Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs.-Sun., Aug. 1-4) -- Fox4's 9 p.m. news is prime-time top draw on a tragic weekend of mass shootings
08/05/19 12:08 PM
By ED BARK
@unclebarkycom on Twitter
Shocking mass shootings in El Paso and then later Saturday night in Dayton, Ohio, dominated that day’s television coverage and much of Sunday’s as well.
ABC offered a Sunday night escape with its three-hour CMA Fest, which turned out to be more rock than country. It drew the most D-FW viewers from 7 to 9 p.m., averaging 126,527. But Fox4’s 9 p.m. local newscast, with a heavy emphasis on the El Paso shootings, comfortably topped the night with 175,733 viewers while CMA Fest had 133,557 from 9 to 10 p.m.
WFAA8’s 10 p.m. news drew an even bigger audience of 189,791 viewers in a three-way competition opposite NBC5 and CBS11. Fox4 went to its regular Sunday night sports special and ranked third with 63,264 viewers behind runner-up NBC5 (98,410). CBS11 trailed with 58,343 viewers.
Among advertiser-prized 18-to-49-year-olds, CMA Fest edged Fox4’s news by a score of 42,873 to 41,363. But WFAA8’s 10 p.m. news again was the overall top Sunday draw with 46,194 viewers.
In the cable news network universe Saturday, ratings for wall-to-wall coverage of the El Paso shootings were topped by CNN. The network peaked with an audience of 68,887 total viewers between 9 and 9:15 p.m. while leading runner-up Fox News Channel throughout most of the day.
On Friday, Fox4’s 9 p.m. news led all prime-time TV attractions in both total viewers (119,498) and among 18-to-49-year-olds (48,307). CBS’ Love Island, which rather inexplicably has been renewed for a second season, continued to bomb in D-FW with a sub-teeny 2,113 viewers in the 18-to-49 demographic. But the CBS network brass claims the show has a significant social media presence and also draws more than the usual number of young women to the network. But in Friday night’s Nielsen ratings, Love Island had “hashmarks” (no measurable audience) among 18-to-34 year-old women.
Thursday night’s prime-time numbers were paced by Fox4’s 9 p.m. newscast with 175,733 total viewers while NBC’s Hall of Fame pre-season game between the Denver Broncos and Atlanta Falcons averaged 168,703 viewers. But football won the night among 18-to-49ers with 72,461 while Love Island logged hashmarks in this key demographic and again with 18-to-34-year-old women. As did CBS’ 8 p.m. episode of Big Brother and ABC’s 9 p.m. entry, Reef Break.
Here are the local news derby results for Thursday and Friday.
Thursday -- Fox4 had the most total viewers at 10 p.m. while NBC5 won among 25-to-54-year-olds (main advertiser target audience for news programming).
Fox4 ran first in total viewers at 6 a.m., but WFAA8 surged to a commanding win with 25-to-54-year-olds.
WFAA8 also drew the most total viewers at 6 p.m., with Fox4 taking the 25-to-54 gold. At 5 p.m., Fox4 and NBC5 tied for the lead in total viewers while Fox4 was alone on top with 25-to-54-year-olds.
Friday -- WFAA8 edged Fox4 for the most total viewers at 10 p.m., but Fox4 won easily with 25-to-54-year-olds.
In the topsy turvy 6 a.m. ratings, Fox4 returned to first place in both ratings measurements while WFAA8 dipped to third place behind NBC5 in both total viewers and with 25-to-54-year-olds.
Fox4 also ran the table at 5 p.m. and had the most 25-to-54-year-olds at 6 p.m. WFAA8 ran first in total viewers at 6 p.m.
Email comments or questions to: unclebarky@verizon.net
@unclebarkycom on Twitter
Shocking mass shootings in El Paso and then later Saturday night in Dayton, Ohio, dominated that day’s television coverage and much of Sunday’s as well.
ABC offered a Sunday night escape with its three-hour CMA Fest, which turned out to be more rock than country. It drew the most D-FW viewers from 7 to 9 p.m., averaging 126,527. But Fox4’s 9 p.m. local newscast, with a heavy emphasis on the El Paso shootings, comfortably topped the night with 175,733 viewers while CMA Fest had 133,557 from 9 to 10 p.m.
WFAA8’s 10 p.m. news drew an even bigger audience of 189,791 viewers in a three-way competition opposite NBC5 and CBS11. Fox4 went to its regular Sunday night sports special and ranked third with 63,264 viewers behind runner-up NBC5 (98,410). CBS11 trailed with 58,343 viewers.
Among advertiser-prized 18-to-49-year-olds, CMA Fest edged Fox4’s news by a score of 42,873 to 41,363. But WFAA8’s 10 p.m. news again was the overall top Sunday draw with 46,194 viewers.
In the cable news network universe Saturday, ratings for wall-to-wall coverage of the El Paso shootings were topped by CNN. The network peaked with an audience of 68,887 total viewers between 9 and 9:15 p.m. while leading runner-up Fox News Channel throughout most of the day.
On Friday, Fox4’s 9 p.m. news led all prime-time TV attractions in both total viewers (119,498) and among 18-to-49-year-olds (48,307). CBS’ Love Island, which rather inexplicably has been renewed for a second season, continued to bomb in D-FW with a sub-teeny 2,113 viewers in the 18-to-49 demographic. But the CBS network brass claims the show has a significant social media presence and also draws more than the usual number of young women to the network. But in Friday night’s Nielsen ratings, Love Island had “hashmarks” (no measurable audience) among 18-to-34 year-old women.
Thursday night’s prime-time numbers were paced by Fox4’s 9 p.m. newscast with 175,733 total viewers while NBC’s Hall of Fame pre-season game between the Denver Broncos and Atlanta Falcons averaged 168,703 viewers. But football won the night among 18-to-49ers with 72,461 while Love Island logged hashmarks in this key demographic and again with 18-to-34-year-old women. As did CBS’ 8 p.m. episode of Big Brother and ABC’s 9 p.m. entry, Reef Break.
Here are the local news derby results for Thursday and Friday.
Thursday -- Fox4 had the most total viewers at 10 p.m. while NBC5 won among 25-to-54-year-olds (main advertiser target audience for news programming).
Fox4 ran first in total viewers at 6 a.m., but WFAA8 surged to a commanding win with 25-to-54-year-olds.
WFAA8 also drew the most total viewers at 6 p.m., with Fox4 taking the 25-to-54 gold. At 5 p.m., Fox4 and NBC5 tied for the lead in total viewers while Fox4 was alone on top with 25-to-54-year-olds.
Friday -- WFAA8 edged Fox4 for the most total viewers at 10 p.m., but Fox4 won easily with 25-to-54-year-olds.
In the topsy turvy 6 a.m. ratings, Fox4 returned to first place in both ratings measurements while WFAA8 dipped to third place behind NBC5 in both total viewers and with 25-to-54-year-olds.
Fox4 also ran the table at 5 p.m. and had the most 25-to-54-year-olds at 6 p.m. WFAA8 ran first in total viewers at 6 p.m.
Email comments or questions to: unclebarky@verizon.net