey of how "engaged" city employees are while performing their jobs.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., April 28) -- Mavs punch out Spurs and all competing programming (updated to reflect revised TNT numbers)

Ed Bark — 2009-04-29T10:40:00-05:00
Mavs-Spurs didn't have to compete directly against Fox's American Idol performance show, which had 451,724 viewers in easily winning the 7 to 8 p.m. slot. ...So much so that the 10 to 10:30 p.m. audience on TXA21 alone (438,438 viewers) more than doubled the tally for WFAA8's 10 p.m. newscast, which had 205,933 viewers in beating its rivals on Fox4, NBC5 and CBS11.

This just in: A night in the lives of D-FW's late night newscasts (Mon., April 27)

Ed Bark — 2009-04-28T13:08:06-05:00
FLYER ON THE FRYER -- CBS11's Fink went long with an extended piece on what he portrayed as the over-inflated salary of DFW Airport CEO Jeff Fegan, whose $400,000 yearly income makes him the highest paid such official in the country. ...PERRY AND THRUST -- NBC5 anchor Jane McGarry let it be known that reporter Omar Villafranca will be the station's point man in covering the Texas governor's race all the way to election day.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., April 27) -- everybody's a winner in local news derby

Ed Bark — 2009-04-28T08:57:32-05:00
In prime-time, another 90-minute edition of ABC's Dancing with the Stars again was Monday's most-watched attraction with 398,580 total viewers from 7 to 8:30 p.m. ...The network's sitcom trio of The Big Bang Theory, How I Met Your Mother and Two and a Half Men all outdrew Dancing before Rules of Engagement and CSI: Miami continued the dominance.

This just in: A night in the lives of D-FW's late night newscasts (Fri., April 24)

Ed Bark — 2009-04-27T11:44:28-05:00
Emily Lopez then reported on a school board vote that allows a second-grader at Thomas Haley Elementary to wear her uniform blouse hanging out instead of tucked in. That's because her mother contended that complying with the school's dress code would "attract attention to her daughter's backside." ... John McCaa lately can't stop tweeting -- even during newscasts. GOOD WORK -- Fox4's Brandon Todd had an interesting story on Fort Worth's continued population spike and the attendant increased demands on city services.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., April 24-26) -- Mavs rule on TXA21/TNT

Ed Bark — 2009-04-27T11:44:20-05:00
That's a total of 352,079 viewers, which matches the audience for Game 1 of the series but oddly enough falls short of the combined 405,223 viewers for Game 2 in San Antonio, in which the Mavs were blown out for their only loss to the Spurs so far. ...In Friday's local news derby results, WFAA8 remained strong at 10 p.m. with wins in both total viewers and 25-to-54-year-olds, the preferred advertiser target audience for news programming.

This just in: A night in the lives of D-FW's late night newscasts (Thurs., April 23)

Ed Bark — 2009-04-24T12:41:17-05:00
Reporters Byron Harris, Bennett Cunningham and Rebecca Lopez By ED BARK Back by popular demand -- or maybe not -- it's the ratings "sweeps" series that every D-FW anchor, reporter and news director loves, loathes or yawns at. ... Love match for Delta and the Dallas Zoo's Timbo the gorilla DELTA DAWNING -- WFAA8 led its 10 p.m. newscast with Lopez's supposedly "exclusive" report on Delta airlines resuming limited flights out of Love Field for the first time since 2003.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., April 23) -- Mavs power up; May sweeps start

Ed Bark — 2009-04-24T09:43:22-05:00
By ED BARK The Dallas Mavericks' home court blowout of San Antonio Thursday night also whipped all competing prime-time programming, including new episodes of Grey's Anatomy and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. ...Game 3, which ended at 9:44 p.m., averaged a robust 312,221 D-FW viewers, peaking at 458,367 between 9:30 and 9:45 p.m. Ratings for NBA TV weren't available, but it's safe to say they amounted to little if anything.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., April 22) -- tight fight in the early mornings on eve of May "sweeps"

Ed Bark — 2009-04-23T09:41:01-05:00
By ED BARK The 6 a.m. local news ratings race is close to being an unprecedented four-way affair as stations try to gather momentum for Thursday's start of the month-long May "sweeps." ...Fox's Lie to Me scored twin wins at 7 p.m., as did a new episode of CBS' Criminal Minds at 9 p.m. But CM had almost twice as many total viewers (358,722) as Lie to Me (186,004).

Good Day's Fiona Gorostiza gets burned during coal-walking expedition

Ed Bark — 2009-04-22T22:07:24-05:00
In a myfoxdfw.com account headlined "Good Day's Firewalking Fiasco," the station says that Gorostiza felt a coal sizzling on the bottom of her bare foot while walking across hot coals during an outdoor segment at Fair Park conducted by the Firewalking Institute of Research and Education. ...Gorostiza, who joined Fox4 in December from KMIR-TV in Palm Springs, Calif., was egged on by Good Day co-anchor Tim Ryan, who jeered, "C'mon, you weenie" from the safety of the station's downtown studio.

Live at Five: WFAA tries to pep up its newscast with in-studio interviews, roaming anchors

Ed Bark — 2009-04-22T12:56:56-05:00
Peeps show: WFAA8's John McCaa and Gloria Campos welcomed three baby hawks to Tuesday's 5 p.m. newscast. Photos: Ed Bark ...Coincidentally or not, WFAA8's 5 p.m. newscasts have finished first for the past four weekdays in both total viewers and 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., April 21) -- Idol rolls, Dancing doesn't

Ed Bark — 2009-04-22T10:19:04-05:00
The Fox cash machine rang to the tune of 418,509 D-FW viewers, squashing 7 to 8 p.m. competition from the first hour of NBC's The Biggest Loser (146,146 viewers) and CBS' comedy combo of The Big Bang Theory (139,503) and Two and a Half Men (166,075). ...CBS' repeat of The Mentalist controlled the 9 p.m. Nielsens in total viewers, but Fox4's local newscast took the top spot among 18-to-49-year-olds in a close four-way fight that also included NBC's Law & Order: SVU and ABC's new The Unusuals.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., April 20) -- punchless Mavs roll up big ratings anyway

Ed Bark — 2009-04-21T10:47:46-05:00
The Mavs' 105-84 road loss to San Antonio, squaring the series at 1-1, tipped off about 20 minutes past its appointed 8:30 p.m. start time and ran until 11:20 p.m. Calculations based on those actual start and stop times show the game averaging 245,791 D-FW viewers on TXA21, plus another 159,432 for the TNT presentation. ...On TXA21 alone, the game beat all competing prime-time programming between 8:50 and 10 p.m. Its closest competitor was ABC's new Castle crime series, which had 232,505 viewers from 9 to 10 p.m. opposite the game's 292,292 viewers.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., April 17-19) -- Mavs at last a hit

Ed Bark — 2009-04-20T10:17:28-05:00
By ED BARK There's nothing like a gutty, come-from-behind win in Game 1 of the playoffs to cure the Dallas Mavericks' regular season ratings blues. ...In Sunday night results, the 7:30 premiere of Fox's animated Sit Down, Shut Up drew a respectable crowd of 159,432 total viewers to finish a close third in its time slot behind the closing half-hours of NBC's Miss USA pageant (172,718 viewers) and ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (166,075 viewers).

"Better tomorrows" -- Former WFAA8 anchor Bob Gooding dies of cancer (updated)

Ed Bark — 2009-04-20T09:47:18-05:00
By ED BARK Former WFAA-TV (Channel 8) anchor Bob Gooding, one of the station's signature newsmen for most of the 1960s and '70s, died over the weekend after a lengthy battle with cancer. ..."Dad said that since his dad had died at 68 and he is now 76, he feels as if he's on borrowed time anyway," Gooding's son wrote in a letter forwarded by former WFAA anchor Tracy Rowlett.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., April 16) -- Fox/CBS split spoils; ABC in dumper

Ed Bark — 2009-04-17T10:39:35-05:00
And Fox4's 9 p.m. local newscast likewise took a pair of golds, edging CBS' runnerup Harper's Island in total viewers and beating NBC's second place Southland by a comfier margin among 18-to-49-year-olds. ...Motherhood tied a new episode of NBC's My Name Is Earl for third in total viewers before Samantha slipped to fourth -- by just one-tenth of a rating point -- behind NBC's fledgling Parks and Recreation.

Ripened Dallas eyeful on 2nd season of TV Land's She's Got the Look

Ed Bark — 2009-04-16T13:39:16-05:00
Locken as "Agent December" and under other circumstances. By ED BARK TV Land's second season of She's Got the Look includes a D-FW looker among 10 contestants vying to "become the next great supermodel" -- 35 years of age and older. ...Season 2 of She's Got the Look, scheduled to launch in June, will award the winner $100,000, a contract with Wilhelmina Models, Inc. and a photo spread in Self magazine.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., April 15) -- runaway prime-time sweep for Fox and Fox4

Ed Bark — 2009-04-16T11:34:54-05:00
Matt Giraud collects a "Save" on Wednesday's Idol. Fox photo By ED BARK American Idol regrouped from Tuesday night's ratings tie with a competing NCIS repeat to amass one of its biggest D-FW audiences of the year for Wednesday's results show. ...Also of note: A prime-time edition of WFAA8's homegrown Good Morning Texas drew 46,501 total viewers from 7 to 8 p.m. That put it sixth in that hour behind Fox, NBC, CBS, the Mavs-Rockets game and The CW's America's Next Top Model.

It's WFAA8's 1991 noon news, featuring Quin Mathews, Scott Sams and Princess Leia(?)

Ed Bark — 2009-04-15T17:28:26-05:00
Recent pictures of Quin Mathews, Lisa McRee and Scott Sams By ED BARK Return with us now to WFAA8's noon newscast, circa 1991, co-anchored by Quin Mathews and Lisa McRee, with Scott Sams at the weather maps. ...***McRee most recently hosted and reported for California Connected, which aired on the state's PBS radio stations from 2004-'07, when lack of funding ended the program.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., April 14) -- NCIS repeat ties Idol

Ed Bark — 2009-04-15T11:36:49-05:00
The two shows tied in the 7 p.m. hour with 305,578 viewers apiece; on March 17th, a new NCIS episode outdrew Idol for the only time this season. Fox easily held serve among advertiser-coveted 18-to-49-year-olds, though, with Idol amassing 142,613 viewers in this age range compared to 84,271 for NCIS.

Former WFAA anchor Macie Jepson still in town, hoping to rebound

Ed Bark — 2009-04-14T11:43:27-05:00
Macie Jepson in new, post-WFAA8 photos sent Tuesday. By ED BARK Former WFAA8 anchor Macie Jepson, laid off last August by the Dallas-based ABC station, is regularly mentioned by readers of unclebarky.com who wonder what's become of her. ...As recently detailed, in-house anchor-reporters Dan Godwin, Natalie Solis and Krystle Gutierrez have been joining incumbent Tim Ryan on the early morning show since Megan Henderson left in late February for KTLA-TV in Los Angeles.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., April 13) -- Dancing floors it, CSI mops up

Ed Bark — 2009-04-14T11:04:37-05:00
A new episode of CBS' CSI: Miami took the 9 p.m. hour with 292,292 total viewers while also running first in the 18-to-49 age range. ...Fox's new episode of House took the silver at 7 p.m. The network's 24 then fell to third at 8 p.m., beating only NBC's drooping Heroes, which had the smallest audience of the night among the Big Four broadcast networks.

Fox4's Good Day -- vacancy or no vacancy?

Ed Bark — 2009-04-13T12:53:36-05:00
In the one-time only March "sweeps," the 7 to 9 a.m. portion of Good Day again beat the three network morning shows in both total viewers and 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming. ...So it's an open question whether Fox4 would have stayed on top in March with Ryan-Henderson still at the Good Day throttle.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., April 10-12) -- Masters a ratings hole in one

Ed Bark — 2009-04-13T12:53:29-05:00
The final round averaged 312,221 D-FW viewers, hitting a high point of 418,509 between 6:15 and 6:30 p.m. That's when Angel Cabrera punched out a sagging Kenny Perry on the second playoff hole to become the first Argentinian to don the tournament's trademark green jacket. ...On Friday, NBC's third season finale of the Austin-made Friday Night Lights managed just 93,002 viewers, beating Fox's all but dead Dollhouse (53,144 viewers) but losing in the 8 p.m. hour to CBS' Flashpoint (212,576 viewers), TXA21's Mavs-Hornets game (119,574 viewers) and ABC's Supernanny (106,288 viewers).

"Nothin' but chaos going on here inside the newsroom"

Ed Bark — 2009-04-11T11:29:01-05:00
By ED BARK CBS11's newsroom reverted to the stone age at about 2:30 p.m. Thursday when all of the computers went dead while wildfires were sweeping through Montague County. ...He also praises staffers for putting together a newscast that looked none the worse for wear despite all the behind-the-scenes "chaos" on what turned out to be a big breaking news day.

Matt Quinn: a one of a kind reporter for WFAA8 (updated)

Ed Bark — 2009-04-10T12:41:52-05:00
"Matt was so good at many things, but he did not like doing live shots," recalls WFAA8 photographer Tim Auman, who collaborated with Quinn on many of his distinctive pieces. ...Veteran WFAA8 reporter Gary Reaves, who left the station for CBS News in the 1980s before returning to Dallas in 1991, says that Quinn "just had a real knack for getting into the essence of a story and making you feel as if you were there.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., April 9) -- ups, downs for trio of network series premieres

Ed Bark — 2009-04-10T12:41:15-05:00
By ED BARK CBS' Harper's Island outdrew NBC's Southland in a battle of 9 p.m crime series premieres while the Peacock's launch of Amy Poehler's Parks and Recreation made a minimal impression earlier Thursday night. ...Harper's Island also beat Southland among advertiser-coveted 18-to-49-year-olds, but again suffered an audience falloff while Southland's ratings increased in each 15-minute increment.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., April 8) -- Fox/Fox4 call prime-time tune

Ed Bark — 2009-04-09T12:56:42-05:00
Lie to Me, which now seems like a cinch to return next season, led off prime-time with 179,361 total viewers, beating all competing programming in that measurement and also topping the 7 p.m. field in the 18-to-49 demographic. ...The 9 p.m. premiere of ABC's The Unusuals improved on its lead-in from Lost (119,574 total viewers), but still ran third in its time slot with 179,361 viewers.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., April 7) -- Idol, Dancing barely beat CBS crime combo

Ed Bark — 2009-04-08T10:14:24-05:00
By ED BARK Crime continues to pay on CBS, where NCIS and The Mentalist nearly outdrew the reality competition juggernauts on Fox and ABC before Without A Trace cruised in the 9 p.m. hour. ...CBS cleaned up in the 9 p.m. hour, where Without A Trace ran first with 332,150 total viewers and also prevailed among 18-to-49-year-olds.

WFAA8's Shelly Slater still waiting for 5 p.m. call-up

Ed Bark — 2009-04-07T17:05:28-05:00
Still, she remains on weekends while the Dallas-based ABC affiliate's ratings-challenged 5 p.m. weekday newscast is still without a permanent anchor team or even a designated solo pilot. ...Part of the reason is declining ratings for The Oprah Winfrey Show, a onetime juggernaut that now is being narrowly beaten by Fox4's syndicated Judge Judy and almost beaten by NBC5's 1st at Four local newscast.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., April 6) -- hoops/hardball edition

Ed Bark — 2009-04-07T10:11:58-05:00
By ED BARK Monday's sunny Texas Rangers home opener on Fox4 had the most viewers during daytime hours before CBS' NCAA basketball championship game finished reasonably strong despite North Carolina's lopsided dominance of Michigan State. ...North Carolina-Michigan State averaged 305,578 total viewers for a game that didn't start until 8:24 p.m. before stretching to 10:46 p.m. A peak audience of 405,223 watched the closing minutes.

NBC5's Scruggs/Barrie get their Geico on

Ed Bark — 2009-04-06T14:02:44-05:00
NBC5 has winning takeoff on Geico airport commercial. Photos: Ed Bark By ED BARK This one's genius -- or at least it's in the neighborhood. ...Barrie, who joined the D-FW station during last year's Dallas Cowboys training camp, has been teaming with NBC5's entrenched Newy Scruggs on Sunday night's Out of Bounds sports program.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., April 3-5) -- big Sunday for Southern-fried entertainment

Ed Bark — 2009-04-06T10:06:48-05:00
By ED BARK You might be a redneck -- but mebbe not -- if you first watched Sunday afternoon's Samsung 500 at Texas Motor Speedway before segueing to that night's Academy of Country Music Awards show. ...In Friday's local news derby results, WFAA8 swept the 10 p.m. contests in both total viewers and 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

The new big pictures at NBC5

Ed Bark — 2009-04-03T13:37:52-05:00
NBC5's Randy McIIwain gets downsized by a big wheel. Photos: Ed Bark By ED BARK D-FW's NBC5 lately has stretched its in-the-field pictures to fill the entire screen during high-definition newscasts. ... NBC5 later offered a presumably unintended sight gag during anchor Mike Snyder's discourse on a move to make electronic gambling legal at Texas horse and dog racing tracks.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., April 2) -- ER's last call comes up a winner for NBC

Ed Bark — 2009-04-03T10:24:57-05:00
By ED BARK ER's two-hour series finale brought back enough viewers to carry NBC to a prime-time win Thursday against new episodes of CBS' potent crime duo. ...At 7 p.m., an ER retrospective also won among 18-to-49-year-olds, but ran a close second to Fox's Bones in the total viewer Nielsens.

Brave new world -- or just getting what you pay for?

Ed Bark — 2009-04-02T15:43:38-05:00
The pathway to a job in local TV news -- provided you're willing to work long hours for minimal pay -- is perhaps easier now than it's ever been for kids out of college with minimal experience but a willingness to learn on the fly. ...In the just-concluded March "sweeps," which subbed for February this year, The 33's 9 p.m. newscast averaged 33,215 total viewers in a market of more than 6 million people.

March "sweeps," pinch-hitting for Feb., show 5 p.m. sweep for NBC5, 10 p.m. gains for CBS11, across-the-board losses for WFAA8

Ed Bark — 2009-04-02T11:58:08-05:00
Worse yet, the ABC station lost at 5 p.m. in a ratings sweeps period for the first time in at least 22 years, with NBC5 finishing first in total viewers and tying for the top spot with Fox4 among 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming. ...But the station also has been doing a better job of retaining that lead-in, even though WFAA8's 10 p.m. newscast continues to be the only one to improve on the audience inherited from its network.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., April 1) -- more ratings booty for Idol, Fox4

Ed Bark — 2009-04-02T09:40:29-05:00
By ED BARK American Idol's latest results show again chopped down competitors and also gave Fox4's 9 p.m. newscast a kick upstairs in Wednesday's D-FW Nielsens. ...In Wednesday's local news derby results, CBS11 took the top spot at 10 p.m. with 305,578 viewers while Fox4 logged a rare first place finish among 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., March 31) -- Idol rolls, Osbournes don't

Ed Bark — 2009-04-01T10:36:09-05:00
That put Reloaded in third place in its time slot, ahead of only the last half-hour of NBC's The Biggest Loser in both total viewers and advertiser-favored 18-to-49-year-olds. ...The 9 p.m. premiere of ABC's Cupid re-do flexed at least limited audience appeal with 219,219 viewers after the 8 p.m. Dancing with the Stars results show drew 338,793 viewers to the double sacking of Holly Madison and Steve Wozniak.

Clear eyes, full hearts -- can lose

Ed Bark — 2009-04-01T04:24:43-05:00
The Texas Rangers, most of whose seasons have been all a blur, will have a record number of high-definition telecasts this season. ...As previously reported on unclebarky.com, less than one-fifth of this season's games will be on free over-the-air TV.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., March 30) -- usual win for Dancing, unusual No. 1s for Daybreak

Ed Bark — 2009-03-31T10:51:53-05:00
By ED BARK ABC's Dancing with the Stars again waltzed through Monday's prime-time ratings while WFAA8's Daybreak had twin wins at 6 a.m. for the first time since, well, we'll have to look that up. ...Among 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming, WFAA8 had the golds to itself at 6 a.m., and at 5 and 10 p.m. Its only stumble came at 6 p.m., where NBC5 ran first with 25-to-54-year-olds.

"Terrified" of losing his job, DPD officer Powell tells CBS11 he's sorry, acted sorrier

Ed Bark — 2009-03-30T22:51:57-05:00
DPD officer Robert Powell on CBS11 Monday night. Photo: Ed Bark By ED BARK The bookends are now in place after Monday's first TV appearances -- outside of a police dash cam video -- of the principals in a traffic violation incident that became a virtually non-stop story both nationally and locally. ...Both Powell and the Moatses obviously want to move on, as do some who say they've grown weary of this story in the time since WFAA8 reporter Rebecca Lopez broke it on Wednesday's 10 p.m. newscast.

Lopez's major league scoop keeps competitors on her heels

Ed Bark — 2009-03-30T12:43:48-05:00
WFAA8 reporter Rebecca Lopez from ABC's NYC studios Photo: Ed Bark By ED BARK Last Wednesday at first didn't look like much, at least from Rebecca Lopez's perspective as WFAA8's principal police reporter. ...Lopez was in New York City Monday, where she did the only local TV interview with the Moatses after they first spoke exclusively to ABC's Good Morning America and co-anchor Robin Roberts.

Ryan/Tamishia Moats tell their story exclusively on GMA while WFAA8 bides its time (updated)

Ed Bark — 2009-03-30T10:20:01-05:00
Ryan and Tamishia Moats on Monday's GMA. Photo: Ed Bark By ED BARK Ryan Moats and his wife, Tamishia, making their first television appearance Monday, said they're willing to accept the apology of Dallas police officer Robert Powell, who detained them for a traffic violation while her mother was dying at Baylor Regional Medical Center in Plano. ...Viewers initially were told that the station's Midday news program would carry excerpts, but they likely won't be ready in time for that broadcast, Lopez said by telephone from New York.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., March 27-29) -- Woods' 18th hole win paces big sports Sunday

Ed Bark — 2009-03-30T10:18:29-05:00
CBS's concluding Sweet 16 game Sunday, a marquee matchup between Oklahoma and North Carolina (and respective star players Blake Griffin and Taylor Hansbrough), averaged 205,933 viewers from late afternoon to 6:10 p.m. The potential viewer haul was hurt by North Carolina's dominance from start to finish in a game that wasn't as close as its 72-60 score. ...In Friday's local news derby, WFAA8 again controlled the 10 p.m. ratings in both total viewers and 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

CBS11 investigators win National Headliner Award

Ed Bark — 2009-03-28T11:56:16-05:00
By ED BARK A CBS11 investigative team headed by reporter Bennett Cunningham has won a National Headliner Award for "The Gravy Train," a series of reports on DART spending. ...Meanwhile, Cunningham says he has signed a new contract with CBS11, but for a "very short term." As previously reported on unclebarky.com, Cunningham and his partner, Michael Spann, are parents of a baby boy and girl born last October via gestational surgery at a Hartford, Conn.

Updating the whereabouts of . . .

Ed Bark — 2009-03-27T15:12:15-05:00
Latter day photos of Doug Fox, Jane Jayroe, Bill Ratliff By ED BARK Several readers who have viewed the vintage WFAA8 promotional film below on this page have wondered about the current whereabouts of Doug Fox, Jane Jayroe (pictured in the film as one of the station's competitors) and Bill Ratliff. ...Bill Ratliff -- The former PM Magazine co-host left WFAA8 in 1982 to join NBC station WFLA-TV in Tampa.

Lopez scoop proves value of beat reporting (updated)

Ed Bark — 2009-03-27T10:08:24-05:00
Media of all forms continue to pounce on the story of pro football running back Ryan Moats being detained from seeing his dying mother-in-law by Dallas Police office Robert Powell, who ticketed him for running a red light enroute to Baylor Regional Medical Center in Plano. ...CBS11 spokesperson Lori Conrad, responding to an inquiry, said that the Early Show interview "was a lock until this (Friday) morning, when the broadcast executive producer got an email saying that they couldn't do the interview because Ryan's wife was still grieving."

Local Nielsen ratings snaphot (Thurs., March 26) -- basketball routed by Idol, ABC meds

Ed Bark — 2009-03-27T09:18:29-05:00
Basketball dribbled back down to fourth place (166,075 viewers), trailing Fox4's runnerup 9 p.m. local newscast (225,862 viewers) and NBC's second-to-last episode of ER (159,432 viewers). ...In the daily local news derby, a downsized three-way race at 10 p.m. went to WFAA8 in both total viewers and 25-to-54-year-olds, the principal advertiser target audience for news programming.

Ch. 8: "First with live news coverage capabilities"

Ed Bark — 2009-03-26T11:21:34-05:00
It runs for nearly seven-and-a-half minutes, but you won't find a better look at the way it was when local stations went to war each fall with grand pronouncements and big, pre-cable budgets. ...***Shots at the competition, with video of Ch. 4 anchors Chip Moody and Clarice Tinsley, and Ch. 5's Jane Jayroe and Dave Layman dismissed by a country twanger who sings, "Sometimes the newer something seems to be, the quicker it seems to grow old."

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., March 25) -- big day for Fox and Fox4

Ed Bark — 2009-03-26T09:51:38-05:00
Meanwhile, NBC's Chopping Block continued to play dead with just 53,144 total viewers in the 7 p.m. hour while the second episode of ABC's Better Off Ted showed at least some vital signs at 7:30 p.m. with 126,217 viewers. ...Fox4 also ran first among 18-to-49-year-olds, with CSI: NY second ahead of NBC's Law & Order and the penultimate episode of ABC's Life on Mars

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., March 24) -- Obama press conference leaves Idol-less Fox in ratings ditch

Ed Bark — 2009-03-25T11:07:30-05:00
House had just 53,144 D-FW viewers in the 8 p.m. hour, distancing itself from CBS' competing new episode of NCIS (411,866 viewers) and ABC's runnerup Dancing with the Stars results show (338,793 viewers), in which Denise Richards got booted. ...In local news derby results, WFAA8 overcame a sizable lead-in disadvantage to edge runnerup CBS11 at 10 p.m. in both total viewers and 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

Anchor/reporter Gina Miller still a player in D-FW television's man-centric sports scene

Ed Bark — 2009-03-24T12:14:31-05:00
"They decided they wanted to take the leap and have a woman in the market," says Miller, who became the station's weekend sports anchor, producer of its Sunday night sports show and "what ever else they needed" as WBIR's promotable new "Sports Girl." ... Miller and Derek Harper are now a veteran team at TXA21. Miller first landed a job with the Dallas Cowboys SilverStar Network, where for three years she produced the weekly Special Edition with Jerry Jones show while also doing sideline reporting for the team's pre-season games.

Dinner at eight, weather at 10

Ed Bark — 2009-03-24T10:51:16-05:00
Live from Dallas, Tuxes, it's Pete Delkus taking temps. Photo: Ed Bark By ED BARK His predecessor, Troy Dungan, wore hundreds if not thousands of his trademark bow ties during a long career as WFAA8's featured forecaster. ...Actually, Delkus had just returned from Dallas Baptist University, where he was co-chair with Alicia Landry of the Tom Landry Leadership Awards dinner.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., March 23) -- more merriness for ABC, CBS

Ed Bark — 2009-03-24T09:21:51-05:00
By ED BARK ABC's Dancing with the Stars again hoofed and puffed to a commanding Monday night win in total D-FW viewers before CBS' CSI: Miami left rivals for dead in the 9 p.m. hour. ...But Fox4's competing Law & Order: Criminal Intent repeat outdrew all three talkers in total viewers while TXA21's pair of That '70s Show reruns ran first with 18-to-49-year-olds.

Henderson quietly makes KTLA debut

Ed Bark — 2009-03-23T17:37:55-05:00
But former Fox4 Good Day co-anchor Megan Henderson is on the air at KTLA-TV in Los Angeles. ...Henderson said she'll also do some reporting "here and there" for KTLA, whose daily morning programming currently stretches from 5 to 10 a.m.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (March 20-22) -- Obama, basketball put bounce in CBS' ratings

Ed Bark — 2009-03-23T11:05:13-05:00
Delayed until 6:52 p.m. by NCAA basketball overruns and a huge bloc of commercials, 60 Minutes averaged 292,292 D-FW viewers to outpoint ABC's competing Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (252,434 viewers). 60 Minutes also almost won the hour among advertiser-coveted 18-to-49-year-olds, finishing a close second to Fox's cartoon combo of The Simpsons and King of the Hill.

Briefings continue to litter neighborhoods. But hey, try delivering them

Ed Bark — 2009-03-20T10:38:02-05:00
Dead issues: Briefings are still decomposing in our neighborhood and many others as more layoffs loom at TDMN. Photos: Ed Bark ..."So before people complain about the circumstances, think of the carriers that have to roll each Briefing individually, throw them and still have all their paying subscribers receive their papers within the deadline."

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., March 19) -- Obama a smash on Tonight

Ed Bark — 2009-03-20T09:42:30-05:00
At 7 p.m., Fox's Bones had the most total viewers (199,290), but NBC's combo of My Name Is Earl and The Office won among advertiser-craved 18-to-49-year-olds. ...WFAA8 ran the table at 6 p.m., and also had the most total viewers at 5 p.m. Fox4 was tops at the earlier hour among 25-to-54-year-olds.

Former CBS11 news director Regent Ducas becomes media coach for North Texas firm whose clients include his old station

Ed Bark — 2009-03-19T11:28:21-05:00
Regent Ducas in CBS11 days and in new Talent Dynamics photo By ED BARK Controversial former CBS11 news director Regent Ducas has re-booted a second time in North Texas after being dropped by the station in August, 2007. ..."He has personally conducted countless interviews in and out of locker rooms with athletes and personalities from every sport and has been the first mentor for athletes who have entered the television world."

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., March 18) -- Fox, CBS split prime-time spoils

Ed Bark — 2009-03-19T10:51:36-05:00
By ED BARK Fox's one-two punch of American Idol and Lie to Me were tops in total viewers from 7 to 9 p.m. before CBS' CSI: NY closed out prime-time with a 9 p.m. win. ...Lie to Me carried the 7 p.m. slot in total viewers (205,933), but ran second among 18-to-49-year-olds behind CBS' comedy duo of The New Adventures of Old Christine and Gary Unmarried.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., March 17) -- CBS outdraws Idol with NCIS

Ed Bark — 2009-03-18T10:14:31-05:00
At 9 p.m., CBS' Without A Trace topped the field with 285,649 total viewers, but slipped to second with 18-to-49-year-olds behind NBC's Law & Order: SVU (119,924). In the local news derby, CBS11 capitalized at 10 p.m. with a win in total viewers (252,434) and a first-place tie with WFAA8 among 25-to-54-year-olds, the principal advertiser target audience for news programming.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., March 16) -- still sundown in early mornings for WFAA8's Daybreak

Ed Bark — 2009-03-17T10:55:10-05:00
In the total viewer Nielsens, the 6 to 7 a.m. portion of Monday's Daybreak ranked as WFAA8's least-watched program all the way until shortly past 1 a.m., when an infomercial drew an audience of 33,215, many of them likely asleep on their couches or in their beds. In contrast, the 6 to 7 a.m. portion of Fox4's Good Day was the station's most-watched program (along with the 7 to 9 a.m. portion) all the way until 5:30 p.m. Monday, when the station's local newscast had 126,217 viewers.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun, March 13-15) -- NBC's Kings opens with commoner ratings

Ed Bark — 2009-03-17T08:22:13-05:00
Queen Rose (Susanna Thompson), King Silas (Ian McShane) of Kings By ED BARK The two-hour premiere of NBC's lavish Kings wore its crown unsteadily Sunday night, drawing 119,574 D-FW viewers ...In the Friday Nielsens, Fox's Dollhouse continued to flop in these parts, running fifth with just 73,073 viewers from 8 to 9 p.m. CBS' competing Flashpoint led the way with more than double that crowd (205,933 viewers).

"News 8 now: Closer to the community. Closer to the stories that matter the most to you."

Ed Bark — 2009-03-13T17:37:50-05:00
Some of the featured anchors and reporters are still on board, including Byron Harris, Brett Shipp, Gary Reaves, Janet St. ...Others have either left the station -- Tracy Rowlett, Troy Dungan, Dave Evans, Doug Wilson, Anna Martinez -- or are no longer with us (the late Chip Moody).

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., March 12) -- scantly promoted ER Clooney episode falls short in 9 p.m. numbers

Ed Bark — 2009-03-13T09:57:44-05:00
By ED BARK Thursday's ER, with George Clooney making a largely un-promoted return, fell short in D-FW as the long-running NBC medical drama neared its April 2nd expiration date. ...Among advertiser-coveted 18-to-49-year-olds, ER shared a third-place tie with Fox4's newscast on a night when NBC's four regularly scheduled comedies all ran fourth across the board among the Big 4 broadcast networks.

This just in: a repeat of the same informercial that aired five weeks earlier on "The 33" news

Ed Bark — 2009-03-12T12:16:30-05:00
Roni Proter in "The 33" news team picture and on her own website By ED BARK Little if anything is expected of "The 33's" 9 p.m. local newscasts. ...Wednesday's one-hour newscast as usual included a segment by lifestyles/entertainment "reporter" Roni Proter, who joined the station in January as part of news director David Duitch's numerous additions and subtractions.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., March 11) -- suddenly tough Mavs win second big one on road, but ratings love still on hold

Ed Bark — 2009-03-12T09:19:18-05:00
Idol also crunched all comers in the advertiser-craved 18-to-49 demographic, but Lie to Me was nipped in its first half-hour by CBS' New Adventures of Old Christine. ...In the four-way local news competitions, CBS11 took charge of the 10 p.m. ratings with wins in both total viewers and 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

Grubs and grackle poop mix -- and yes, that's a compliment

Ed Bark — 2009-03-11T13:35:16-05:00
Pooper duper: A flock of grackles and Fox4 reporter Matt Grubs. By ED BARK The newsroom at Dallas-based Fox4 has sustained many voluntary and involuntary departures in the past year-and-a-half. ...It should be noted that WFAA8's Gary Reaves had a story on the previous Tuesday about the initial Price/ Mayfield argument on when to power-spray the pathway to their meeting place.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., March 10) -- Idol, Fox4 news flatten prime-time foes

Ed Bark — 2009-03-11T11:38:57-05:00
Idol's first two-hour sing-off among the show's Final 13 amassed 531,440 D-FW viewers from 7 to 9 p.m. opposite CBS' repeat pairing of NCIS (a still respectable 325,507 viewers) and The Mentalist (338,793 viewers). ...In the daily local news derby, WFAA8 overcame a skimpy lead-in from Prime Time to win the 10 p.m. Nielsens in total viewers and 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

More layoffs coming at Belo-owned TV stations

Ed Bark — 2009-03-11T09:02:47-05:00
"As a result of these actions, and other measures previously implemented, we expect 2009 cash operating expenses to be approximately 10 percent lower than 2008, excluding severance costs," Belo Corp.... WFAA8 currently is leading the local newscast ratings at 6 p.m. and 10 p.m., but has fallen to third place in recent months at 6 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Mob rules -- suitwise -- at Fox4

Ed Bark — 2009-03-10T12:59:01-05:00
Pinstripes palooza: Baron James, Steve Eagar (upper) and Mike Doocy (lower) suited each other on Monday's 9 p.m. newscast. Photos: Ed Bark By ED BARK OK, we're mostly just havin' fun with 'em now. ...Their show of solidarity -- or maybe frivolity -- came just a few nights after Eagar called attention to his wide-striped Navy blue suitcoat and said he was "kind of bucking the boss" by wearing it after being ordered to stop.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., March 9) -- Dancing puts its foot down

Ed Bark — 2009-03-10T10:50:15-05:00
The eighth edition of DWTS averaged an American Idol-ish 418,509 D-FW viewers, routing runnerup House (172,718 viewers) in the first hour and stomping Two and a Half Men (265,720 viewers) and Rules of Engagement (232,505 viewer) from 8 to 9 p.m. ...Past prime-time, from 11:35 p.m. to 12:35 a.m., CBS' Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson had 66,430 total viewers to top ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live and NBC's fledgling Late Night with Jimmy Fallon (46,501 viewers apiece).

WFAA8 adds a third Good Morning Texas host

Ed Bark — 2009-03-09T15:02:28-05:00
By ED BARK Dallas-based WFAA8 is making it a threesome again on Good Morning Texas by naming Kristin Mitchell (above) to co-host with incumbents Gary Cogill and Amy Vanderoef. ...Dave Muscari, vice president of product development for WFAA8, described Mitchell as a "warm, friendly personality, and we believe she will connect well with Good Morning Texas viewers."

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun, March 6-8) -- Celebrity Apprentice hardly on fire

Ed Bark — 2009-03-09T14:54:25-05:00
By ED BARK NBC's Celebrity Apprentice continues to show how far the franchise has fallen since Donald Trump first swaggered in with big-time ratings for the 2004 premiere of The Apprentice. Sunday night's two-hour chapter drew just 132,860 D-FW viewers to run fourth overall from 8 to 10 p.m. Celebrity Apprentice also ran well out of the money with advertiser-coveted 18-to-49-year-olds.

Dad gummit: Houston's NBC station finds lots to like about WFAA8's promos

Ed Bark — 2009-03-09T08:42:16-05:00

It's a girl for NBC5 reporter Lindsay Wilcox

Ed Bark — 2009-03-09T07:51:00-05:00
NBC5 reporter Lindsay Wilcox and her husband, Raymond, are the first-time parents of a daughter named Bella Reese. Wilcox plans to return to the Fort Worth-based station after maternity leave, but no date is set yet, says vice president of content development Susan Tully.

No cause for alarm: But a false one turned WFAA8's 6 p.m. newscast into improv theater

Ed Bark — 2009-03-06T10:09:56-06:00
John McCaa grins and bears a blaring fire alarm. Photos: Ed Bark By ED BARK It's never conducive to good TelePrompTer reading when a fire alarm goes off in the middle of your newscast. ...Watson anchored the rest of the newscast while weathercaster Pete Delkus and sports anchor Dale Hansen did their segments from an outdoor location adjacent to the alarm-infested Victory Park studio.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., March 5) -- first day of the March "sweeps"

Ed Bark — 2009-03-06T10:09:02-06:00
NBC5 and WFAA8 tied for first place in total viewers at 5 p.m., with the Peacock tops among 25-to-54-year-olds. ...CBS then took over from 8 to 10 p.m., with both CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (391,937 viewers) and Eleventh Hour (345,436 viewers) drawing larger audiences than Idol.

Say Gracie three times for KERA's Nowhere But Texas 2

Ed Bark — 2009-03-05T16:07:47-06:00
Linda Stogner and Therese Powell honored for Nowhere But Texas 2 North Texas filmmakers Linda Stogner and Therese Powell deservedly have won a combined three national Gracie Awards for their KERA-TV (Ch. 13) special Nowhere But Texas 2, which was originally telecast last September. ...Stogner, producer/director/editor of the program, and Powell, a co-producer, share Gracies for outstanding achievement in the Portrait/Biography and Outstanding Special categories.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., March 4) -- Fox rocks prime-time, WFAA8's Daybreak again sleeps in

Ed Bark — 2009-03-05T11:54:43-06:00
By ED BARK Fox's American Idol and Lie to Me crunched their 7 to 9 p.m. competition Wednesday while WFAA8's Daybreak spent a second straight early morning in last place. ...In Wednesday's Nielsens, the onetime empress of daytime TV ran an overall fourth with just 46,501 D-FW viewers from 4 to 5 p.m. Fox4's double dose of the competing Judge Judy led the way with 126,217 viewers and 119,574 viewers.

Stripes skunked at Fox4

Ed Bark — 2009-03-05T06:12:48-06:00
This all started on Tuesday's 9 p.m. show, when Eagar wore the same kind of wide-striped, jailbird coat favored by Fox4 anchor Baron James and Dallas mayor Tom Leppert among others. ...Eagar basically told viewers that he was willing to disregard the orders of his immediate boss, news director Maria Barrs, but not those of station manager Kathy Saunders, whose "ditch the suit" dictum obviously was taken much more seriously.

Fox4 anchor Steve Eagar shows his stripes, twits management, asks viewers to decide

Ed Bark — 2009-03-04T10:15:09-06:00
Fox4 anchor in costume on Tuesday's 9 p.m. newscast. Photo: Ed Bark By ED BARK It's always something at your friendly neighborhood TV news outlets. ...Meanwhile, Eagar says you can register your like or dislike of his Bugsy Moran coat by calling the station's "Viewers' Voice" line at 214-720-3103.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., March 3) -- early morning news blues for WFAA8

Ed Bark — 2009-03-04T10:15:02-06:00
In prime-time, Fox's latest two-hour American Idol performance edition cake-walked from 7 to 9 p.m. with 431,179 viewers, beating CBS' competing crime combo of NCIS (312,221 viewers) and The Mentalist (272,363 viewers). ...CBS' Without A Trace took the 9 p.m. hour in total viewers but another of ABC's Bachelor post mortems won in the 18-to-49 demographic, where Trace slid to fourth behind Fox4's 9 p.m. newscast and NBC's Law & Order: SVU.

Daybreak's latest leading man hopes to stay for a spell

Ed Bark — 2009-03-03T10:12:51-06:00
Latest Daybreak team: Cynthia Izaguirre and Chris Flanagan By ED BARK WFAA8's Daybreak and Cynthia Izaguirre welcomed the show's fourth leading man in eight months Tuesday, with newcomer Chris Flanagan pledging allegiance throughout his first shift. ...Then Jeff Brady kept the seat warm for Flanagan while also announcing that he'd be leaving WFAA8 (at the end of this week) to start his own consulting firm.

Staying alive: a Judy Jordan update

Ed Bark — 2009-03-03T10:12:21-06:00
Judy Jordan at her "No-More-Chemo" party with Dr. Sasha Vulkjia By ED BARK Former KDFW-TV (Channel 4) anchor Judy Jordan is doing far better than initially feared after being diagnosed with colon cancer last year. ...Jordan, who became D-FW's first woman news anchor in 1966 while at KDFW-TV (Channel 4), says she "emerged from my dance with cancer last October slightly used but in better-than-good condition.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., March 2) -- rosy ratings for The Bachelor

Ed Bark — 2009-03-03T09:42:20-06:00
In the 18-to-49-year-old demographic, Two and a Half Men, plus fellow CBS comedies The Big Bang Theory and How I Met Your Mother, outdrew Bachelor from 7 to 8:30 p.m. But the return of CBS' Rules of Engagement and CSI: Miami slipped to second for the rest of the night. Fox's two-hour 24, in which terrorists overran the White House and captured both the president and Jack Bauer, ran fourth in total viewers in the 7 p.m. hour (with NBC's Chuck finishing third) and third at 8 p.m. (ahead of NBC's Heroes).

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., Feb. 27-March 1) -- split decision for Good Day on Henderson's last day

Ed Bark — 2009-03-02T11:05:39-06:00
Sunday's night's battle of the local sports specials was topped by WFAA8's Dale Hansen with 166,075 total viewers at 10:30 p.m. CBS11's Babe Laufenberg ran second in that slot with 106,288 viewers and NBC5's Newy Scruggs/Matt Barrie lagged in third (79,716). ...In Friday's other local news derby results, WFAA8 had twin wins at 10 p.m. and also ran the table at 6 p.m. NBC5 ran first at 5 p.m. in total viewers but fell to third behind WFAA8 and Fox4 in the 25-to-54 demographic.

Former local TV news anchors Judy Jordan, Bob Gooding could use your good words

Ed Bark — 2009-03-01T21:48:54-06:00
"I just hope our pin-up lady turned noveau news anchor is ready to fight for truth, justice and the American way, and willing to throw off any excessive pizzazz, which doesn't have much of a track record in journalism," Jordan said. ...Gooding said that his father has decided against further treatment or tests: "Dad said that since his dad had died at 68 and he is now 76, he feels as if he's on borrowed time anyway .

Swan song: Good Day's Henderson puts Fox4 behind her

Ed Bark — 2009-02-27T10:34:08-06:00
Good Day then devoted much of its four hours to a "Mega Megan Celebration" in honor of departing co-anchor Megan Henderson, who's leaving to take a morning anchor/reporter job at KTLA-TV in Los Angeles. ...She wore a bright yellow/orange dress and was surrounded by many of her on-air colleagues, including Ryan, Evan Andrews, Chip Waggoner, Mike Doocy, Krystle Gutierrez, Dan Godwin (who will be filling in for her at least temporarily, beginning Monday), Steve Noviello, Shaun Rabb, "Stylin' Steve" Kemble and former Fox4 weathercaster/reporter Maria Sotolongo, who also brought her baby daughter.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., Feb. 26) -- nice night for CBS and CBS11 news

Ed Bark — 2009-02-27T10:32:39-06:00
A new episode of CBS' CSI: Crime Scene Investigation then drew prime-time's second biggest biggest crowd (338,793 viewers), cruising past a competing repeat of ABC's Grey's Anatomy (146,146 viewers) while Fox's Hell Kitchen ran second at 8 p.m. with 192,647 viewers. ...In the daily local news derby, CBS11 drew 232,505 viewers to nip WFAA8 at 10 p.m. CBS11 also ran first among 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

Male delivery for Good Day

Ed Bark — 2009-02-26T13:05:21-06:00
By ED BARK In something of a surprise, Dallas-based Fox4 will put Good Day in the hands of two male anchors -- at least for the interim. ...Fox4 management has declined to comment on how long Godwin will co-anchor, or on whether the station eventually will hire a new woman co-anchor from outside the D-FW market.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., Feb. 25) -- Idol, Fox4 news roll through prime-time

Ed Bark — 2009-02-26T09:57:25-06:00
ABC's Lost, which continues to be fantastic this season, nonetheless lagged at 8 p.m. with a third-place finish in total viewers (192,647) and a fourth-place showing (behind NBC's Life) among 18-to-49-year-olds. ...WFAA8 had twin wins at 6 p.m. and tied NBC5 for first in total viewers at 5 p.m. But the Peacock crowed at the earlier hour among 25-to-54-year-olds.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., Feb. 24) -- Obama speech alters prime-time lineups

Ed Bark — 2009-02-26T08:34:13-06:00
NBC -- 205,933 viewers CBS and Fox -- 192,647 viewers apiece ABC -- 159,432 viewers Univision -- 112,931 viewers Fox News Channel -- 99,645 viewers CNN -- 66,430 viewers MSNBC -- 46,501 viewers PBS -- 26,572 viewers ...In the 7 to 8 p.m. hour, an identical number gathered to watch CBS' NCIS (338,793 viewers); NBC's Biggest Loser (199,290 viewers); Fox's Bones (126,217 viewers) and ABC's Homeland Security USA (86,359 viewers).

There's no early mourning at NBC5, where the picture now looks even brighter

Ed Bark — 2009-02-24T10:58:10-06:00
NBC5, lately with ratings momentum on its side, is the new station to beat -- at least in the short term. And that's despite little if any promotional help from its parent network, whose prime-time ratings are dismal on most nights. ..."I tell my morning team constantly that they are the second-most important thing that we do (other than the 10 p.m. newscast)," NBC5 Vice President of Content Development Susan Tully said in a story I wrote last April for D CEO magazine.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., Feb. 23) -- Heroes on respirator in D-FW

Ed Bark — 2009-02-24T09:52:40-06:00
Earlier in prime-time, Fox's House won at 7 p.m. in total viewers, but ran third among 18-to-49-year-olds behind CBS' The Big Bang Theory and How I Met Your Mother, and the first hour of ABC's The Bachelor. ...In the four-way local news derbies, CBS11 won at 10 p.m. in total viewers, but WFAA8 ran first among 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

Bare market: pal o' mine Michael Precker gets national exposure for himself, The Lodge

Ed Bark — 2009-02-23T17:17:18-06:00
Hughley's CNN show. By ED BARK And here all I've still got is this lousy Web site. Meanwhile, former Dallas Morning News colleague Michael Precker, who remains a good friend, has gone national in his capacity as co-manager of The Lodge gentlemen's club, where he also bills himself as "writer-in-residence."

Henderson leaving Good Day, heading West (updated)

Ed Bark — 2009-02-23T10:33:37-06:00
By ED BARK As anticipated, Megan Henderson is leaving Dallas-based Fox4's Good Day to take a position at KTLA-TV in Los Angeles. ...Fox4 comfortably won the 6 a.m. early morning ratings in the November sweeps, but lately has been battling with NBC5 for the top spot.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., Feb. 20-22) -- special Oscars edition

Ed Bark — 2009-02-23T10:32:59-06:00
The most-watched network attraction opposite the Oscars, NBC's two-hour dose of Top 100 Most Outrageous Moments 2, averaged 192,647 total viewers from 8 to 10 p.m. NBC5's 10 p.m. newscast fared the best overall against the Oscars, drawing 239,148 viewers. ...In Friday's local news derby, CBS11 nipped WFAA8 for the total viewers lead at 10 p.m., but in turn was edged by NBC5 among 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs, Feb. 19) -- crazy quilt in prime-time before WFAA8 dominates at 10 p.m.

Ed Bark — 2009-02-22T11:38:49-06:00
But NBC made an unusually strong showing at that hour among advertiser-favored 18-to-49-year-olds, taking golds with new episodes of My Name Is Earl and Kath & Kim. CBS' CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and ABC's Grey's Anatomy again had a heavyweight brawl at 8 p.m., where CSI (391,937 total viewers) had Thursday's biggest audience haul in beating Grey's 352,079 viewers.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., Feb. 18) -- CBS, Fox wear prime-time wreaths

Ed Bark — 2009-02-22T11:12:48-06:00
By ED BARK In typical Wednesday results, Fox's American Idol had prime-time's biggest audience haul at 7 p.m. before CBS' cop hours kicked in. ...CBS' Criminal Minds (325,507 viewers) and CSI: NY (298,935) then controlled the rest of prime-time, with Fox's Lie to Me and Fox4's 9 p.m. local newscast a solid second.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., Feb. 17) -- Idol fends off CBS crime hours

Ed Bark — 2009-02-22T10:46:52-06:00
By ED BARK American Idol's first live performance show of Season 8 gave Fox its usual prime-time leverage, but CBS made it closer than usual in Tuesday's total viewer Nielsens. ...CBS' Without A Trace won at 9 p.m. with 338,793 total viewers, but drooped to third among 18-to-49-year-olds, with Fox4's local newscast and NBC's Law & Order: SVU tying for first place.

Rangers to play most of 2009 season on cable/satellite

Ed Bark — 2009-02-20T12:31:53-06:00
Less than one-fifth of Texas Rangers games will be shown on free broadcast TV this season, with Fox Sports Southwest carrying an all-time high 133 games, according to the schedule announced Friday. ...From June 29th through Sept. 4th, all of the currently announced Rangers games will be on Fox Sports Southwest, which also is showing five pre-season matchups, beginning on March 7th against the Chicago White Sox.

Bark bow wows at "Pete's Tweets"

Ed Bark — 2009-02-19T14:06:06-06:00
And for the record, said procedure is sports anchor Hansen's run-of-the-mill colonoscopy this week, which is keeping him off the air for a few days. ...So much so that Pete tweeted Tuesday, "I'm going to read some of your tweets on the air at 10 p.m. tonight about Hansen tweeting.

The problem is not with your set: Fox4 finally makes it a high-definition foursome

Ed Bark — 2009-02-18T12:33:08-06:00
By ED BARK Let the record show that Fox4 at last went to high-definition local newscasts with the Wednesday, Feb. 18th noon edition. ...Making history, but without calling any attention to it, were anchor Dan Godwin, weathercaster Fiona Gorostiza and reporter Adrian Arambulo, who filed the first live report -- on the three-year-old girl from Argyle who died after falling into a septic tank.

New anchors debut on The 33, which otherwise houses the same old "stories"

Ed Bark — 2009-02-17T14:44:38-06:00
Walt Maciborski and Amanda Salinas debuted on The 33 Monday. By ED BARK Presenting the new faces of The 33's 9 p.m. news -- and Facebook, too, of course. ... Old-schooler Barry Carpenter; newcomers Pelpina Trip, Roni Proter Monday's newscast also included another nightly informercial from entertainment/lifestyles reporter Roni Proter, this one on a Frisco store that sells "all the rage" see-through backpacks at 80 bucks a pop. Another recent edition to The 33 news team, Aaron Smith, later contributed an infomercial about a place that sells discount designer garb.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon, Feb. 16) -- CBS, Fox take cakes

Ed Bark — 2009-02-17T14:44:01-06:00
CBS' comedy combo of Two and a Half Men (345,436 viewers) and Worst Week (279,006 viewers) then controlled the 8 p.m. hour in both ratings measurements while Fox's 24 counted down to third place, ahead of only NBC's sagging Heroes among the Big Four networks. ...In Monday's local news derby, WFAA8 edged CBS11 at 10 p.m. in both total viewers and 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., Feb. 13-15) -- Rain-shortened Daytona 500 outdraws basket-raining NBA All-Star Game

Ed Bark — 2009-02-17T10:09:03-06:00
By ED BARK Fox's Sunday afternoon telecast of NASCAR's venerable Daytona 500 ran counter-clockwise rings around TNT's prime-time presentation of the NBA All-Star game. ...But Daytona still had Sunday's biggest D-FW audience, with its 285,649 viewers outdrawing generally potent prime-time fare ranging from CBS' 60 Minutes (232,505 viewers) to a new episode of ABC's Desperate Housewives (265,720 viewers).

NBC5 tabs former NBC Weather Plus forecaster to replace departing Aydelott

Ed Bark — 2009-02-16T12:05:05-06:00
By ED BARK D-FW-based NBC5 has hired Samantha Davies to replace meteorologist James Aydelott, who as previously reported is joining KOKI-TV of Tulsa as its featured forecaster. ...And Jennifer Schack joined WFAA8 last fall after weekend weathercaster Meghan Danahey left the station to become the weekday early morning forecaster at Austin's KVUE-TV.

KERA-TV's history of Bishop College is well-meaning, unexceptional

Ed Bark — 2009-02-16T10:16:18-06:00
Original Bishop College Bell Tower, with first graduate David Abner, Jr., and activist student Mattie Mae Etta Johnson, who died in a train wreck shortly after participating in the 1960 lunch counter sit-ins in Marshall, TX. ...Bishop College: A Bridge Between the Worlds, premiering Monday, Feb. 16th (8 p.m. central), documents the 107-year history of the now defunct African-American institution without breathing much life into it.

WFAA8's Izaguirre shouldn't have to renounce her tough-to-pronounce surname

Ed Bark — 2009-02-13T11:59:25-06:00
My parents are from Ecuador, and it's always been a hard name to pronounce," Izaguirre says in a WFAA8 videoblog that went up on Feb. 6th and was noted yesterday on D Magazine's FrontBurner blog. ...Since Farmer's departure in early August, Izaguirre has been joined by Brad Hawkins (who left WFAA8 in late December to take a PR position with Southwest Airlines) and Jeff Brady (who's leaving in early March to start his own PR firm).

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., Feb. 12) -- CBS and ABC dominate

Ed Bark — 2009-02-13T11:58:59-06:00
Survivor, no longer a ratings kingpin but still an old reliable, drew 186,004 D-FW viewers to top its time period against NBC's My Name Is Earl (146,146 viewers from 7 to 7:30 p.m.) and the second half-hour of ABC's Ugly Betty (99,645 viewers). ...Fox's two-hour NAACP Image Awards bottomed out with 86,359 viewers from 7 to 9 p.m. But NBC's ER fared even worse at 9 p.m., with a new episode drawing an almost shockingly low 53,144 viewers while cratering even worse among 18-to-49-year-olds.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., Feb. 11) -- double dose of Idol dumps on Lost

Ed Bark — 2009-02-12T11:12:06-06:00
A double shot of Fox's American Idol called the tune from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, even though audiences sometimes aren't what they used to be for one of network TV's all-time juggernauts. ...At 9 p.m, CBS' CSI: NY entered the winner's circle with 292,292 total viewers, with Fox4's local newscast a competitive second (245,791 viewers) and ABC's Life on Mars a dismal fourth (112,931 viewers).

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., Feb. 10) -- viewers flock to severe weather coverage

Ed Bark — 2009-02-11T10:09:50-06:00
TOTAL VIEWERS CBS11 weather coverage (in place of Without A Trace) -- 425,152 Fox4's 9 p.m. newscast (with wall-to-wall weather coverage) -- 405,223 WFAA8's weather coverage (in place of ABC's True Beauty) -- 259,077 Dateline -- 205,933 ...But the tables turned at 8 p.m., where CBS' The Mentalist gave CBS11 an Idol-like lead-in (544,726 viewers) for its 9 p.m. weather coverage while Fox's Fringe drooped to a distant second with 212,576 viewers.

Another goner at "The 33"

Ed Bark — 2009-02-11T09:35:09-06:00
Deajon, a University of Texas at Austin grad, joined the Dallas-based station several years ago from WPEC-TV in West Palm Beach, Fla. ...The CW-affiliated, Tribune-owned station has been getting an ongoing makeover from news director David Duitch, who took that position last summer.

Heavy wind, rain, hail blow out parts of Tuesday's prime-time lineup

Ed Bark — 2009-02-11T07:07:35-06:00
Fox4 had its regularly scheduled 9 p.m. local newscast in play, but NBC5 restricted its weather coverage to updates during commercial breaks from Dateline's exclusive interview with so-called "octo-mom" Nadya Suleman. ...NBC5 went without signature meteorologist David Finfrock, leaving its angry looking weather maps in the hands of Steve MacLaughlin and James Aydelott, who's scheduled to take a new post later this month as the featured forecaster at KOKI-TV, Tulsa's Fox affiliate.

"The storm is not part-time. And neither is Larry Mowry."

Ed Bark — 2009-02-10T14:45:20-06:00
Because there's no better asset these days than a go-to guy when the wind's pickin' up, the rain's comin' down or an "arctic blast" is gettin' ready to party. ...But Larry Mowry's been logging lots of air time since arriving in these parts just over a year ago. His station's also been selling him ever since, and he seems to be slowly growing on people.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., Feb. 9)

Ed Bark — 2009-02-10T10:32:10-06:00
CBS -- 249,113 viewers NBC -- 212,576 viewers ABC -- 205,933 viewers Fox -- 172,718 viewers Fox News Channel and Univision -- 119,574 viewers each CNN -- 39,858 viewers MSNBC -- 33,214 viewers PBS -- 29,894 viewers ...CBS otherwise controlled the prime-time terrain with an 8 to 10 p.m. lineup of Two and a Half Men (312,221 viewers), The Big Bang Theory (305,578 viewers) and CSI: Miami (312,221 viewers).

Romo on receiving end of Laufenberg's head slaps

Ed Bark — 2009-02-09T14:40:41-06:00
And exclusives can be a bit easier to come by when you're also the paid-by-the-team analyst for Cowboys' radio broadcasts, as WFAA8's Dale Hansen was for years until owner Jerry Jones finally lowered the guillotine. ...Meanwhile, Romo's girlfriend, the much-maligned Jessica Simpson, is scheduled to appear live on Wednesday's edition of CBS' The Early Show, where she'll perform her new single "Pray Out Loud" while also helping to announce nominees for the Academy of Country Music Awards.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., Feb. 6-8) -- Grammys get their groove on

Ed Bark — 2009-02-09T14:40:36-06:00
The recording industry's annual celebration of itself averaged a symmetrical 438,438 D-FW viewers from 7 to 10:30 p.m. ABC's new episode of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition had prime-time's second biggest crowd with 259,077 viewers from 7 to 8 p.m. ...Friday's local newscast Nielsens again put WFAA8 on top at 10 p.m. in total viewers (by a narrow margin over CBS11) and more comfortably among 25-to-54-year-olds, the key advertiser target audience for news programming.

This just in: You're fired. Period. End of story

Ed Bark — 2009-02-06T11:28:55-06:00
It's funny/sad how TV news operations -- both locally and nationally -- hail the arrivals of newcomers while dumping unwanted anchors and reporters with nary a word on their behalf. ..."It's a pleasure to have someone with Walt's diverse background join The 33 news team as co-anchor," Duitch says of Maciborski, who's blowing in from WFTS-TV in Tampa, Fla.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., Feb. 5) -- ABC's Grey's Anatomy/Private Practice crossover clicks against CBS' crime repeats

Ed Bark — 2009-02-06T10:21:29-06:00
By ED BARK ABC controlled the last two hours of prime-time Thursday with a "crossover" combo that merged Grey's Anatomy with its spinoff, Private Practice. ...But it surprisingly fell to third at that hour among 18-to-49-year-olds behind CBS' repeats of The Big Bang Theory and How I Met Your Mother, and ABC's Ugly Betty.

No more Brady bunch at WFAA8: anchor decides to chart new course

Ed Bark — 2009-02-05T15:36:03-06:00
Brady, who has three children with his wife, Dr. Wesley Brady, said he "did some serious navel-gazing last year" after doing a number of stories about "technology and entrepreneurial things, and people who are planting the flag and trying to make a go of it." ...John McCaa and Gloria Campos, who co-anchor WFAA8's weeknight 6 and 10 p.m. newscasts, had been doing the 5 p.m. program as well while Brady pinch-hits on Daybreak before new hire Chris Flanagan arrives from a Des Moines, Iowa TV station later this month.

"The 33" tabs two new anchors

Ed Bark — 2009-02-05T13:05:24-06:00
New anchors at "The 33" -- Amanda Salinas and Walt Maciborski By ED BARK KDAF-TV (Channel 33) has named 9 p.m. newscast replacements for deposed anchors Terri Chappelle and Tom Crespo on the day after the latter was dropped. As previously reported on unclebarky.com, one of them is Amanda Salinas, who previously hosted WFAA8's since cancelled La Vida before leaving the Dallas-based ABC affiliate in mid-summer 2004.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., Feb. 4) -- prime-time sweep for Fox

Ed Bark — 2009-02-05T12:30:48-06:00
By ED BARK American Idol and Fox's newest hit, Lie to Me, cruised to easy wins Wednesday before Fox4's 9 p.m. local newscast outdrew all comers in the last hour of prime-time. ...Lie to Me dipped to 332,150 viewers in the 8 p.m. hour, but still coasted opposite the return of NBC's Life (219,219), Katie Couric's All Access pre-Grammy Awards special on CBS (186,004) and a new episode of ABC's Lost (172,718).

Anchor Tom Crespo dealt out at "The 33"

Ed Bark — 2009-02-04T15:33:30-06:00
Reporter Michael Rey, sports anchor Bob Irzyk, weekend weatherman Fred Barnhill and entertainment reporter Victoria Snee also have left by choice or otherwise during Duitch's tenure. ...Reliable sources say he also will be announcing the hire of Amanda Salinas, former host of WFAA8's now defunct La Vida, as an anchor-reporter.

Storyteller: WFAA8's Jim Douglas hits home with a memorable heart-tugger

Ed Bark — 2009-02-04T11:25:24-06:00
More seasoned than an old wine barrel, he's been on the North Texas TV beat since 1985, when he joined KXAS-TV (Channel 5) en route to WFAA8 a decade later. ...And on Tuesday's 10 p.m. newscast, Douglas hit home with a heart-rending story on the human cost of euthanizing unwanted or abandoned animals.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., Feb. 3) -- Fox and CBS split spoils

Ed Bark — 2009-02-04T11:25:18-06:00
CBS had the same ratings experience at 9 p.m., winning in total viewers with Without A Trace, which fell to third in the 18-to-49 demographic behind Fox4's local newscast and NBC's Law & Order: SVU. ...Of note: WFAA8's 5 p.m. newscasts often don't have enough pulling power to overcome increasingly skimpy 4 p.m. lead-ins from the once dominant Oprah Winfrey Show, which had just 46,501 viewers Tuesday.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., Feb. 2) -- NBC hits and misses with relaunched Mon. lineup

Ed Bark — 2009-02-03T11:38:19-06:00
The slump-shouldered Peacock began the night with a 3D episode of its ratings-challenged Chuck, which drew a better than usual 192,647 D-FW viewers opposite CBS' comedy combo of The Big Bang Theory (259,077) and How I Met Your Mother (179,361); Fox's 100th episode of House (219,219); and ABC's first hour of The Bachelor (199,290). ...NBC's latest "new chapter" of Heroes then dipped to 159,432 total viewers in the 8 p.m. hour, finishing fourth in competition with CBS' Two and a Half Men (318,864) and Worst Week (179,361); Fox's 24 (252,434) and the second hour of The Bachelor (225,862).

Cheaters creator hires TV gumshoe Riggs to develop new programming -- and maybe even class up the joint

Ed Bark — 2009-02-02T22:15:08-06:00
Riggs, downsized at CBS11 in March of last year, has been named executive producer of New Programming and Development for Dallas-based Bobby Goldstein Productions (BGP), which launched the reliably tawdry Cheaters in 2000. ..."Bobby came up as an intern one summer, and I was assigned to keep him out of trouble, which proved to be a full-time job," Riggs said.

Incoming at The 33? Former host of WFAA8's La Vida looks like next newcomer to station's newsroom

Ed Bark — 2009-02-02T14:38:00-06:00
Amanda Salinas in WPBF-TV photo and as former host of La Vida. By ED BARK Nothing's official yet because station news directors invariably want to announce new hires on their own timetables. That said, reliable industry sources say that "The 33" intends to add Amanda Salinas, former host of WFAA8's La Vida, as an anchor/reporter at the Tribune-owned CW network affiliate.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., Jan. 30-Feb. 1) -- The Game

Ed Bark — 2009-02-02T11:06:30-06:00
Interestingly, though, D-FW's 44.2 Nielsen rating in the old-line total households measurement wasn't quite high enough to rank in the top 25 TV markets, according to preliminary national ratings from NBC. ...Back in D-FW, NBC's post-Super Bowl offering, a one-hour episode of The Office, held on to 504,868 total viewers from 9:40 to 10:40 p.m. NBC's Super Bowl post-game show had 1,282,099 viewers in D-FW.

Good Karma: Dallas filmmakers land distributor for low budget movie

Ed Bark — 2009-02-02T01:49:52-06:00
Karma Police's John Venable (left) and CBS11 reporter Jay Gormley By ED BARK It's taken awhile, but Dallas filmmakers John Venable and Jay Gormley at last have found a distributor for their low-budget, made-in-Dallas film, Karma Police. ...John Wesley Shipp, best known of late for his role as Dawson Leery's father on Dawson's Creek, has a supporting role as a publishing company CEO who runs afoul of "the world's largest secret organization," a k a the Karma Police.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., Jan. 29) -- more Idol worship

Ed Bark — 2009-01-31T10:29:40-06:00
By ED BARK Fox's extra night of American Idol dominated as usual while also successfully launching the season premiere of Hell's Kitchen, starring flaming a-hole Gordon Ramsay. ...Local news derby results put WFAA8 on top at 10 p.m. in total viewers and 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., Jan. 28) -- Fox again frolics (updated with extended morning news numbers)

Ed Bark — 2009-01-29T17:59:51-06:00
The CBS' lineup included a half-hour prime-time edition of Katie Couric's CBS Evening News, which had 119,574 viewers from 7 to 7:30 p.m. in beating the first half-hour of a Lost recap (79,608 viewers). ...Also of note: NBC5, WFAA8 and CBS11 all extended their ice storm-infused morning shows until 10 a.m. or beyond while Fox4 mostly yielded to Live With Regis & Kelly at 9 a.m. There was a ratings price to pay for that.

Henderson weighs staying with Good Day, other options

Ed Bark — 2009-01-28T21:57:29-06:00
4 CBS11, which has made slow ratings improvement in the past year, would have the second longest-standing anchor team, Scott Sams and Ginger Allen, if there's a changeover at Fox4. It's safe to say that management at NBC5, WFAA8 and CBS11 would all heartily welcome a breakup of the Ryan-Henderson team, which also pays big ratings dividends for Fox4 during Good Day's extended 7 to 9 a.m. hours opposite the network morning shows.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., Jan. 27) -- Idol and weather-fueled newscasts call the tune

Ed Bark — 2009-01-28T13:12:29-06:00
Fox's Fringe then plummeted in the 8 p.m. hour, dropping to third with 219,219 viewers against CBS' frontrunning repeat of The Mentalist (378,651 viewers) and the second hour of NBC's The Biggest Loser (358,722 viewers). ...For the second straight night it led the 9 p.m. hour in both total viewers (418,509) and 18-to-49-year-olds (230,126), with CBS' new episode of Without A Trace running second in both measurements.

B-r-r-r-r-eaking news -- and a big power outage at Fox4

Ed Bark — 2009-01-28T08:27:16-06:00
"We're kind of in a mess here at Fox4," Eagar told viewers before throwing it to meteorologist Dan Henry, who had a lone static weather map in play before it froze on-screen and his audio went out. ...(P.S. NBC5, WFAA8 and CBS11 all knocked out their morning network shows Wednesday and then continued with local weather coverage past 9 a.m. Fox4's homegrown Good Day, which runs until 9 a.m., yielded to Live with Regis and Kelly a few minutes after the hour.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., Jan. 26) -- bad weather day a boon for Fox4's 9 p.m. newscast

Ed Bark — 2009-01-27T10:18:57-06:00
Amassing 358,722 D-FW viewers, the news easily outdrew CBS' competing CSI rehash (259,077 viewers), a new episode of ABC's True Beauty (179,361 viewers) and the last hour of NBC's The Last Templar miniseries (also with 179,361 viewers). ...Earlier Monday, a new episode of Fox's House won the 7 p.m. hour in both measurements against CBS' sitcom repeats, the first hour of ABC's The Bachelor 13 and NBC's Superstars of Dance finale, the night's least-watched prime-time attraction on the Big Four broadcast networks with 126,217 viewers.

WFAA8 tabs Des Moines anchor for Daybreak slot

Ed Bark — 2009-01-26T16:19:56-06:00
Flanagan, who will be a newcomer to an early morning shift, has been the 5, 6 and 10 p.m. anchor for ABC affiliate WOI-TV, which he joined in November 2004. "He is one of the genuinely nicer people that I've met, and I think his personality will really mesh well with Cynthia's," WFAA8 news director Michael Valentine said in a telephone interview Monday.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., Jan. 23-25) -- Mavs die on national stage, Peacock scores with Last Templar

Ed Bark — 2009-01-26T11:09:04-06:00
It slightly trailed the closing hour of ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (318,864 viewers) but won the 9 p.m. hour against CBS' competing Loving Leah Hallmark Hall of Fame movie (192,647 viewers) and ABC's Desperate Housewives rerun (152,789 viewers). ...NBC's second episode of Austin-made Friday Night Lights ran second in total viewers and 18-to-49-year-olds in the 8 p.m. hour, with CBS' Flashpoint the frontrunner in both measurements.

Finders keepers: Antiques Roadshow does Dallas

Ed Bark — 2009-01-26T09:26:37-06:00
Not yet ready for Antiques Roadshow but slowly getting there: Self-made stitchery from Madeline "Catwoman" Bark, circa early 1980s; original oil of two women getting loose while bird alights by Mary Jonaitis from Uncle Barky's early '70s Wisconsin college daze. ...Walberg, who lately has been soiling himself on Fox's The Moment of Truth, also takes a road trip to the Hall of State at Fair Park, where a longtime flag collector shows off some of his prizes.

Gold and Green for WFAA8

Ed Bark — 2009-01-23T12:13:10-06:00
Reporter Brett Shipp holds Gold Baton; singer Pat Green picks guitar. By ED BARK WFAA8 officially became the first local television station ever to win a duPont-Columbia Gold Baton at Thursday night's awards ceremony in New York City. ...Also cited by duPont jurors were producer Mark Smith, editor and photographer Kraig Kirchem and news director Michael Valentine, all pictured above at a ceremony hosted by CBS Evening News Katie Couric at Columbia University.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs, Jan. 22) -- the address is CBS

Ed Bark — 2009-01-23T09:17:06-06:00
The king of CBS' crime "procedurals," with Laurence Fishburne now in play, drew 411,866 D-FW viewers in the 8 p.m. hour to easily beat ABC's competing Grey's Anatomy (312,221 viewers). ...In the local news derby, CBS11 capitalized on its strong lead-in from Eleventh Hour to handily beat runnerup WFAA8 in both total viewers and 25-to-54-year-olds, the favored advertiser target audience for news programming.

WFAA8 drops The Gordon Keith Show and Young Street as part of layoffs announced Wednesday (updated Thurs. a.m.)

Ed Bark — 2009-01-22T11:58:30-06:00
By ED BARK Layoffs announced Wednesday at WFAA8 have ended the runs of The Gordon Keith Show and Young Street. ...Keith, better known as the resident court jester on KTCK (1310 AM) "The Ticket," says in a post on WFAA.com that The Gordon Keith Show will be taking a "long vacation" after Thursday's 100th episode (12:35 a.m. following ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live).

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., Jan. 21) -- mixed results for Lost's premiere, Lie to Me's premiere

Ed Bark — 2009-01-22T11:57:36-06:00
The 8 to 10 p.m. unveiling of Season 5 averaged 245,792 viewers overall from 8 to 10 p.m. That put it behind CBS' frontrunning crime combo of Criminal Minds (338,793 viewers) and CSI: NY (285,649 viewers). Fox 8:03 p.m. launch of Fox's Lie to Me -- it intentionally let American Idol run a bit long in hopes of blunting the tune-in for Lost -- ran second in total viewers with 305,578.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., Jan. 20) -- Inauguration nation

Ed Bark — 2009-01-21T11:46:14-06:00
ABC (Ch. 8) -- 259,077 viewers CBS (Ch. 11) and NBC (Ch. 5) -- 152,783 viewers apiece Fox (Ch. 4) -- 146,146 viewers CNN -- 139,503 viewers Univision (Ch. 23) -- 73,073 viewers Fox News Channel -- 66,430 viewers MSNBC -- 63,109 viewers PBS (Ch. 13) -- 21,258 viewers CNBC -- "hashmarks" (no measurable audience) ...In prime-time, ABC's two-hour exclusive telecast of the Neighborhood Inaugural Ball averaged 425,152 viewers from 7 to 9 p.m. That was good enough to beat all competing programming except Fox's American Idol, which led prime time's parade with 478,296 viewers opposite the first hour of ABC's special (391,937 viewers).

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Mon., Jan 16-19) -- Cowboys or not, NFL conference championships ride high

Ed Bark — 2009-01-20T12:31:08-06:00
On Monday night, Fox's first episode of House on its new night and time had 219,219 total viewers at 7 p.m. to place second behind CBS' comedy combo of The Big Bang Theory and How I Met Your Mother (272,363 viewers apiece). ...Friday's return of NBC's Austin-made Friday Night Lights, which first aired on DirecTV, ran fifth from 8 to 9 p.m. in total viewers (86,359) and fourth with 18-to-49-year-olds.

More changes at "The 33"

Ed Bark — 2009-01-19T17:40:27-06:00
Michael Rey, Roni Proter and Aaron Smith ED BARK "The 33" has dropped reporter Michael Rey from its news team as part of an ongoing staff shakeup by news director David Duitch. At the same time the Dallas-based CW station has added reporter Aaron Smith, who arrives from Waco's KCEN-TV, and Dallas native Roni Proter, who will cover entertainment news after earlier hosting Simply Beautiful on Veria TV and Metroscene TV out of Chicago.

Mea culpa: CBS11 news director says his station should have cited a Fox4 exclusive; pledges to give full credit from now on

Ed Bark — 2009-01-16T10:51:22-06:00
On Tuesday's 10 p.m. newscast, CBS11 excerpted portions of Rabb's exclusive, same-day jailhouse interview with Charles Payne, who admitted to fatally shooting Dallas police officer Norman Smith last week, but claimed he acted in self-defense. ...In fact I could give you numerous, documented examples in the past year where we broke a big story, fed it to the Associated Press -- only to have our print, on-line and television brothers and sisters take out our call letters and call it a 'local television station' or use 'reports say.'

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., Jan. 15) -- Gil Grissom's CSI goodbye boosts CBS to top spot

Ed Bark — 2009-01-16T10:49:48-06:00
By ED BARK President Bush's farewell address mucked up prime-time schedules, but viewers still found CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and Gil Grissom's goodbye at 15 minutes past the show's usual 8 p.m. start time. ...CBS -- 298,935 viewers ABC -- 225,862 viewers Univision -- 166,075 viewers Fox -- 152,789 viewers NBC -- 119,574 viewers Fox News Channel -- 66,430 viewers MSNBC -- 33,215 viewers CNN -- 26,572 viewers PBS -- 13,286 viewers

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., Jan. 14) -- Idol rolls again while WFAA8 newscasts come up snake eyes

Ed Bark — 2009-01-15T09:57:57-06:00
Fox4's 9 p.m. local newscast again profited from Idol's largesse, winning the time period with 352,079 total viewers and also taking the gold among 18-to-49-year-olds in competition with network programming. ...In Wednesday's Nielsens, Oprah had just 53,144 total viewers in the 4 p.m. hour to run third behind NBC's First At Four local newscast (126,217 viewers) and Fox4's two doses of Judge Judy (112,931 total viewers).

Heavy lifting: CBS11 poaches on Fox4 story

Ed Bark — 2009-01-14T10:59:20-06:00
Fox4 reporter Shaun Rabb; CBS11 anchor Doug Dunbar By ED BARK Ripping off a rival station's story is an all too common practice in most TV markets. ...Anchor Doug Dunbar played the front man, telling viewers, "In an interview with a local television station, Payne said that when someone knocked at his door that night and forced it open, he reacted and shot because he felt his life was in danger."

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., Jan. 13) -- Season 8 Idol opener propels Fox4 to prime-time sweep

Ed Bark — 2009-01-14T09:56:09-06:00
Left for dead opposite Idol were NBC's two-hour The Biggest Loser (146,146 viewers) and ABC's trio of Homeland Security USA (132,860 viewers) and two Scrubs episodes (106,288 and 119,574 viewers). ...At 6 p.m. the golds were shared by WFAA8 in total viewers and Fox4 in the 25-to-54 demo, where it won for the second straight day in a time slot that long has been dominated by WFAA8.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., Jan. 12) -- CBS sitcoms clock in with win over 24 before sun rises higher for CSI: Miami

Ed Bark — 2009-01-13T09:17:32-06:00
Its 7 to 8:30 p.m. blend of The Big Bang Theory, How I Met Your Mother and Two and a Half Men took the top spots in total D-FW viewers before the last half-hour of Fox's 24 slipped into first opposite CBS' runnerup Worst Week. ...CBS had its way throughout Monday night with advertiser-coveted 18-to-49-year-olds, winning across the board opposite second place 24 from 7 to 9 p.m. and ABC's runnerup True Beauty in the 9 p.m. hour.

WFAA8 getting first local station Gold Baton at duPont-Columbia awards ceremony

Ed Bark — 2009-01-12T14:05:47-06:00
As noted in November on unclebarky.com, Shipp is being cited for stories on high school grade-fixing and faulty gas couplings while Harris is being honored for his reports on millions of dollars in fraudulent loans tied to the obscure Export-Import Bank. ...It's the first time a local station has won the gold since the award was instituted 20 years ago. WFAA8 will be joining 12 other recipients of the Silver Baton at this month's ceremony.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., Jan. 9-11) -- 24 and Golden Globes make for an eventful Sunday night, but CBS still kicking with regular lineup

Ed Bark — 2009-01-12T10:10:26-06:00
The Globes averaged 332,150 total viewers locally while Fox's 24 clocked in with 272,363 from 7 to 9 p.m. Now let's look at the hour-by-hour breakdowns in both total viewers and advertiser-coveted 18-to-49-year-olds (Note that CBS' regular lineup was pushed back more than an hour by the Steelers-Charges playoff game and a short post-game show):... 7 to 8 P.M. Post-game show/60 Minutes (CBS) -- 372,008 Golden Globes (NBC) -- 338,793 24 (Fox) and Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (ABC) -- 259,077 apiece

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., Jan. 8) -- Fox's national championship game runs up the score

Ed Bark — 2009-01-09T09:52:15-06:00
By ED BARK ABC's new episodes of Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice went to intensive care Thursday night opposite Fox's Florida-Oklahoma college football finale. ...In Thursday's local news derby, WFAA8 won a downsized three-way race at 10 p.m. in both total viewers and 25-to-54-year-olds, the primary advertiser target audience for news programming.

Downsizing claims Fox4 sports reporter Nita Wiggins

Ed Bark — 2009-01-08T17:29:34-06:00
She was laid off Thursday, becoming the latest TV journalist caught in an ongoing cycle of staff downsizing that's impacted all of D-FW's television newsrooms in the past year. ...Her Fox4 bio, since removed, says she's been a sports fanatic since childhood, when "I believe I was the only 8-year-old girl in my neighborhood watching NFL doubleheaders every Sunday."

Antiques Roadshow's three Dallas editions coming soon

Ed Bark — 2009-01-08T12:47:01-06:00
Jim Castleberry of Dallas gets some good news. Photo: WGBH/Jeff Dunn By ED BARK January's biggest programming event won't be the return of Lost, 24 or American Idol in the minds of many North Texans. ...We won't disclose their actual retail values, but they're all worth a bit more than Uncle Barky's miniature Cheryl Ladd pewter statue from the not-so-acclaimed 1983 CBS movie Kentucky Woman.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., Jan. 7) -- WFAA8 scores big with Russ Martin interview

Ed Bark — 2009-01-08T09:43:31-06:00
By ED BARK Barbara Walters' one-on-one with cancer-stricken Patrick Swayze paced Wednesday's prime-time ratings before WFAA8 drew by far the biggest audience of the day with a 10 p.m. newscast featuring a heavily promoted interview with deposed radio jock Russ Martin. ...Fear had 119,574 viewers, outdrawing the return of NBC's sputtering Knight Rider (106,288 viewers) to finish fourth from 7 to 8 p.m. And it tied Fox's Bones for third place among advertiser-coveted 18-to-49-year-olds.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., Jan. 6)

Ed Bark — 2009-01-07T10:06:21-06:00
NCIS, The Mentalist and Without A Trace all won their time slots in total viewers, with NCIS as usual racking up the biggest crowd (438,438 viewers). But Mentalist and Trace tripped and fell among advertiser-craved 18-to-49-year-olds, with NBC's combo of The Biggest Loser and Law & Order: SVU on top.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., Jan. 5)

Ed Bark — 2009-01-06T11:25:30-06:00
Among the also-rans, a two-hour edition of NBC's new Superstars of Dance had 225,862 viewers from 7 to 9 p.m. opposite ABC's two-hour premiere of The Bachelor 13 (186,004 viewers). ...At 9 p.m., ABC's first episode of True Beauty scraped up 199,920 viewers to run third behind football and a repeat of CBS' CSI: Miami (265,720 viewers).

Miller time at The 33 (updated with new quotes Tuesday p.m.)

Ed Bark — 2009-01-05T23:05:26-06:00
The 33's Rebecca Miller, Bob Goosmann and Bob Irzyk By ED BARK Former NBC early morning meteorologist Rebecca Miller officially became The 33's new weeknight forecaster Monday night, with previous occupant Bob Goosmann still in the mix for now. ...Miller had been filling in on weekends at The 33, with former NBC5 weekend meteorologist Krista Villarreal also taking a few shifts during the holidays after recently returning to North Texas from WPXI-TV in Pittsburgh.

Budget cuts knock the wind out of Sky 4, Chopper 5 and Chopper 11

Ed Bark — 2009-01-05T13:10:04-06:00
We also could survive with fewer overhead shots of burning buildings, car wrecks or neighborhoods that may or may not have a fugitive on the loose or in hiding. ...Now you can slap a "For Rent" sign on Sky 4, Chopper 5 and Chopper 11 while their trusty pilots all look to fly for someone else.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., Jan. 2-4)

Ed Bark — 2009-01-05T12:01:46-06:00
CBS barely bothered promoting a double dollop of its new Game Show In My Head, which ran fourth from 7 to 8 p.m. Saturday in both total viewers and 18-to-49-year-olds. ...In Friday's local news derby, WFAA8 won at 10 p.m. in both total viewers and 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed.-Thurs., Dec. 31/Jan. 1)

Ed Bark — 2009-01-02T12:11:52-06:00
Big D NYE, with sports anchor Dale Hansen and weathercaster Pete Delkus as the principal hosts, averaged 465,010 D-FW viewers, peaking at 544,726 between midnight and 12:15 a.m. ...Big D NYE also clicked with advertiser-favored 18-to-49-year-olds, clocking in with 217,160 of 'em overall and a high of 275,502 at the midnight hour.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., Dec. 30)

Ed Bark — 2008-12-31T10:43:59-06:00
By ED BARK CBS classed up the last Tuesday of 2008, and was rewarded with an overall first-place showing for its annual Kennedy Center Honors telecast. ...CBS won in both ratings measurements at 7 p.m. with an NCIS rerun, which whipped Charlie Brown and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer New Year's specials on ABC.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., Dec. 29)

Ed Bark — 2008-12-30T12:32:50-06:00
In Monday's local news derby, CBS11 took the 10 p.m. golds in both total viewers and 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming. Fox4 ran the table at 6 a.m. while also finishing first at 5 and 6 p.m. in the 25-to-54 demographic.

Krista Villarreal returns to D-FW, pulls a weekend shift on "The 33"

Ed Bark — 2008-12-29T15:07:28-06:00
By ED BARK Yes, that was former NBC5 meteorologist Krista Villarreal taking temperatures over the weekend on "The 33's" 9 p.m. newscasts. ...As previously reported, weekday meteorologist Bob Goosmann has been offered a take-it-or-leave-it deal to do weekend weather while otherwise doing general assignment reporting for three days a week at a 30 percent pay cut.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., Dec. 26-28)

Ed Bark — 2008-12-29T11:50:42-06:00
By ED BARK The Cowboys gave up, and do did viewers at the end of Sunday's gag-inducing collapse against the Eagles. ...Viewership peaked early, between 4:15 and 4:30 p.m., when 1,462,460 viewers still had their game faces on. Overall, Cowboys-Eagles averaged 1,209,026 viewers, the lowest turnout since 1,129,310 watched Dallas thump the 49ers on Nov.

Hansen's annual "Thank God for Kids" segment gets up-close and unusually personal

Ed Bark — 2008-12-23T11:55:09-06:00
As reported by The Dallas Morning News, Eric Hansen had been questioned by police for informational purposes after real estate agent Jeanmarie Tolle Geis and her two young children were found dead in the family's North Dallas home Friday. ...Dale Hansen, in his on-air commentary Sunday, said he had been too much of an absentee father during his son's and daughter's formative years.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., Dec. 22)

Ed Bark — 2008-12-23T11:54:51-06:00
Meanwhile, a two-hour dollop of NBC's dreadful new Momma's Boys deservedly tanked with 139,503 viewers to place fifth from 8 to 10 p.m. It also sunk to that level among advertiser-craved 18-to-49-year-olds. ...The Peacock swept the 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. Nielsens in total viewers and 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., Dec. 19-21)

Ed Bark — 2008-12-22T12:28:11-06:00
That's a total of 1,248,884 viewers, well below the 1,574,391 who watched the Cowboys beat the Giants on the previous Sunday and also short of the 1,474,746 fans for the Dec. 7 loss to the Steelers. ...In Friday's local news derby, WFAA8 ran first at 10 p.m. in both total viewers and 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues.-Thurs., Dec. 16-18)

Ed Bark — 2008-12-22T12:27:29-06:00
Thursday's opening prime-time hour went to CBS' Million Dollar Password in total viewers, but Fox's Secret Milionaire took first among advertiser-craved 18-to-49-year-olds. ...WFAA8 won at 10 p.m. in total viewers on Tuesday and Thursday and swept all three nights among 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

Out and about: the year's departures in D-FW television news

Ed Bark — 2008-12-16T20:17:29-06:00
Brenda Teele (co-host, Good Morning Texas) -- Will be leaving the show and the station after the Christmas Eve broadcast to devote more time to the Dallas-based Jackson Law Firm, headed by her husband. ...Tracy Rowlett (anchor/reporter) -- Left in July after almost 10 years at the station to become anchor of Shale.TV, a planned Web site devoted to the development of the North Texas Barnett Shale and "other natural gas plays in the United States."

Local Nielsen rating snapshot (Mon., Dec. 15)

Ed Bark — 2008-12-16T12:18:12-06:00
The CBS parade was led by Two and a Half Men with 471,653 D-FW viewers from 8 to 8:30 p.m. Worst Week then dipped to 285,649 viewers in the following half-hour. ...Two and a Half Men, the kingpin in that key demographic, drew 246,331 viewers in the 18-to-49 age range, compared to a piddling 16,206 for the 20/20 special.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., Dec. 12-14)

Ed Bark — 2008-12-15T09:51:14-06:00
Earlier Sunday, David Gregory's debut as the new Meet the Press moderator drew 119,574 viewers from 9 to 10 a.m. That gave MTP a time slot win, although ABC's This Week with George Stephanopoulos was taken out of the race. ...Saturday's prime-time Nielsens were led by ESPN's one-hour Heisman Trophy special (159,432 D-FW viewers from 7 to 8 p.m.) That bettered the crowd for NBC's annual rebroadcast of It's A Wonderful Life, which had 106,288 viewers.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., Dec. 11)

Ed Bark — 2008-12-12T09:47:59-06:00
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation's introduction of Laurence Fishburne as William Petersen's replacement drove the CBS "procedural" to a runaway win over ABC's competing Grey's Anatomy repeat. ...But the Peacock won at 5 p.m. in total viewers and also notched a 6 p.m. win with 25-to-54-year-olds.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., Dec. 10)

Ed Bark — 2008-12-11T12:29:22-06:00
The network otherwise won in both total D-FW viewers and advertiser-coveted 18-to-49-year-olds with Criminal Minds, CSI: NY andThe New Adventures of Old Christine. Its only dent came at 7:30 p.m., when Gary Unmarried fell to the runnerup spot behind the second half-hour of Fox's new Secret Millionaire.

Mavs launch viewer incentive program . . . but why stop there?

Ed Bark — 2008-12-10T17:15:27-06:00
Accumulate 100 points by Feb. 10th and you get a "player-autographed" All-Star game poster (yeah, but who's signing 'cause I ain't watchin' for no Devean George sig). ...That's because co-anchor Baron James is sponsoring a special grand prize event that will land one lucky viewer an all-expense paid Tuesday in Las Vegas at the luxurious Penny Slot Hotel and Wading Pool, located a convenient 35 miles from the Strip.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., Dec. 9)

Ed Bark — 2008-12-10T09:33:00-06:00
The station's Good Morning Texas Christmas special drew 79,716 total viewers in the 7 p.m. hour while a Gospel Jubilee special had 59,787 viewers from 8:30 to 9 p.m. The upside: WFAA8 kept all of the advertising revenue for these programs, even though both ran fifth in the total viewer Nielsens. ...In the local news derby, WFAA8 topped its three newscast rivals -- but not the Mavs -- among total viewers and 25-to-54-year-olds, the key audience demographic for news programming.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., Dec. 8)

Ed Bark — 2008-12-10T09:03:51-06:00
It otherwise outpointed CBS' Worst Week (219,219 viewers) from 8:30 to 9 p.m. while falling short of the audience for ABC's preceding A Charlie Brown Christmas -- the 7 to 8 p.m. winner with 272,363 viewers. ...In daytime hours, WFAA8's syndicated Oprah had a notably bad outing, drawing just 39,858 total viewers from 4 to 5 p.m. That put it in a fourth place tie with, believe it or not, a Streets of San Francisco repeat on WFAA8's sister station, Ch. 52.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., Dec. 5-7)

Ed Bark — 2008-12-08T10:09:20-06:00
That was the peak audience for Fox's telecast, which averaged 1,474,746 viewers and drew 59 percent of all persons watching TV for its three hours, 15 minutes of mostly ups and then a big downer. ...Its third movie in the Librarian franchise drew 86,359 viewers from 7 to 9 p.m., with the premiere of the new series Leverage dipping to 73,073 viewers at 9 p.m. But those numbers fell short of all the prime-time attractions on the Big Four broadcast networks -- ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC.

Chappell's show: the recently dropped Ch. 33 anchor has her say

Ed Bark — 2008-12-05T12:43:51-06:00
Goosmann, who declined to comment for now at the advice of his agent, has been given the take-it-or-leave-it option of a 30 percent pay cut, a weekend weather shift and three days a week as a general assignment reporter. ...But I did sit down with David about three months ago and asked him, because I'm the sole supporter of our family right now, to please let me know if at any point he thought I might not be part of his future plans.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., Dec. 4)

Ed Bark — 2008-12-05T12:43:23-06:00
CBS' Survivor: Gabon won at 7 p.m. in total viewers (245,791), but its first half-hour ran second among 18-to-49-year-olds to NBC's My Name is Earl. ...The Mavs drew just 86,359 total viewers, still good enough to beat Fox's double dose of Kitchen Nightmares from 7 to 9 p.m. and NBC's The Office and 30 Rock in the 8 to 9 p.m. zone.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., Dec. 3)

Ed Bark — 2008-12-04T10:39:53-06:00
Rudy the R-NR again lit up CBS' prime-time ratings Wednesday, drawing 279,006 D-FW viewers from 7 to 8 p.m. NBC's competing Christmas From Rockefeller Center special ran a distant second with 179,361 viewers while the first hour of Fox's new Secret Millionaire (132,860 viewers) and ABC's soon to be interred Pushing Daisies (126,217 viewers) fell even flatter. ...We now segue to the local news derby, where WFAA8 won again at 10 p.m. in both total viewers and 25-to-54-year-olds (the main advertiser target audience for news programming) despite inheriting Wednesday's skimpiest 9:45 to 10 p.m. lead-in audience from ABC's Dirty Sexy Money.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., Dec. 2)

Ed Bark — 2008-12-03T11:13:26-06:00
Meanwhile, the CW network's Tuesday prime-lineup of 90210 and Privileged barely registered with 18-to-49-year-olds, respectively drawing 16,206 and 6,482 in the 7 to 9 p.m. hours. ...Among all prime-time programs Tuesday, only a new episode of CBS' NCIS drew more 18-to-49-year-olds -- 119,924 -- than CW33's 6:30 p.m. TaaHM repeat.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., Nov. 26 to Mon., Dec. 1)

Ed Bark — 2008-12-02T17:25:12-06:00
Fox4 won at 6 a.m. in total viewers, but was nipped by the Peacock for first place among 25-to-54-year-olds. ...On Wednesday night , the likely one and only edition of NBC's Rosie Live drew a piddling 79,716 D-FW viewers from 7 to 8 p.m. The Rosie O'Donnell variety hour fared even worse among advertiser-favored 18-to-49-year-olds, running fifth behind even The CW's Stylista repeat.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot -- extended November "sweeps" edition

Ed Bark — 2008-12-01T04:19:43-06:00
And in another notable development, Fox4's 10 p.m. newscast had better ratings among 25-to-54-year-olds than the station's more prominently promoted 9 p.m. local news. ...Note: Fox4 comfortably led from start to finish in both ratings measurements, with WFAA8 losing major ground from a year ago. NBC5 and CBS11 both made significant improvements among 25-to-54-year-olds.

WFAA8's Brad Hawkins books flight to Southwest Airlines position (updated)

Ed Bark — 2008-11-25T12:11:53-06:00
By ED BARK Brad Hawkins, co-anchor of WFAA8's Daybreak since July and a member of the station's news team since January 2000, will be leaving next month to take a public relations position with Dallas-based Southwest Airlines. WFAA8 news director Michael Valentine confirmed Hawkins' departure Tuesday and also said that his last day at the station will be on Christmas Eve, when he'll sign off after anchoring WFAA8's Midday newscast.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., Nov. 24)

Ed Bark — 2008-11-25T12:11:20-06:00
By ED BARK ABC's Dancing with the Stars performance final proved to be a shoe-in as Monday's top draw before CBS' CSI: Miami again made crime pay in prime-time's closing hour. Dancing amassed 518,154 D-FW viewers from 7 to 8:30 p.m. to squash CBS' runnerup sitcom lineup of The Big Bang Theory (239,148 viewers), How I Met Your Mother (212,576) and Two and a Half Men (352,079).

KERA's Albert Acalay: Self Portraits paints vividly, movingly

Ed Bark — 2008-11-24T11:31:13-06:00
KERA/Channel 13's Albert Alcalay: Self Portraits, in its own way a masterpiece, is a vivid and touching look at this Holocaust survivor who began putting brush to canvas while imprisoned in a Nazi concentration camp. Premiering at 8 p.m. Monday as part of the station's Art&Seek series of original programming, the one-hour film is the work of former Harvard students Rob Eustis, Allen Moore and KERA veteran Rob Tranchin (Matisse & Picasso).

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., Nov. 21-23)

Ed Bark — 2008-11-24T10:35:32-06:00
Fox's early afternoon festivities from Texas Stadium averaged a giant-sized 1,129,310 D-FW viewers from noon to 3:15 p.m. A big share of the audience then stayed with Fox's Giants-Cardinals followup act, which drew 837,018 viewers opposite CBS's throwaway game between the Raiders and Broncos (79,716 viewers). ...In Friday's local news derby, WFAA8 took the gold at 10 p.m. in total viewers, but fell to second behind CBS11 among 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., Nov. 20)

Ed Bark — 2008-11-21T12:05:46-06:00
Survivor and Eleventh Hour also were tops with 18-to-49-year-olds while CSI's 136,130 viewers of those ages came up a bit short of ABC's Grey's Anatomy (162,060). ...PROGRAMMING NOTE: Fox4's critically praised half-hour JFK: The Dallas Tapes, originally made in 1998, will get two encores on Friday at 9:30 p.m. and Saturday at 6:30 p.m. You also can watch it on the station's Web site.

NBC5 meteorologist James Aydelott heading back home to Tulsa

Ed Bark — 2008-11-20T16:06:34-06:00
By ED BARK NBC5 meteorologist James Aydelott, who works weekends and various weekday shifts, is leaving the station to become the featured forecaster at Tulsa's Fox affiliate, KOKI-TV. ...Aydelott's wife, Robyn, currently a promotions producer at CBS11, is from Springfield, MO, "and this puts us much closer to her family as well," he said.

Dan Rather to speak -- er, make that "unspeak" -- at Sixth Floor Museum Nov. 22 (updated)

Ed Bark — 2008-11-20T15:35:17-06:00
Kennedy's assassination in Dallas greatly accelerated his career at CBS News, where he eventually became chief White House correspondent and succeeded Walter Cronkite in 1981 as anchor of The CBS Evening News. ...His speech in Dallas, scheduled at 8 p.m. Saturday, was to have capped a series of free public programs titled Impressions of Jack Kennedy.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., Nov. 19 plus 15-day Nov. sweeps newscast standings)

Ed Bark — 2008-11-20T10:11:14-06:00
Fox's Bones won the 7 p.m. hour in total viewers before CBS' crime drama combo of Criminal Minds and CSI:NY flexed with runaway first place finishes from 8 to 10 p.m. ...In that measurement, Bones slid to fourth place from 7 to 8 p.m. behind the CBS sitcoms Old Christine and Gary Unmarried, The CW's America's Top Model and NBC's Knight Rider.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., Nov. 18)

Ed Bark — 2008-11-19T10:04:13-06:00
Fox's House, better than ever this season, ran third at 7 p.m. in total viewers, beating only the first hour of NBC's Biggest Loser. ...Fox4 ran first in total viewers at 5 p.m. and again ran the table at 6 a.m., where WFAA's woes continued with a second straight day of distant third place finishes.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., Nov. 17)

Ed Bark — 2008-11-18T11:38:19-06:00
CBS swept the prime-time field while ABC fell to second place with Dancing, dipped to third with Samantha Who? and then plunged to fourth from 9 to 10 p.m. with Boston Legal. CBS11's 10 p.m. newscast took advantage of the 9:45 to 10 p.m. lead-in mismatch by bumping WFAA8 to second place in both total viewers and 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., Nov. 14-16)

Ed Bark — 2008-11-17T10:57:37-06:00
Fox4's half-hour salute to anchor Clarice Tinsley's 30 years at the station drew 66,430 viewers from 9:30 to 10 p.m., dipping from 99,645 viewers for the preceding half-hour of the station's 9 p.m. local newscast. CBS' Numbers was Friday's most-watched prime-time attraction, with 259,077 viewers from 9 to 10 p.m. opposite Barbara Walters' exclusive interview of a pregnant man on ABC's 20/20 (112,931 viewers).

Happy 30th anniversary to Fox4's Clarice Tinsley, reigning dean of D-FW news anchors

Ed Bark — 2008-11-14T14:44:51-06:00
"She's the only one who's survived from the great run we had at Channel 4," Hansen said in an article I wrote on the occasion of Tinsley's now somewhat distant 25th anniversary at Channel 4. ...Fox4's 10 p.m. newscast, long without any potent lead-ins from high-powered network entertainment programming at rival D-FW stations, looks as though it's finally going to vault over NBC5 and into third place among advertiser-courted 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

And babies make four -- an update on CBS11 reporter Bennett Cunningham, partner Michael Spann and their return to D-FW with two new babies on board

Ed Bark — 2008-11-14T10:54:49-06:00
Michael Spann, Bennett Cunningham with newborns Gregory, Liliana. By ED BARK CBS11 investigative reporter Bennett Cunningham and his partner, Michael Spann, are newly back in D-FW with new arrivals Liliana Elizabeth and Gregory Adam, who were born in Hartford, Conn. ..."We spent four weeks in a very small hotel room in Hartford, and spent every waking hour in the neo-natal intensive care unit with Liliana, hoping that she would get better," Cunningham said in an email.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., Nov. 13)

Ed Bark — 2008-11-14T09:38:33-06:00
By ED BARK Ratings aren't nearly what they used to be for NBC's ER, which in its prime gave NBC5's 10 p.m. newscast bounteous lead-in audiences that all but offset any shortfalls during the rest of the week. ...9:45 to 10 P.M. LEAD-IN (25-to-54-YEAR-OLDS) ER (NBC) -- 112,306 Eleventh Hour (CBS) -- 106,236 Life on Mars (ABC) -- 88,024 Fox4 9 p.m. Local News -- 69,805

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., Nov. 12)

Ed Bark — 2008-11-13T10:01:41-06:00
First let's look at 10 p.m. CBS11 has a solid hold on second place in total viewers, but is in a war with Fox4 for the runnerup spot among 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming. ...At 6 a.m., Fox4 clearly is in the driver's seat in the total viewers race, but has less breathing room among 25-to-54-year-olds, where WFAA8 and NBC5 currently are tied for second place.

Spot check: One night in the lives of your latenight local newscasts (Mon., Nov. 10)

Ed Bark — 2008-11-12T12:15:01-06:00
Splish splash -- Weatherman Dan Henry set the stage with the usual up-close looks at angry-looking maps before anchor Steve Eagar turned it over to "Street Squad" reporter James Rose with this disclaimer: "Our coverage gets a little complicated because we can't raise our masts on top of our 'live' trucks and it gets difficult to cover it." ...Splish splash -- Co-anchor Gloria Campos told viewers that HD Chopper 8 had captured a "wall cloud" in progress and weatherman Pete Delkus presided over his many-colored maps before reporter Chris Hawes materialized live in Fort Worth holding an umbrella in what had become a drizzle.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., Nov. 11)

Ed Bark — 2008-11-12T10:05:38-06:00
In late night, John McCain's first post-election day public appearance, on Jay Leno's NBC Tonight Show, drew 119,574 total viewers from 11 to 11:30 p.m. That took the top spot, edging the second half of CBS' Late Show with David Letterman (99,645 viewers). ...Fox4 returned to its winning ways at 6 a.m., sweeping its competitors by comfy margins while WFAA8 ran third behind NBC5 in total viewers, tied the Peacock in total homes and nipped its principal rival for the runnerup spot among 25-to-54-year-olds.

Happy happy, Joy joy

Ed Bark — 2008-11-11T13:45:11-06:00
Deep in the heart of downtown Garland's Zion Gate recording studio, 1121 band members Tracy Kornet and Tommy Hiett, and chief engineer Brance Wages put the finishing touches Tuesday on a Christmas song benefitting the Happy Hill Farm music program. ...A $1,000 charitable contribution from Stratos Global Greek Taverna, during the band's appearance at the July 19th Uncle Barky Show, went entirely to Happy Hill Farm's music program.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., Nov. 10)

Ed Bark — 2008-11-11T09:53:52-06:00
WFAA8 did the most singin' in the rain, sweeping the 5, 6 and 10 p.m. competitions with much bigger audience hauls than a week ago. Here's the Monday to Monday Nielsen precipitation at 6 and 10 p.m.: ...But the final 15 minutes of the Peacock's soon-to-be canceled clinker still had more viewers in all three ratings measurements than Fox4's 9 p.m. local newscast close-out.

It's a wrap for another very fine Dallas Video Festival

Ed Bark — 2008-11-10T12:20:56-06:00
Dallas Video Festival founder Bart Weiss excitedly showcases his new, limited edition, ultra-cool unclebarky.com T-shirt during Saturday afternoon screenings at the Angelika. Photo: Ed Bark The 21st annual Dallas Video Festival is history after a wealth of weekend attractions at the Angelika. Your friendly content provider attended a Saturday afternoon screening of Stefan Forbes' Boogie Man: The Lee Atwater Story, an 88-minute film on the life and times of the hell-on-wheels GOP image-maker best known for being George H.W.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., Nov. 7-9)

Ed Bark — 2008-11-10T11:13:40-06:00
WFAA8 remained in cruise control at 6 and 10 p.m., taking the top spots in total viewers, total homes and 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming. Fox4 continued to pad its growing lead at 6 a.m., stunning NBC5 and WFAA8 in what all three stations expected to be a very close race that's instead been a rout so far.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., Nov. 6)

Ed Bark — 2008-11-07T14:14:00-06:00
That said, 30 Rock still drew fewer viewers and 18-to-49-year-olds with its Liz Lemon/Oprah-as-herself episode than any of NBC's three preceding comedies, even including the stinkin' new Kath & Kim. ...As lead-ins go, Oprah has become more of a follower in the past year's ratings races with NBC5's local newscast, Fox4's double dose of Judge Judy and CBS11's homegrown 4 p.m. newscast and the syndicated Inside Edition.

Rebecca Aguilar returns to election-night street reporting via a new D-FW venue

Ed Bark — 2008-11-07T10:04:27-06:00
Suspended just over a year ago by Fox4 and officially dismissed on May 8th, she reported from outside the Dallas County Democratic Party's party site in the Bishop Arts district. ...
Latina Lista 02 from Doce Productions on Vimeo.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., Nov. 5)

Ed Bark — 2008-11-07T07:59:15-06:00
After five of the first 20 weekdays -- November's North Texas regional championship game ends on the night before Thanksgiving -- here are the up-to-date results in total viewers, total homes and 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming. ...In Wednesday's ratings only, NBC5 won at 6 a.m. in total viewers and tied with Fox4 for first place in both total homes and with 25-to-54-year-olds.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., Nov. 4) -- Election Day edition

Ed Bark — 2008-11-05T12:34:01-06:00
President-elect Barack Obama and family at Grant Park CBS photo By ED BARK Wall-to-wall election returns coverage by an array of broadcast and cable networks climaxed at 11:15 p.m. with the final words from president-elect Barack Obama. It went on, of course, all night long. But we'll concentrate on the hours that really counted in this deluxe recap of how many D-FW viewers watched the action on ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, PBS, CNN, Fox News Channel and MSNBC.

WFAA8's Shipp, Harris continue to major in major awards

Ed Bark — 2008-11-04T10:59:29-06:00
One of Shipp's two newest duPonts is for a much-publicized and controversial investigation of grade-fixing at South Oak Cliff High School, which eventually had to forfeit its 2006 state basketball title by order of the DISD. He also won a duPont for a series of reports on Atmos Energy's alleged lax approach to repairing dangerous gas leaks that in the past have caused fatal explosions.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., Nov. 3)

Ed Bark — 2008-11-04T09:27:13-06:00
ESPN's Monday Night Football (with the Steelers beating the Redskins) and NBC's two-hour Saturday Night Live Presidential Bash tied for second with 298,935 viewers apiece. ...Dancing with the Stars threw a hoof and limped in with 106,960 viewers in the 18-to-49 demo, running well behind CBS sitcoms How I Met Your Mother and The Big Bang Theory while tying with the network's CSI: Miami.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., Oct. 31-Nov. 2)

Ed Bark — 2008-11-03T09:39:56-06:00
Sunday's Cowboys-Giants mismatch, which began at 3:15 p.m. and mercifully ended three hours later, averaged 1.03 million total viewers and 697,200 homes in D-FW. ...Saturday night's Tech-Texas game, which stretched from 7 to nearly 11 p.m., hauled in an overall average of 719,105 viewers and 430,770 total homes.

Getting the month started

Ed Bark — 2008-11-03T05:07:50-06:00
It's November's turn, with October moving to the growing list of monthly archives on unclebarky.com's right hand border. We'll get started with a clever promotional blip for an underappreciated, early morning weather guy who's long overdue his place in the sun.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., Oct. 30) -- extended opening night of the "sweeps" edition

Ed Bark — 2008-10-31T13:15:33-05:00
We're not going to totally abandon the old household number until November 2009, when accurate year-to-year comparisons can be made in the the three major stats that all newsroom managements watch very closely: Total homes, total viewers and persons between the ages of 25-to-54. ...And as even the biggest TV spin doctor will concede, if you win with these viewers you can declare victory without much resistance -- at from least behind the closed doors of losing rival stations, who invariably are trying to figure out ways to "get younger."

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., 29) -- extended World Series/Barack Obama edition (updated Oct. 30th with new DMN presidential endorsement info)

Ed Bark — 2008-10-30T09:57:43-05:00
No one at The Dallas Morning News, which does not list a history of its previous presidential candidate endorsements (on its Web site or anywhere else) seems to be able to say with any certainty whether the newspaper has ever gotten behind a Democratic presidential candidate. ...In the two time periods where it could go right down to the wire, Fox4 won in both ratings measurements at 6 a.m.; WFAA8 took first in total homes at 5 p.m. and tied for the top spot with NBC5 among 25-to-54-year-olds.

Watch out: Mavs men ready to dribble and dunk on home screens near you

Ed Bark — 2008-10-29T11:48:53-05:00
But what have the Mavs done for fans lately, besides bowing out in the first round of the NBA playoffs in the past two seasons while bringing back the same cast of aging on-court characters? ...Point guard Kidd, the oldest Mav at age 35, says he feels liberated in his first full season with the team after having to adapt to ex-coach Avery Johnson's gut-and-grind offense.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., Oct. 28)

Ed Bark — 2008-10-29T09:10:36-05:00
First shown in 1966 on CBS, the age-old cartoon drew 180,234 D-FW homes in the 7 p.m. hour and also lured 100,909 advertiser-craved 18-to-49-year-olds. ...In Tuesday's local news derby, WFAA8 again had an easy time at 6 and 10 p.m., whipping its three competitors in both total homes and among 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

Banfield pledges allegiance

Ed Bark — 2008-10-28T16:44:55-05:00
Or as Banfield put it to The New York Post's Page Six column, "Fourteen years after coming to America via Texas, where George W. ...It also quoted her as saying, "Perhaps the 28th Amendment will allow naturalized citizens to be president one day, and Arnold (Schwarzenegger) will lead the way."

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., Oct. 27)

Ed Bark — 2008-10-28T15:21:38-05:00
But among advertiser-craved 18-to-49-year-olds, Game 5 muscled up and took the top spot from 9 to 9:45 p.m., outscoring CBS' repeat of CSI: Miami, ABC's Boston Legal and, of course, My Own Worst Enemy. ...1 in that half-hour with 18-to-49-year-olds; Dancing beat CBS' competing Two and a Half Men repeat in its closing half-hour, but was edged from 7 to 8 p.m. by CBS's rerun twosome of The Big Bang Theory and How I Met Your Mother.

Talking points in local TV news

Ed Bark — 2008-10-27T11:20:01-05:00
The executive director of Plano-based Rodney Anderson Lending Services has a Saturday morning radio show on KLLI-FM and had been a weekly Wednesday presence on WFAA8's locally produced Good Morning Texas. ...But in a February unclebarky.com story on NBC5's relationship with Children's Medical Center, Devlin drew what he sees as an ethical line between news and entertainment programming produced by his station.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., Oct. 24-26)

Ed Bark — 2008-10-27T10:12:21-05:00
Saturday's rain-delayed Game 3 of the Series, which didn't start until 9:06 p.m. Dallas time, had 53,583 D-FW homes in tow when it ended at 12:47 a.m. Sunday with a ninth inning Phillies win. ...In Friday's local news derby, WFAA8 ran first in three of the four big battlegrounds, winning at 10 p.m., 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. in total homes and with 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., Oct. 23)

Ed Bark — 2008-10-24T12:00:23-05:00
Game 2, which ran from 7:30 to 10:35 p.m. on Fox4 locally, averaged 116,909 homes during the prime-time portion and climbed a bit to 129,000 homes in the concluding 10 to 10:30 p.m. segment. ...WFAA8 had a big day in the local news derby, winning at 5, 6 and 10 p.m. in both total homes and among 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot -- World Series Game 1 edition (Wed., Oct. Oct. 22)

Ed Bark — 2008-10-23T10:26:20-05:00
Subtracting the half-hour pre-game show, Game 1 (on Fox4 locally) averaged 119,344 D-FW homes in prime-time and perked up slightly -- to 133,958 homes -- for its closing 10 to 11 p.m. hour. ...One more thing: In its climactic 10 to 11 p.m. hour, the World Series ran fourth in total homes during the first half-hour -- behind the three competing local newcasts -- and beat all comers from 10:30 to 11 p.m. (ABC's Nightline was a close second, with NBC's Tonight Show and CBS' Late Show lagging in that order.

Former CBS11 newser Marita Arita champions/endorses Barack Obama in first film from her new film company

Ed Bark — 2008-10-22T11:33:57-05:00
Maria Arita and husband/business partner Thomas Howard By ED BARK Former CBS11 anchor/reporter Maria Arita, downsized from the station in late March, is now running a Frisco-based film company in partnership with her husband, Thomas Howard. ...Narrated by actor Blair Underwood, the Veridicus Films production aims to "help shape for the everyday American, frustrated by the daily diversions of sensationalized journalism and political spin, what's truly at stake and the monumental significance of this moment in our nation's history."

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., Oct. 21)

Ed Bark — 2008-10-22T10:14:04-05:00
By ED BARK Tuesdays still mostly belong to CBS and ABC, with Fox making some noise among advertiser-craved 18-to-49-year-olds while NBC's prime-time lineup impersonates a corpse on a slab. ...A new episode of NBC's formerly ratings rich Law & Order: SVU burrowed into fourth place in total homes and beat Without A Trace by just one-tenth of a rating point (3,154 viewers) in the 18-to-49 competition.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., Oct. 20)

Ed Bark — 2008-10-21T11:17:38-05:00
The Oprah Winfrey Show -- 70,632 homes Judge Judy -- 60,890 homes 4 p.m. Local Newscast and Inside Edition -- 56,019 and 53,583 homes First at Four News -- 56,019 homes ...Including Monday's 5 p.m. ratings, the Peacock has won four of the last six faceoffs in the 25-to-54-demographic while also beating WFAA8 twice in the total homes Nielsens.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., Oct. 17-19)

Ed Bark — 2008-10-20T12:56:52-05:00
Crusoe ran second from 7 to 9 p.m. among advertiser-craved 18-to-49-year-olds, with MY27's WWE Smackdown! taking the overall gold by just one-tenth of a rating point (3,153 viewers). In Friday's local news derby, WFAA8 again muscled up at 10 p.m. with wins in both total homes and among 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed.-Thurs., Oct. 15-16)

Ed Bark — 2008-10-17T10:59:50-05:00
By ED BARK ABC's Life on Mars looked more like a death star in Thursday's D-FW ratings, plunging from last week's impressive opening returns. ...Among 18-to-49-year-olds, Eleventh Hour tied Life on Mars Thursday night, with both series drawing 91,449 of Madison Avenue's most sought after viewers.

She's not in Kansas anymore: WFAA8 hires Jennifer Schack as new early morning weekend weathercaster

Ed Bark — 2008-10-16T08:56:13-05:00
News director Michael Valentine said that Schack, already on the job at WFAA8, will be "doing exactly what Meghan did" as a "split employee" between the mothership and cable station TXCN. "She will do Saturday and Sunday mornings and some fill-in work" on other WFAA8 newscasts, Valentine said in an email.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., Oct. 14)

Ed Bark — 2008-10-15T09:26:27-05:00
CBS' new The Mentalist then tapered off a bit, with its 238,689 total homes tying ABC's competing Dancing with the Stars results show for the top spot at 8 p.m. ...Among advertiser-coveted 18-to-49-year-olds, Fox's House edged past NCIS to take first place at 7 p.m. Dancing dominated at 8 p.m., with Mentalist slipping to third behind Fox's Fringe.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., Oct. 13)

Ed Bark — 2008-10-14T14:06:56-05:00
The night's overall league leader again was ABC's Dancing with the Stars, which piled up 275,229 D-FW homes from 7 to 8:30 p.m. The network's second season return of Samantha Who? followed with a nice-sized 231,382 homes, winning its half-hour opposite NBC's sagging Heroes and the first-year CBS' comedy Worst Week, which ran second. ...In the local news derby, WFAA8 notched another two wins at 10 p.m., nipping CBS11 in total homes while cruising among 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

Fox4 continues to rebuild news staff with hiring of El Paso reporter/anchor

Ed Bark — 2008-10-14T11:37:04-05:00
By ED BARK Fox4 continues to replenish its news staff, this time with the hiring of Peter Daut from KFOX-TV in El Paso. ...Daut's also a former Eagle Scout and "competitive swimmer" who minored in Spanish at USC, where he graduated Cum Laude with a double major in broadcast journalism and political science.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., Oct. 10-12)

Ed Bark — 2008-10-13T13:49:38-05:00
QB Tony Romo's broken finger obviously only makes matters worse, Both he and oldster Arizona QB Kurt Warner were pounded to the turf time and again during a game that in Cowboys' annals ranks at or near the very top of bizarre, almost unfathomable finishes. ...Friday's biggest prime-time draw, a new episode of CBS' Ghost Whisperer, lured 146,136 homes before the network's following new series, The Ex-List, dipped to barely half that crowd with 75,504 homes.

And babies make four

Ed Bark — 2008-10-13T09:47:50-05:00
CBS11 investigative reporter Bennett Cunningham and partner Michael Spann with their newborns, Gregory Adam and Liliana Elizabeth. ...Cunningham and Spann say that both newborns are in a neo-natal intensive care unit after a 34-week gestation period in a surrogate mother's womb.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., Oct. 9)

Ed Bark — 2008-10-10T13:26:40-05:00
TOTAL HOMES NIELSENS CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (CBS) -- 304,450 Grey's Anatomy (ABC) -- 226,511 The Office/Saturday Night Live political special (NBC) -- 75,504 and 94,988 Supernatural (CW) -- 53,583 Dodgers vs. Phillies NLCS (Fox) --29,227 ...The night's other series premiere, NBC's Kath & Kim, ran a competitive third at 7:30 p.m. with 116,909 total homes opposite the closing half-hours of ABC's Ugly Betty (141,265) and CBS's Survivor: Gabon (124,216).

Hansen-Delkus lawyer up for WFAA8's localized Boston Legal

Ed Bark — 2008-10-09T16:47:19-05:00
By ED BARK Blowin' their usual smoke -- but this time from big cigars -- WFAA8's co-alpha males are going Boston Legal on us in a new 30- second promo. ...So grit your teeth or maybe grin appreciatively over this fake Crane-Shore exchange from WFAA8's Boston Legal playlet:

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., Oct. 8)

Ed Bark — 2008-10-09T12:13:33-05:00
ABC's Private Practice and Dirty Sexy Money both climbed into second place in total homes, but ran miles behind CBS' 8 to 10 p.m. partners in crime. ...At 9 p.m., NBC's Lipstick Jungle drew prime-time's smallest number of total homes (63,326) and also ran well out of the money in the 18-to-49 demo.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., Oct. 7)

Ed Bark — 2008-10-08T10:22:00-05:00
ABC (Ch. 8) -- 265,480 homes Fox (Ch. 4) -- 136,394 homes Fox News Channel -- 119,344 homes CBS (Ch. 11) -- 107,166 homes NBC (Ch. 5) -- 99,860 homes CNN -- 87,682 homes MSNBC -- 51,148 homes PBS (Ch. 13) -- 26,792 homes ...On to the local news derby, where WFAA8 romped to overwhelming wins at 10 p.m. in both total homes and with 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

"The 33's" weather team now a one-man band

Ed Bark — 2008-10-07T10:24:38-05:00
His departure leaves Bob Goosmann as the station's lone temperature-taker and renews speculation that former NBC5 early morning meteorologist Rebecca Miller might be in line to fill Barnhill's vacancy. ..."And he helped me learn the computer graphics system at Channel 33 when I was filling in. I'm sad to see him go, and I hope he's got something great lined up."

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., Oct. 6)

Ed Bark — 2008-10-07T08:52:33-05:00
The Peacock's Heroes, supposedly super-rejuvenated, drew just 107,166 homes from 8 to 9 p.m. That beat Fox's competing, sagging Prison Break (73,068 homes), but fell woefully short of ABC's Dancing with the Stars (292,272 homes for its second hour) and CBS' comedy combo of Two and a Half Men (236,253 homes) and the new Worst Week (148,572 homes). ...Again gifted with an imposing lead-in advantage from CSI: Miami, the station ran second behind WFAA8 in both total homes and with 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., Oct. 3-5)

Ed Bark — 2008-10-06T11:12:21-05:00
This season's record-holder is still Sept. 15th's already legendary Monday Night Football Cowboys-Eagles shootout, which averaged a combined 930,399 D-FW homes on TXA21 and ESPN. ...WFAA8 won in total homes at 10 p.m., and tied for first with Fox4 among 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (a few highs from Fri., Sept. 19 to Thursday, Oct. 2)

Ed Bark — 2008-10-03T14:45:08-05:00
So with pocket calculator firmly in hand, here are the D-FW breakdowns for Joe Biden vs. Sarah Palin, ranked in the order of total homes watching on five broadcast and three cable stations (post-game blab not included): ...WFAA8 -- 175,363 homes Fox4 -- 138,829 homes FNC -- 112,038 homes NBC5 -- 90,117 homes CBS11 -- 85,246 homes CNN -- 60,890 homes MSNBC -- 34,098 homes KERA -- 24,356 homes GRAND TOTAL -- 720,937 homes

Newsroom additions, subtractions in progress at Fox4, CBS11

Ed Bark — 2008-09-19T10:11:02-05:00
By ED BARK Fox4 is adding reporter Matt Grubs to its full-time newsroom staff, which has been rocked by a wave of voluntary and involuntary departures in the past year. ...Station sources say they'll vanish by the start of this year's "fourth quarter" (October-December) and be replaced by a combination of informercials, CBS kids' programming preempted during extended weather coverage and Babe Laufenberg sports specials tied to Dallas Cowboys games.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., Sept. 18)

Ed Bark — 2008-09-19T10:10:30-05:00
The network's three-hour run of two CSI: Crime Scene Investigation reprises and a new Flashpoint won across the board Thursday in total D-FW homes and even among advertiser-coveted 18-to-49-year-olds. ...The local news Nielsens again showed WFAA8 dominating at 6 and 10 p.m., where the ABC station cruised to first-place finishes in total homes and among 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

Reel people at WFAA8

Ed Bark — 2008-09-18T17:11:30-05:00
In prehistoric times, local TV stations went on movie-buying excursions to fill in the blanks on their schedules.... It still looks and feels pretty contemporary, even though regularly scheduled movie blocs are more dated than candid, on-the-record responses from any station's management.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., Sept. 17)

Ed Bark — 2008-09-18T10:55:07-05:00
Left for dead was the second episode of Fox's critically savaged Do Not Disturb, which dozed with just 46,276 homes at 8:30 p.m. Among 18-to-49-year-olds, though, it outpointed the second half-hour of ABC's 20/20 while also slightly outdrawing Fox's preceding 'Til Death. ...In the local news derby, WFAA nipped CBS11 by one-tenth of a rating point (2,436 homes) at 10 p.m. while cruising in first gear among 25-to-54-year-olds, the preferred advertiser target audience for news programming.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., Sept. 16)

Ed Bark — 2008-09-17T09:30:14-05:00
Fringe, the heavily promoted X-Files-ian sci-fi hour from Lost creator JJ Abrams, held 100 percent of House's audience at 8 p.m. Those 177,799 homes were a sizable uptick from the 148,572 tuned to the previous Tuesday's premiere. ...These are nowhere near blockbuster numbers, but they were good enough to give Fringe an across-the-board win at 8 p.m. Any audience plunge from the House lead-in could have been near-fatal for Fringe, which next week will have to face ABC's Dancing with the Stars as well as CBS' new The Mentalist.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., Sept. 15)

Ed Bark — 2008-09-16T10:09:37-05:00
Kicking off at 7:40 p.m. and ending at 10:55, the final home opener at old, reasonably affordable Texas Stadium drew 484,684 D-FW homes on ESPN and 445,715 homes for the TXA21 telecast. ...WFAA8 ran the table at 6 p.m.; NBC5 had a 5 p.m. win in total homes while tying for first with Fox4 among 25-to-54-year-olds.

CBS11's newest news-ic video

Ed Bark — 2008-09-15T13:26:09-05:00
By ED BARK CBS11's latest image campaign, still outfitted with the old "Count On Us" slogan, is brimming with shiny, happy people from the station's newsroom. There's a band, too, plus a vocal track produced by North Texas-based Small Guy Music and performed by Matthew JC and the All-Stars.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri-Sun., Sept. 12-14)

Ed Bark — 2008-09-15T10:33:16-05:00
Note that NBC5 for the most part yielded to its network's Today coverage until 8 a.m. while Fox4 made an abrupt transition to a half-hour KIA car dealership infomercial at 9:30 a.m. Here are the hour-by hour audience levels, according to Nielsen Media Research.... Fox4, which dominated the 2 to 6 a.m. ratings with an average of 73,068 homes, pretty much fell out of the picture when the KIA infomercial kicked in from 9:30 to 10 a.m.

Good news for WFAA8 photographer

Ed Bark — 2008-09-15T09:23:39-05:00
WFAA8 photographer Doug Burgess, seriously injured Tuesday when a dump truck skidded into his car, was released from Parkland hospital Friday night after initially spending time in the intensive care unit. His wife, CBS11 assistant news director Sarah Garza, said that Burgess is "thrilled to be home with the kids and ESPN and his pain killers."

Weather they're right, or weather they're wrong

Ed Bark — 2008-09-13T10:22:57-05:00
WHO DID WHAT WHEN? NBC5, save for a few cut-ins, ceded Ike coverage to the network's weekend Today special until 8 a.m. That's a debatable decision, and may have made the station seem asleep at the wheel in the early going. ..."It's just not going to be devastating or really dangerous," Andrews said shortly after 9 a.m. He was speaking of Ike's impact in the immediate D-FW area while also telling viewers that weather coverage nonetheless hadn't been "overblown."

KERA's Nowhere But Texas 2 should be seen everywhere

Ed Bark — 2008-09-12T10:49:50-05:00
So I'm fortunate to get a do-over on KERA's (Channel 13) brilliantly made Nowhere But Texas 2 which will be repeated at 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 13th. (Note: this is a last-minute KERA change, made Friday afternoon, from the time previously posted in this review.) ... Mighty Mites players Ray and DeWitt Coulter, with coach Rusty Russell in the middle. University of Texas at Arlington library Those long-ago airborne exploits could make a helluva feature film, as would the concluding tale of Fort Worth's "Mighty Mites" high school football team.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., Sept. 11)

Ed Bark — 2008-09-12T10:06:25-05:00
Maybe it was a certain little interview -- namely ABC World News anchor Charles Gibson's exclusive sit-down with Republican vice presidential running mate Sarah Palin. Gibson-Palin was watched in 180,234 total homes, nipping Fox4's Hurricane Ike-themed 9 p.m. local newscast (177,799 homes).

WFAA8 photographer recovering after serious car wreck

Ed Bark — 2008-09-11T11:40:07-05:00
Veteran WFAA8 photographer Doug Burgess, husband of assistant CBS11 news director Sarah Garza, was seriously injured Tuesday when a concete-hauling dump truck lost control, slid into the opposite lane and slammed into him. ...Garza, who formerly worked in WFAA's newsroom, said she has been reading "dozens and dozens" of emails to her husband, "some from folks we worked with over 17 years ago."

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., Sept. 10)

Ed Bark — 2008-09-11T11:13:50-05:00
That put Disturb and 'Til Death third in their timeslots, behind yet another two-hour dollop of NBC's America's Got Talent (180,234 homes) and a repeat of CBS' Criminal Minds (143,700 homes). ...The local news derby yielded a split decision at 10 p.m. NBC5 edged WFAA8 in total homes, with the reverse true among 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

Jepson at last elaborates on WFAA8 dismissal

Ed Bark — 2008-09-10T15:51:58-05:00
By ED BARK Frankly, a little behind-the-scenes backdrop is necessary before former WFAA8 newswoman Macie Jepson talks more directly about her dismissal from the station after eight years as co-anchor of the weekday 5 p.m. newscasts. ...WFAA8 president and general manager Mike Devlin, in what he unequivocally said would be his only comment, told unclebarky.com that the reductions were "a reflection of very difficult economic times, and we have endeavored to minimize the impact on people."

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., Sept. 9)

Ed Bark — 2008-09-10T10:27:32-05:00
Abrams, the sci-fi blend of The X-Files and The Twilight Zone averaged 148,572 homes from 7 to 8:35 p.m. That put it second opposite the first 90 minutes of NBC's America's Got Talent (172,928 homes). ...But both series ran fifth in those measurements from 7 to 9 p.m. 90210 did outdraw Privileged in CW's target 18-to-34 demo and ran third overall from 7 to 8 p.m. behind Talent and Fringe.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., Sept. 8)

Ed Bark — 2008-09-09T10:47:07-05:00
Green Bay's victory, with QB Aaron Rodgers succeeding Brett Favre, averaged 248,431 D-FW homes, peaking at 326,370 8:30 to 8:45 p.m. Denver's rout of Oakland then began tailing off sharply, drooping to 80,375 homes by midnight. Also in cable-land, TNT's second episode of its legal drama Raising the Bar held up nicely with 92,553 homes after a new hour of The Closer logged 114,473.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., Sept. 5-7)

Ed Bark — 2008-09-08T10:29:30-05:00
Fox's heavily promoted Sunday night sneak preview of the Japan-imported Hole in the Wall drew a nice-sized 219,204 homes from 7 to 7:30 p.m. But ratings fell sharply during the second 15 minutes of this one-note, near-hysterical answer to the summertime success of ABC's Wipeout. ...And 5th Grader drew more advertiser-craved 18-to-49-year-olds from 7 to 8 p.m. than the entire audience in that demographic for the cancer fundraiser, co-hosted by network news anchors Charles Gibson, Katie Couric and Brian Williams.

Bypassed by briefing, but there are plenty in the street

Ed Bark — 2008-09-08T04:56:49-05:00
Belo Corp., which owns The Dallas Morning News, announced Friday that 270 of its employees had accepted a voluntary buyout offer, but that "an involuntary reduction in force will be completed by mid-to-late October to achieve the necessary remaining workforce reductions." ...But so far they can't even throw it in the general vicinity of doorsteps, let alone deliver it to some who were promised "the knowledge you need to power your day" -- plus valuable coupons.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., Sept. 4)

Ed Bark — 2008-09-05T11:34:47-05:00
McCain's acceptance address lingered a bit past prime-time to 10:04 p.m., with the Big Three broadcast networks all sticking around a little longer before signing off by 10:11 p.m. Nielsen measures audiences in 15-minute increments, so here are the seven-way convention audience averages from 9 to 10:15 p.m. ...NBC5 won at 5 p.m. in both ratings measurements and WFAA8 did likewise at 6 p.m. in a downsized three-way race in which the Peacock kicked off the NFL season at an early start time in order to carry McCain's speech at the appointed 9 p.m. hour.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., Sept. 3)

Ed Bark — 2008-09-04T09:54:59-05:00
Let's first look at the 9 to 10:15 p.m. Nielsen numbers for the seven-network convention coverage (Palin's speech stretched past prime-time to 10:08 p.m. locally, with the Big Three broadcast networks all signing off by 10:15 p.m.). ...Obama's closer wasn't even close, drawing 440,843 homes on a night opposite the closing hour of a Cowboys-Vikings pre-season game that amassed 280,094 homes from 9 to 10 p.m. on TXA21.

Jepson's first words -- post-WFAA8

Ed Bark — 2008-09-03T10:07:46-05:00
Jepson in earlier days at WFAA8 and in latter day station photo. By ED BARK Former WFAA8 anchor/reporter Macie Jepson got the news on Aug. 21st that the station had cut her loose after eight years. ...In the meantime I've already enjoyed spending extra time with my husband and daughters, who are the real blessings in my life. As always I wish everyone the best and thanks to all for making my time at WFAA so enjoyable.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., Sept. 2)

Ed Bark — 2008-09-03T09:23:52-05:00
The seventh season premiere of The Shield on FX also failed to ignite much of a response with 38,970 homes at 9 p.m. Still, that was easily FX's biggest audience haul of the day. ...In Tuesday's local news derby, WFAA8 won at 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. in total homes and among 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Mon., Aug. 29-Sept. 1)

Ed Bark — 2008-09-02T10:05:47-05:00
The CW's second season premiere of Gossip Girl drew just 38,970 D-FW homes from 7 to 8 p.m., falling sharply off a lead-in from CW33's Two and a Half Men repeat (80,375 homes). ...WFAA8 also swept Monday's 5 and 6 p.m. news Nielsens, with Fox4 a close second at 5 p.m. in both total homes and with 25-to-54-year-olds.

Gone but not forgotten: Good Day's "Know Before You Go" tease

Ed Bark — 2008-09-01T20:53:03-05:00
Fox4's Good Day, currently battling NBC5 Today for supremacy while WFAA8's slumping Daybreak plays catchup, used to deploy a catchphrase that arguably was brilliant in its very basic simplicity. ...Good Day's other featured team members, Megan Henderson, Evan Andrews and a now chopper-less Chip Waggoner, also played along in a campaign that underscored the basic essentials provided by Good Day and its three competitors.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., Aug. 28)

Ed Bark — 2008-08-29T10:54:17-05:00
By ED BARK The closing hour of the Cowboys' final pre-season game, against Minnesota, went head-to-head Thursday night against Barack Obama's acceptance speech, also originating from a football stadium. ...WFAA8 swept the 6 p.m. competition and also won in total homes at 5 p.m. Fox4 took the gold at 5 p.m. among 25-to-54-year-olds.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., Aug. 27)

Ed Bark — 2008-08-28T09:36:05-05:00
By ED BARK D-FW audiences for Democratic convention coverage on NBC and CBS again fell sharply despite sizable lead-in advantages while ABC saw its rating arrow point upward. Before detailing the latest 9 to 10 p.m. Nielsens -- when seven networks went head-to-head from Denver -- here's a look at what NBC, CBS and ABC inherited from 8:45 to 9 p.m.:

Tony Romo's pop says Jessica's tops

Ed Bark — 2008-08-27T11:07:53-05:00
By ED BARK NBC5 sports anchor Newy Scruggs sends word that he scored an interview with Tony Romo's dad, Ramiro, after traveling all the way to Uncle Barky's native land of Wisconsin last month. ...By the way, Scruggs and the NBC5 sports staff have a one-hour Dallas Cowboys special on Friday at 7 p.m. It's called Tampa Bay or Bust.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., Aug. 26)

Ed Bark — 2008-08-27T09:54:37-05:00
Clinton's speech stretched past the prime-time witching hour to 10:07 p.m., with the Big Three commercial broadcast networks then sticking around a few more minutes before abdicating to local newscasts. ...CBS' Katie Couric-helmed convention coverage also had fewer viewers in the 9 to 10 p.m. hour than Fox4's local newscast, MY27's pair of Still Standing repeats, TXA21's Dr.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., Aug. 25) -- updated

Ed Bark — 2008-08-26T09:50:17-05:00
Especially when your lead-in attraction, a repeat of The New Adventures of Old Christine, draws 124,216 homes from 8:30 to 9 p.m. while ABC's rerun of Samantha Who? lures just 48,712 homes in that same half-hour. ...25-to-54-YEAR-OLDS Fox4 -- 58,890 (44,168) NBC5 -- 55,946 (50,057) WFAA8 -- 53,001 (55,946) CBS11 -- 38,279 (29,445)

Picky Picky (Vol. 16) -- your right to know (?)

Ed Bark — 2008-08-25T11:07:16-05:00
So in Jepson's case, management declined to say anything at all about an eight-year employee who reportedly left in tears after WFAA8 pretty much blindsided her. Judging from the high volume of reader comments -- 58 and counting as of this writing -- many of you both empathize with Jepson and want to know more about why she's suddenly history at WFAA8.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., Aug. 22-24) -- updated

Ed Bark — 2008-08-25T11:06:40-05:00
By ED BARK Blown out by the Olympics the previous week, the Dallas Cowboys rebooted Friday night to thrash NBC's Summer Games on D-FW's overall Nielsen scorecard. ...Sunday night's gaudy sendoff from the "Bird's Nest" expectedly dominated the prime-time ratings, luring 300,066 total homes to more than double the audience for the most-watched competing program, a rerun of CBS' Cold Case (146,136 homes).

School daze for kids; happy days for early morning news shows

Ed Bark — 2008-08-22T10:24:15-05:00
You're going to see a full-blown and almost assuredly over-blown effort Monday from the sunrise shows on Fox4, NBC5, WFAA8 and CBS11. "Back to School" day is a big event for all of them, meaning vacations are over for each show's A-list anchors.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., Aug. 21)

Ed Bark — 2008-08-22T08:39:33-05:00
Beginning just after 4:30 p.m. Thursday, it propelled the second half of NBC5's 4 p.m. newscast to a comfortable win in total homes and among two key advertiser targets, 18-to-49-year-olds and 25-to-54-year-olds. ...WFAA8 again won the downsized 10 p.m. local news races in both total homes and with 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., Aug. 20)

Ed Bark — 2008-08-21T10:04:43-05:00
By ED BARK So how'd that sand stay so dry during the otherwise rain-soaked beach volleyball final won by the USA's Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh? ...In the local news derby, WFAA8 edged CBS11 in a downsized 10 p.m. field and won by a more comfortable margin among 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

"Chopper Chip" no longer winging it, but still trafficking in freeway jams

Ed Bark — 2008-08-20T10:58:28-05:00
By ED BARK The higher costs of flying high have led to a forced landing for D-FW television's last airborne traffic correspondent. ...Although they've recently dropped somewhat, hefty fuel costs are the latest bottom-line worries for stations that also have to feed gas-guzzling satellite trucks in pursuit of various live shots throughout North Texas.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., Aug. 19)

Ed Bark — 2008-08-20T10:57:51-05:00
The Summer Games averaged 453,022 D-FW homes from 7 to 11 p.m., peaking at 565,059 between 10:30 and 10:45 p.m. A total of 323,935 homes hung in to catch NBC5's delayed 11 p.m. local newscast. ...NBC5's 5 and 6 p.m. local newscasts, served as appetizers for the Summer Games, continued to win in both total homes and with 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Mon., Aug. 15-18) -- updated

Ed Bark — 2008-08-19T10:40:24-05:00
Monday's Olympics averaged 435,972 D-FW homes from 7 to 11 p.m. In comparison, ABC's poor, pitiful High School Musical: Get In the Picture barely flickered in just 14,614 homes from 7 to 8 p.m. That's the smallest local audience in recent memory -- and perhaps ever -- for a prime-time program on one of the Big Four broadcast networks. ...NBC5 in turn has dominated the 5 and 6 p.m. news Nielsens, running the table on Friday and Monday in both total homes and with 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., Aug. 11)

Ed Bark — 2008-08-12T09:44:30-05:00
The Olympics averaged 494,427 D-FW homes, peaking at 616,207 between 9:15 and 9:30 p.m. ABC in particular offered scant resistance with a lineup of High School Musical: Get In the Picture (29,227 homes), a pair of Samantha Who? repeats (31,623) and The Mole (41,405). ...NBC5 otherwise ran the table at 6 a.m., and at 5 and 6 p.m. It's the first time in recent memory that WFAA8 went without a gold in any of the four major local news competitions.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., Aug. 8-10)

Ed Bark — 2008-08-11T10:22:51-05:00
Sunday's pulsating late night U.S. swim team win over France, with Phelps swimming the opening leg, amassed 521,218 total homes between 10:15 and 10:45 p.m. Overall, NBC's nighttime coverage averaged a robust 474,942 homes. ...Fox4 ran first in total homes with 77,939 while WFAA8 had a slight edge among 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

Former CBS11 reporter Kaushal Patel now with CNN International

Ed Bark — 2008-08-11T06:58:15-05:00
Former CBS11/TXA21 news staffer Kaushal Patel, laid off in late March as part of a cost-cutting CBS corporate mandate, has bounced back as a new addition to CNN International. ...TXA21/CBS11 anchor Kenneth Taylor has been dropped after management declined to renew his contract.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., Aug. 7)

Ed Bark — 2008-08-08T09:52:36-05:00
Dance won the 7 to 9 p.m. slot in total D-FW homes, but with a less-than-impressive 124,216 of 'em. At 9 p.m., a new episode of CBS' Flashpoint police drama took over with 138,829 homes.... Among 18-to-49-year-olds, CBS' Big Brother 10 nipped the first hour of Dance, which then won in that demo from 8 to 9 p.m. The last hour of NBC's 90-minute America's Got Talent was tops with 18-to-49-year-olds from 9 to 10 p.m.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., Aug. 6)

Ed Bark — 2008-08-07T09:51:46-05:00
At 7 p.m., another episode of CBS' Greatest American Dog competition lured 102,295 D-FW homes to edge the first hour of Fox's So You Think You Can Dance (99,860) despite the presence of Fort Worth finalist Joshua Allen. CBS then won by more comfortable margins from 8 to 10 p.m. with repeats of Criminal Minds (Wednesday's biggest draw with 197,284 homes) and CSI: NY (131,522).

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., Aug. 5)

Ed Bark — 2008-08-06T09:19:24-05:00
Talent wiped out competing programming from 8 to 10 p.m., drawing 182,670 D-FW homes and also dominating the ratings among advertiser-coveted 18-to-49-year-olds (116,676). ...Tuesday otherwise dawned on a jarring note for WFAA8's May sweeps-winning Daybreak, which ran fourth at 6 a.m. in both total homes and among 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

Doocy's Doozy: How-weird is that? (updated)

Ed Bark — 2008-08-05T23:53:18-05:00
Fox4 sports anchor Mike Doocy, Josh Hamilton and Josh Howard By ED BARK Featured sports anchor Mike Doocy is one of Fox4's more prolific, dedicated bloggers. ...And Doocy, newly returned from Cowboys training camp in Oxnard, may have been suffering from brain lag when he posted this on-site observation on Aug. 5, 8:55 p.m. from the Rangers-Yankees game.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., Aug. 4)

Ed Bark — 2008-08-05T12:55:20-05:00
Those 15 minutes on MY27 drew 214,333 D-FW homes to outpoint everything (during day or night) except the final 15 minutes of a Two and a Half Men repeat on CBS (228,946 homes between 8:15 and 8:30 p.m.). ...The Peacock's Nashville Star climax, with Arlington's Melissa Lawson singing her way to the top, fared better with a nice-sized 146,136 total homes from 9 to 10 p.m. Still, that put it just third in homes and fourth in the 18-to-49 demo.

NBC5's new image campaign: "You're everywhere to me"

Ed Bark — 2008-08-05T07:31:13-05:00
Its network's all-encompassing coverage of the Summer Olympics, which begin with Friday night's opening ceremonies from Beijing, China, will bring a wealth of eyeballs to Peacock stations around the country. ...A hard-driving theme song by a female vocalist -- "You're everywhere to me, and when I close my eyes, it's you I see" -- accompanies fleeting glimpses of NBC5 anchors and reporters in action.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., Aug. 1-3)

Ed Bark — 2008-08-04T10:12:09-05:00
Also on Friday, WFAA8's 10 p.m. news won in total homes but ran third behind NBC5 and CBS11 among 25-to-54-year-olds. ...In the battle of the local Sunday night sports specials, WFAA8's Dale Hansen won the three-way 10:30 p.m. battle in both ratings measurements, with CBS11's Babe Laufenberg second in total homes and NBC5's Newy Scruggs taking the runnerup spot among 25-to-54-year-olds.

Buttering up the upper crust: DMN's timing is hardly like a fine Rolex

Ed Bark — 2008-08-04T05:40:12-05:00
Even worse, Peppard begins by writing, "No doubt you've noticed there's no line to get the oil changed on your Bentley, there's no need to sweet-talk Jean-Pierre to get a billionaire table at Cafe Pacific, and the lights are out at some of the grander estates." ...But this particular article (which I tried and failed to find on the newspaper's Web site early Monday morning) is "prima facie evidence" (as Peppard wrote in his second paragraph) that the newspaper is out of touch not only with the struggling city at large but with its own highly vulnerable, financially imperiled work force.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., July 31)

Ed Bark — 2008-08-01T09:34:27-05:00
But among advertiser-craved 18-to-49-year-olds, Fear Itself put a scare in rival networks by taking the top spot with 69,375 of 'em. Flashpoint plunged to fourth with 53,608 viewers in the all-important 18-to-49 demo. ...Despite the presence of Fort Worth's Joshua Allen, who's advancing to next week's finale, Dance ran second in total homes (109,602) at 8 p.m. and just third with 18-to-49-year-olds behind the hour two of NBC's Last Comic Standing and CBS' repeat of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.

CBS11/TXA21 take on Olympics with Cowboys pre-season games

Ed Bark — 2008-08-01T04:59:05-05:00
Play-by-play dudes Bill Jones, Daryl Johnston, Mickey Spagnola By ED BARK CBS11 and TXA21 are loading up in August with all four Dallas Cowboys pre-season games. ...The play-by-play team is Bill Jones, Daryl Johnston and Mickey Spagnola, with Steve Dennis and Gina Miller patrolling the sidelines.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., July 30)

Ed Bark — 2008-07-31T11:03:37-05:00
Fox's often torturously flamboyant Wendy Williams Show, getting a daytime tryout in just four markets (including D-FW), perked up a bit at 11 a.m. with a second place finish in total homes behind CBS11's combo of Jeopardy! and the first half-hour of The Young and the Restless. ...In the local news derby, WFAA8 nipped CBS11 for first place in total homes, but dipped to third among 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

"Of course I call you the Hispanic Matt Lauer"

Ed Bark — 2008-07-30T17:27:13-05:00
Find out who's behind the above headline in this nicely done sendoff to NBC5 sports reporter/anchor Derek Castillo, whose official last day at the station is Friday (Aug. 1st). The clip below, which runs 6 minutes, 20 seconds, includes an array of familiar on-camera faces and also many whose behind-the-scenes work at NBC5 helped to make Castillo shine.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., July 29)

Ed Bark — 2008-07-30T16:03:37-05:00
CBS' repeat of NCIS controlled the 7 p.m. hour in total homes (168,056) but was no match for ABC's Wipeout among advertiser-coveted 18-to-49-year-olds (107,216 of 'em). ...At 9 p.m., ABC's Primetime: The Last Lecture: A Celebration of Life cleaned house with 158,314 total homes and 107,216 of the viewers that most advertisers are willing to pay more for.

Picky Picky (Vol. 15)

Ed Bark — 2008-07-29T22:31:39-05:00
But there are numerous other ways that Ehlmann can make an imprint on a station that's had some significant ratings downturns in the past two years, particularly at 10 p.m. Here are four possibilities, none of which are possible without approval from on high: A. Return long-form investigative reporting to NBC5 while also performing major surgery on a semi-tabloid newscast that mostly relies on short bursts of crime, tragedy and flimsy consumer reporting.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., July 28)

Ed Bark — 2008-07-29T09:21:07-05:00
Gladiators drew 114,473 homes to run second behind Fox's Bones rerun (129,087 homes), but took the gold in its first half-hour among 18-to-49-year-olds before being nipped from 7:30 to 8 p.m. by CBS' reprise of How I Met Your Mother. ABC continued to run on near-empty from 7 to 10 p.m. with a first-run reality competition lineup of High School Musical: Get in the Picture (85,246 homes), Wanna Bet (56,019 homes) and The Mole (70,632 homes).

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., July 25-27)

Ed Bark — 2008-07-28T13:44:33-05:00
By ED BARK D-FW's four major TV news providers continued to splurge on Cowboys training camp coverage Sunday night, with all four sports specials deploying their A-Team anchors at the team's Oxnard, CA training camp. ...TOTAL HOMES Dale Hansen's Sports Special -- 92,553 Sports Extra with New Scruggs -- 90,117 Sports Sunday with Mike Doocy -- 73,068 The Score with Babe Laufenberg -- 51,148

Flocking to Oxnard 'cause you can't buck the Cowboys (updated)

Ed Bark — 2008-07-25T14:23:22-05:00
New NBC5 sports guy Matt Barrie and mainstay Newy Scruggs. By ED BARK Thursday marked the arrival of the Dallas Cowboys for their latest summer training camp in Oxnard, CA. ...Reporter Ted Madden accompanied Hansen to Oxnard while CBS11's Babe Laufenberg used Steve Dennis as his wingman on coverage titled "Cowboys Training Camp -- It's On!"

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., July 24)

Ed Bark — 2008-07-25T09:34:27-05:00
By ED BARK A sluggish summer night in the D-FW Nielsens found a repeat of CBS' CSI: Crime Scene Investigation ranking as the most-watched program with a commonplace 148,572 homes. ...In the local news derby, chalk up another pair of 10 p.m. wins for WFAA8 in both total homes and with 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., July 23)

Ed Bark — 2008-07-24T09:11:57-05:00
All of D-FW's broadcast stations are more than a little concerned about what could happen to their ratings in what would have been the heart of the February "sweeps" competition until Nielsen Media Research mercifully moved them to March for next year only. ...The first hour of Fox's So You Think You Can Dance had the biggest overall audience from 7 to 8 p.m., but ran second among advertiser-craved 18-to-49-year-olds.

Internet confidential: NBC5's bloggin' brigade

Ed Bark — 2008-07-23T13:42:50-05:00
Fellow NBC5 reporter Randy McIlwain -- "Big Man Bloggin' " is his title -- mixes it up with long and sometimes very dicey observations on subjects ranging from the "N-word" (which he prints in full as you'll see) to "The Pee-Pee man Cometh," a discourse on Mavericks' forward Josh Howard facing possible drug-testing after admitting to off-season marijuana use. ...McIlwain, who signs off most of his posts with "It's a big man's world, it's a big man blogging," notes that he could never have a racially charged discussion like this on TV.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., July 22)

Ed Bark — 2008-07-23T10:42:41-05:00
At 9 p.m., Fox4's local newscast ran a competitive second to ABC News' Primetime: Family Secrets in both total homes and with 18-to-49-year-olds. Post- prime time, though, WFAA8's 10 p.m. newscast had Tuesday's biggest audience hauls in total homes, 18-to-49-year-olds and 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

Fox4 interviews decidedly different forecaster for possible spot on weather team

Ed Bark — 2008-07-22T09:58:29-05:00
Weathercaster Katrina Voss as pictured on her official website. By ED BARK Seemingly brainy, undeniably pretty and best known on youtube for a "yogacast" and other comedy weather spots, 37-year-old meteorologist Katrina Voss might be ready to take Dallas-Fort Worth by storm. ...Voss's yogacast (below), which you'll have to see to believe, could be a big chill for weather purists, let alone an incumbent Fox4 weather staff headed by comparative traditionalists Dan Henry and Evan Andrews.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., July 21)

Ed Bark — 2008-07-22T09:54:58-05:00
Arlington's Melissa Lawson and Musical's Nick Lachey By ED BARK ABC's all-new Monday night reality lineup, particularly the new High School Musical: Get In the Picture, continued to scrape bottom while CBS and Fox set the pace with drama and comedy repeats. ...NBC's Nashville Star (114,473 D-FW homes) drew a bit more than twice the overall audience for HSM: GITP while still finishing just third at 8 p.m. in both total homes and among 18-to-49-year-olds.

Latest moves on Fox & Friends could affect future of D-FW's Megan Henderson

Ed Bark — 2008-07-21T13:13:19-05:00
The TV Newser web site reports that FNC has moved the show's news reader, Alisyn Camerota, from weekdays to weekends while at the same expanding the Monday-Friday edition from two hours to three. "Where this leaves F & F weekend fill-ins Ainsley Earhardt (who was on the couch this past weekend), or Megan Henderson, of Fox's Dallas station, remains to be seen," TV Newser concluded.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., July 18-20)

Ed Bark — 2008-07-21T10:02:06-05:00
It dug a Death Valley at 7 p.m. drawing a piddling 51,148 homes between episodes of the network's American's Funniest Home Videos (94,988 homes) and Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (119,344 homes), both of which were repeats. ...In Friday's four major local news combat zones, WFAA8 again set the pace at 10 p.m. with wins in total homes and with 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

Pulling their own weight -- but who should be D-FW television's biggest loser?

Ed Bark — 2008-07-18T13:35:27-05:00
Heavy-hitters Dale Hansen, Debbie Denmon and Mike Snyder By ED BARK WFAA8 sports anchor Dale Hansen regularly calls attention to his poundage, and recently dropped about 60 of 'em on a regimen of Slim-Fast shakes and bananas. ...NBC5 anchor Mike Snyder, appalled at his latter day girth, keeps blogging on nbc5i.com about his ongoing efforts to slim down to 190 pounds from an all-time high of 256.

Good Day sing-a-long, first chapter and verse

Ed Bark — 2008-07-18T08:29:51-05:00
Tim Ryan's co-anchor at the time, Julia Somers, left the station in 2003 and was replaced in August of that year by Megan Henderson. ...Also of note: A big-grinning Tom Cruise played along in 2002, amiably asking Fox4 viewers, "Have you had a good day lately?"

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., July 17)

Ed Bark — 2008-07-18T08:29:24-05:00
It was the same story at 8 p.m. A repeat of CBS' CSI: Crime Scene Investigation whipped Fox's So You Think You Can Dance results hour in total homes, but slipped to second with 18-to-49-year-olds. Helped by a healthy Hopkins lead-in, WFAA's 10 p.m. newscast cruised to easy wins in total homes and among 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., July 16)

Ed Bark — 2008-07-17T11:02:17-05:00
The Eye network's Criminal Minds (158,314 homes) and CSI: NY (163,185) controlled the 8 to 10 p.m. slot Wednesday, with the first hour of Fox's So You Think You Can Dance winning at 7 p.m. with 110,211 homes. Among advertiser-craved 18-to-49-year-olds, Dance topped the 7 to 9 p.m. competition in that key demo before ABC's PrimeTime: Crime took over at 9 p.m. The latter hour's finale of NBC's Celebrity Circus tumbled into fourth place in both ratings measurements.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., July 15, All-Star baseball edition)

Ed Bark — 2008-07-16T09:20:54-05:00
Justin Moreau scores winning run at 12:37 a.m. Wednesday. Getty By ED BARK Going, going, going and finally gone at 12:37 a.m. Wednesday, baseball's 79th annual All-Star game still managed to outscore all competing programming during its four hours and 50 minutes on Fox. ...18-to-49-year-old men -- 105,190 from 9 to 9:15 p.m. 18-to-49-year-old women -- 53,428 from 9 to 9:15 p.m. 55 years and up -- 161,600 from 8:15 to 8:30 p.m., and 8:45 to 9 p.m. 12-to-17-year-olds -- 48,140 from 10 to 10:15 p.m.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., July 14)

Ed Bark — 2008-07-15T11:00:12-05:00
They respectively drew 80,375 and 70,632 homes from 8 to 10 p.m. That wasn't quite good enough to beat either Big Josh or any of the competing programming on the four major broadcast networks. ...The local news Nielsens gave CBS11 a total homes win at 10 p.m. and a first place tie with WFAA8 among 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., July 11-13)

Ed Bark — 2008-07-14T09:18:50-05:00
The game's high point fell just a bit short of the first 15 minutes of CBS' 60 Minutes (160,750 homes), but clubbed the news magazine and everything else among advertiser-coveted 18-to-49-year-olds. ...NBC's two-hour Miss Universe Pageant, in which top 10 finalist Miss USA (Crystle Stewart of Missouri City, TX) fell down during the evening gown competition, fell pretty flat itself with 94,988 homes from 8 to 10 p.m. It was pounded in the 9 p.m. hour by Fox4's local newscast, which drew 170,492 homes while also easily winning the time period with 18-to-49-year-olds.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., July 10)

Ed Bark — 2008-07-11T09:52:56-05:00
At 8 p.m., Fox's So You Think You Can Dance results show niftily tapped to the top with 18-to-49-year-olds but ran second in total homes behind a repeat of CBS' CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. ...This helped propel WFAA8's 10 p.m. newscast to comfortable wins in both total homes (155,878) and among 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser audience for news programming.

WFAA8 will make Brad Hawkins its early morning co-pilot for at least the near future

Ed Bark — 2008-07-10T16:12:43-05:00
WFAA8 veteran Brad Hawkins has won at least the short-term competition to succeed Justin Farmer as co-anchor of the station's early morning Daybreak program. Informed sources at the station confirmed that Hawkins, a fixture on WFAA8's weekend newscasts, will join incumbent Cynthia Izaguirre when Farmer leaves for WSB-TV in Atlanta at the end of July.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., July 9)

Ed Bark — 2008-07-10T09:25:46-05:00
But a rerun of CBS' CSI: NY drew the biggest overall audience with 160,750 D-FW homes despite finishing fourth at 9 p.m. in the 18-to-49 demo. A new episode of NBC's controversial Baby Borrowers ran fourth in total homes at 8 p.m., but moved up to the second spot in that time slot with 18-to-49-year-olds.

Who, what, where, when -- WFAA8's "Why Guy" leaving D-FW

Ed Bark — 2008-07-09T18:22:00-05:00
By ED BARK Mike Castellucci, best known as WFAA8's "Why Guy" since joining the station in spring 2003, has decided to leave Dallas-Fort Worth and move to San Diego with his wife. ...Castellucci previously worked at TV stations in Grand Junction, Colo., Colorado Springs, San Diego and Los Angeles before his Emmy Award-winning tenure at WFAA8.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., July 8)

Ed Bark — 2008-07-09T09:58:26-05:00
The ABC show drew 160,823 viewers in this age group, with NBC's Celebrity Family Feud (91,449) a distant runnerup during the 7 p.m. hour. The Peacock's America's Got Talent took over at 8 p.m., matching Wipeout's numbers in both total homes and with 18-to-49-year-olds.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., July 7)

Ed Bark — 2008-07-08T11:29:14-05:00
That gave ABC a big win in total homes from 7 to 9 p.m. before CBS' CSI: Miami repeat beat Bachelorette for the gold at 9 p.m. (207,027 homes). ...In the local news derby, WFAA8 won at 5, 6 and 10 p.m. in total homes and among 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs.-Sun., July 3-6)

Ed Bark — 2008-07-07T09:15:50-05:00
Two of the four 10 p.m. local newscasts did better than that, with WFAA8 taking the gold (133,958 homes) and also winning among 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming. ...Thursday's prime-time numbers were paced by Fox's So You Think You Can Dance results show, which weighed in with 129,087 homes and also called the tune among 18-to-49-year-olds, the main advertiser target for non-news programming.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., July 2)

Ed Bark — 2008-07-03T09:17:54-05:00
By ED BARK A 10 p.m. local newscast again ranked as the day's most-watched program while Fox's So You Think You Can Dance and NBC's The Baby Borrowers fought for attention in the 8 p.m. hour. ...At 9 p.m., a repeat of CBS' CSI: NY ruled in total homes (177,799), but NBC's three-ring hokum, Celebrity Circus, nipped the coppers and Fox4's local newscast in the 18-to-49 demo.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., July 1)

Ed Bark — 2008-07-02T10:06:26-05:00
In the preliminary 7 to 8 p.m. competition, CBS' NCIS repeat won in total homes (172,928) but Fox's The Moment of Truth sucked in the most 18-to-49-year-olds. ...Also at that hour, a second week's dollop of NBC's Celebrity Family Feud ran fourth in total homes and third with 18-to-49-year-olds; NCIS dipped to fourth in the latter battle.

Local vocalist: News anchor Tracy Kornet can carry tunes, too

Ed Bark — 2008-07-01T11:05:12-05:00
Tracy Kornet (in white) and the Eleven21 band. Photos: Ed Bark By ED BARK News anchor by night, lead singer by later night, Tracy Kornet has decided to abide by a song she regularly covers -- Sheryl Crow's "If It Makes You Happy." ... A black-and-white night for the Eleven21 band and singer Kornet. "I kind of know about the Ashleigh Banfield era," Kornet says.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., June 30)

Ed Bark — 2008-07-01T10:06:33-05:00
The runnerup program at 9 p.m., Fox4's local newscast, managed 119,344 homes on a night when six hours of firstrun reality competitions on ABC and NBC had up-and-down ratings performances against reruns on CBS and Fox. ...ABC's The Mole again played dead with a double dose of fourth-place finishes at 9 p.m. NBC's two-hour Nashville Star lagged in third with 104,731 homes from 8 to 10 p.m. despite now having three Texas-tied contestants among the competition's Final Eight.

"We're hitting the streets everyday to find solutions"

Ed Bark — 2008-07-01T01:38:59-05:00
Here's a look at CBS11's new 30-second image campaign, starring the station's four featured news personalities -- Doug Dunbar, Karen Borta, Larry Mowry and Babe Laufenberg.... Ed Bark

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun, June 27-29)

Ed Bark — 2008-06-30T11:35:28-05:00
Tom Brokaw's debut as interim moderator of NBC's Meet the Press lured 85,246 homes from 9 to 10 a.m., good enough to easily beat ABC's This Week with George Stephanopoulos (51,148), CBS' Face the Nation (34,098) and Fox News Sunday (29,227). ...On Saturday, CBS11's very nicely done King Tut and the Golden Age of the Pharoahs drew 60,890 D-FW homes from 6 to 7 p.m. Anchored and reported by Tracy Rowlett and presented in high-definition, the special went abroad to preview the Tut exhibit's arrival in Dallas in October.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., June 26)

Ed Bark — 2008-06-27T09:56:40-05:00
The news pulled in a medium-sized 119,344 homes while also ranking as the most-watched prime-time program among advertiser-coveted 18-to-49-year-olds. ...The local news wars saw WFAA8 tally wins at 10 p.m. in both total homes and with 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

Internet confidential: WFAA8's John McCaa

Ed Bark — 2008-06-26T15:01:58-05:00
He's mostly sober and substantive to a fault, which can be a very good thing when you're in the midst of what sometimes can be a three-headed, on-air midway show starring sports anchor Dale Hansen, weathercaster Pete Delkus and co-anchor Gloria Campos. ...The video component, in which he talks in extreme closeup for a minute or two, finds him attempting to be a bit more conversational on subjects ranging from blues/rock legend Bo Diddley's death to "Zimbabwe's election drama."

New arrival at Fox4

Ed Bark — 2008-06-26T09:56:32-05:00
By ED BARK Fox4 has hired Sophia Reza from ABC station KOCO-TV in Oklahoma City to bolster its recently thinned reporting staff. Reza, born in El Paso and raised in Houston, is scheduled to join her new station on July 28th according to a memo distributed Thursday.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., June 25)

Ed Bark — 2008-06-26T09:14:04-05:00
Western civilization sustained another kidney punch Wednesday night when the premiere of NBC's The Baby Borrowers topped all of the day's programming among advertiser-coveted 18-to-49-year-olds. ...At 9 p.m., a repeat of CBS' CSI: NY took the total homes competition while the premiere of ABC's Primetime: Crime narrowly outpointed Fox4's 9 p..m.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., June 24)

Ed Bark — 2008-06-25T09:30:06-05:00
ABC's snarky, doubleplay launch of Wipeout and I survived a Japanese Game Show (contestant degradation at its best) both finished first in D-FW among advertiser-craved 18-to-49-year-olds. ...America's Got Talent won the last two hours of prime-time in total homes, with the premiere of ABC's PrimeTime: the Outsiders tying a repeat of CBS' Without A Trace for second place.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., June 23)

Ed Bark — 2008-06-24T09:51:22-05:00
By ED BARK ABC pulled surprisingly strong numbers for The Bachelorette Monday, winning the first two hours of prime-time in total homes before CBS' CSI: Miami repeat took over with the biggest total homes haul of the day. Bachelorette averaged 168,056 D-FW homes from 7 to 9 p.m. It also controlled the advertiser-craved 18-to-49-year-old Nielsens except for a small pocket of resistance in the first half-hour from a rerun of CBS' The Big Bang Theory.

Jennifer Lopez dawns -- "That's for sure" -- on NBC5

Ed Bark — 2008-06-23T11:45:48-05:00
Jennifer Lopez in previous job; NBC5 hasn't posted a new pic yet. By ED BARK Perky for now but forecasting a droop-off by week's end, Jennifer Lopez put her first 12 weather segments behind her Monday as NBC5's new waker-upper meteorologist. "The early time slot is going to be an eye-opener," she told co-anchor Scott Friedman at the halfway point of her 5 to 7 a.m. shift.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., June 20-22)

Ed Bark — 2008-06-23T11:44:59-05:00
On Friday, only CBS' repeat of Numb3rs (163,185 homes) had a larger audience than CBS11's 10 p.m. news (143,700 homes) and NBC5's competing late night newscast (129,087 homes). ...In Friday's other local news competitions, NBC5 and WFAA8 tied for first at 10 p.m. among 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

NBC5's Snyder vows to take it off

Ed Bark — 2008-06-23T05:57:42-05:00
In a dispatch posted Friday (June 20th) on his "Mike's Open Mic" blog, Snyder divulges details of his burgeoning weight and his plans to take it off. ...He has a soul mate, of sorts, in WFAA8 sports anchor Dale Hansen, who began a Slim-Fast/banana regimen on New Year's Day and lost roughly 50 pounds by the end of the February "sweeps" ratings period.

Wouldn't it be nice?

Ed Bark — 2008-06-20T10:10:07-05:00
I arrived at NBC5 at about 4:30 a.m. Ferguson was busily putting on her own makeup, and didn't mind a bit that a photographer started snapping pictures when she was plucking her eyebrows or something. ...A few years ago, on one of the semi-annual Television Critics Association "press tours" in Los Angeles, Williams made it a point to ask several beat veterans about his late brother, Dave Williams, who recently passed away.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., June 19)

Ed Bark — 2008-06-20T09:24:33-05:00
Another vote-off on Fox's So You Think You Can Dance followed with a decisive win among 18-to-49-year-olds, but fell a bit short of CBS' Criminal Minds repeat in total homes. Fox4's 9 p.m. news then drew prime-time's biggest overall audience (163,185 homes) while also topping the charts with 18-to-49-year-olds and 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., June 18)

Ed Bark — 2008-06-19T10:00:20-05:00
By ED BARK Wednesday brought Tinytown ratings to D-FW, with NBC5's 10 p.m. newscast ranking as the day's most-watched program with a modest haul of 163,185 homes. ...The local news derby saw NBC5 adding to its 10 p.m. total homes win with a first-place finish among 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

Rebecca Miller bakes and bides her time

Ed Bark — 2008-06-18T10:50:06-05:00
These are some pictures she took of recent cookie batches. By ED BARK Rebecca Miller is baking away -- and probably simmering a bit, too -- while her early morning replacement at NBC5, former Weather Channel meteorologist Jennifer Lopez, prepares to make her on-air debut. ...What I have found out is that other stations (in the D-FW market) can't talk to me during my non-compete because they have their own non-competes with their own employees.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., June 17)

Ed Bark — 2008-06-18T10:49:43-05:00
to win the NBA championship expectedly paced the D-FW ratings Tuesday, but settled for a tie in direct competition with NBC's two-hour season premiere of America's Got Talent. ...Over on CBS, a three-hour special devoted to the American Film Institute's latest lists limped in with 90,117 homes, beating only Fox's still onerous The Moment of Truth in the 7 to 8 p.m. hour.

NBC5 comes up snake eyes again

Ed Bark — 2008-06-17T13:42:07-05:00
D-FW's most consistent pseudo news provider struck again on Monday's 10 p.m. newscast after anchor Mike Snyder primed the prime-time pump by teasing a snake "explosion" and "invasion." Reporter Brett Johnson did the honors this time, reporting from Ellis County on a woman who had a non-poisonous snake die and decompose inside her dryer exhaust vent after it slithered aboard from a nearby pond.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., June 16)

Ed Bark — 2008-06-17T09:32:47-05:00
In prime-time, NBC's mostly live 90-minute edition of Nashville Star had a weak-kneed 104,731 homes, even though four Texas-tied competitors, including Melissa Lawson of Arlington, are now among the Final 10. ...In the local news derby, WFAA8 nipped CBS11 for first place at 10 p.m. in total homes while doing the same to NBC5 among 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., June 13-15)

Ed Bark — 2008-06-16T13:01:18-05:00
Earlier Sunday, NBC's Meet the Press tribute to the late Tim Russert, who died Friday, drew 92,553 homes from 9 to 10 a.m. to easily beat all of the competing network public affairs programs. In Friday's local news derby, WFAA8 notched twin wins at 10 p.m. in total homes and with 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., June 12)

Ed Bark — 2008-06-13T09:41:06-05:00
Thursday's Game 4 also controlled the ratings among advertiser-craved 18-to-49-year-olds, with the first vote-off on Fox's So You Think You Can Dance ranking as the No. ...The second episodes of CBS' Swingtown and NBC's Fear Itself both had limited appeal at 9 p.m. Swingtown managed 109,602 homes in outdrawing Fear Itself (90,117 homes).

Selling Good Day in a sunny black-and-white spot

Ed Bark — 2008-06-12T09:47:07-05:00
Here's a spanking new promo for Fox4's Good Day. Hanging in the balance is whether co-anchor Megan Henderson will stay in the picture or succumb to a job at Fox News Channel, which lately has taken a strong interest in her.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., June 11)

Ed Bark — 2008-06-12T09:05:22-05:00
The last first-run episode of Trees drew just 53,583 homes opposite CBS' repeat of CSI: NY (148,572); Fox4's 9 p.m. local newscast (112,038) and the premiere of NBC's dismal Celebrity Circus (87,682). ...Fox's two-hour So You Think You Can Dance, with three North Texans among the 20 finalists, drew 121,780 homes to finish a close second overall opposite a 90-minute edition of NBC's Deal Or No Deal (129,067 homes).

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., June 10)

Ed Bark — 2008-06-11T10:38:11-05:00
Fox ran second in that key demo from 7 to 9 p.m. with a firstrun lineup of The Moment of Truth and Hell's Kitchen. ...NBC5 continued to fare well in the early mornings, winning for the second straight weekday at 6 a.m. in total homes and racking up a fourth consecutive first place finish among 25-to-54-year-olds.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., June 9)

Ed Bark — 2008-06-10T11:45:59-05:00
The Peacock's two-hour premiere of Nashville Star, with four Texas-tied contestants among the 12 finalists, averaged 116,909 D-FW homes from 8 to 10 p.m. But CBS controlled those two hours with a retread lineup of Two and a Half Men (165,621 homes), Rules of Engagement (141,265) and CSi: Miami (180,234 homes). ...ABC's The Mole had the night's lowest reality series numbers, sucking in just 63,326 homes between 9 and 10 p.m. It also ran fourth in that time slot among advertiser-craved 18-to-49-year-olds, with the final hour of Nashville Star taking third in that measurement.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., June 6-8)

Ed Bark — 2008-06-10T11:24:50-05:00
By ED BARK Peak D-FW ratings for the NBA's thoroughbreds couldn't match those for Big Brown's shocking last-place finish in the Belmont. ...In the waker-upper hour, Fox4 took the 6 a.m. gold in total homes but sunk to third with 25-to-54-year-olds behind fronrunner NBC5 and WFAA8.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., June 5)

Ed Bark — 2008-06-10T10:59:31-05:00
Swingtown, set in the sexually ripe '70s, ran second at 9 p.m., luring 151,007 homes against the first outing for NBC's Fear Itself (fourth with 102,295 homes). In the local news derby, CBS11 won a three-way competition at 10 p.m. in total homes and among 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

Good Grieve: "Mr. Ranger" gets a half-hour showcase

Ed Bark — 2008-06-05T16:49:52-05:00
Suited up twice and in a sportcoat with broadcast mate Josh Lewin By ED BARK Tom Grieve, as he readily admits, has been the Texas Rangers' ultimate utility man. ...FSN Southwest's 30-minute In My Own Words: Tom Grieve, airing Sunday, June 8th at 10 p.m. (central), affords the subject a chance to be his usual self-effacting self.

TCM vs. HDNet Movies: there's no comparison

Ed Bark — 2008-06-05T14:52:03-05:00
Strangelove; John Wayne in The Searchers. By ED BARK Maybe Mark Cuban should consider throwing some of his Mavs mad money at his most underpublicized asset -- HDNet Movies. ...The upcoming June menu also includes Easy Rider; Days of Wine and Roses; Badlands; Cool Hand Luke; Spartacus; Places In the Heart; Apollo 13; A Passage to India; Serpico; Splendor In the Grass; Prince of the City; The Music Man and Steve McQueen's last movie, Tom Horn.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., June 4)

Ed Bark — 2008-06-05T09:14:25-05:00
Fox's latest two-hour edition of So You Think You Can Dance drew the most advertiser-craved 18-to-49-year-olds from 7 to 9 p.m., with a repeat of CBS' CSI: NY taking the throttle at 9 p.m. ...On NBC, Detroit's closeout of Pittsburgh in the Stanley Cup finale ran fourth overall in total homes with just 63,326 of 'em. Still, the last hour of the matchup skated to second place among 18-to-49-year-olds, outdrawing Fox4's 9 p.m. local newscast and a repeat of ABC's Men In Trees.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., June 3)

Ed Bark — 2008-06-04T10:06:30-05:00
By ED BARK CBS and Fox carried the most weight in prime-time Tuesday, but more than a few D-FW homes bought into a history-making night on the cable news networks. ...Over on WFAA8, the 7 p.m. prime-time debut of The Gordon Keith Show ran fifth overall in total homes with 48,712 despite appearances by Mark Cuban and Adam Sandler.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., June 2)

Ed Bark — 2008-06-03T09:26:59-05:00
Bachelorette remained third in the 18-to-49 demo, but Mole gave ABC a beauty mark with a narrow first place win over CBS' CSI: Miami reprise. In the local news derby, WFAA8 edged CBS11 in total homes at 10 p.m. in a downsized three-way race that kept NBC5's late night newscast on ice until 11:52 p.m. (Of note: NBC5 didn't make its reporters wait endlessly out in the field for those obligatory live shots.

The thin man: a look back at Mike Snyder's opening moments as Ch. 5's lead male anchor

Ed Bark — 2008-06-02T12:12:47-05:00
Snyder, who replaced Brad Wright, then tells McGarry he's already been at Channel 5 for 12 years and "I hope to be here at least another 12." ...But a new president/general manager is coming soon to the now NBC-owned Channel 5, with old boss Tom O'Brien moving up and out to take over the network's flagship station in New York City.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., May 30-June 1)

Ed Bark — 2008-06-02T11:07:59-05:00
On Friday night, ABC's live telecast of the 78th annual Scripps National Spelling Bee peaked at 94,988 D-FW homes in the final 15 minutes, which ran past 9 p.m. and delayed the start of 20/20. ...In Friday's local news derby, CBS11 won a three-way 10 p.m. race in total homes, with WFAA8 not starting until 10:11 p.m. NBC5 and CBS11 tied at that hour among 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

Bar time: ex-WFAA8 reporter Valeri Williams now a new law school grad

Ed Bark — 2008-06-02T03:28:07-05:00
Valeri Williams (left) and with her daughter. Pictures provided by Williams By ED BARK Readers of this site regularly ask about the whereabouts of local TV reporter Valeri Williams. ..."I've kept a real low profile," says Williams, 47, who initially joined WFAA8 in 1992 and worked for ABC News as an Atlanta-based correspondent before returning to the station in 1999 for a second and shorter stay.

WFAA8's Izaguirre gets her first star turn in a new and shiny spot

Ed Bark — 2008-05-30T11:03:16-05:00
Cynthia Izaguirre at WFAA8 and from an earlier series on KOAT-TV. By ED BARK WFAA8's homespun new 30-second image campaign for Cynthia Izaguirre seems to be timed just right. ...And Izaguirre's lame duck Daybreak desk partner, Justin Farmer -- better known as whatsisname at the station -- will be leaving in July to join WSB-TV in Atlanta, where his father, Don Farmer, once ruled the roost.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., May 29)

Ed Bark — 2008-05-30T09:56:00-05:00
NBC's 90-minute chunk of Last Comic Standing thudded to fourth place from 7:30 to 9 p.m. with 77,940 total homes and 50,454 viewers of the 18-to-49 persuasion. In the local news derby, WFAA8 nipped CBS11 at 10 p.m. in total homes and won comfortably with 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

University of diversity: who gets the Masters degree?

Ed Bark — 2008-05-29T10:32:57-05:00
Newy Scruggs, Gloria Campos, Clarice Tinsley and Chris Salcedo By ED BARK The May "sweeps" ratings battles are over, but readers of this Web site consistently have expressed an interest in another numbers game. ... Nerissa Knight, Omar Villafranca, Lynn Kawano and Gary Reaves FOX4 The station's two major moneymakers -- its weekday early morning and 9 p.m. newscasts -- have no people of color in the featured news, weather or sports anchor positions.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., May 28)

Ed Bark — 2008-05-29T10:32:28-05:00
The 9 p.m. hour went to CBS' CSI: NY repeat, which also was Wednesday's most-watched program with 228,946 D-FW homes. CBS11's 10 p.m. newscast then held on to the lion's share of a big lead-in audience to notch its second straight narrow win over WFAA8.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., May 27)

Ed Bark — 2008-05-28T10:11:37-05:00
In the total homes measurement, Kitchen and a repeat of CBS' The Unit tied for first at 8 p.m. with 119,344 apiece. ...In the local news derby, CBS11 nipped WFAA8 at 10 p.m. in total homes, but fell to fourth among 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Mon., May 23-26)

Ed Bark — 2008-05-27T14:54:17-05:00
It's 6 a.m. on Memorial Day, so there's little reason to get vertical at an hour when you otherwise might be wondering about the day's work and/or-school-related weather and traffic. ...So the moral to this little ratings vignette is that CBS11 stands a chance of being right in the thick of the early morning ratings fight when much of the usual audience is sleeping in. Hey, it's a start, and the station probably can't wait for those Fourth of July numbers to roll in.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., May 22)

Ed Bark — 2008-05-23T10:59:36-05:00
By ED BARK Cruising through a sea of post-May sweeps reruns and reality competitions, ABC's two-hour season finale of Grey's Anatomy easily dominated Thursday's prime-time Nielsens. ...In the local news derby, WFAA8 again flexed at 10 p.m., winning in both total homes and with 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

Reporter Paul Adrian heading for Harvard, leaving Fox4

Ed Bark — 2008-05-22T12:36:32-05:00
One of Fox4's best and brightest, reporter Paul Adrian, will be leaving the station in late June to study for the next year at Harvard University's John F. ..."Any absence from journalism is going to create a longing to go out and do what I love to do -- shine a light, expose problems and try to nudge our political leaders to do the right thing," Adrian says.

This just in: The May sweeps are over and the ratings are ready to serve

Ed Bark — 2008-05-22T10:29:03-05:00
By ED BARK The four-week May sweeps ratings competition ended on a triumphant note for WFAA8, which ran first in all four major battlegrounds while upping its year-to-year Nielsen numbers in the key 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. battlegrounds. ...WFAA8 and Fox4 ran a similar down-to-the-wire race in the February sweeps, with the latter station holding an even measlier 244-homes edge at 6 a.m. Advertisers interpret both of these outcomes as ties.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., May 21)

Ed Bark — 2008-05-22T09:11:19-05:00
By ED BARK Fox's two-hour Season 7 American Idol finale predictably crushed all in its path Wednesday as the May sweeps ended a four-week run just shy of Memorial Day weekend. ...In the four-way local news derby, WFAA8 finished with a flourish in the hotly contested 6 a.m. race, edging Fox4 in total homes and winning more comfortably among 25-to-54-year-olds.

This just in: A night in the lives of D-FW's late night newscasts (Tues., May 20)

Ed Bark — 2008-05-21T14:41:20-05:00
"Heading home from the grocery store, a Dallas woman is pulled from the street and raped," said anchor Jane McGarry before reporter Ellen Goldberg told of a 23-year-old victim's manhandling by four sub-humans. ...That story led directly to reporter Grant Stinchfield's tale of a 62-year-old Seagoville woman who was kidnapped and taken into the woods by a young scumbag who's a registered sex offender.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., May 20)

Ed Bark — 2008-05-21T09:30:47-05:00
By ED BARK American Idol's duel of the Davids not surprisingly had its way Tuesday among advertiser-craved 18-to-49-year-olds. ...NBC5's 6 a.m. show suddenly rose up and won Tuesday by comfortable margins in total homes and among 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

This just in: A night in the lives of D-FW's late night newscasts (Mon., May 19)

Ed Bark — 2008-05-20T14:31:09-05:00
But surely there are assignments editors, producers or even news directors at CBS11 who are fully aware of what's going on. Perhaps their defense is that recycling is good for the environment, particularly if you also can gig NBC5 in the bargain. ...It then cleansed the palate with reporter Katherine Blake's poignant followup story on a six-year-old girl from Aledo who's set to undergo major brain surgery in hopes of combatting a rare, often fatal disease.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., May 19)

Ed Bark — 2008-05-20T10:33:57-05:00
In the local news derby, CBS11 retained a good chunk of its CSI: Miami lead-in audience to top the 10 p.m. news ratings in total homes. It's won five of the 18 late night competitions in this measurement, and will end up a solid second behind WFAA8 after the final May sweeps bell sounds Wednesday night.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., May 16-18)

Ed Bark — 2008-05-19T15:19:42-05:00
By ED BARK CBS' Academy of Country Music Awards and ABC's two-hour season finale of Desperate Housewives went twang-to-toe for ratings supremacy Sunday night. ...With just three weekdays left in the May "sweeps," Fox4 and WFAA8 are in a virtual dead heat in total homes while the ABC station has perhaps a sub-smidgen of breathing room in a three-way race to top the 25-to-54 demo.

This just in: A night in the lives of D-FW's late night newscasts (Fri., May 16)

Ed Bark — 2008-05-19T08:52:50-05:00
Live shots of home explosions in McKinney, shooting at NorthPark. By ED BARK Going live to scenes of crime or tragedy of course is nothing new on D-FW's late night newscasts. ...***WFAA8's Brett Shipp followed up on Thursday's investigation of alleged grade-fixing at South Oak Cliff High School that could force it to forfeit a second state basketball title.

Doocy and "The Hammer" -- one really needs a job

Ed Bark — 2008-05-19T05:14:18-05:00
Fox4's Mike Doocy and former "Ticket" mainstay Greg Williams By ED BARK All dressed up but still with no place to go, former big-time radio personality Greg "The Hammer" Williams looked a bit older and maybe even wiser Sunday night during his first public appearance in more than seven months. ..."It was my own fault that I left, and ya know, if I hadn't a done some of the things I did, some bad things, I'd probably still be with The Ticket.

WFAA8 weekend Daybreak meteorologist heading south for higher-profile Austin job

Ed Bark — 2008-05-18T18:39:32-05:00
WFAA8 weekend Daybreak meteorologist Meghan Danahey, who joined the station in 2007, is heading for Austin to become the weekday morning temperature taker for KVUE-TV, the market's ABC affiliate. ...Danahey had a summer internship with former featured WFAA8 weatherman Troy Dungan before working her way back to Dallas via stints in the Wichita Falls/Lawton, TX and Fort Myers/Naples FL markets.

This just in: A night in the lives of D-FW's late night newscasts (Thurs., May 15)

Ed Bark — 2008-05-16T13:44:04-05:00
A series of February "sweeps" stories by Shipp led to the high school's forfeiture of its 2006 state basketball title after officials determined that another star athlete had his grades laundered so that he could stay on the team. ...The story included an interview with Arthur's former math teacher, Winford Ashmore, who told Shipp, "These people (namely South Oak Cliff's former principal and its current basketball coach) knew what was going on with a lot of this type stuff, but yet they covered up for it."

"The Hammer" nails a guest appearance with Fox4's Mike Doocy (updated)

Ed Bark — 2008-05-16T12:08:03-05:00
Fox4 sports anchor Mike Doocy and Greg "The Hammer" Williams By ED BARK Fox4 sports anchor Mike Doocy dropped an intriguing nugget at the close of his Thursday, 9 p.m. segment. ...Williams, also known as "The Hammer," officially resigned from The Ticket's Hardline afternoon drive program on Jan. 10th after being absent from the station since mid-October of last year.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., May 15)

Ed Bark — 2008-05-16T09:11:14-05:00
By ED BARK CBS' eighth season finale of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation ranked as Thursday's biggest draw in total homes, but ABC's Lost found itself tops for the night among 18-to-49-year-olds. ...Although it dominated Lost in total homes, Trace ran well behind ABC's magical, mystery tour in the key 18-to-49 demo.

This just in: A night in the lives of D-FW's late night newscasts (Wed., May 14)

Ed Bark — 2008-05-15T15:38:49-05:00
Strong work from WFAA8's Shelly Slater, NBC5's Scott Friedman. By ED BARK Believe it or not, it's more satisfying to point out the pluses in local TV news reporting than to twit the more than abundant minuses at some stations. ...***WFAA8's Steve Stoler, this time with help from colleague Craig Civale, followed up on an exclusive Tuesday night story about a Catholic priest who abruptly resigned from his McKinney parish after being linked to a now defunct Web site for gay priests.

Jane McGarry waxes eloquent, seemingly remains a bush supporter

Ed Bark — 2008-05-15T09:51:37-05:00
"I offered that I have before, but I can't see the point because you have to let the hair get along enough to wax again, which means, you'll need to shave! ...This is where coltish anchor/reporter Meredith Land came in. According to McGarry, she says that "these days, to younger women like her little sister, good grooming means a complete wax, if you get what I mean."

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., May 14)

Ed Bark — 2008-05-15T09:51:09-05:00
On Versus, the Dallas Stars' do or die Stanley Cup playoff win against Detroit averaged 60,890 homes, but peaked at a nice-sized 126,651 homes between 9:15 and 9:30 p.m. That was good enough to outpoint ABC's competing Boston Legal during those 15 minutes. In the local news derby, WFAA8 won at 10 p.m. in total homes and with 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

Fox4's Henderson will be open to offers during second stint with Fox News Channel

Ed Bark — 2008-05-14T15:58:17-05:00
They've been a team since August 2003. Photo: Ed Bark By ED BARK Open to change while still happy at Fox4, Good Day co-anchor Megan Henderson says she'll "absolutely" entertain any Fox News Channel offers during a second weekend stint set for early next month. ...Henderson, who's co-anchored Good Day with Tim Ryan since August 2003, confirmed a Tuesday report by the Web site TV Newser that she'd be returning to New York on June 7-8 to guest-anchor FNC's Fox & Friends Weekend.

This just in: A night in the lives of D-FW's late night newscast (Tues., May 13)

Ed Bark — 2008-05-14T15:55:25-05:00
CBS11's Jack Fink, Fox4's Brandon Todd and NBC5's Scott Gordon By ED BARK All four late night news providers first hit their "Storm Watch" buttons. ...***NBC5's Scott Gordon told viewers about a family that had been flooded out of their Arlington home a year ago and has been living in two small hotel rooms ever since.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., May 13)

Ed Bark — 2008-05-14T12:28:50-05:00
In prime-time, Fox's American Idol easily carried the 7 p.m. hour among 18-to-49-year-olds, the key advertiser audience for entertainment programming. ...Fox4's 9 p.m. local news then won its time slot with 18-to-49-year-olds while nipping ABC's just canceled Women's Murder Club in total homes.

This just in: A night in the lives of D-FW's late night newscasts (Mon., May 12)

Ed Bark — 2008-05-13T14:20:19-05:00
Early in Monday's 10 p.m. WFAA8 newscast, reporter Jonathan Betz uncovered an advanced German textbook -- Deutsch Aktuell -- that had a picture of a German adult bookstore in the upper right hand corner of one of its pages. ...THIS JUST IN: SOME GROCERY STORES ACTUALLY ARE CHEAPER THAN OTHERS -- CBS11's Borta narrated a story on comparison shopping at Tom Thumb, Kroger, Wal Mart and Target to see which was selling 20 selected items at a lower total price.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., May 12)

Ed Bark — 2008-05-13T10:57:42-05:00
Gladiators averaged just 77,939 D-FW homes in running a distant fourth from 8 to 10 p.m. It managed a third-place finish among advertiser-craved 18-to-49-year-olds, with Fox's duo of Bones and House falling far out of the money into fourth place. ...ABC's Dancing with the Stars performance show as usual controlled Monday's 7 to 8:30 p.m. slot, drawing 258,174 D-FW homes and also edging CBS' comedy lineup in the 18-to-49 demo.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun, May 9-11)

Ed Bark — 2008-05-12T12:54:33-05:00
NBC5 edged Fox4 for first place in the total homes Nielsens while the two stations tied for the top spot among 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming. ...The following season finale of ABC's Brothers & Sisters had 153,443 homes, the same as Fox4's competing 9 p.m. local newscast.

This just in: A night in the lives of D-FW's late night newscasts (Fri., May 9)

Ed Bark — 2008-05-11T13:40:31-05:00
A ready-made Saturday Night Live sketch emerged, although anchor Mike Snyder and reporter Meredith Land of course played it deadly serious with the station's lead story on marauding Texas coral snakes. ... WFAA8's Cynthia Izaguirre, Fox4's Emily Lopez, WFAA8's Craig Civale NOT MAKING THE GRADE -- WFAA8 early morning anchor Cynthia Izaguirre, making her first late night sweeps appearance, had a lengthy and very good report on yet another shortcoming in the Dallas Independent School District.

This just in: A night in the lives of D-FW's late night newscasts (Thurs., May 8)

Ed Bark — 2008-05-09T13:20:47-05:00
WFAA8's Chris Hawes, NBC5's Grant Stinchfield, CBS11's Jay Gormley By ED BARK A supposedly irate Dallas pizzeria owner has been griping lately about the local media's drum-beating of bad economic news. ...MORE GOOD WORK -- CBS11's Stephanie Lucero had an interesting story on how homeowner insurance rates often can be tied to their nearest fire department's response time ratings and overall excellence, as judged by ISO (Insurance Service Organization) exams.

The Ticket's first "Great Game" is no walk in the park (Well, actually it was for awhile)

Ed Bark — 2008-05-09T09:37:48-05:00
Picture book swing or rusty gate on a broken hinge? Photos: Ed Bark By ED BARK FRISCO -- At first -- and especially in the second inning -- The Ticket radio's "Great Game" proved to be anything but. ...Lewis, one of his two broadcast buddies on The Ticket's afternoon BaD radio show, paced the losing Team Hardline by making five putouts in centerfield, recording the game's first two runs batted in and reaching base three of four times.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., May 8)

Ed Bark — 2008-05-09T09:37:24-05:00
Thursday night otherwise belonged to the broadcast networks' two big dogs, with ABC's Grey's Anatomy and CBS' CSI: Crime Scene Investigation tying at 8 p.m. in total homes (263,045 apiece). ...WFAA8 ran the table at 5 and 6 p.m. Its lopsided victory among 25-to-54-year-olds in the earlier hour served to shoo away the Peacock, which had been pressing WFAA8 a bit for first place in that demographic.

This just in: A night in the lives of D-FW's late night newscasts (Wed., May 7)

Ed Bark — 2008-05-08T15:38:50-05:00
CBS11's Katherine Blake and WFAA8's Jason Whitely By ED BARK No one took note at the time, including the reporter on the scene and your dogged chronicler of D-FW's late night newscasts. ...But NBC5's Newy Scruggs and CBS11's Babe Laufenberg also let it be known that they frown on the Dallas Cowboys' decision to be part of HBO's Hard Knocks reality series for the first time since 2001.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., May 7)

Ed Bark — 2008-05-08T15:38:26-05:00
CBS11 and NBC5 continue to battle for second place at 10 p.m. in the total homes Nielsens while the Peacock surprisingly still has a fighting chance to catch WFAA8 at 5 p.m. among 25-to-54-year-old viewers. ...WFAA8 swept the 5, 6 and 10 p.m. local news competitions in total homes and with 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

This just in: A night in the lives of D-FW's late night newscasts (Tues., May 6)

Ed Bark — 2008-05-07T15:26:28-05:00
Show-and-tell can be risky business, but Watson pulled this one off to the overall benefit of a story that otherwise wasn't exactly teeming with drama despite its B-movie title. ...***CBS11's "Private Workout" story, by reporter Katherine Blake, took viewers inside a smaller-scale exercise joint whose patrons get to work out mostly behind closed doors in private instead of amid all those other sweaty bodies.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., May 6)

Ed Bark — 2008-05-07T09:06:17-05:00
By ED BARK Fox's American Idol and ABC's Dancing with the Stars again controlled the prime-time ratings, but a pair of late night newscasts made bigger impressions. ...Fox4's 9 p.m. newscast also made a big noise in Tuesday's Nielsens, running a very close second to ABC's Women's Murder Club in total homes but easily topping the time slot among advertiser-craved 18-to-49-year-olds.

This just in: A night in the lives of D-FW's late night newscasts (Mon., May 5)

Ed Bark — 2008-05-06T15:00:09-05:00
Such stories otherwise are considered women's work, even if the telegenic females who present them are in little if any need of the myriad diets, skin-smoothers, blemish-removers, fat-suckers and other cosmetic remedies coming at you like chocolates on a Lucy-Ethel assembly line. ...***Intrepid reporter Jason Overstreet, who's leaving Fox4 at the end of the May sweeps for a non-TV news job, interviewed a McKinney woman and her nine-year-old son after their home had been burglarized by a gang of 12-to-14-year-olds who since have been caught by police.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., May 5)

Ed Bark — 2008-05-06T10:06:36-05:00
The ABC station's Daybreak edged Fox4's Good Day by one-tenth of a rating point (2,436 homes) in the total homes Nielsens, with a still plucky NBC5 running a close third. ...CBS' CSI: Miami cleaned up in both measurements at 9 p.m., bequeathing CBS11's late night newscast a dominating lead-in audience from 9:45 to 10 p.m. WFAA8 rallied to win anyway, despite the usual weak-kneed performance by ABC's preceding The Bachelor.

This just in: A night in the lives of D-FW's late night newscasts (Fri., May 2)

Ed Bark — 2008-05-05T10:59:56-05:00
"A deadly bug is sweeping the nation at an alarming rate," anchor Mike Snyder proclaimed before foreboding music further set the stage for Meredith Land's report on C-dif (Clostridium Dificile) bacteria that can cause diarrhea and sometimes death. ...Thomas followed up on the station's earlier story about "Baby Lydia," who needs a heart transplant and has been hospitalized since her birth three months ago. Her parents, who have three other children, abruptly were evicted from their home after falling behind on rent payments due to the heavy medical bills they're also trying to absorb.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., May 2-4)

Ed Bark — 2008-05-05T10:59:27-05:00
But DH averaged a lower audience share -- 17 percent -- than the Stars' late night haul because there were many more enticing viewing alternatives from 8 to 9 p.m. than from 1:15 to 1:30 a.m. ...WFAA ran first in total homes at 5 and 6 p.m. while clipping runnerup NBC5 by just one-tenth of a rating point (2,436 viewers) in the 6 p.m. competition for 25-to-54-year-olds.

This just in: A night in the lives of D-FW's late night newscasts (Thurs., May 1)

Ed Bark — 2008-05-02T16:56:59-05:00
Schechter and litigator Everett Newton, whose desk top nameplate identifies him as "the rock and roll attorney," questioned whether the tickets are hard-and-fast moneymakers on pay roads with "artificially low" 60 mph speed limits that likely will be upped to 70 in the coming year. ...But now Bow's story about his background is falling apart, said Gordon, who was backed up by the findings of Dallas Morning News metro columnist James Ragland.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., May 1)

Ed Bark — 2008-05-02T09:08:00-05:00
ABC's Lost then dipped to 165,621 homes, running well behind CBS' Without A Trace (219,204) and only a bit ahead of Fox4's 9 p.m. local newscast (148,572). ...Fox4 had better news at 5 and 6 p.m. It tied WFAA8 at the earlier hour among 25-to-54-year-olds and won outright at 6 p.m., where the ABC station usually dominates.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., April 30)

Ed Bark — 2008-05-01T16:32:11-05:00
By ED BARK The Dallas Stars couldn't pull off a series sweep against San Jose in their Stanley Cup playoff matchup Wednesday, but did draw their highest ratings of the year on Fox Sports Southwest. ...WFAA8 also had twin wins at 6 a.m., edging Fox4 in total homes and winning by a bit bigger margin over NBC5 among 25-to-54-year-olds.

This just in: A night in the lives of D-FW's late night newscasts (Wed., April 30)

Ed Bark — 2008-05-01T13:17:10-05:00
Greene never said a word about that before anchor Gloria Campos told viewers they could read more on the story in Thursday's Denton Record-Chronicle, which like WFAA8 is owned by Belo Corp. ...TAKING A HARDLINE -- All four stations also covered a shooting in Mesquite during which a man killed his wife and wounded his two stepchildren before turning himself in. But Fox4's Jeff Crilley had details the others missed, plus a provocative quote from Mesquite police lieutenant Steve Callarmann.

Hello, we must be going? It used to be "What's your hurry?"

Ed Bark — 2008-05-01T04:39:22-05:00
Once upon a time WFAA8 traditionally signed off its closing weekend newscasts with a very early form of music video in which the names of otherwise unsung behind-the-scenes contributors rolled leisurely at the end. ...Anchor Michael Brown cues viewers to an area donut-eating competition set to Tony Bennett's "The Good Life."

This just in: A night in the lives of D-FW's late night newscasts (Tues., April 29)

Ed Bark — 2008-04-30T18:04:12-05:00
***WFAA8's Steve Stoler reported from Plano on five small businesses, including a popular restaurant and barber shop, that will have to make way for a new apartment/retail development backed by city leaders. ...***Gormley quickly returned to the living by leading off Tuesday's CBS11 late nighter with video of Dallas County Commissioners John Wiley Price and Kenneth Mayfield having a heated argument over the amount of overtime being paid to sheriff deputies and staffers.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., April 29)

Ed Bark — 2008-04-30T09:51:06-05:00
At 9 p.m., ABC had nice returns for the return of Women's Murder Club, which won the time period in total homes and tied Fox4's 9 p.m. local newscast for first among advertiser-coveted 18-to-49-year-olds. ...It added a pair of 6 p.m. victories and ran first in total homes at 5 p.m. WFAA8 and Fox4 shared the lead in that earlier hour among 25-to-54-year-olds.

This just in: A night in the lives of D-FW's late night newscasts (Mon., April 28)

Ed Bark — 2008-04-29T15:53:08-05:00
Instead, the videotape that the station used as evidence during Monday's 10 p.m. newscast shows that Wright actually said "Jarvis Christian College," which is a predominantly black institution located in Hawkins, TX. ...Pete 'n' Dale's Playhouse -- Weatherman Pete Delkus began Monday's festivities by reading an email from a viewer who said, "I really like the way you and Dale go at each other.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., April 28)

Ed Bark — 2008-04-29T09:09:14-05:00
On Day Three of the four-week May "sweeps," the Peacock nipped WFA8 in the total homes Nielsens at 6 a.m. and won by a slightly larger margin among 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming. ...Still, Two and a Half Men (211,897) edged House in total homes and tied it in the 18-to-49 demo before the Eye network's Rules of Engagement drew smaller crowds from 8:30 to 9 p.m.

This just in: A night in the lives of D-FW's late night newscasts (Fri., April 25)

Ed Bark — 2008-04-28T10:46:32-05:00
But Gormley immediately got rubbed out by a transmission problem, with the scene then shifting to new reporter Marianne Martinez, who was on CBS11's runway awaiting clearance for her story on the transfer of some children from a West Texas polygamist sect to Catholic Charities of Fort Worth. ...KEY INGREDIENT MISSING -- NBC5 reporter Brett Johnson stood live in the dark to tell viewers that "a lot of the folks that we talked to" said they'd be spending their federal income tax rebate checks "on something fun" such as electronics at Best Buy.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., April 25-27)

Ed Bark — 2008-04-28T09:34:01-05:00
But NBC5 is looking like a player in the early mornings, where it's tied for first with WFAA8 in total homes and has a paper-thin edge with 25-to-54-year-olds. The Peacock also made some noise in the other local news competitions, winning among 25-to-54-year-olds at 10 p.m. and also taking first place in that key demo at 5 p.m.

This just in: A night in the lives of D-FW's late night newscasts (Thurs., April 24)

Ed Bark — 2008-04-25T10:11:27-05:00
"There's no way she's gonna give up," Finfrock said at story's end before he re-appeared at his NBC5 weather center in the company of substitute anchor Meredith Land. ...GOOD WORK -- WFAA8 veteran Jim Douglas turned in another interesting report, this one on a "DWI Loophole" that has given some offenders a basic slap on the wrist if they're passed out behind the wheel when discovered by police.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (opening night of the May "sweeps," April 24)

Ed Bark — 2008-04-25T08:50:19-05:00
In Thursday's 6 a.m. home opener, it tied WFAA8 for the top spot in total homes and took the gold among 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming. ...Fox4's Good Day again comfortably won that time period in both ratings measurements Thursday, with Today finishing third in total homes and in a second-place tie with ABC's Good Morning America among 25-to-54-year-olds.

Barkin' with NBC5's "Newdawg"

Ed Bark — 2008-04-24T16:28:06-05:00
And for a while there I was mad," Scruggs says of a weeknight sports segment that's gradually been cut in half -- from four minutes to two -- since his April 2000 arrival in Dallas-Fort Worth. ...A good part of Scruggs still longs to make it back to L.A., where he left KCOP-TV (then a UPN station) after "I got into a contract battle, lost that and ended up here.

Aguilar vs. Barrs: That's the crux of reporter's "Charge of Discrimination" against Fox4

Ed Bark — 2008-04-24T11:16:00-05:00
Fox4 news director Maria Barrs and former reporter Rebecca Aguilar By ED BARK Former Fox4 reporter Rebecca Aguilar's "Charge of Discrimination" against Dallas-based KDFW-TV (Channel 4) basically boils down to a battle between two strong-willed women with many years of experience in local television news. ...In her complaint, Aguilar says that in September 2007, "I proposed to Ms. Barrs that the station at least apply the Rooney Rule when it came to interviewing Latino and Hispanic candidates for management positions.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., April 23)

Ed Bark — 2008-04-24T09:40:01-05:00
Also of note: the 7 p.m. hour of TXA21's newscast beat big brother CBS11's Big Brother 9 among advertiser-craved 18-to-49-year-olds and also with 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming. ...But Fox4's following 9 p.m. local newscast was the day's most-watched attraction, drawing a Goliath-sized 340,984 homes in crushing NBC's runnerup new episode of Law & Order (192,412 homes) in which Jesse L.

Picky Picky (Vol. 13)

Ed Bark — 2008-04-23T10:25:54-05:00
Jason Kidd, Josh Howard, Erick Dampier and coach Avery Johnson By ED BARK Barring an immediate, season-ending injury to Chris Paul, the Mavericks' NBA championship window is pretty much slammed shut -- for this season and now for the foreseeable future, too. Tuesday's embarrassing, nationally televised no-contest in New Orleans raises one big question -- who's most responsible for two double-digit losses to a team the Mavs supposedly wanted in the first round?

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., April 22)

Ed Bark — 2008-04-23T09:52:29-05:00
Both games had early 6 p.m. start times, but Tuesday's (which ended at 8:35 p.m.) had tougher competition from Fox's American Idol at 7 p.m. and then the first half-hour of ABC's Dancing with the Stars results show. ...The Peacock nipped Fox4 in the total homes race by one-tenth of a rating point (2,436 homes) and lost by just two-tenths of a point to Fox4 among 25-to-54-year-olds.

Unclebarky.com goes to college, keeps students awake

Ed Bark — 2008-04-22T15:04:05-05:00
Here's to bright futures for all in this picture. Photo: Ed Bark Your friendly unclebarky.com proprietor met Monday with SMU graduate students of Belo Distinguished Chair in Journalism Tony Pederson. No one appeared to doze off during their class on New Media and Society.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., April 21)

Ed Bark — 2008-04-22T10:32:42-05:00
Its three prime-time hours drew 24,356 homes at 7 p.m.; 43,841 at 8 p.m.; and 48,712 in the final hour, during which a fake Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama both were knocked "unconscious" by Umaga the Samoan Bulldozer. The 10 p.m. newscast ratings again found WFAA8 on top in total homes despite CBS11 inheriting twice the 9:45 to 10 p.m. "lead-in" audience from CSI: Miami.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot -- weekend playoffs edition (Fri.-Sun., April 18-20)

Ed Bark — 2008-04-21T09:57:44-05:00
Friday's late night Game 5 loss, in Anaheim on MY27, averaged 77,939 homes for the entire matchup, with a high of 99,860 between 10:45 and 11 p.m. It still helps to be on free TV. ...On Friday night, a Dale Hansen Mavericks special on WFAA8 drew 53,583 homes to run a distant second at 6:30 p.m. opposite CBS11's Wheel of Fortune (165,621 homes).

Gecko echo

Ed Bark — 2008-04-20T22:23:45-05:00
Scott's up-close and unexpected encounter with a gecko, on an August 2002 edition of the station's DFW Today, will always make any respectable list of all-time TV bloopers. He's now anchoring at ABC affiliate WAAY-TV in Huntsville, Alabama, where his official station bio even includes a link to "Mr. Scott's Famous Leapin' Lizard Episode."

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., April 17)

Ed Bark — 2008-04-18T11:16:35-05:00
Interestingly, NBC5 drew 211,897 homes with continuous weather coverage from 8 to 8:30 p.m. But when it gave way to NBC's Scrubs at 8:30 p.m., the total homes number dropped to 107,166. ...But Fox4 took the hour with 25-to-54-year-olds while WFAA8 ran second with its blend of weather coverage and Eli Stone.

Hail the size of ( . . . ) severely dents network prime-time lineups

Ed Bark — 2008-04-18T05:03:28-05:00
CBS11 wiped out its network's entire prime-time lineup, save for tantalizing viewers with the opening minutes of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation before weatherman Larry Mowry (helped by Kristine Kahanek) abruptly pulled the plug. ...But the Stars were the best entertainment value in town Thursday night, unless some viewers instead enjoyed the sight of a drenched, wind-buffeted Chris Hawes losing her umbrella on WFAA8 as the storm hit downtown Fort Worth shortly after 8 p.m.

Fox4 sports anchor Mike Doocy fears the buzzer might be sounding on his 9 p.m. sports segments

Ed Bark — 2008-04-17T16:18:06-05:00
Doocy notes -- and this has been noted previously on unclebarky.com -- that "there are times when we're bumped out of the show for severe weather coverage, or other time concerns . ...So they instead get what they supposedly deserve -- an assembly line of stories on youthifying skin goops, miracle diets, shopping bargains, face-lifting, ass-hoisting, wrinkle-removing, blemish-dissolving, exercise contraptions and ways to make your sex life spring back into action.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., April 16)

Ed Bark — 2008-04-17T12:26:31-05:00
Moderated by Charles Gibson and George Stephanopoulos -- and starring Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton -- the debate averaged 170,492 D-FW homes in ABC's 7 to 9 p.m. slot. ...Obama-Clinton obviously couldn't beat Fox's American Idol results show, which had a league-leading 314,192 homes from 8 to 9 p.m. But dose Dems did all right against the likes of CBS' Criminal Minds (194,848 homes) and Big Brother 9 (80,375); NBC's Deal or No Deal (163,185) and Law & Order: Criminal Intent (75,504); and Fox's 'Til Death (143,700) and Back To You (141,265).

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., April 15)

Ed Bark — 2008-04-16T09:11:16-05:00
D-FW viewers still haven't puckered up to the Stars, although the team's third Stanley Cup playoff encounter with Anaheim did almost beat a Mission: Impossible repeat on Ch. 52. The Ducks beat Dallas on its home ice to the tune of 34,098 total homes on Fox Sports Southwest while a 9 to 10 p.m. episode of Mission had 36,534 homes.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., April 14)

Ed Bark — 2008-04-15T09:10:00-05:00
ABC's Dancing with the Stars did the deed, averaging an 11 rating (267,916 D-FW homes) from 7 to 8:30 p.m. A new episode of the network's Samantha Who? then dipped to 165,621 homes, losing in both that measurement and among advertiser-courted 18-to-49-year-olds to CBS' 8:30 p.m. return of Rules of Engagement (172,928 homes). ...WFAA8's latenight newscast edged onetime archrival NBC5 in total homes, with the Peacock then prevailing among 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

Picky Picky (Vol. 11)

Ed Bark — 2008-04-14T11:26:34-05:00
If you have a high-definition television set -- most still don't -- do you find yourself gravitating toward D-FW newscasts with in-studio HD capabilities? ...A. The only way to go with a high-definition set is to local newscasts that fill my wider screen with sharper images.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., April 11-13)

Ed Bark — 2008-04-14T10:16:29-05:00
By ED BARK ABC's Desperate Housewives returned to the living with a new post-strike episode Sunday, but The Masters' overrun out-stroked Wisteria Lane in the D-FW Nielsens. The closing half-hour of pro golf's most sainted tournament -- just ask a genuflecting Jim Nantz -- drew a robust 264,263 total homes from 6 to 6:30 p.m. DH had 211,897 homes from 8 to 9 p.m.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., April 10)

Ed Bark — 2008-04-11T09:11:39-05:00
The game's closing 15 minutes (9:45 to 10 p.m.), in which Dirk Nowitzki sank a three-pointer to climax a 97-94 win, drew more total homes (297,143) and advertiser-craved 18-to-49-year-olds (261,732) than anything else Thursday, including Fox's American Idol. ...In the local news derby, WFAA8 and CBS11 tied at 10 p.m. in total homes (231,382 apiece) despite the latter station's huge lead-in advantage from CBS' Without A Trace vs. ABC's Eli Stone.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., April 9)

Ed Bark — 2008-04-10T11:18:55-05:00
The early-starting 6:30 to 7 p.m. portion of the show was slow to pick up steam, drawing just 143,700 total homes in running second to CBS11's competing Wheel of Fortune (185,106 homes). ...Gives Back ran the table among advertiser-craved 18-to-49-year-olds, edging Wheel at 6:30 p.m. before more than doubling the audience for any competing prime-time program.

Weathering another storm of weather warnings

Ed Bark — 2008-04-09T23:30:08-05:00
Even so, weatherman Delkus pretty much stayed out of the way until it was time for commercials to kick in. And the station's on-screen weather graphics were non-intrusive, particularly considering the programming at hand. NBC5, which like WFAA8 and CBS11 has in-studio HD capability, made mostly successful efforts to keep the full wide-screen picture intact for the Peacock's high-definition presentations of Law & Order: Criminal Intent and Law & Order.

Picky Picky (Vol. 10)

Ed Bark — 2008-04-09T09:39:41-05:00
Nerissa Knight, Cynthia Izaguirre, Adrian Arambulo, Ellen Goldberg By ED BARK Experienced veterans should be valued in D-FW's television newsrooms, but quality newcomers also are part of any station's equation. ...Ellen Goldberg of NBC5 has been a featured reporter on the station's 10 p.m. weekday newscasts since March, 2007.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., April 8)

Ed Bark — 2008-04-09T09:39:27-05:00
The ABC station took golds at 10 p.m. and at 6 a.m., 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. in both total homes and among 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming. Meanwhile, Fox4's Good Day seems to be in another of its periodic mini-slumps, at least at 6 a.m. The February "sweeps" ratings champ ran second in total homes (barely ahead of NBC5) and dipped to a close third behind the Peacock among 25-to-54-year-olds.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., April 7)

Ed Bark — 2008-04-08T10:38:42-05:00
The CBS telecast drew an overall average of 341,648 D-FW homes during its actual running time from 8:24 to 10:49 p.m. Audiences peaked between 10:15 to 10:30 p.m., when 409,181 homes said, "Game's on." ...In the local news derby, WFAA8 dominated a downsized three-horse field at 10 p.m. in both total homes and with 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., April 4-6)

Ed Bark — 2008-04-07T10:24:04-05:00
By ED BARK The Dallas Mavericks' big comeback win against Phoenix paced a non-stop sports weekend that also included NCAA Final Four hoops and Texas Motor Speedway loops. ...In Friday's local news derby, WFAA8 again topped the 10 p.m. field in both total homes and with 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

Henderson back at Good Day after weekend jaunt with Fox & Friends

Ed Bark — 2008-04-07T05:49:21-05:00
By ED BARK Megan Henderson didn't miss a beat Monday, returning to Fox4's Good Day after a weekend in New York co-hosting Fox News Channel's Fox & Friends. ... Journalism 101: anchor Courtney Friel in and out of uniform. During one of Saturday's periodic news breaks, the former World Poker Tour host termed herself a "total ghetto princess" after breaking a few moves.

Picky Picky (Vol. 9)

Ed Bark — 2008-04-04T16:01:18-05:00
4, 5, 8, 11: Clarice Tinsley, David Finfrock, Dale Hansen, Karen Borta By ED BARK A whole lotta downsizing's been going on again lately in the TV news biz. And some are reporting that the era of big-time personalities making out-sized salaries is drawing to a quick close.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., April 3)

Ed Bark — 2008-04-04T11:48:11-05:00
CSI led all attractions with 319,064 homes and Trace (255,738 homes) had the biggest audience at 9 p.m. Survivor took the gold in the 7 p.m. hour, drawing 148,572 homes to edge the one-hour return of NBC's My Name Is Earl (146,136 homes). ...In the local news derby, WFAA8 returned to the winners circle at 10 p.m. with first place finishes in both total homes and among 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

"We catch excitement in the air and share it all with you"

Ed Bark — 2008-04-03T15:56:24-05:00
KDFW-TV (Channel 4), then a CBS affiliate, had a featured news team of Clarice Tinsley, Chip Moody, Dale Hansen and weatherman Wayne Shattuck in place during a 1981-'82 season in which the network had seven of prime-time's top 10 series, led by Dallas. ...But it's worth the relatively brief wait, particularly for a money shot in which Hansen has a box of popcorn knocked in his face while at a ballgame.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., April 2)

Ed Bark — 2008-04-03T14:05:28-05:00
Fox's season finale of The Moment of Truth again drew enough train wreck voyeurs to win at 7 p.m. in both total D-FW homes and with advertiser-favored 18-to-49-year-olds. ...In the other major local news competitions, WFAA8 whipped Fox4 at 6 a.m. in both ratings measurements and also had twin wins at 6 p.m. The 5 p.m. gold in total homes was shared by WFAA8 and NBC5, but the ABC station had the top spot to itself among 25-to-54-year-olds.

WFAA8 adds another Peabody to its already bulging trophy case

Ed Bark — 2008-04-02T13:28:59-05:00
By ED BARK Dallas-Fort Worth's most-honored television news operation made another big impression Wednesday, this time with the George Foster Peabody Awards. ...Harris was cited for reports on the U.S. Export-Import Bank and a probe of Dateline NBC's "To Catch A Predator" sting operation in Murphy, TX.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., April 1)

Ed Bark — 2008-04-02T10:21:02-05:00
ABC's Dancing with the Stars then called the tune and evicted happy/sappy Steve Guttenberg at 8 p.m. It drew 267,916 homes in outpointing the return of Hell's Kitchen on Fox (197,284). ...Even a repeat of NCIS, for instance, beat Idol among viewers 55 years and older, drawing 254,400 of 'em. Among 12-to-17-year-olds, though, NCIS registered "hashmarks" (no measurable audience).

Izzard flails about, and the crowd roars

Ed Bark — 2008-04-01T21:36:44-05:00
All wound up while winding it down at the Majestic. Photos: Ed Bark By ED BARK Comedian/actor Eddie Izzard and his iPhone played the Majestic Theatre in Dallas Monday night. ... Izzard up-close backstage just before playing to a packed house. Izzard, 46, also is lately known as a traveling gypsy con artist impersonating a wealthy dead man on FX cable's The Riches, which had its strike-shortened second season premiere on March 18th.

Uncle Barky trapped in refrigerator -- eats own foot

Ed Bark — 2008-04-01T17:41:40-05:00
By ED BARK Fox4 fell hard Tuesday for an April Fool's joke about a $900 million retractable roof to be built over the Texas Motor Speedway. ...That's the made-up moniker of a pitching phenom in a famous April Fool's hoax article written in 1985 for Sports Illustrated by George Plimpton.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., March 31)

Ed Bark — 2008-04-01T09:26:55-05:00
By ED BARK A new episode of CBS' CSI: Miami and another round of ABC's Dancing with the Stars paced Monday's prime-time ratings while the Texas Rangers' traditional opening day loss to a West Coast team was pretty much a whiff in the Nielsens, too. ...CBS11's 6 p.m. newscast had a particularly tough time with the key 25-to-54-year-old audience, drawing a sub-puny 23,556 of 'em. That put it sixth among all broadcast stations, and ridiculously far behind frontrunning WFAA8 (161,948).

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., March 28-30)

Ed Bark — 2008-03-31T14:18:46-05:00
The ABC station won at 5, 6 and 10 p.m. in both total homes and among 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming. ...That night's Texas-Stanford game, won impressively by the Longhorns before Sunday's disaster, had 109,602 homes, good enough to beat all competing programming on a very low TV viewing night.

Peacock's new plumage

Ed Bark — 2008-03-29T07:59:31-05:00
As some astute unclebarky.com readers have noted, NBC5 has a new set. It was unveiled on the station's March 26th 4 p.m. newscast. And anchor Jane McGarry, for one, really likes it.

A little change of pace

Ed Bark — 2008-03-28T17:56:06-05:00
Littleton, who has been open about his 1988 gender change -- he left D-FW in 1987 -- wore a transparently obvious toupee on the air for most of his time at WFAA8....

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., March 27)

Ed Bark — 2008-03-28T10:11:03-05:00
Fox4's Good Day ran second at 6 a.m. and also had its long winning streak snapped from 7 to 9 a.m. Good Day had beaten the three competing network morning shows for 18 straight weekdays in both total homes and with 25-to-54-year-olds. ...Also of note in the early morning, CBS11's slowly gaining 6 a.m. show slipped ahead of last place NBC5 among 25-to-54-year-olds and fell just 4,871 homes shy of the Peacock.

Reporter Jeff Crilley decides to call it a night at Fox4

Ed Bark — 2008-03-27T12:58:15-05:00
The mission will be that we don't pitch B.S. It will be an alliance of former journalists practicing journalism in the PR world." ...He's also moonlighted as an author and seminar speaker whose Free Publicity book instructs prospective newsmakers in the arts of writing "killer" press releases and holding press conferences "the media will love."

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., March 26)

Ed Bark — 2008-03-27T10:15:35-05:00
That included a big night for Fox4's 9 p.m. local newscast, which drew 226,511 D-FW homes while also setting the pace among advertiser-favored 25-to-54-year-olds and 18-to-49-year-olds. ...BB 9 also was a sixth-place no-show among 18-to-49-year-olds, drawing just 22,074 of 'em. Even the competing first-hour of TXA21's local newscast (31,534) did quite a bit better than that.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., March 25)

Ed Bark — 2008-03-26T10:08:37-05:00
Idol's latest performance show averaged a lower than usual 280,094 D-FW homes from 7 to 8:30 p.m., with 286,183 tuned to the final half-hour opposite Dancing's first results show. ...The battle for advertiser-craved 18-to-49-year-olds was less of a contest, with Idol luring 201,818 of 'em for the full show while Dancing had 151,363.

Forever Young at KERA? He's still got his eyes on the programming ball

Ed Bark — 2008-03-25T15:48:45-05:00
Over the years, KERA also has aired unedited versions of Tales From the City, Moll Flanders, profanity-pocked World War II documentaries and a 2003 PBS production of The Gin Game, in which stars Mary Tyler Moore and Dick Van Dyke used the Pulitzer Prize-winning play's oft-graphic language to its fullest. ...Its productions now tend to be appreciably more local in scope, including the ongoing weekly "topic-driven interview program" Think with Krys Boyd, and specials such as A Conversation with Bill Clements (the former Texas governor) and 2003's JFK: Breaking the News.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., March 24)

Ed Bark — 2008-03-25T10:46:41-05:00
ABC's upside quickly cratered, though, with its British bloke-infused episode of The Bachelor retaining just 143,700 homes from 9 to 10 p.m. That put it third behind both CSI and NBC's Medium (194,848 homes). ...Monday's 6 a.m. news race again was a tale of two outcomes, with WFAA8 winning in total homes and Fox4 countering with a first place finish among 25-to-54-year-olds.

When Pete takes his coat off . . .

Ed Bark — 2008-03-24T22:01:52-05:00
Garland kitty Snickers Bark and nemesis weatherman Pete Delkus. By SNICKERS BARK, as told to one of her keepers, Ed Bark When Pete takes his coat off For bad weather teases, I go into hiding And pray to my Jesus. ...So next time you're warning Of thunder and rain Remember the kittys They're Abel, you're Cain.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., March 21-23)

Ed Bark — 2008-03-24T10:09:03-05:00
ABC then re-took control from 6 to 10 p.m. with a lineup of America's Funniest Home Videos, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Oprah's Big Give and Here Come the Newlyweds. ...WFAA8 won at 10 p.m. in total homes and tied NBC5 for first among 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

Take 5 -- circa weekends, 1990

Ed Bark — 2008-03-21T15:05:20-05:00
KXAS-TV's 1990 weekend team featured current-day WFAA8 reporter Jim Douglas in the Captain's chair, with co-anchor Ramona Logan, weatherman Scott Chesner and sports guy Scott Murray rounding out the cast. Enjoy the old-school buildup.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., March 20)

Ed Bark — 2008-03-21T10:50:51-05:00
WFAA8 also won by a landslide at 10 p.m. among 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming. ...And the 7 to 9 a.m. portion of Fox4's Good Day continued its mastery of the three network morning shows with another pair of twin wins.

Picky Picky (Vol. 5)

Ed Bark — 2008-03-20T09:51:47-05:00
Scott Sams and Mike Snyder bookend another nagging question. By ED BARK Some questions just gnaw at you. ...It raises the question of 6 and 10 p.m. anchor Mike Snyder's longevity.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., March 19)

Ed Bark — 2008-03-20T09:17:43-05:00
Meanwhile, in local TV news land, WFAA8's 10 p.m. show again rose from a dinky network lead-in -- this time it was ABC's Men In Trees -- to whip its rivals in both total homes and among 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming. The ABC station and Fox4 again split the golds at 6 a.m., with WFAA8's Daybreak tops in total homes and Good Day in first with 25-to-54-year-olds.

TV news as soft-serve ice cream

Ed Bark — 2008-03-19T23:06:17-05:00
Nearly three decades ago we lived in a land where Little League kids in uniform happily watched local newscasts while safe at home and stacking freshly dried dinner plates. Or at least that's one of the Leave It to Beaver-esque images in this jingle-sugared 1979 promo for WFAA8's weekend team.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., March 18)

Ed Bark — 2008-03-19T09:29:21-05:00
The premiere of ABC's new Miss Guided comedy series sagged to 163,185 homes at 9:30 p.m., losing to Fox4's newscast in both that measurement and among advertiser-craved 18-to-49-year-olds. ...Over on TXA21, the Dallas Mavericks' close-but-no-cigar loss to the Lakers racked up a nice-sized 151,007 homes in squashing a competing two-hour Biggest Loser on NBC (63,326 homes) and CBS' barely functional combo of Big Brother 9 (41,045) and Jericho (60,890).

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., March 17)

Ed Bark — 2008-03-18T11:00:04-05:00
By ED BARK Plummeting ratings for The Bachelor offset the usual bullish numbers for Dancing with the Stars as the two ABC veterans launched new spring seasons Monday night. ...The Bachelor also got hammered among advertiser-craved 18-to-49-year-olds, where CBS won with a combo of a new Old Christine episode and a repeat of CSI: Miami.

Picky Picky (Vol. 4)

Ed Bark — 2008-03-17T21:08:25-05:00
By ED BARK So could it be true that D-FW television's very best sharp-dressed men are all flaunting their fashion senses at one station? ...WFAA8 definitely has three dapper dandies in anchor John McCaa and weathermen Greg Fields and Pete Delkus.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., March 14-16)

Ed Bark — 2008-03-17T12:02:05-05:00
Fox's Friday night two-episode premiere of The Return of Jezebel James ran fourth in total homes, beating NBC's comatose Amnesia game show but drawing well less than half the audience for CBS' The Price Is Right. ...Fox4 won at 6 a.m. in both measurements while long-suffering CBS11 racked up a pair of moral victories by finishing an unaccustomed second with 25-to-54-year-olds (NBC5 ran last) and just a bit behind the third-place Peacock in total homes.

Rebecca Miller: Back in D-FW and grateful for all the support

Ed Bark — 2008-03-17T10:04:52-05:00
Fresh from a therapeutic week in Florida, former NBC5 early morning meteorologist Rebecca Miller has opened a new email account for anyone who wants to contact her. She'd also like to thank the hundreds of viewers who have commented on this Web site about her abrupt termination from NBC5 after a 17-year tenure.

CBS11 no longer having a Ball

Ed Bark — 2008-03-14T09:47:38-05:00
By ED BARK Reporter Kimberly Ball has resigned from CBS11, the station confirmed Friday. The former public school English teacher and Dallas Cowboys cheerleader joined CBS11 several years ago after stints in Los Angeles at E!

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., March 13)

Ed Bark — 2008-03-14T09:02:15-05:00
Thursday's 9 p.m. news drew 180,234 D-FW homes, building on a modest lead-in from the Fox network's Don't Forget the Lyrics! ABC's new Eli Stone had 168,056 homes, followed by a repeat of CBS' Without A Trace (151,007) and a firstrun episode of NBC's Lipstick Jungle (65,761). ...And in the 25-to-54 demo, CBS averaged 5,883 viewers, including "hashmarks" (no measurable audience) from 7:30 to 7:45 a.m. Top dog Good Day hauled in 82,446 viewers of the 25-to-54-year-old persuasion.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., March 12)

Ed Bark — 2008-03-13T10:52:14-05:00
Top dog WFAA8 won as usual in total homes at 10 p.m., but Fox4 took the top spot for the first time in recent memory among 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming. ...In prime-time, Fox4's 9 p.m. local news had another big night, whipping competing network programming by runaway margins in homes, 25-to-54-year-olds and 18-to-49-year-olds, the key advertiser demographic for entertainment programming.

Picky Picky (Vol. 3)

Ed Bark — 2008-03-12T14:49:11-05:00
More than 85 years of pavement-pounding: NBC5's Scott Gordon; Fox4's Fil Alvarado, CBS11's Bud Gillett and WFAA8's Jim Douglas By ED BARK For now at least, D-FW's four major TV news providers retain at least a few well-traveled road warriors with odometers that somehow keep on ticking. Given today's harsh, budget-slashing climate, though, any or all could be replaced any minute by a lower-salaried, toothsome vacant stare whom we'll call Stu "Not a Clue" Suckup.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., March 11)

Ed Bark — 2008-03-12T10:31:20-05:00
Juiced by another big lead-in from American Idol (457,893 D-FW homes from 8:45 to 9 p.m.), Fox4's local newscast won the 9 p.m. slot despite dipping to an overall average of 209,462 homes. ...editions of Primetime Live ran a competitive second (187,541 homes) at 9 p.m. while nipping Fox4 among 18-to-49-year-olds, the main advertiser barometer for entertainment programming.

High noon at WFAA -- circa 1991

Ed Bark — 2008-03-11T16:49:02-05:00
Lisa McRee went big-time (including Good Morning America) for a while and remains out West after the recent demise of her latest show, California Connected.... And Scott Sams eventually made it back to D-FW and rival CBS11 after a sojourn in the hinterlands.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., March 10)

Ed Bark — 2008-03-11T12:03:54-05:00
Monday's top prime-time draw, a 9 p.m. repeat of CBS' CSI: Miami, had 219,204 total homes to edge an 8 p.m. edition of NBC's tricked-up and still amazingly resilient Deal Or No Deal (216,768 homes). ...In the local news derby, WFAA8 again won in total homes at 10 p.m. while NBC5 took first place among 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

Without A Trace: Local TV news stations leave viewers out when dumping personnel

Ed Bark — 2008-03-10T11:11:36-05:00
And the number of reader comments posted on unclebarky.com -- almost 450 at this writing -- indicate that you're more than a little interested in the hows and whys that led to last Wednesday's terminations of Fox4 reporter Rebecca Aguilar and NBC5 meteorologist Rebecca Miller. ...As demonstrated by the response to Rebeccas Miller and Aguilar, you're more than a little interested in what happens to TV news people that you've grown to like or dislike.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., March 7-9)

Ed Bark — 2008-03-10T11:10:55-05:00
WFAA8 took the 10 p.m. golds Friday in both ratings measurements, and did likewise at 5 p.m. The 6 p.m. spoils were split by WFAA8, which won in homes, and Fox4, in first place among 25-to-54-year-olds. ...Here Come the Newlyweds then fell to 136,394 homes, running third in that measurement but still managing a time slot win among advertiser-craved 18-to-49-year-olds.

This just in: another vintage newscast intro

Ed Bark — 2008-03-09T20:52:23-05:00
Anchor Clarice Tinsley is the sole survivor of "News 4 Texas," circa 1991. But another featured personality is still in the D-FW mix as a utility weatherman at rival CBS11.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., March 6)

Ed Bark — 2008-03-07T10:06:24-06:00
WFAA8 also took first place at 5, 6 and 10 p.m. among 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming. But the margins over silver medalist Fox4 were only marginal at 5 and 6 p.m. Fox4 also took the runnerup spot at 10 p.m., although WFAA8 had ample breathing room at that hour.

Saying goodbye: Rebecca Miller gets some well-deserved last words

Ed Bark — 2008-03-06T21:36:35-06:00
But she at last found time Thursday night to write her own goodbye to the many who have watched and relied on her early morning forecasts for NBC5. ...Working on the air non-stop from 4:30 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. or 11 a.m. without a breakfast break, without a bathroom break (you had to run in between commercials) is incredibly hard.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., March 5)

Ed Bark — 2008-03-06T10:46:27-06:00
By ED BARK Fox4 crushed all comers in prime-time Wednesday, controlling the 7 to 10 p.m. hours in total homes and the two key advertiser-preferred audience demographics. ...WFAA8 then restored order -- at least in its view -- by handily topping the 10 p.m. newscast numbers in both total homes (226,511) and with 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

It's over at Fox4 for reporter Rebecca Aguilar

Ed Bark — 2008-03-05T23:46:18-06:00
"No doorbell, no knock on the door," said Aguilar, who had been on paid suspension since Oct. 16th following her controversial interview with an elderly West Dallas salvage business owner who had shot and killed two alleged burglars within three weeks time. ...But I hope the decision that management made at Fox4 doesn't discourage other reporters around the country from doing their jobs for fear of retaliation or because they don't think managers have their back.

Veteran meteorologist Rebecca Miller out at NBC5 (updated again)

Ed Bark — 2008-03-05T14:29:58-06:00
By ED BARK Early morning NBC5 meteorologist Rebecca Miller abruptly has left the station and already has been removed from the nbc5i.com Web site. ...In a brief email to NBC5 employees Wednesday, vice president of content development Susan Tully (that's the latest term for news director), wrote, "I want to inform everyone that today was Rebecca Miller's last day with NBC5.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., March 4)

Ed Bark — 2008-03-05T10:41:12-06:00
The ABC station's uncharacteristically mistake-prone 9 p.m. election special drew 185,106 D-FW homes, edging NBC's Law & Order: SVU repeat (180,234 homes) and Fox4's 9 p.m. results show (168,056 homes). ...SVU in turn topped the 9 p.m. field among 25-to-54-year-olds (the key news demographic) and 18-to-49-year-olds (the advertiser-preferred audience for entertainment programming).

When he's 64 . . . even if only for a few more days

Ed Bark — 2008-03-04T12:38:27-06:00
"Being a little bit older than the baby boomers is probably not a bad position to be in," World News anchor Charles Gibson says after spending the top of Tuesday's 9 a.m. hour as a guest on WFAA8's Good Morning Texas. ...And he still seems to be very much just that while sipping a Diet Coke, navigating a sticky sweet roll and recalling how he got passed over the first time by ABC News president David Westin after telling him, "I think you're pretty well set up for an old male white fart like me."

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., March 3)

Ed Bark — 2008-03-04T11:07:06-06:00
Fox4's 9 p.m. local newscast and CBS' CSI: Miami repeat fought to a first place tie at 9 p.m. in total homes (228,946 apiece). ...In the local news derby, WFAA8 trampolined off the lowly lead-in from October Road to control the 10 p.m. competition with Monday's biggest haul of 258,174 homes.

Won't it make her brown eyes blue, too?

Ed Bark — 2008-03-04T06:00:08-06:00
Reporting from the shivery cold Monday on WFAA8's 6 p.m. newscast, veteran Debbie Denmon fretted about getting too numb to talk coherently. ...It was the night when reporter Valeri Williams found her lips in eclipse near Amarillo while anchors Tracy Rowlett and Chip Moody laughed it up.

The Missing Link

Ed Bark — 2008-03-03T18:11:27-06:00
He arrived from KSTP-TV in Minnesota, and briefly bridged the long reigns of anchors Brad Wright and Mike Snyder at NBC5. ...The name is Randall Carlisle, and he's still staying alive in the news biz as the 5 and 5:30 p.m. anchor at Salt Lake City's ABC affiliate, KTVX-TV.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., Feb. 29-March 2)

Ed Bark — 2008-03-03T10:23:52-06:00
WFAA8 took the total homes gold at 10 p.m., but NBC5 won among 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming. Both 6 a.m. contests went to WFAA8, with Fox4 dipping to third in total homes and a virtually unheard of fourth -- even behind CBS11 -- in the 25-to-54 demo.

Tipping allowed? Reporter Jeff Crilley's side business offers how-to guidance on how to make news

Ed Bark — 2008-03-02T18:11:46-06:00
A companion Web site flogs a Crilley-authored book billed as "a start-to-finish guide to making yourself a media darling while raking in a fortune in free publicity." Below is Crilley's very own testimonial video, one of many he's been posting on youtube for the past year or so.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs, Feb. 28)

Ed Bark — 2008-02-29T11:32:57-06:00
By ED BARK Oddly enough we live in a market where Fox's Don't Forget the Lyrics! is as big a draw as ABC's Lost. ...In the post-sweeps local news derby, WFAA8 again rolled up twin wins, dominating in total homes and turning back a competitive second-place Fox4 among 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

This just in: 20 nights in the lives of D-FW's late night newscasts

Ed Bark — 2008-02-28T16:13:06-06:00
Close to overflowing with solid, resourceful reporters, WFAA8 has re-taken the market's high ground after flirting not so long ago with the idea of trying to beat former top dog NBC at its own wham-bam game. ...Recently installed news director Scott Diener is very bullish on investigative reporting, and the station lately has been piling it on. Some of these efforts have been worth your time, but others bordered on embarrassing or worse.

"An honest mistake, and we were wrong"

Ed Bark — 2008-02-28T15:04:10-06:00
By ED BARK Relatives first heard of 20-year-old Ashley Parra's death Wednesday from a television reporter who reached them before police did. ...Valentine noted that the station had erred on the side of caution just a few days earlier in initially holding back the name of Dallas police officer Victor Lozada, who died Monday morning in a motorcycle crash while helping to escort Hillary Clinton's motorcade.

CBS11 broaches a volatile campaign issue -- but will it go any farther than that?

Ed Bark — 2008-02-28T12:25:23-06:00
CBS11's Jack Fink and longtime Latino activist Adelfa Callejo By ED BARK Longtime D-FW political activist Adelfa Callejo ran circles around political correctness in her blunt, racially charged comments to CBS11 about the Texas Democratic presidential primary. ..."Obama simply has the problem that he happens to be black," said Callejo, who's supporting Hillary Clinton and attended her rally in Oak Cliff last Friday.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot -- Feb. sweeps finals edition

Ed Bark — 2008-02-28T10:02:47-06:00
WFAA8 came within less than inches of winning all four major local news battlegrounds, but settled for dominating victories at 5, 6 and 10 p.m. in the just-concluded February sweeps ratings wars. ...WFAA8 won the 10 p.m. wars for the fourth straight sweeps period in total homes, and for the third consecutive time among 25-to-54-year-olds.

This just in: a night in the lives of D-FW's late night newscasts (Tues., Feb. 26)

Ed Bark — 2008-02-27T13:40:17-06:00
Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are polls apart in Texas. By ED BARK Disparate results from two local TV station polls conducted in the past week make it anyone's guess whether Hillary Clinton is slipping fast or still holding her own against Barack Obama. ...WFAA8, with Brad Watson dispensing the facts and figures, said that Clinton still clings to a 46 to 43 percent lead over Obama, with the poll's margin of error (plus or minus 4.4 points) basically making it a dead heat.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., Feb. 26)

Ed Bark — 2008-02-27T10:10:37-06:00
That should be enough for Fox4 to defend its ratings title and win for a third straight sweeps period in both total homes and among advertiser-favored 25-to-to-54-year-olds. ...The 9 p.m. hour was controlled by Fox4's local newscast in total homes, but ABC's competing, semi-newsy Prime Time: What Would You Do? won among both 18-to-49-year-olds and 25-to-54-year-olds.

Dropping anchor: Dale Hansen's larger-than-life diet makes him local TV's biggest loser

Ed Bark — 2008-02-26T22:01:28-06:00
And as the February sweeps ratings period enters its final day, there's no more danger that a rival station -- or WFAA for that matter -- will use his regimen as fodder for another of those miracle diet stories.... And please don't mean it when you say on the air that you're going to gorge yourself on Saturday and then quickly pack it all back on.

This just in: a night in the lives of D-FW's late night newscasts (Mon., Feb. 25)

Ed Bark — 2008-02-26T11:34:20-06:00
CBS11's Kaushal Patel, lately chipping in as one of the station's gumshoes, had an "exclusive undercover investigation" of a drug-testing facility that also seems to be giving failing patrons a way to mask results via a "body cleansing system." ...Allen, who also co-anchors CBS11's early morning news, has been appearing night after night in the service of stories obviously aimed at keeping women viewers tuned in. But as with Friday's "Headache Agony" piece and numerous others this month, she's a narrator piggybacking on others' work while standing next to an HD screen.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., Feb. 25)

Ed Bark — 2008-02-26T10:31:33-06:00
By ED BARK ABC's stellar three-hour production of A Raisin In the Sun had gratifyingly high ratings in D-FW Monday night, sweeping the prime-time field in total homes. ...In the local news derby, Fox4's Good Day got a little breathing room in its tight battle to retain the 6 a.m. ratings title against WFAA8's very formidable Daybreak.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., Feb. 22-24)

Ed Bark — 2008-02-25T10:07:12-06:00
Barbara Walter' annual 6 p.m. Oscar warmup show lured 146,136 homes, losing to CBS' competing 60 Minutes (168,056 homes) in that measurement but winning among 18-to-49-year-olds by a more than two-to-one margin. ...On Friday, NBC's premiere of the Dennis Miller-hosted game show Amnesia bombed with just 70,632 D-FW homes from 8 to 9 p.m. That put it fifth in that measurement and also among 18-to-49-year-olds.

This just in: a night in the lives of D-FW's late night newscasts (Fri., Feb. 22)

Ed Bark — 2008-02-24T14:18:27-06:00
Fallen DPD officer Victor Lozada and Hillary Clinton with reporters. By ED BARK The tragic death of Dallas police officer Victor Lozada, who crashed Friday morning while helping to escort Hillary Clinton's motorcade, obviously figured prominently in newscasts throughout the day. ...In reality, sources within Fox4 say the station has been stiffed by both Obama and fellow Democrat Hillary Clinton, who have declined to do any one-one-one satellite interviews with Fox4 because of their distaste for cable's Fox News Channel.

This just in: a night in the lives of D-FW's late night newscasts (Thurs., Feb. 21)

Ed Bark — 2008-02-22T13:37:47-06:00
Shipp is "the only reporter taking a critical look at the project," anchor Gloria Campos told viewers before his "How 'Suite' It Is" story likely made Jones want to strip him naked, coat him in silver and blue, towel-snap him and then make him run laps around Flozell Adams' waistline. ...***Fox4 consumer reporter Steve Noviello gave viewers an informative look at how complimentary "companion certificates" offered by airlines are often anything but bargains when you first must pay a premium price for a single ticket on eligible flights.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., Feb. 21)

Ed Bark — 2008-02-22T09:51:09-06:00
That exceeds the audiences for several of the night's network entertainment offerings, including CBS' Survivor: Micronesia (124,216 homes), the "enhanced" reprise of last week's Lost episode on ABC (104,731 homes) and NBC's Celebrity Apprentice (70,632 homes). ...In the local news derby, D-FW's hottest race is still at 6 a.m., where Fox4 edged WFAA8 in total homes and tied the ABC station among 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

Escape to L.A.? Prison Break plotting to vacate North Texas if and when there's a fourth season

Ed Bark — 2008-02-22T07:11:52-06:00
Prison Break stars Dominic Purcell and Wentworth Miller braved Santa Monica for a Fox press party last summer. Photo: Ed Bark By ED BARK A fourth season of Fox's Prison Break is by no means assured. ...Burklund, who is seeking news coverage of the city's and Film Commission's efforts, said that "the discussion of relocating is due to creative reasons and the direction the show will take in the future, and not a negative reflection on their experience here in the Dallas-Fort Worth area."

This just in: a night in the lives of D-FW's late night newscasts (Wed., Feb. 20)

Ed Bark — 2008-02-21T14:39:39-06:00
NBC5 was the only station to put Huckabee at the top of the candidate pecking order after anchor Mike Snyder first gravely intoned, "A cold front is moving into North Texas as we speak tonight." ...It has "a lot of people excited about waking up in the morning," anchor Karen Borta trilled before Allen asked rhetorically, "How would you like to wake up every morning feeling happy and energized, even before you sip that first cup of coffee?"

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., Feb. 20)

Ed Bark — 2008-02-21T11:07:13-06:00
Fox's American Idol again ruled supreme in prime-time, with 377,518 homes for the first sing-off among the show's 12 women competitors. In the local news derby, Fox4's onrushing Good Day made the 6 a.m. race air-tight with twin wins in total homes and with 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

This just in: a night in the lives of D-FW's late night newscasts (Tues., Feb. 19)

Ed Bark — 2008-02-20T14:46:46-06:00
"The Mavs might regret this deal for a long time," he said before crediting owner Mark Cuban with being "willing to swallow some pride" and make the deal rather than wait for point guard Devin Harris to develop. ...Perhaps Hansen shot his wad on earlier sportscasts in which he called owner Mark Cuban a liar and said the $4 million payoff to former Maverick Keith Van Horn is "an unbelievably stupid way to run a business and incredibly unfair to your ticket-buying fan."

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., Feb. 19)

Ed Bark — 2008-02-20T09:29:20-06:00
By ED BARK Rocket fuel from American Idol again propelled Fox4's late night newscasts while the tight early morning duel between Fox4's Good Day and WFAA8's Daybreak is akin to the heated chariot race in Ben-Hur. ...The 10 p.m. local news wars again found WFAA8 taking first place in both total homes and with 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

This just in: a night in the lives of D-FW's late night newscasts (Mon., Feb. 18)

Ed Bark — 2008-02-19T13:50:58-06:00
Ray, who has become Fox4's resident JFK expert, closed his 9 p.m. newscast story by telling viewers, "Lost in the fuss about the fake transcript are communications between Henry Wade and others that could easily be classified as racist. ...Fox4 reporter Rebecca Aguilar is now in her fifth month of a paid suspension after being similarly aggressive -- but more soft-spoken -- while questioning an elderly, yet vigorous man who at first said he didn't want to be on camera.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., Feb. 18)

Ed Bark — 2008-02-19T10:08:41-06:00
At 8 p.m. the premiere of NBC's My Dad Is Better Than Your Dad won the 18-to-49 crown and tied for second with Dance War in total homes. ...Citing only the newscasts that counted, NBC5 had the biggest audiences at 10 p.m. in both total homes and among 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

NBC5's Children's Health Check: Is it also checkbook journalism?

Ed Bark — 2008-02-18T16:08:17-06:00
NBC5 reporter Melissa Newton is the latest to introduce the segments, which news director Susan Tully says have been airing for well over a year under a paid sponsorship arrangement with Children's Medical Center. ...One news director, Glen Mabie of WEAU-TV in Eau Claire, WI, resigned early this year after his station formed what a Columbia Journalism Review article called "an exclusive coverage deal with a local hospital, which he says would have compromised the station's independence and integrity."

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., Feb. 15-17)

Ed Bark — 2008-02-18T11:36:45-06:00
In prime-time, Fox4's 9 p.m. local newscast drew the most homes (177,799) during that hour in a rough-and-tumble time slot populated by the last hour of NBC's Knight Rider movie (149,181), a first-run episode of ABC's Brothers & Sisters (148,572) and CBS' broadcast premiere of Showtime's Dexter (141,265). ...After 12 weekdays of the 20-day February sweeps, WFAA8 retains a paper-thin lead over Fox4 in total homes but now has fallen barely behind the latter station's Good Day among 25-to-54-year-olds.

This just in: a night in the lives of D-FW's late night newscasts (Fri., Feb. 15)

Ed Bark — 2008-02-17T16:06:02-06:00
On Wednesday's 10 p.m. WFAA8 newscast, reporter Chris Hawes had the first story on an 80-year-old World War II vet from Granbury who fought off two punk brothers trying to rob him in his home. ...***Fox4's James Rose likely set a modern-day record for use of the word "scary" during his piece on a photographer who supposedly was with MTV but wanted SMU students to pose nude for him.

This just in: a night in the lives of D-FW's late night newscasts (Thurs., Feb. 14)

Ed Bark — 2008-02-15T12:09:36-06:00
On NBC5, fledgling Mistress of the Dark Ellen Goldberg (successor to former nightbeat reporter Susan Risdon) led the 10 p.m. show with the saga of an angry mother whose four-year-old son inadvertently had been left in a day care center bus for an hour after falling asleep. ...That brings us to CBS11's Chris Salcedo, who led Thursday's 10 p.m. newscast with "exclusive" audio tape from a Jan. 18th Southlake police department meeting in which chief Wade Goolsby told his officers to stop leaking information to outsiders.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., Feb. 14)

Ed Bark — 2008-02-15T09:51:44-06:00
And in the 9 p.m. battle of new dramas, ABC's Eli Stone more than doubled the audience for NBC's Lipstick Jungle in total homes and with 18-to-49-year-olds. Fox4's 9 p.m. local newscast won that hour in total homes, though, pulling in 187,541 despite a lowly lead-in from the Fox network's two-hour NAACP Image Awards (63,326 homes).

This just in: a night in the lives of D-FW's late night newscasts (Wed., Feb. 13)

Ed Bark — 2008-02-14T12:30:50-06:00
Bennett Cunningham, Richard Ray, Steve Stoler and Scott Friedman By ED BARK Worthwhile enterprise reporting should be applauded when witnessed. ...Over on NBC5, reporter Scott Friedman got an almost shockingly long time -- more than three-and-half-minutes -- to personalize the thousands of layoffs that resulted from North Texas-based American Airlines' merger with TWA.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., Feb. 13 and midway through Feb. sweeps)

Ed Bark — 2008-02-14T11:28:02-06:00
NBC5 also is hanging fairly tough at 10 p.m. in that demographic while at the same trying to hold off CBS11 in a tight fight for second place in total homes. ...In Wednesday's D-FW Nielsens, Fox and Fox4 again ruled the prime-time roost with a threesome of American Idol, The Moment of Truth and the 9 p.m. local newscast, which thumped all competing network entertainment programming.

This just in: a night in the lives of D-FW's late night newscasts (Tues., Feb. 12)

Ed Bark — 2008-02-13T13:27:53-06:00
But he's one-up on Mike "The Deuce" Doocy (above left), who lately is being dealt out of Fox4's 9 p.m. newscasts and replaced by a closing "Viewers' Voice" segment. ...***Fox4's Shaun Rabb (above right) nabbed an exclusive interview with surviving Dallas firefighter Reginald Cuington, whose friend, fellow firefighter Charles Whitaker, was killed by a drive-by shooter last week outside an Arizona sports bar after they watched Super Bowl XLII.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., Feb. 12)

Ed Bark — 2008-02-13T10:01:23-06:00
Its paltry haul of 85,246 homes put it far behind competition from Fox4's local 9 p.m. news (221,640), a new episode of ABC's Boston Legal (160,750) and a repeat of NBC's Law & Order: SVU (153,443). ...The local news derby saw WFAA8 again taking the top spot at 10 p.m. in total homes (an impressive 275,223) while re-taking first place among 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

This just in: a night in the lives of D-FW's late night newscasts (Mon., Feb. 11)

Ed Bark — 2008-02-12T13:35:50-06:00
Fox4's Paul Adrian got a ton of time for "Cop and the Call Girl." By ED BARK It stretched to epic proportions, at least when compared to standard news story lengths. Fox4 investigator Paul Adrian's "The Cop and the Call Girl" ate up a super jumbo-sized 10 minutes and 34 seconds of the station's Monday 9 p.m. newscast -- and in two parts no less.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., Feb. 11)

Ed Bark — 2008-02-12T11:26:59-06:00
Filmed primarily in North Texas, PB drew 126,651 total homes from 7 to 8 p.m., running a close third to a How I Met Your Mother repeat on CBS (138,829 homes) and the first hour of ABC's Dance War (138,220 homes). ...In the local news derby, WFAA8 won at 10 p.m. in total homes despite the night's measliest lead-in from ABC's October Road.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., Feb. 8-10)

Ed Bark — 2008-02-11T12:13:51-06:00
The ABC station scored a double grand slam by sweeping the 6 a.m. and 5, 6 and 10 p.m. competitions in both total homes and with 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming. Fox4's Good Day, now officially in a sweeps-long slump, ran third behind NBC5 in total homes and tied the Peacock for second among 25-to-54-year-olds.

This just in: a night in the lives of D-FW's late night newscasts (Fri., Feb. 8)

Ed Bark — 2008-02-10T17:31:57-06:00
Dale Hansen couldn't resist going to bat for Debbie Clemens. By ED BARK Dale Hansen has lost ample weight of late, which still doesn't stop him from acting like a fathead. ...Anchor John McCaa, always the least comfortable in these situations, said his thought were that Hansen "is going to be in a whole lot of trouble."

This just in: a night in the lives of D-FW's late night newscasts (Thurs., Feb. 7)

Ed Bark — 2008-02-08T14:07:16-06:00
And the hard-charging investigations just keep on comin' from veterans Brett Shipp of WFAA8 and Robert Riggs of CBS11. By ED BARK Which TV gumshoe is hated more in this town -- Brett Shipp by the DISD or Robert Riggs by the UT-Southwestern Medical Center? ...The city requires that "certain city projects" earmark 1.5 percent of their construction costs to homegrown art. In the past three years, more than $3 million has been spent in compliance, but some of the art designs aren't functioning properly and others are well-hidden from public view.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., Feb. 7)

Ed Bark — 2008-02-08T09:34:00-06:00
At 9 p.m., Stone had a comfortable edge in the 18-to-49 demo, and tied a rerun of CBS' Without A Trace for the top spot in total homes. ...CBS opened Thursday night with the premiere of Survivor: Micronesia, which landed a close second in total homes behind Fox's resilient Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? The two shows tied for first with 18-to-49-year-olds.

This just in: a night in the lives of D-FW's late night newscasts (Wed., Feb. 6)

Ed Bark — 2008-02-07T11:15:37-06:00
Stinchfield apparently took a tricycle to get to this story, because CBS11's Jack Fink had it two nights earlier at the top of his station's late night newscast. ...Forecaster Pete Delkus said that a Duncanville viewer who regularly sends him weather pictures also couldn't help asking, "Is it just me, or is (sports anchor) Dale Hansen losing more hair?"

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., Feb. 6)

Ed Bark — 2008-02-07T11:15:10-06:00
Fox's onerous Moment of Truth game show then won the 8 to 9 p.m. hour, with both shows also romping in the ratings for advertiser-craved 18-to-49-year-olds. Fox4's 9 p.m. local newscast ran a close second in total homes to a new episode of CBS' CSI: NY, which now has exhausted its supply of first-run hours.

This just in: a night in the lives of D-FW's late night newscasts (Tues., Feb. 5)

Ed Bark — 2008-02-06T14:19:46-06:00
CBS11's Tracy Rowlett and WFAA8's David Schechter excelled. By ED BARK An old sodbuster and a young dirt-digger showed how it's done on a night otherwise driven by "Super Tuesday" updates and the now possibly pivotal role of the March 4th Texas presidential primary. CBS11's Tracy Rowlett, in his newly minted role as roving reporter, mentor and 5 p.m. news anchor, had an extended piece on a latter day West Texas oil boom driven by sky-high prices per barrel.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., Feb. 5)

Ed Bark — 2008-02-06T10:57:44-06:00
They dominated D-FW's prime-time landscape, winning in all key ratings measurements with a triple-threat combo of American Idol (401,874 total homes), House (289,836 homes) and a 9 p.m. newser (204,590 homes) that easily outdrew the most-watched network Super Tuesday coverage (119,344 homes on ABC). ...In the cable news arena, CNN's all-night Super Tuesday coverage ran first overall, peaking at 63,326 homes between 8 and 9 p.m. But Fox News Channel had the most-watched single hour, with 75,504 homes in the 9 to 10 p.m. time period.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., Feb. 4)

Ed Bark — 2008-02-05T15:58:07-06:00
In prime-time, the premiere of CBS' new Welcome to the Captain sitcom ran second at 7:30 p.m. in total homes (behind ABC's Dance War). ...Also of note: NBC's Tonight Show with Jay Leno, still without writers, easily bested CBS' writer-infused Late Show with David Letterman despite the latter talker's heavy promotion of special guest Hillary Clinton.

This just in: a night in the lives of D-FW's late night newscasts (Mon., Feb. 4)

Ed Bark — 2008-02-05T09:41:42-06:00
The station's Brooke Richie was the only D-FW television reporter in Phoenix for a first-hand update on two Dallas firefighters who were wounded in a drive-by shooting after watching the Super Bowl at a sports bar. ...On Fox4, veteran gravel-voiced investigator Becky Oliver got back in the saddle with a telling look at state agencies that somehow have lost or misplaced more than 8,400 items worth $27.7 million in the past two years.

This just in: a night in the lives of D-FW's late night newscasts (Fri., Feb. 1)

Ed Bark — 2008-02-04T11:10:53-06:00
***Belo8 gumshoe Brett Shipp led Friday's newscast with Part 2 of his overblown reporting on the Dallas Cowboys' still under-construction Arlington palace and its potential to line the pockets of owner Jerry Jones at taxpayers' expense. ...It was all cookies and cream on CBS11, where reporter Kimberly Ball rhapsodized about the upcoming Super Bowl in Arlington and an exploratory visit to Phoenix last week by Dallas mayor Tom Leppert and the mayors of Arlington and Fort Worth.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., Feb. 1-3)

Ed Bark — 2008-02-04T10:39:29-06:00
By ED BARK Peaking at a mammoth 1,283,561 D-FW homes in its closing minutes, Super Bowl XLII on Fox of course crushed the life out of all competing attractions Sunday. ...In Friday's local news derby, Day 2 of the Feb. "sweeps" ratings period found Belo8 again cleaning up with wins at 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. in both total homes and with 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

This just in: a night in the lives of D-FW's late night newscasts (Thurs., Jan. 31)

Ed Bark — 2008-02-01T10:58:51-06:00
NBC5 threw out much of the usual piffle, topping its 10 p.m. newscast with the story of an alleged pellet gun-shooting granny whose now remorseful great grandson says he was the one shooting dinky plastic ammo at parked cars before heading off to school. ... NBC5's Brian Curtis, Fox4's Heather Hays and Belo8's Pete Delkus THIS AND THAT ***NBC5 brandished another of its "Weight Loss Wonder" stories by Brian Curtis, who reported on a "hot new diet book" that says, among other things, that a quarter pound burger without cheese actually has fewer calories than a chicken club sandwich.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., Jan. 31)

Ed Bark — 2008-02-01T09:33:19-06:00
In contrast, Fox4's defense of its 6 a.m. crown began on wobbly ground with an uncharacteristic third place finish in total homes and a second place performance among 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming. ...CNN's 7 to 9 p.m. Clinton-Obama debate drew 104,731 total homes, a big windfall for the network and good enough to beat the 8 to 9 p.m. portion of NBC's Celebrity Apprentice, which NBC just renewed for a second season.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., Jan. 30)

Ed Bark — 2008-01-31T11:25:19-06:00
Otherwise Belo8 grinned broadly, sweeping the 6 a.m. and 5, 6 and 10 p.m. local news competitions in total homes and among 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming. ...In the cable universe, CNN's four-way Republican presidential debate from the Reagan Library pulled in an average of 58,860 homes from 7 to 8:30 p.m. That easily bested regularly scheduled programming on rivals Fox News Channel and MSNBC.

CBS11 not the same old story under news director Scott Diener -- or at least that's the plan

Ed Bark — 2008-01-30T13:36:49-06:00
The station's four principal newscasts still have miles to go before hitting the top spot in the Nielsen ratings at 6 a.m. or 5, 6 and 10 p.m. But a pair of second place finishes in November -- in total homes at 6 and 10 p.m. -- are cause for at least guarded optimism on the eve of the four-week February sweeps, which begin Thursday. ..."I've worked with enough anchor teams and seen enough of them where the only time they ever talk to each other is that 30 minutes when the red (camera) light comes on. Then they leave that studio and they won't talk again unless they're yelling at each other.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., Jan. 29)

Ed Bark — 2008-01-30T09:37:53-06:00
Belo 8 then took the 10 p.m. news gold in total homes, but NBC5 edged into first place with 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming. The 6 a.m. war in total homes went to Fox4's Good Day (107,166 homes), which held off Belo8's Daybreak (102,295 homes) to win in that measurement for only the second time in the last seven weekdays.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., Jan. 28)

Ed Bark — 2008-01-29T10:41:06-06:00
Monday's prime-time schedule yielded in large part to President Bush's last State of the Union message, which with the Democratic response ran from 8 to 9:30 p.m. The audience for Bush on the four broadcast networks totaled 467,635 D-FW homes. ...And among advertiser-craved 18-to-49-year-olds, the Globetrotters ran third in the time period, beating both ABC's new episode of Dance War and Fox's repeat of Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., Jan. 25-27)

Ed Bark — 2008-01-28T12:45:31-06:00
In Friday's other news skirmishes, Belo8 again held serve at 10 p.m. in both measurements and also had twins at 6 p.m. But the 5 p.m. golds went to Fox4 in total homes and NBC5 among 25-to-54-year-olds. In prime-time Friday, it was a very dispiriting night for NBC's made-in-Austin Friday Night Lights, which drew a meager 41,405 D-FW homes for a new episode.

Aguilar still awaiting her fate at Fox4

Ed Bark — 2008-01-28T07:49:31-06:00
She also has a new picture (above), as do the rest of Fox4's reporters and anchors in an updated photo gallery. ..."Right now I can't say what's going on. But I will tell you I miss my job.

Early morning weather worries: What a blast

Ed Bark — 2008-01-25T10:52:50-06:00
Your faithful correspondent awoke from a fitful sleep well before 6 a.m. to see Belo8 reporter Jim Douglas gamely scraping a few ice shavings off a pylon in downtown Weatherford. ...Forecaster Garry Seith of sister station TXA21 chipped in, too, finding some icy "glaze" on a Weatherford pole while wearing a CBS11 ballcap that matched Jamison's.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., Jan. 24)

Ed Bark — 2008-01-25T10:52:18-06:00
It opened the night with a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders-infused first hour of Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?, which easily topped the 7 p.m. competition in total homes (238,689) and also won handily with 18-to-49-year-olds. ...A second hour of Smarter held strong to finish just a bit behind a CBS' CSI: Crime Scene Investigation repeat in total homes while whipping all comers in the 18-to-49 demo.

Shipp takes heat, rival stations pretend otherwise

Ed Bark — 2008-01-24T11:18:38-06:00
Michael Hinojosa with doing the right thing in making South Oak Cliff forfeit 2006 basketball title. By ED BARK Newspapers and Web sites of any worth routinely credit rivals for breaking big news stories. ...On Wednesday's 9 p.m. newscast he told viewers, "The grade change (was) made for one student at the campus level, sources tell us, by a principal and a teacher who are no longer at the school."

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., Jan. 23)

Ed Bark — 2008-01-24T10:07:04-06:00
By ED BARK Fox rolled through prime-time on the strength of American Idol and a provocative game show while Belo8's local newscasts stayed on a roll from early morning until late at night. ...Fox4's 9 p.m. local newscast (211,897 homes) also fared well, running a competitive second to CBS' new episode of CSI: NY in both Nielsen measurements.

CBS11 no longer House of Payne

Ed Bark — 2008-01-23T10:55:40-06:00
She had been a regular contributor since 2005 and most recently reported on Monday's Martin Luther King holiday parade in D-FW.... She also had a two year stay, from 1994 to 1996, at KETK-TV in Tyler, TX.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., Jan. 22)

Ed Bark — 2008-01-23T09:40:34-06:00
The continued presence of lame duck Daybreak co-anchor Justin Farmer, scheduled to leave for WSB-TV in Atlanta when his contract expires in July, doesn't seem to be a turnoff to viewers. ...At 9 p.m., NBC's new episode of Law & Order: SVU edged ABC's first-run Boston Legal in total homes and won more comfortably with 18-to-49-year-olds.

Guy and dolls

Ed Bark — 2008-01-23T07:49:57-06:00
So the puckish Schechter is a rising star at Belo8, continuing in the fine tradition of veteran Brad Watson, who induced Barbie dolls into the 2006 Texas gubernatorial campaign as a way of simplifying the issues to voters. ...Lego man and Belo8 reporter Craig Civale Build a replica of City Hall out of Legos and let one of its signature characters stand in for reporter Craig Civale.

Hello, Larry

Ed Bark — 2008-01-22T11:50:23-06:00
He threw down his first forecast with an almost surreal smoothness after anchors Doug Dunbar and Karen Borta welcomed the Orlando, FL import by giving viewers a look at his nine month old daughter, Regan. ...He's a pretty active temperature taker, too, using his hands as weather vanes while getting a bit closer to the camera than predecessor Kristine Kahanek, who for now remains in charge of the early evening weather segments.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., Jan. 21)

Ed Bark — 2008-01-22T09:53:17-06:00
Out of new episodes but still rerunning strong, David Caruso and his off/on shades were the night's top draw in D-FW, amassing 263,045 total homes in whipping a competing first-run episode of NBC's Medium and Fox4's 9 p.m. local newscast (165,621 homes apiece). ...A new episode of ABC's October Road ran a distant fourth at 9 p.m., but the network started the night strong by winning from 7 to 8 p.m. with the first hour of Dance War (161,967 homes).

Incoming at Belo8

Ed Bark — 2008-01-21T15:42:20-06:00
By ED BARK Two new reporters will join Belo8's news team in March, making the station "fully staffed" again, says news director Mike Valentine. ...A graduate of Syracuse University, Betz previously had "brief stints" at both Belo8 and WKTV-TV in Utica, NY, his WWL bio says.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., Jan. 18-20)

Ed Bark — 2008-01-21T11:17:16-06:00
The overall audience for the NFC championship game topped four regular season Cowboys games to finish 13th on that 16-game list behind the Dec. 22nd Cowboys-Panthers game on MY27 and cable's NFL Network (780,001 D-FW homes). ...In Friday's local newscast skirmishes, Belo8 took the gold at 10 p.m. in both total homes and with 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

NBC News execs turn their backs on Belo8's Byron Harris

Ed Bark — 2008-01-18T10:52:00-06:00
Belo8 investigator Byron Harris' prize-winning investigation of Dateline's "To Catch a Predator" series didn't sit well with NBC News executives at Wednesday's duPont-Columbia awards ceremony in New York. ...Harris, who couldn't immediately be reached Friday, earlier responded on this site to questions about whether his ABC affiliated station would have been as aggressive if the program were Dateline ABC.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., Jan. 17)

Ed Bark — 2008-01-18T09:44:31-06:00
NBC's Celebrity Apprentice barely registered with 70,632 homes at 8 p.m., and a new episode of the network's ER (131,522 homes) managed just a third-place finish opposite Trace and Fox4's 9 p.m. local newscast (197,284 homes). ...The 7 to 9 a.m. portion of Fox4's Good Day beat the three network morning shows among 25-to-54-year-olds, but lost to ABC's Good Morning America in total homes.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., Jan. 16)

Ed Bark — 2008-01-17T10:16:25-06:00
The concluding two hours of CBS' Comanche Moon miniseries held up well under the circumstances, averaging 241,124 homes overall and perking up after Idol ended at 9 p.m. The night's big loser, ABC's new Cashmere Mafia, managed just 97,424 homes at 9 p.m. to run fourth across the board. ...COMANCHE MOON 12-to-17-year-olds -- 406 (no, that's not a misprint) 18-to-34-year-olds -- 25,704 18-to-49-year-olds -- 110,369 25-to-54-year-olds -- 144,281 55 years and older -- 256,000

Out with the old, in with Young Street

Ed Bark — 2008-01-16T14:21:37-06:00
Canceled are the station's La Vida and Metro programs. Belo8 quietly has folded La Vida, aimed at Hispanic viewers, and Metro, which targeted a black audience. Its respective anchors, Henry Guerrero and Angelique Tege, now are co-anchoring the new Young Street, which premiered on Jan. 6th.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues. Jan. 15)

Ed Bark — 2008-01-16T09:09:43-06:00
The two-hour, seventh season premiere of American Idol predictably tore through the prime-time ratings Tuesday night, boosting Fox4's 9 p.m. local newscast to rarefied heights as well. ...But Terminator followed a mega-audience of more than one million homes for the Cowboys-Giants playoff game while Idol comparatively had to build from scratch off a lead-in from the syndicated Access Hollywood (121,780 homes).

On Wisconsin for CBS11's Beth Wagner

Ed Bark — 2008-01-16T08:49:47-06:00
By ED BARK CBS11 reporter and substitute anchor Beth Wagner is leaving the station to anchor early evening and late night newscasts at ABC affiliate WKOW-TV in Madison, WI. ...Video of that report is still on the Web, and of course subject to replay by Wagner's new employer.

Hansen again shows why the balls are in his court

Ed Bark — 2008-01-15T12:35:01-06:00
Dale Hansen, Wade Phillips and DMN columnist Jean-Jacques Taylor By ED BARK Dale Hansen just doesn't give a damn, and this has nothing to do with his on-air performance. ...Hansen, after noting the playoff struggles of numerous prominent coaches and quarterbacks, said the Cowboys "lost because they made too many mistakes in a game that doesn't allow many and didn't make the plays they needed in a game that demands some.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., Jan. 14)

Ed Bark — 2008-01-15T11:26:42-06:00
The action-soaked movie spinoff drew 197,284 D-FW homes to win the 8 to 9 p.m. hour overall and tie the closing half-hour of ABC's Dance War, which ended at 8:30 p.m. Terminator ran a close second among advertiser-craved 18-to-49-year-olds, with NBC's competing Deal or No Deal topping that measurement by just two-tenths of a rating point (6,309 viewers). ...Terminator, which went into production before the strike, has a limited number of episodes available and is scheduled to sign off -- for now at least -- with a two-hour March 3rd season finale.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., Jan. 11-13)

Ed Bark — 2008-01-14T10:35:23-06:00
Still, it drew a bigger crowd than a new episode of the lamentably under-appreciated Friday Night LIghts (60,890 homes), which had the night's smallest prime-time audience among the Big Four broadcast networks. Friday's local news wars went to Belo8 at 10 p.m. in both total homes and with 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., Jan. 10)

Ed Bark — 2008-01-11T11:54:52-06:00
Fox4's 9 p.m. local newscast ran a distant second (160,750), leaving a new hour of ABC's Big Shots (112,038 homes) with shrink-wrapped fourth-place ratings. ...In the 7 p.m. lead-off spot, a new edition of Fox's Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? edged ABC's firstrun Ugly Betty in both total homes and with 18-to-49-year-olds.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., Jan. 9)

Ed Bark — 2008-01-10T11:40:55-06:00
The spread sheets were virtually identical among 25-to-54-year-olds, with CBS11 again edging into first at 10 p.m. after a relatively insignificant lead-in advantage from CSI: NY. ...But it stopped Fox4's surge in the early morning, winning at 6 a.m. among 25-to-54-year-olds and losing by just one-tenth of a rating point in the total homes race.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., Jan. 8)

Ed Bark — 2008-01-09T10:00:07-06:00
The farcical fiasco drew just 121,780 D-FW homes to finish third from 8 to 10 p.m. It fared worse among advertiser-craved 18-to-49-year-olds, running fourth from 9 to 10 p.m. and beating only ABC's According to Jim and Carpoolers in the opening hour. ...The plus-sized lead-in from SVU fueled NBC5's 10 p.m. newscast (226,511 homes), which crunched runnerup Belo8 (170,492) and also won for the third straight weeknight among 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., Jan. 7)

Ed Bark — 2008-01-08T16:55:26-06:00
By ED BARK LSU's predictable spanking of Ohio State predictably controlled the prime-time ratings Monday, even if college football's national championship game drew roughly half the audience for a typical Dallas Cowboys outing. ...NBC's second helping of American Gladiators, which had socko ratings Sunday night, did reasonably well Monday with 160,750 homes from 7 to 8 p.m. Still, that made it the Peacock's least-watched attraction of the night, behind durable Deal or No Deal (187,541 homes) and the season premiere of Medium, which scared up 175,363 homes.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., Jan. 4-6)

Ed Bark — 2008-01-07T10:52:22-06:00
Its first hour (8 to 9 p.m.) tied a competing first-run episode of ABC's Desperate Housewives as prime-time's most-watched attraction among advertiser-craved 18-to-49-year-olds. ...Belo8 ran the table at 5 and 6 p.m. in both ratings measurements while Fox4 again did likewise at 6 a.m. The 7 to 9 a.m. portion of Fox4's Good Day also beat the competing network morning shows in both measurements to stretch its latest winning streak to two days.

Talking points in local TV news

Ed Bark — 2008-01-07T07:28:02-06:00
It can let Farmer and Izaguirre ride together for six more months and two more sweeps periods (February and May) before he heads to the city that made his father, Don Farmer, famous as both an anchor for WSB and CNN. ...As the station notes on its web site, though, he'll still be on the air from "time to time" and also will assist in the station's annual Santa's Helpers toy drive.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., Jan. 3)

Ed Bark — 2008-01-04T09:49:19-06:00
It slipped to 124,216 homes from 8 to 9 p.m. after its lead-in attraction, Deal Or No Deal, passed the baton with 197,284 homes in tow. ...In the local news derby, Belo8 again took first prizes at 5, 6 and 10 p.m. in both total homes and with 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

Easy for her to say: Cynthia Izaguirre makes Daybreak debut

Ed Bark — 2008-01-04T07:51:38-06:00
The latter could be the biggest hurdle facing new fans of Cynthia Izaguirre, who made a smooth, virtually flub-free Daybreak debut Friday morning with highly hospitable co-anchor Justin Farmer. ...That's a stark contrast to the station's 2005 re-launch of Daybreak, when Farmer and Jackie Hyland (now newly with WCBS-TV in New York) were pictured on miniature cereal boxes distributed to potential viewers.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., Jan. 2)

Ed Bark — 2008-01-03T11:57:31-06:00
The Fox telecast averaged 282,530 D-FW homes in whipping NBC's double-shot of new Law & Order episodes from 8 to 10 p.m. (192,412 homes). ...In the local news derby, Belo8 won at 5, 6 and 10 p.m. in both total homes and with 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Dec. 31-Jan. 1)

Ed Bark — 2008-01-02T11:02:49-06:00
Rose Bowl (ABC) -- Southern Cal crunches Illinois (284,965 homes) Cotton Bowl (Fox) -- Missouri thumps Arkansas in Dallas (219,204 homes) Sugar Bowl (Fox) -- Georgia filets Hawaii (204,590 homes) Capital One Bowl (ABC) -- Michigan edges Florida (170,492 homes) Gator Bowl (CBS) -- Texas Tech stages big comeback to beat Virginia (129,087 homes) Outback Bowl (ESPN) -- Tennessee nips the heroic lads from Wisconsin (43,841 homes) ...On New Year's Eve, CBS11 decided to count its 10 p.m. newscast, which ran second in total homes to Belo8 but fourth among 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Dec. 28-30)

Ed Bark — 2007-12-31T11:23:16-06:00
29 on MY27/NFL Network) -- 1,088,901 homes Cowboy-Patriots (Oct. 14 on CBS) -- 884,123 homes Cowboys-Bills (Oct. 8 on TXA21/ESPN) -- 856,896 homes Cowboys-Bears (Sept. 23 on NBC) -- 854,896 homes Cowboys-Vikings (Oct. 21 on Fox) -- 852,460 homes Cowboys-Eagles (Nov.... 18 on Fox) -- 801,312 homes Cowboys-Lions (Dec. 9 on Fox) -- 799,080 homes Cowboys-Panthers (Dec. 22 on MY27/NFL Network) -- 780,001 homes Cowboys-Redskins (Dec. 30 on Fox) -- 750,165 homes Cowboys-Rams (Sept. 30 on Fox) -- 650,305 homes Cowboys-Dolphins -- Sept. 16 on Fox) -- 625,949 homes Cowboys-Jets (Thanksgiving Day on CBS) -- 616,207 homes

Roach clip

Ed Bark — 2007-12-28T11:13:42-06:00
Most of America's consultant-goosed local TV news operations have gone the filthy, rotten restaurant route in years past or present. Here's a ham-handed promo for a vintage NBC5 stomach-turner.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Dec. 27)

Ed Bark — 2007-12-28T10:20:46-06:00
Aided by a commanding lead-in from Without A Trace, CBS11 edged Belo8 for the 10 p.m. lead in total homes. ...The 7 to 9 a.m. portion of Fox4's Good Day outpointed the three network morning shows in total homes but was nipped by NBC's Today in the 25-to-54 demo.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (holiday roundup, Dec. 21-26)

Ed Bark — 2007-12-27T10:06:25-06:00
On the day after Christmas, NBC5 won at 10 p.m. in both total homes and with 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming. ...Belo8 ran first in both ratings measurements at 6 p.m. NBC5 had a win in total homes at 5 p.m. and tied Belo8 for the top spot with 25-to-54-year-olds.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., Dec. 20)

Ed Bark — 2007-12-21T09:32:32-06:00
That put it fourth from 7 to 8 p.m. against a CSI: Crime Scene Investigation repeat on CBS (168,056 homes); a new Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? on Fox (143,700 homes) and the fourth installment of NBC's new Clash of the Choirs (102,295 homes). ...In the local news derby, Belo8 swept the 5,6 and 10 p.m. ratings in both total homes and with 25-to-54-year-olds, the key advertiser target audience for news programming.

Hello, I must be going

Ed Bark — 2007-12-20T12:34:24-06:00
Natasha Curry at Fox4 and with KOMO-TV in Seattle. Raquel Eatmon -- From reporter at CBS11 to WPMI-TV in Mobile, Alabama, where she then resigned after a short stay. ... Casey Stegall in his Good Day days and at Fox News Channel. Mary Stewart -- From CBS11 reporter to private life at the moment.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., Dec. 19)

Ed Bark — 2007-12-20T09:37:33-06:00
But those who dined over on ESPN were treated to some consistently stinging commentary from ex-Houston Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy, who called both Devin Harris and Amare Stoudemire floppers who shouldn't get many if any charging calls in their favor. ...At 7 p.m., the third night of ABC's big money game show Duel averaged 119,344 homes to beat the competing third night of NBC's Clash of the Choirs (98,642 homes in its first half-hour and 116,909 homes for the entire two hours).

2007's Top 10 developments in D-FW television

Ed Bark — 2007-12-19T11:17:02-06:00
NBC5 waited until Sept. 7th to make it a twosome, but its error-plagued stealth conversion may have turned more viewers off than on. CBS11 joined in on Sept. 23rd, making a smooth transition that stood in stark contrast to the Peacock's. ...Aguilar was escorted from the station's news room on the day after her exclusive televised interview with 70-year-old salvage yard owner James Walton, who'd shot and killed two intruders in the past three weeks.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., Dec. 18)

Ed Bark — 2007-12-19T09:28:33-06:00
Tuesday's biggest draw, a last-minute repeat of CBS' NCIS, drew 216,768 D-FW homes to beat the second outings of two competing newcomers, NBC's Clash of the Choirs (131,522 homes) and ABC's big-money game show Duel (112,038 homes). ...The latest finale of NBC's The Biggest Loser averaged 160,750 homes from 8 to 10 p.m. That was enough to beat both ABC and Fox, plus CBS' Cane at 9 p.m. The Unit put CBS in first from 8 to 9 p.m.

Local TV review: A Why Guy Family Christmas Special (Ch. 8)

Ed Bark — 2007-12-18T13:54:53-06:00
By ED BARK Somewhere between lame and likable lies A Why Guy Family Christmas Special. ...And Wednesday night's Why Guy effort will be followed by Every Little Bit Counts: A Family First Special with anchors John McCaa and Gloria Campos.

Belo8's Harris adds to trophy case

Ed Bark — 2007-12-18T10:46:59-06:00
Jurors lauded Harris for "an old-fashioned, gum-shoe investigation in the era of Internet sex and reality television, conducted with restraint and methodical reporting." One overriding question remains: Would Harris and WFAA-TV (Channel 8), an ABC affiliate, have proceeded with such zeal if the program were called Dateline ABC ?

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., Dec. 17)

Ed Bark — 2007-12-18T09:06:03-06:00
Elsewhere in prime-time, an original episode of CBS' CSI: Miami rolled up a league-leading 316,628 homes in pulverizing competition from Fox4's 9 p.m. newscast (121,780 homes), NBC's Journeyman (65,761 homes) and the locally produced Belo8 special Fighting For Life (43,841 homes). CBS11's 10 p.m. newscast then rode CSI's coattails to comfortable wins in both total homes (228,946) and with 25-to-54-year-olds (132,503).

Heather Hays and motherhood -- the sequel

Ed Bark — 2007-12-17T15:15:39-06:00
Santa Claus and Fox4 anchor Heather Hays' first child, Emmy, appear to be getting along well. By next Christmas, she'll have a sibling. By ED BARK Fox4 anchor Heather Hays, who became a mother for the first time on April 10, is preparing for an encore.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., Dec. 14-16)

Ed Bark — 2007-12-17T09:43:58-06:00
Those watching Saturday night's competing telecast of The Notebook on CBS (107,166 homes) had to be pissed at the jarring, snap-transition from movie's sentimental end to CSI promos. ...Fox4 took the 6 a.m. races in both audience measurements and again whipped the three network morning shows with the 7 to 9 a.m. portion of its Good Day.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., Dec. 13)

Ed Bark — 2007-12-14T09:34:59-06:00
It's one thing to win at 6 a.m., which Good Day did again Thursday in both total homes and with 25-to-54-year-olds, the key advertiser audience for news programming. ...In the other local news battlegrounds, Belo8 won at 6 p.m. in both ratings measurements and also ran first at 5 p.m. with 25-to-54-year-olds.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., Dec. 12)

Ed Bark — 2007-12-13T11:09:54-06:00
Elsewhere in prime-time, a new episode of ABC's much gushed over Pushing Daisies couldn't even beat the finale of CBS' much-ripped Kid Nation from 7 to 8 p.m. Kid drew 126,651 D-FW homes and Daisies had 99,860. ...The 7 to 9 a.m. portion of Good Day started a new winning streak against the three network morning shows by outpointing them in both total homes and with 25-to-54-year-olds.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., Dec. 11)

Ed Bark — 2007-12-12T09:27:26-06:00
By ED BARK Viewers staged their own Cane mutiny Tuesday on a mostly ho ho ho hum night in the D-FW Nielsens. ...The ABC station also placed first at 10 p.m. with 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

CW33's News at Nine: It's a talkie and in color

Ed Bark — 2007-12-11T12:06:18-06:00
CW33's Bob Goosmann, Dawn Tongish and Michael Rey By ED BARK There's another local newscast in D-FW. ...So does sports guy Bob Irzyk and, of course, live-wire weathercaster Bob Goosmann, a D-FW veteran who used to be the main temperature-taker at KTVT-TV (Channel 11) before CBS bought the station.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., Dec. 10)

Ed Bark — 2007-12-11T09:16:13-06:00
NBC5, which had a miserable November "sweeps" ratings book, rose from the lead-in dead Monday to take first place at 10 p.m. among 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming. ...Fox4 again won in both ratings measurements at 6 a.m. And for the third straight weekday, the 7 to 9 a.m. portion of its Good Day outdrew all three network morning shows.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., Dec. 7-9)

Ed Bark — 2007-12-10T09:24:43-06:00
NBC's Sunday Night Football game between the Indianapolis Colts and overmatched Baltimore Ravens averaged 211,897 homes to nip ABC's premiere of Oprah Winfrey Presents: Mitch Albom's For One More Day (202,155 homes). ...Fox4 again ran the table at 6 a.m. And the 7 to 9 a.m. portion of its Good Day won by unusually wide margins over the three network morning shows.

Pick a pair of KXAS promos

Ed Bark — 2007-12-07T10:56:27-06:00
In the Moody promo, you'll also get quick glimpses of reporter Karen Parfitt, who went on to become Republican powerbroker Karen Hughes, and evergreen entertainment reporter Bobbie Wygant....

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., Dec. 6)

Ed Bark — 2007-12-07T09:40:59-06:00
New episodes of NBC's Thursday night comedy quartet -- My Name Is Earl, 30 Rock, The Office and Scrubs -- trailed the Big Four network field from 7 to 9 p.m. Earl was the top draw, with just 92,553 D-FW homes. The local news wars turned out a bit differently for a change, although Belo8 still ruled the 10 p.m. roost in both total homes and with 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., Dec. 5)

Ed Bark — 2007-12-06T14:08:39-06:00
The 9 to 10 p.m. portion of the game managed to outpoint a mix of network first-run and repeat programming while also drawing the most advertiser-craved 18-to-49-year-olds. ...In the local news derby, score two more wins for Belo8 at 10 p.m., where the ABC station had another easy time of it in both total homes and with 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

Aguilar suspension aired out by Poynter

Ed Bark — 2007-12-06T06:35:57-06:00
Fox4 reporter Rebecca Aguilar's ongoing paid suspension, now in its eighth week, has prompted a pro-and-con discussion in a new Poynter Institute article. ...Station management remains in lockdown on the matter, declining all comment.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., Dec. 4)

Ed Bark — 2007-12-05T11:15:09-06:00
He even beat the network's naughty-but-nice Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in both total homes and with advertiser-craved 18-to-49-year-olds. ...In the local news derby, Belo8 again rolled up comfortable wins at 10 p.m. in total homes and with 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

There's no hugging in reporting

Ed Bark — 2007-12-04T14:10:55-06:00
Belo8's Debbie Denmon went out of bounds with Terrell Owens. By ED BARK It's a relatively minor infraction in the never-ending annals of on-air reporting. ...All of the TV reporters covering the event duly noted that Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo arrived without Jessica Simpson, supposedly his latest celebrity girlfriend after earlier sightings with Carrie Underwood and Britney Spears.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., Dec. 3)

Ed Bark — 2007-12-04T11:35:41-06:00
Fox4's 9 p.m. newscast had a solid night, beating firstrun episodes of ABC's October Road and NBC's Life in finishing second to a repeat of CBS' CSI: Miami. Belo8's locally produced and well-intended Gospel Jubilee special at 7 p.m. ran fourth in both total homes (82,810) and with 18-to-49-year-olds, the key advertiser target for entertainment programming.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., Nov. 30-Dec. 2)

Ed Bark — 2007-12-03T11:02:03-06:00
Fox's string-along, commercial-clogged BCS Selection Show, which ran from 6:51 to 7:30 p.m. Sunday, made a nice haul of 277,658 total homes. ...Saturday night's pivotal Big 12 championship game on ABC, won decisively by Oklahoma over Missouri, racked up fewer homes -- 233,818 -- than Fox's BCS B.S. That was still more than enough to easily sweep the prime-time ratings.

Nov. sweeps ratings odds & ends

Ed Bark — 2007-11-30T13:54:03-06:00
***The 7 to 9 a.m. portion of Fox's Good Day ran a close second to ABC's Good Morning America, but beat all three competing network a.m. shows among the two principal advertiser target audiences -- 18-to-49-year-olds and 25-to-54-year-olds. ...***The competitive 9 to 10 a.m. weekday slot found CBS11's Rachael Ray on top in total homes, followed closely by the third hour of NBC's Today and Belo8's homegrown Good Morning Texas.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., Nov. 29)

Ed Bark — 2007-11-30T09:35:15-06:00
The station's simulcast of the NFL Network's Cowboys-Packers game averaged 815,739 total homes from start -- 7:17 p.m. -- to finish -- 10:32 p.m. ...Those surprisingly robust numbers for NFL Network puts the grand total at 1,088,901, shattering the previous 2007 regular season record set by the Oct. 14th Cowboys-Patriots game on CBS (884,123 total homes).

Fielding a new D-FW All-Star team

Ed Bark — 2007-11-29T13:26:54-06:00
By ED BARK It's time to put the neck in a noose and name another D-FW all-star team of anchors and reporters. ...Choices are drawn from what unclebarky.com witnessed during 20 weeknights of watching the 10 p.m. newscasts on NBC5, Belo8 and CBS11, and the featured 9 p.m. program on Fox4.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Final Nov. sweeps results)

Ed Bark — 2007-11-29T09:34:57-06:00
Belo8 had comfortable twin wins at 5 and 6 p.m., replicating its performance from a year ago. It was the only station to increase its audience year-to-year in all four newscast battle zones. ...Here are the November sweeps results in the four major local newscast time slots, with year-to-year plusses or minuses in parentheses. (Note: there's been some ratings inflation since November, 2006.

This just in: a night in the lives of D-FW's late night newscasts (Tues., Nov. 27)

Ed Bark — 2007-11-28T12:36:05-06:00
NBC5 anchor Mike Snyder did say it was OK, though, to eat "one or two Christmas cookies" without contracting the ugly wrinkles that sugar can cause. ...Before teasing its exclusive "Shopping Center Shoot-out" surveillance video, Fox4 bragged about being "the only ones there" when a serial burglar named Corey Lee Caldwell was brought to jail.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., Nov. 27)

Ed Bark — 2007-11-28T09:16:33-06:00
The finale peaked in its final 15 minutes, when more than a half-million homes -- 511,476 -- tuned to the sight of Indy 500 race car champ Helio Castroneves jumping up and down with the show's trademark mirror ball trophy. ...The ABC station won at 6 a.m. and at 5 and 6 p.m. in both total homes and among 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

This just in: a night in the lives of D-FW's late night newscasts (Mon., Nov. 26)

Ed Bark — 2007-11-27T14:30:34-06:00
Reporter Rebecca Lopez then said that surveillance pictures taken at the Mockingbird and Abrams Tom Thumb show what seems to be the same black SUV leaving the scene of a purse snatching that occurred five days before Walsh was assaulted. ...It didn't merit such prominent play, but Blake made her dispatch memorable after anchor Dunbar said, "CBS11's Katherine Blake (is) live there tonight with the rest of this story."

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., Nov. 26)

Ed Bark — 2007-11-27T11:26:42-06:00
So much so that ESPN's virtually scoreless Monday night mudbath between the winless Miami Dolphins and underachieving Pittsburgh Steelers managed to outscore all of the 10 p.m. local newscasts. ...Monday's top draw, the fifth season's final performance edition of ABC's Dancing with the Stars, amassed 372,647 homes before the network's sliding scale of Samantha Who? (226,511 homes), Notes From the Underbelly (160,750 homes) and October Road (138,830 homes).

This just in: nights in the lives of D-FW's late night newscasts (Wed.-Fri., Nov. 21-23)

Ed Bark — 2007-11-26T11:20:29-06:00
Pre-Thanksgiving Wednesday brought anchor/reporter Maria Arita's less than skin deep, 10 p.m. piece on Butt-u-Tiful, a cellulite-fighting, coffee grounds-based concoction being marketed out of Flower Mound. ...In the key newscast target audience -- 25-to-54-year-olds -- look at the combined average audiences for the 10 p.m. news through 17 weeknights of the November "sweeps," which end on Wednesday:

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed.-Sun., Nov. 21-25)

Ed Bark — 2007-11-26T11:20:20-06:00
CBS11 counted all of its Wednesday newscasts, and also its Thanksgiving, 10 p.m. entry, where it placed first in both total homes and with 25-to-54-year-olds. Fox 4 threw out all of its Good Day hours for the three-day period, but otherwise counted its 5, 6 and 10 p.m. newscasts on Wednesday, and its 5 and 6 p.m. newscasts on Friday.

This just in: a night in the lives of D-FW's late night newscasts (Tues., Nov. 20)

Ed Bark — 2007-11-21T12:29:16-06:00
School records obtained by Belo8 indicate that one of the team's star players, Kendrake Johnigan, should have been bounced from the team for failing an English class, Shipp asserted. ...Enter the kid's ridiculous father, who told Kawano, "I don't particularly care for the look of the haircut myself, but he has the right of individuality and to present himself just like anybody else does.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., Nov. 20)

Ed Bark — 2007-11-21T09:05:09-06:00
By ED BARK Belo8 quick-stepped to another 10 p.m. news ratings win Tuesday while ABC's Dancing with the Stars results show again ruled the prime-time universe. ...Tuesday's Nielsens also saw Belo8 rout the competition at 10 p.m. in the 25-to-54 demo, with CBS11 falling into fourth place and hurting its chances against NBC5.

This just in: a night in the lives of D-FW's late night newscasts (Mon., Nov. 19)

Ed Bark — 2007-11-20T11:31:01-06:00
By ED BARK Live at the Improv, weatherman Pete Delkus and sports anchor Dale Hansen had a pseudo-gay old time again Monday night. ...Over on NBC5, new reporter Ellen Goldberg further advanced a story she's been ahead on. Last week's brutal assault of elementary school teacher Sheryl Walsh in a North Dallas Tom Thumb parking lot may have been preceded by the same assailant's purse-snatching at a Mesquite Albertson's, authorities believe.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., Nov. 19)

Ed Bark — 2007-11-20T09:13:13-06:00
The ABC station swept the 6 a.m. and 5, 6 and 10 p.m. Nielsens in both total homes and among 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming. ...Barring a mega-implosion, Belo8 already has locked up November "sweeps" wins at 5, 6 and 10 p.m. Now it's starting to look like a horse race in total homes at 6 a.m., where Belo8 lately has been closing in on frontrunning Fox4.

This just in: a night in the lives of D-FW's late night newscasts (Fri., Nov. 16)

Ed Bark — 2007-11-19T10:25:45-06:00
On the station's Friday 10 p.m. newscast, anchor Mike Snyder told viewers that reporter Meredith Land's interview with the widow of a deceased tanker truck driver had scooped the competition. ..."If you're not feeling well during the holidays, your Christmas tree may be to blame," he said before citing a study that said mold thrives on tree branches and could have an impact on allergy and asthma sufferers.

NBC5's Nigel Wheeler is musically inclined, too

Ed Bark — 2007-11-19T09:47:00-06:00
The NBC5 reporter is also known as vocalist Kali Green of Egress. By ED BARK NBC5 is promoting a 10 p.m. story Monday on one of its news personality's aspirations to become a "Rock Star." ...Also known as Kali Green on his band's Web site, Wheeler has been the lead vocalist of Dallas-based Egress since 2005.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., Nov. 16-18)

Ed Bark — 2007-11-19T09:46:53-06:00
NBC's Sunday Night Football later collided with ABC's American Music Awards, with the Patriots rout of the Bills drawing the biggest crowd from 7:15 to 9 p.m. The AMAs then took over, with Sunday Night Football barely beating CBS' third-place Shark in total homes from 9 to 10 p.m. ...The ABC station won at 5, 6 and 10 p.m. in both total homes and with 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

This just in: a night in the lives of D-FW's late night newscasts (Thurs., Nov. 15)

Ed Bark — 2007-11-16T10:34:12-06:00
By ED BARK A tragic, traffic-clogging oil tanker explosion and a lengthy investigation into lead-footed toy trucks figured prominently in Thursday's late night local news coverage. ...Belo8 immediately followed its extended tanker explosion coverage with David Schechter's likewise lengthy report on what he called "a shadowy chain of toy suppliers" funneling dangerous miniature trucks and other playthings to mostly mom-and-pop bargain stores.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., Nov. 15)

Ed Bark — 2007-11-16T09:41:02-06:00
By ED BARK Belo8 poured it on at 10 p.m. again while Fox4's Good Day gained some breathing room at 6 a.m. in its battle to keep the ABC station's Daybreak at bay. ...The thumping came in the face of lackluster lead-in numbers from ABC's Women's Murder Club, which got a test drive at 9 p.m. following the still potent Grey's Anatomy.

This just in: a night in the lives of D-FW's late night newscasts (Wed., Nov. 14)

Ed Bark — 2007-11-15T13:04:10-06:00
Fox4's Jeff Crilley and CBS11's Ginger Allen CBS11 investigator Ginger Allen had a story that went heavily against the grain of all those Montana Mania spending sprees. ...***CBS11's Jay Gormley led the station's newscast with an exclusive story on the alleged sexual assault of a 12-year-old girl by a same-aged boy while they were enroute to classes on a school bus.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., Nov. 14)

Ed Bark — 2007-11-15T09:49:35-06:00
In Wednesday's results, Belo8 won at 5, 6 and 10 p.m. in total homes and among 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming. ...TOTAL HOMES Belo8 -- 238,689 CBS11 -- 180,234 NBC5 -- 136,394 Fox4 -- 99,860 (Note: each rating point equals 24,356 homes under Nielsen's recently updated measurements.)

This just in: a night in the lives of D-FW's late night newscasts (Tues., Nov. 13)

Ed Bark — 2007-11-14T14:46:32-06:00
Fox4, Belo8 and CBS11 all played catchup Tuesday night on the brutal, broad daylight beating of elementary school teacher Sheryl Walsh, who was left for dead in a North Dallas Tom Thumb parking lot Friday by a thief who also apparently stole her purse. ...***NBC5's Randy McIlwain, lately a featured reporter on the station's late nighter, led Tuesday's edition with an interesting piece on spoiled meat that looks red and fresh when preserved with carbon monoxide.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., Nov. 13)

Ed Bark — 2007-11-14T09:02:29-06:00
Belo8 again was King Tut at 10, and also the only station to demonstrate any sort of brand loyalty by building on an already robust lead-in from ABC's Boston Legal. ...And ABC's Dancing with the Stars results show again cleaned up in prime-time, ranking as Tuesday's top draw in both total homes and with 18-to-49-year-olds, the key measurement for entertainment programming.

This just in: a night in the lives of D-FW's late night newscasts (Mon., Nov. 12)

Ed Bark — 2007-11-13T13:50:58-06:00
Adrian's springboard was Dallas driver Dan Seago, a proponent of the cameras who nonetheless believes that the caution lights are getting shorter and more dangerous at intersections where a picture is worth a considerable fine. ...***CBS11 seemed to revisit the Regent Ducas approach to 10 p.m. news content (he was fired as news director in early September) with wacky footage of an upset, pedestrian-pushing dentist in White Plans, NY; a "luminous blue vision" caught by gasoline station security cameras; and a runaway kangaroo.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., Nov. 12)

Ed Bark — 2007-11-13T11:34:32-06:00
It also ran behind Fox4 at 10 p.m. in both homes and with 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming. ...In prime-time, the "November finale" of Fox's Prison Break, scheduled to return in mid-January, ran third overall in total homes behind ABC's still dominant Dancing with the Stars and the CBS' comedies How I Met Your Mother and Big Bang Theory.

This just in: a night in the lives of D-FW's late night newscasts (Fri., Nov. 9)

Ed Bark — 2007-11-12T09:37:20-06:00
CBS11's Robert Riggs and Dallas Morning News publisher Jim Moroney By ED BARK Members of Belo Corp's ruling kingdom traditionally move at Warp speed when it's ass-covering time. ...Riggs, who had a long career at Belo-owned WFAA-TV (Channel 8) before joining CBS11 in 2002, said on Friday's 6 p.m. newscast that the The News began working on the story after its executives were asked by CBS11 about the effect that such preferential treatment might have on news coverage of UT Southwestern.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., Nov. 9-11)

Ed Bark — 2007-11-12T09:37:10-06:00
In other prime-time results Sunday, Fox's The Simpsons stayed strong by beating all competing programming from 7 to 7:30 p.m. in the advertiser-craved 18-to-49-year-old demographic. ...Friday's local newscast derby found Belo8 in its accustomed top spot at 10 p.m. in both total homes and with 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

This just in: a night in the lives of D-FW's late night newscasts (Thurs., Nov. 8)

Ed Bark — 2007-11-09T13:20:41-06:00
Belo8 reporter Gary Reaves and you-know-who. Over on Belo8, two veterans double-teamed controversial Cowboys defensive lineman Tank Johnson, who was dropped in the off-season by the Chicago Bears after numerous run-ins with the law. ...What it didn't need Thursday night was Brian Curtis' very labored treatise on the dangers of household cleaners or newcomer Lindsay Wilcox's look at a so-called "Gotta Have It" weight loss stimulant called the Body Bugg.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., Nov. 8)

Ed Bark — 2007-11-09T09:06:26-06:00
CBS11 had good news at 6 p.m., too, where it posted a rare win with 25-to-54-year-olds and ran a strong second to Belo8 in total homes. ...The CBS Evening News with Katie Couric outdrew both of its network competitors among 25-to-54-year-olds and ran second in total homes behind ABC's World News with Charles Gibson.

This just in: a night in the lives of D-FW's late night newscasts (Wed., Nov. 7)

Ed Bark — 2007-11-08T13:39:27-06:00
But Tuesday's segment was just a finger lickin' good appetizer for Wednesday's lead story on whether Kenneth and Gloria Copeland ever even see the "prayer requests" they solicit from the faithful. ...Fox4 began its 9 p.m. newscast with reporter Jason Overstreet's piece on a woman who's now on life support after nearly drowning in an Iron Man charity event.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., Nov. 7)

Ed Bark — 2007-11-08T09:58:27-06:00
Belo8 drew 294,708 total homes at 10 p.m. and 226,730 in the 25-to-54-year-old age group (main advertiser target audience for news programming). CBS11, coming off a decent-sized but distant second place lead-in from CSI: NY, had 204,590 homes and 106,190 viewers in the 25-to-54 demo.

This just in: a night in the lives of D-FW's late night newscasts (Tues., Nov. 6)

Ed Bark — 2007-11-07T14:02:23-06:00
Sometimes, though, Wal-Mart has to take the bad with the good on NBC5, which recently had a Scott Gordon report on entranceway Halloween decorations that supposedly terrorized a young mother's little children. ...All rulings are final, with Fox4's sports staff making the calls while viewers are encouraged to weigh in. It's not going to be all that easy down the stretch, especially with these Cowboys still in play: Roger Staubach, Randy White, Tony Dorsett, Drew Pearson, Emmitt Smith, Michael Irvin, Troy Aikman, Bob Hayes, Ed "Too Tall" Jones, Charles Haley, Cliff Harris, Charlie Waters, Bob Lilly and Darren Woodson.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., Nov. 6)

Ed Bark — 2007-11-07T09:19:31-06:00
Its usual strong performance at 10 p.m. was coupled with a second straight weekday atop the 6 a.m. ratings in both total homes and with 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming. ...NBC5, benefiting from its network's only dependably strong lead-in (Law & Order: SVU), ran second at 10 p.m. in both ratings measurements to gain a bit of ground on CBS11 in the battle for November's runnerup spot.

This just in: a night in the lives of D-FW's late night newscasts (Mon., Nov. 5)

Ed Bark — 2007-11-06T16:25:12-06:00
No, Terminix said it didn't know, so Alonzo has been terminated after Oliver found he had marked "No" on his pest control license applications to the question of whether he'd ever been arrested. ...Monday's worthiest investigation came from Belo8's Brett Shipp, who had another followup on his year-long, off-and on-look at faulty natural gas pipe connections that have led to explosions and several deaths.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., Nov. 5)

Ed Bark — 2007-11-06T08:41:42-06:00
Presented with a do-nothing lead-in from its network's Journeyman, the Peacock burrowed into fourth place Monday night in both the total homes and 25-to-54-year-old Nielsens.... TOTAL HOMES CBS 11 -- 224,075 (after inheriting 340,984 from the last 15 minutes of CSI: Miami) Belo8 -- 219,204 (236,253 from The Bachelor) Fox4 -- 107,166 (97,424 from 9 p.m. local news) NBC5 -- 99,860 (48,712 from Journeyman)

This just in: a night in the lives of D-FW's late night newscasts (Fri., Nov. 2)

Ed Bark — 2007-11-05T10:49:54-06:00
CBS11's Clif Caldwell, a veteran who formerly worked the night shift on NBC5, did the best job of detailing the almost exclusively black Hamilton Park neighborhood's ongoing debate about selling most of its homes en masse to a developer. ...The Peacock led Friday's newscast with reporter Scott Gordon's piece on an 82-year-old Farmer's Branch woman who's facing city fines for a string of dubious violations such as keeping her Christmas lights up past the holiday season.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., Nov. 2-4)

Ed Bark — 2007-11-05T10:49:42-06:00
Dallas' third game this season on NBC's Sunday Night Football averaged 832,569 homes to rank fourth among the season's eight regular season games. ...Friday's local newscast derby, on day two of the November "sweeps," put Belo8 in charge at 5, 6 and 10 p.m. in both total homes and among 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

This just in: a night in the lives of D-FW's late night newscasts (Thurs., Nov. 1)

Ed Bark — 2007-11-02T11:40:38-05:00
The veteran Night Ranger had told viewers Wednesday about "Miracle Girl" Kaitlyn Wade of Arlington, who returned home to a hero's welcome Thursday after recovering from horrific injuries caused by an alleged drunk driver. ...The two found more evidence of leaks, and of seeming Atmos negligence despite the company's official statement that it had "responded in person to more than 1,500 concerned customers" after Shipp's first report on the matter.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., Nov. 1 -- first night of "sweeps")

Ed Bark — 2007-11-02T09:01:43-05:00
The ABC station rose from basically nothing, though, after its network's Big Shots drew a very smallish 107,166 homes from 9:45 to 10 p.m. ...In prime-time, CBS' Without A Trace drew the most total homes Thursday night (270,352), but ABC's Grey's Anatomy was tops with 18-to-49-year-olds (182,900), the key advertiser target audience for entertainment programming.

Daybreak derby: it looks like a four-woman field

Ed Bark — 2007-11-01T12:36:07-05:00
Belo8ers Alexa Conomos, Debbie Denmon, Shelly Slater, Macie Jepson By ED BARK Daybreak co-anchor Jackie Hyland began her last ratings "sweeps" month with the program Thursday before an announced departure at the end of November to be with her family in New York. ...The always upbeat Texas native and University of North Texas grad joined Belo8 in 2000, and had a previous tenure on Daybreak before Hyland and Justin Farmer took over in fall 2005.

Belo8 business ticker

Ed Bark — 2007-11-01T12:14:32-05:00
He has a winning sense of humor, evidenced by his guest-starring appearance on the Belo-produced Gordon Keith Show as a semi-tyrranical bossman who chased the rascally host from his office. The changes were announced Wednesday on Belo8's 10 p.m. newscast immediately after weatherman Pete Delkus passed out Halloween candy to anchors John McCaa and Gloria Campos.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., Oct. 31)

Ed Bark — 2007-11-01T11:12:37-05:00
Hand-held calculator technology says that's a combined 175,364 homes, good enough to run a competitive third overall opposite the 7 to 9 p.m. entertainment lineups on ABC and CBS. Dallas fared better with advertiser-craved 18-to-49-year-olds, outpointing all network programming from 7 to 8 p.m. and tying ABC's Private Practice for the top spot in the 8 to 9 p.m. slot.

Fox4 still mulling decision on Aguilar

Ed Bark — 2007-11-01T10:17:26-05:00
Aguilar, a 13-year-veteran of the station, was ordered to leave the Fox4 newsroom on Oct. 16th after her controversial parking lot interview with 70-year-old James Walton, who was buying a new shotgun at a sporting good store after killing two would-be burglars in three weeks time at his West Dallas salvage business. ...A well-placed insider at Fox4, who also requested anonymity, confirmed and clarified the later disciplinary actions taken against three off-camera Fox4 staffers who also were involved with the story.

Books by Jim Lehrer: it's now quite a stack

Ed Bark — 2007-10-31T15:02:41-05:00
At 228 pages, it's another breeze of a read from a native Kansan who cut his journalism teeth in Dallas at The Dallas Times-Herald, The Dallas Morning News and KERA-TV's groundbreaking Newsroom program. ...Lehrer says that Rather might have saved his CBS Evening News anchor job and much of his reputation by immediately telling viewers that the network would investigate intense allegations that it had televised a fraudulent story on George W.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., Oct. 30)

Ed Bark — 2007-10-31T11:12:36-05:00
In prime-time, Dancing with the Stars' unexpected eviction of "Cheetah Girl" Sabrina Bryan again was Tuesday's top draw in both total homes (314,192) and among 18-to-49-year-olds (158,100), the preferred advertiser audience for non-news programming. ...ABC's pair of Charlie Brown specials (7 to 8 p.m.) placed a solid second in both ratings measurements, behind CBS' competing and also amazingly resilient NCIS.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., Oct. 29)

Ed Bark — 2007-10-30T11:29:57-05:00
TOTAL HOMES 9:45 to 10 p.m. lead-in (CSI: Miami) -- 338,584 homes CBS11 news -- 204,590 homes ...The sainted Green Bay Packers overtime win at Denver, featuring ESPN's virtually non-stop canonization of QB Brett Favre, drew 309,321 total homes from 10 to 10:30 p.m. This longtime Pack fan and Wisconsin native went to bed elated, but still a bit nauseated by all the Favre adulation.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., Oct. 26-28)

Ed Bark — 2007-10-29T12:57:12-05:00
The Boston Red Sox sweep of the Colorado Rockies ran third from 8 to 10 p.m. in D-FW, with ABC's lineup of Desperate Housewives and Brothers & Sisters topping the field in total homes while CBS ran second with Cold Case and Shark. ...In Friday's local news derby, Belo8 returned to the winner's circle after a one-night absence with wins in both total homes and with 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

Emmy-palooza: Belo8 makes the biggest night of it

Ed Bark — 2007-10-29T05:55:08-05:00
By ED BARK Late night pizza and lottery tickets were served and multiple models seemingly had walked at least a mile in their high-heeled shoes. ...Still, five o'clock shadows eventually were overtaken by 10 p.m. stubble during an event that kicked off with a 5:30 p.m. cocktail reception and ended as Saturday Night Live was starting.

Hyland will remain an early riser through November "sweeps"

Ed Bark — 2007-10-26T13:42:22-05:00
By ED BARK The search for Jackie Hyland's replacement has started, although the Daybreak co-anchor will stay with the program until the end of the November "sweeps" ratings period, which begins Thursday. ...News of Hyland's departure broke earlier this month while unclebarky.com took a hiatus to attend family events in the Midwest.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., Oct. 25)

Ed Bark — 2007-10-26T09:57:36-05:00
From 8 to 10 p.m., the Series was outdrawn by ABC's league-leading Grey's Anatomy (299,579 homes) and CBS' combo of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (245,996) and Without A Trace (231,382). ...In the local news derby, NBC5 won a close three-way contest at 10 p.m. in total homes and had a more comfortable winning margin with 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

Putting Rebecca Aguilar in perspective -- and ready to take the heat

Ed Bark — 2007-10-25T11:58:44-05:00
Because baby, there are lots of bubbleheaded Barbie and Ken dolls out there in times when even busty, former wrestling vixens say they aspire to be the next generation's Katie Couric (a k a Fox's truncated, one-episode Anchorwoman). ...It's also clear that Walton is a man who can take care of himself, even though a number of commenters seem intent on characterizing him as a poor, fragile old man at the mercy of a pit bull.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., Oct. 24)

Ed Bark — 2007-10-25T09:56:16-05:00
That put it in third place from 8 to 9 p.m., well behind CBS' Criminal Minds and just a smidgen lower than ABC's Private Practice. ...Baseball fared worse among advertiser-craved 18-to-49-year-olds, beating NBC's Bionic Woman and Life from 8 to 10 p.m., but beaten in turn by the two CBS crime series, Private Practice and ABC's Dirty Sexy Money.

Rebecca Aguilar: Speaking out after a draining week "in limbo"

Ed Bark — 2007-10-24T12:18:50-05:00
Aguilar's Oct. 15th piece on 70-year-old property defender James Walton, who had just purchased a new shotgun outside a sporting goods store, prompted a flurry of bloggers and blog readers to brand her as bigoted, anti-gun, an ambusher and a "bitch" among kinder assessments. ... In much happier times, Aguilar accepted her NAHJ award at an Oct. 4 ceremony in Washington, D.C. The organization has denounced her suspension in a three-page letter to Fox4 management. Someone else called, too, via a cell phone text message a minute or so after the story first aired.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Oct. 12-23)

Ed Bark — 2007-10-24T12:18:25-05:00
Comment: It doesn't take an Einstein -- or even an Uncle Barky -- to deduce that Belo8 has returned to its late night dominance of old, particularly in total homes. ...Smallish lead-ins from the CBS Evening News are its biggest obstacle, although Katie Couric lately is closing the gap in D-FW on Brian Williams' NBC Nightly News.

Brown, you're doin' a heckuva job

Ed Bark — 2007-10-12T12:01:13-05:00
Belo8 jesters Gloria Campos, Dale Hansen and Pete Delkus By ED BARK Fat and happy in the Nielsens on most nights, Belo8's 10 p.m. anchors keep showing they can be slap-happy, too. ...The brown power-white power hijinks ironically came on the same day that CNN's 7 p.m. Out in the Open program originated live from Irving with a discussion of the city's "recent stepped-up immigration enforcement."

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., Oct. 11)

Ed Bark — 2007-10-12T11:06:26-05:00
It obviously helps when your 9:45 to 10 p.m. lead-in is CBS' Without A Trace (272,787 homes) instead of NBC's ER (160,750) or ABC's Big Shots (138,829). ...Belo8 had twin wins at 5 p.m. and also edged the Peacock in total homes at 6 p.m. The two stations tied for the top spot at the later hour in the 25-to-54 demo.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., Oct. 10)

Ed Bark — 2007-10-11T11:22:35-05:00
Sad to report, Fox's reliably funny Back to You finished far back at 7 p.m. It placed fifth in total homes and fourth (barely ahead of CBS' Kid Nation) with 18-to-49-year-olds. ...Fox4 also ran first at 5 p.m. with 25-to-54-year-olds and tied Belo8 for the top spot in that measurement at 6 p.m. Belo8 had the edge in total homes at both hours.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., Oct. 9)

Ed Bark — 2007-10-10T10:04:46-05:00
Belo8's 10 p.m. news corralled Tuesday's second biggest audience in total homes (270,352) and also had an easy time of it among 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming. ...Fox4 also had a better than usual go of it at 5 and 6 p.m. It had twin wins at the earlier hour and tied Belo8 for first at 6 p.m. with 25-to-54-year-olds.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., Oct. 8)

Ed Bark — 2007-10-09T10:28:55-05:00
Let's get right to the tote board for a Cowboys-Bills game that began at 7:40 p.m. Monday and ended in near miracle fashion at 10:57 p.m. ...It peaked at 372,647 total homes between 7:30 to 7:45 p.m., when it had a 23 percent share of all sets in use.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., Oct. 5-7)

Ed Bark — 2007-10-08T09:34:12-05:00
Fox4 again ruled the roost at 6 a.m. And the 7 to 9 a.m. portion of its Good Day whipped the three network morning shows in both ratings measurements for the fourth straight weekday. Belo8 had twin wins at 6 p.m. and also ran first in total homes at 5 p.m. Fox4 took the the top spot at 5 p.m. with 25-to-54-year-olds.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., Oct. 4)

Ed Bark — 2007-10-05T11:11:10-05:00
Survivor: China (CBS) -- 111,600 My Name Is Earl (NBC) and Smallville (CW) -- 89,900 30 Rock (NBC) -- 86,800 Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader? (Fox) -- 83,700 Ugly Betty (ABC) -- 77,500 At 8 p.m. ABC's Grey's Anatomy knocked off CBS' CSI: Crime Scene Investigation in both ratings measurements, in each case drawing the largest audiences of the night.

The horror, the horror

Ed Bark — 2007-10-04T10:33:25-05:00
Longtime night ranger Scott Gordon, who looks like he really needs a long rest from all this, told viewers that "what they saw right inside the front door left them with nightmares." ...But NBC5 lately is on a downhill slide in the ratings, so even its usual low standards for news seem to be getting a further downshift.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., Oct. 3)

Ed Bark — 2007-10-04T09:38:57-05:00
The fanciful "forensic fairytale" also topped the field among advertiser-craved 18-to-49-year-olds, as did ABC's following Private Practice and Dirty Sexy Money. CBS' older-skewing CSI: NY won in total homes at 9 p.m., though, providing CBS11's 10 p.m. newscast with another substantial lead-in advantage.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., Oct. 2)

Ed Bark — 2007-10-03T10:59:30-05:00
Then ABC's Boston Legal mopped up, controlling the 9 p.m. slot with 287,401 homes opposite NBC's Law & Order: SVU (175,363) and CBS' new Cane (141,264), which also ran behind Fox4's local newscast in total homes. Belo8's local news again flexed at 10 p.m., with its three competitors bunched together in a relatively close fight for a distant second in both total homes and among 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

5 vs. 11: It's sure looking like a serious contest for second place

Ed Bark — 2007-10-02T14:08:41-05:00
Its hold on second place has been slip-sliding away in the face of a still-struggling NBC network and a very clumsy conversion to HD that's still without companion widescreen pictures from the field. ...Live crime reporting is still a staple of all four major players at 10 p.m. But what you do with the rest of the newscast can still make a difference.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., Oct. 1)

Ed Bark — 2007-10-02T11:07:15-05:00
The night's only new series premiere, The CW's favorably reviewed Aliens In America, managed 68,197 homes from 7:30 to 8 p.m. That build slightly on a lead-in audience from the season premiere of Everybody Hates Chris. ...The Peacock overcame another sizable lead-in disadvantage to run second behind a still flexing Belo8 in both homes and among 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., Sept. 28-30)

Ed Bark — 2007-10-01T09:46:14-05:00
And the 7 to 9 a.m. portion of Good Day easily outpointed the three network morning shows in both ratings measurements, despite a heavily hyped live concert by Bruce Springsteen on NBC's Today. Belo8 ran the table at 5 and 6 p.m. for a second consecutive weekday, although it barely nipped a slowly improving CBS11 in the 6 p.m. competition for 25-to-54-year-olds.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., Sept. 27)

Ed Bark — 2007-09-28T12:05:07-05:00
Saddled with a third-place finish from ER in both total homes and advertiser-favored 25-to-54-year-olds, NBC5 again ran third at 10 p.m. on Thursday night. ...Thursday's heavyweight prime-time fight, between the season premieres of ABC's Grey's Anatomy and CBS' CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, ended with the sleep-around docs handily beating the forensics experts in both total homes and among 18-to-49-year-olds, the key advertiser target audience for non-news programming.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., Sept. 26)

Ed Bark — 2007-09-27T10:48:13-05:00
That makes Bionic Woman the night's big winner in terms of both improving on its lead-in and winning the 8 to 9 p.m. slot among advertiser-craved 18-to-49-year-olds. ...Belo8, with a decent lead-in from Dirty Sexy Money, again topped the 10 p.m. field in both total homes and 25-to-54-year-olds, the key target audience for news programming.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., Sept. 25)

Ed Bark — 2007-09-26T09:47:05-05:00
The 8 p.m. season premiere of Fox's House ran a game second in both total homes and with 18-to-49-year-olds, respectively drawing 175,363 and 99,200. ...Tuesday night's other freshman series debut, The CW's Reaper, managed just 36,534 homes from 8 to 9 p.m. And it had a piddling 6,200 viewers in the 18-to-49 demo.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., Sept. 24)

Ed Bark — 2007-09-25T11:06:07-05:00
TOTAL HOMES Dancing with the Stars (ABC) -- 353,162 CSI: Miami (CBS) -- 316,628 Monday Night Football (ESPN) -- 265,480 Two and a Half Men (CBS) -- 214,333 Rules of Engagement (CBS) -- 197,284 Heroes (NBC) -- 189,977 The Bachelor (ABC) -- 170,492 Journeyman (NBC) -- 153,443 The Big Bang Theory (CBS) -- 146,136 How I Met Your Mother (CBS) -- 141,265 Chuck (NBC) -- 131,522 K-Ville (Fox) -- 97,424 Prison Break (Fox) -- 87,682 18-to-49-YEAR-OLDS Monday Night Football -- 204,600 Dancing with the Stars -- 170,500 Heroes -- 147,250 CSI: Miami -- 146,940 Rules of Engagement -- 120,900 The Bachelor -- 117,800 Two and a Half Men -- 114,700 The Big Bang Theory -- 96,100 How I Met Your Mother -- 93,620 Chuck -- 92,380 Journeyman -- 83,700 Prison Break -- 65,100 K-Ville -- 43,400

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., Sept. 21-23)

Ed Bark — 2007-09-24T09:48:17-05:00
The Cowboys also were a Colossus among among advertiser-coveted 18-to-49-year-olds, drawing 644,800 of 'em. Fox's 7 p.m. season premiere of The Simpsons and ABC's Desperate Housewives clip show tied for second place with 18-to-49-year-olds, totaling 111,600 apiece. ...Fox4 took first place in both rating measurements at 6 a.m., and Belo8 did likewise at 5 p.m. The ABC station also won at 6 p.m. in total homes and tied with NBC5 at that hour among 25-to-54-year-olds.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., Sept. 20)

Ed Bark — 2007-09-21T10:24:23-05:00
The Oprah downturn has loosened Belo8's grip on the 5 p.m. news ratings, with Fox4 creeping into contention of late, particularly among sought-after 25-to-54-year-olds. ...Fox's 8 p.m. attraction, Don't Forget the Lyrics!, made a strong showing, taking the time slot among 18-to-49-year-olds and running second to CSI in total homes.

Local TV notes: GMA spotlights Belo8's Janet St. James

Ed Bark — 2007-09-20T10:30:41-05:00
James, the late Carter Albrecht and Diane Sawyer By ED BARK Ace Belo8 medical reporter Janet St. ...James reprised her locally televised look into possible side effects from the drug Chantix, which Dallas musician/singer Carter Albrecht was taking in an effort to stop smoking.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., Sept. 19)

Ed Bark — 2007-09-20T08:57:13-05:00
By ED BARK Fox's Back to You, marking the prime-time returns of Kelsey Grammer and Patricia Heaton, fought off CBS' competing and controversial Kid Nation Wednesday on the fall season's first big night of new series premieres. ...GG fared better with 18-to-34-year-olds, though, drawing 14,459 of 'em to finish in a virtual three-way first place tie with CBS' Criminal Minds repeat and ABC's Come Rain or Come Shine: From Grey's Anatomy to Private Practice.

Local TV notes: Tarnation (who says that anymore?)

Ed Bark — 2007-09-19T12:02:13-05:00
Belo8's Troy Dungan and old-time cowboy sidekick Gabby Hayes By ED BARK Belo8 isn't quite on the cutting edge with its newest feature on infomercial-infused Good Morning Texas. ..."I've been doing this for 40 years, and that's 10 years too long in this business," Brown told the Dallas Business Journal in a 1998 story.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., Sept. 18)

Ed Bark — 2007-09-19T10:49:35-05:00
By ED BARK This very rarely happens, but a repeat of Fox's new K-Ville series had appreciably better ratings in D-FW than the previous night's premiere. ...K-Ville drew more 18-to-49-year-olds than CBS' finale of Big Brother 8 and the first hour of ABC's Elvis Presley in Vegas special.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., Sept. 17)

Ed Bark — 2007-09-18T10:28:18-05:00
It drew just 70,632 total homes to run fourth from 7 to 8 p.m. behind NBC's season premiere of Deal or No Deal (155,878 homes), ABC's Wife Swap repeat (104,731) and CBS's reruns of How I Met Your Mother (102,295) and Old Christine (112,038). ...The debut of Fox's set-in-New Orleans K-Ville made a stronger showing in total homes (119,344), running second overall behind reruns of Two and a Half Men and Rules of Engagement on CBS.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., Sept. 14-16)

Ed Bark — 2007-09-17T10:16:32-05:00
Still, the country cute reality series managed more total homes than NBC's competing Las Vegas repeat and Belo8's locally produced and very well done The Cost of War: The Texas Toll. The 8 to 9 p.m. slot was "won" by a rerun of CBS' Jericho in total homes and Las Vegas among 18-to-49-year-olds.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., Sept. 13)

Ed Bark — 2007-09-14T10:23:49-05:00
But the president barely improved on the lead-in from ABC's Ugly Betty repeat and also drew a bigger crowd than the closing 15 minutes of NBC's 30 Rock rerun. ...A two-way battle between NBC5 and Fox4 was won by the Peacock in both total homes and with 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

Flooring it: Cuban primed for takeoff on Dancing with the Stars

Ed Bark — 2007-09-13T09:33:12-05:00
No, it's Kym Johnson and Mark Cuban. Photos: Ed Bark By ED BARK Barely two-and-a-half months removed from hip replacement surgery, Mark Cuban gets airborne for a heel click while prepping for Dancing with the Stars. ... "You are now becoming a born dancer," Johnson tells her TV beau. However Cuban fares, he can't do any better than fellow Dallas sports figure Emmitt Smith.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., Sept. 12)

Ed Bark — 2007-09-13T08:53:47-05:00
By ED BARK It's topsy turvy at 10 p.m., where CBS11's newscast won in total homes Wednesday while Belo8 ran last. ...Fox4 won at 6 a.m. in total homes, but Belo8 prevailed for the third straight day among 25-to-54-year-olds.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., Sept. 11)

Ed Bark — 2007-09-12T09:31:59-05:00
From 7 to 8 p.m., Loser ran third in total homes behind CBS' Power of 10 game show and two half-hours of ABC's slapped together Just For Laughs. ...Tuesday's first-run Oprah ran behind Fox4's double dose of Judge Judy in both total homes and with 25-to-54-year-olds.

Rash decision

Ed Bark — 2007-09-11T23:10:21-05:00
Fox4's Brandon Todd got Wal-Mart to toe the line on flip-flops By ED BARK D-FW television reporters have a knack for prompting national product recalls. ...The discount chain announced the decision Tuesday (Sept. 11) after Todd's earlier story on a Gun Barrel City woman who developed a rash in the same design as the footwear, which she bought for a dollar.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., Sept. 10)

Ed Bark — 2007-09-11T12:16:45-05:00
Meanwhile, TNT's third season finale of The Closer drew 82,810 total homes from 8 to 9 p.m., beating reruns of both Fox's Prison Break and NBC's Heroes. ...premiere of cheeky Hollywood tattler TMZ on Fox4 ran fourth in total homes with 73,068 of 'em. But it popped up to second place with advertiser-craved 18-to-49-year-olds, edging both ABC's Nightline and CBS' Late Show with David Letterman.

Crowning achievement: New CBS11 anchor/reporter returns to Dallas homeland

Ed Bark — 2007-09-11T09:32:44-05:00
Texas America pageant, where she was among the 16 finalists. By ED BARK Dallas-raised Nerissa Knight has returned home as a weekend morning co-anchor and general assignment reporter for CBS11. She arrives from Beaumont's KBTV-TV, where she anchored that station's 5, 6 and 10 p.m. newscasts after earlier stops at Los Angeles, Milwaukee and Mobile, Ala.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., Sept. 7-9)

Ed Bark — 2007-09-10T13:32:04-05:00
This was an extraordinary sports weekend that also included the Texas-TCU clash in Austin, the U.S. Open Tennis Final, Tiger Woods' big victory at the BMW golf championship, a pivotal prime-time NASCAR race and three other season-opening pro football games. ...Bears vs. Chargers (Fox) -- 360,469 Eagles vs. Packers (Fox) -- 233,818 Texas vs. TCU (FX) -- 158,314 Redskins vs. Dolphins (CBS) -- 151,007 Chevy Rock & Roll 400 (ABC) -- 107,166 BMW Golf Final Round (NBC) -- 75,504 U.S.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., Sept. 6)

Ed Bark — 2007-09-07T09:53:15-05:00
An overblown pre-game entertainment extravaganza, led off by Kelly Clarkson's LXXXth nationally televised rendition of "Never Again," had 199,719 homes to also win its time slot against Fox's game Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? (148,572 homes). ...It was a very bright picture in the total homes Nielsens, where the ABC station swept the 6 a.m. and 5, 6 and 10 p.m. competitions.

Monk see, Monk do

Ed Bark — 2007-09-07T08:51:42-05:00
Nancy Jay and Tony Shalhoub will be castmates on Friday's Monk. By ED BARK Whatever your profession, it's often who you know. ...He gifts her with a brief role as a news anchor on the Friday, Sept. 7th episode of Monk (8 p.m. central), subtitled "Mr. Monk and the Wrong Man."

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., Sept. 5)

Ed Bark — 2007-09-06T09:58:44-05:00
Good Day, which usually wins the 6 a.m. ratings battle, drew 131,522 homes in outpacing the rival news hours on NBC5 (92,553 homes), Belo8 (87,682 homes) and CBS11 (48,712 homes). ...CBS11's far calmer, mostly crime-shorn newscast ran third in total homes despite getting Wednesday's largest lead-in audience from a CBS repeat of CSI: NY.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., Sept. 4)

Ed Bark — 2007-09-05T09:41:40-05:00
The CBS game show Power of 10 continued to perform well, winning from 7 to 8 p.m. in total homes and running a very close third with 18-to-49-year-olds. ...In the local news derby, Belo8 had two dominating wins at 10 p.m. in total homes and among 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming.

CBS11 news: The new guy has his work cut out for him -- but so does the old guy

Ed Bark — 2007-09-04T15:51:38-05:00
So CBS11/TXA21 president and general manager Steve Mauldin abruptly did what he had to do Friday evening by cutting loose the guy he'd hired barely five months earlier. ...He's not commenting right now, preferring to let the dust settle while CBS11's newest news director, Scott Diener, is left to undo the damage done to morale, image and ratings.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Mon., Aug. 31-Sept. 3)

Ed Bark — 2007-09-04T10:11:55-05:00
In Monday's local news derby, Belo8 won at 10 p.m. in total homes while NBC5 struck back with a first place finish among 25-to-54-year-olds, the main advertiser target audience for news programming. Fox4 had twin wins at 6 a.m., although the numbers were sharply depressed on a holiday morning when most viewers instead were able to sleep in. Among 25-to-54-year-olds, Fox4 placed first with a measly 11,480 of 'em. Last Thursday, before the holiday weekend began, it led the way with 74,620 viewers in the 25-to-54 demo.

Hansen's Waxahachie wingding

Ed Bark — 2007-09-03T12:44:37-05:00
By ED BARK Only one D-FW television anchor throws an annual bash that's big as Texas. ...Benefiting the American Diabetes Association, the event featured three bands, at least four Hawaiian shirt changes by the host, piano top dancing, bottomless libations and a guest list in the very high hundreds.

Dallas-Fort Worth TV

CW33's <i>The RC Project</i> proudly puts the vacu- in vacuous

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., March 15) -- rare early morn sweep for Fox4

<i>Idol</i> seems out of step this season, says former producer and current mainstay of <i>So You Think You Can Dance</i>

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., March 12-14) -- HBO's <i>The Pacific</i> tops Sunday's cable charts

Fun with Mike & Jane (hmm, maybe this should be a recurring feature!?)

Footloose with Fox4's Fiona Gorostiza

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., March 11) -- viewers divorce themselves from <i>Marriage Ref</i>, go mental instead

WFAA8 anchor Shelly Slater soon will be delivering more than the news

<i>Idol</i> voters slit show's throat (and not just by axing two North Texans)

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., March 10) -- <i>Idol</i>, crime, ballgame

<i>Idol</i>: No Tex hex for Lone Star foursome

CBS11 names Miami's Adrienne Roark as news director (updated with official station confirmation)

Friedman tabbed to co-anchor NBC5's waker-upper

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., March 9) -- <i>Idol</i> still a four-letter word to competitors

White vs. Perry: a view through the looker glass

NBC5's Jane McGarry launches Fanpage, gets word out

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., March 8) -- <i>House</i> afire, <i>Castle</i> a kingmaker

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., March 5-7) -- despite no surprises, Oscars soar above last year's total

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., March 4) -- ups and downs for <i>Marriage Ref</i>

Remarkable run: half of <i>Idol</i>'s remaining eight guys are North Texans

Olympics-skewed Feb. sweeps yield asterisk-emblazoned golds for WFAA8, NBC5, Fox4

Nguyen moves from CNN to CBS after earlier logging time at D-FW's CBS11

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., March 3) -- <i>Idol</i>, CBS crime, Leno pace the field

Schack shucks WFAA8 to take top meteorologist job in old Kentucky home

Tied to a whipping post: favorite son Casey James no longer unscathed among <i>Idol</i>'s North Texas 4

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., March 2) -- Leno wins again while CBS11/WFAA8 split late night election returns

The power of raw, mostly silent video

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., March 1) -- seems like old times: Leno smacks Letterman

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., Feb. 26-28) -- <i>Undercover Boss</i> gets silver/gold opposite Olympics closing ceremony

NBC reboots, NBC5 hopes to get a leg up

TV news as we know it/knew it/fear it might become (with a little self-analysis, too)

NBC5's Ferguson gets a Gracie

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., Feb. 25) -- four out of five for <i>Idol</i> over Olympics (updated)

Still standing: North Texas 4 survives first viewer voting onslaught

Sometimes the camera should be in their faces -- as Fox4 showed by playing "Gotcha" to good effect

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., Feb. 24) -- <i>Idol</i> again spanks Olympics; Mavs-Lakers endgame whips 10 p.m. local newscasts

Lone Star? Only Fort Worth's Casey James passes judgment among <i>Idol</i>'s four North Texas males

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., Feb. 23) -- <i>Idol</i> thrashes Olympics in third of five faceoffs

No business like snow business

THE TRADE: removal of malignant tumor rejuvenates Mavs and returns them to living

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., Feb. 22) -- Olympics droop but still dominate

The 33 adding another 30 minutes

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., Feb. 19-21) -- more golden ratings for Olympics, but CBS also looks like a winner with <i>Undercover Boss</i>

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., Feb. 18) -- Olympics blade runners propel NBC

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., Feb. 17) -- the Olympics strike back

Left out but still in: Duncanville's Tim Urban a virtual mystery guest among <i>Idol</i>'s Top 24

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., Feb. 16) -- battle of the titans: Olympics vs. <i>Idol</i>

North Texas duo in <i>Idol</i>'s 24, with maybe more to come

Schneider gets reins at CBS11/TXA21 (updated with interview)

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Mon., Feb. 12-15) -- Olympics, NBA All-Star game, etc.

NBC5's glimmer twins

"I mean, I've got the Stones on my iPod, but I've also got rap" -- NBC5 anchor Jane McGarry talks about life beyond the 10 p.m. news

Land replacing McGarry as NBC5's 10 p.m. co-anchor

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., Feb. 11) -- NBC5, WFAA8 top windfall ratings for snowfall newscasts

Snow 'n' tell: the sequel

Snow 'n' tell: a keepsake album from Thursday's D-FW dawn patrols

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., Feb. 10) -- Leno leaves, NBC5 immediately perks up at 10 p.m.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., Feb. 9) -- <i>Idol</i> rolls before viewers pass on <i>Past Life</i>, Mavs

<i>Idol</i> update: North Texas ups and downs

New bottom lines on Fox4's 9 p.m. newscasts

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., Feb. 8) -- <i>House</i> finds homes before CBS takes over

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., Feb. 5-7) -- another steamrolling Super Bowl

Old, tired and all but dead: Mavs crap out against Timberwolves

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., Feb. 4) -- WFAA8 takes lead in mini-10 p.m. sweeps sprint

Making a list: 17 North Texans and 9 from elsewhere in the state are in <i>Idol</i>'s Hollywood contingent

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., Feb. 3) -- final <i>Idol</i> audition hour powers prime-time numbers

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., Feb. 2) -- roosts ruled by <i>Idol, Lost</i> and double shot of <i>NCIS</i>

Nose for news at NBC5

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., Feb. 1) -- rack 'em up for CBS/CBS11

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., Jan. 29-31) -- Grammys roll, but Pro Bowl also scores some points

Gables makes WFAA8 weekend morning debut; station also stages a three-way GOP guv debate

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., Jan. 28) -- Fox makes its <i>Bones</i>

App-centuate the positive for WFAA8

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., Jan. 27) -- <i>Idol</i> Dallas auditions on single network outdraw State of the Union on four

<i>Idol</i> auditions in Dallas send 31 to next rung in Hollywood

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., Jan. 26) -- another <i>Idol</i> cakewalk

NBA All-Star game from Dallas won't have easy skating

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., Jan. 25) -- CBS takes night off; rival networks capitalize

Staying a spell: New Fox action-comedy cop series begins six-month stretch, with Dallas Fair Park as home base