Mar 2018
Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thursday, March 29) -- bada Big Bang boom
03/30/18 01:52 PM
By ED BARK
@unclebarkycom on Twitter
Thursday’s prime-time proceedings were led by CBS’ The Big Bang Theory in both major ratings food groups.
The network’s always dependable leadoff hitter drew 356,105 total D-FW viewers, with 96,739 in the advertiser-coveted 18-to-49-year-old age range.
CBS’ Young Sheldon, Mom and Life In Pieces also won their time slots in total viewers before Fox4’s 9 p.m. local newscast took the top spot in that hour with 178,053.
ABC had more success with 18-to-49ers, winning in this key demographic with the second half of Grey’s Anatomy, the full hour of the new Grey’s’s spinoff, Station 19 and Scandal. The new NBC sitcom Champions, airing at 8:30 p.m., had “hashmarks” (no measurable audience) among 18-to-49-year-olds. That’s disastrous.
On Fox Sports Southwest, the Texas Rangers’ season opener, a 4-1 defeat at the hands of the visiting world champion Houston Astros, averaged 56,977 total viewers. The game ran from 2:40 to 5:39 p.m. on a picture perfect day.
Here are Thursday’s local news derby results.
NBC5 won in total viewers at 10 p.m. while TEGNA8 had the most 25-to-54-year-olds (main advertiser target audience for news programming).
Fox4 remained invincible at 6 a.m. with another pair of wins and also pounded the network morning shows with the 7 to 9 a.m. portion of Good Day.
Fox4 also swept the 6 p.m. competitions and added a 5 p.m. first with 25-to-54-year-olds. NBC5 drew the most total viewers at 5 p.m.
Email comments or questions to: unclebarky@verizon.net
@unclebarkycom on Twitter
Thursday’s prime-time proceedings were led by CBS’ The Big Bang Theory in both major ratings food groups.
The network’s always dependable leadoff hitter drew 356,105 total D-FW viewers, with 96,739 in the advertiser-coveted 18-to-49-year-old age range.
CBS’ Young Sheldon, Mom and Life In Pieces also won their time slots in total viewers before Fox4’s 9 p.m. local newscast took the top spot in that hour with 178,053.
ABC had more success with 18-to-49ers, winning in this key demographic with the second half of Grey’s Anatomy, the full hour of the new Grey’s’s spinoff, Station 19 and Scandal. The new NBC sitcom Champions, airing at 8:30 p.m., had “hashmarks” (no measurable audience) among 18-to-49-year-olds. That’s disastrous.
On Fox Sports Southwest, the Texas Rangers’ season opener, a 4-1 defeat at the hands of the visiting world champion Houston Astros, averaged 56,977 total viewers. The game ran from 2:40 to 5:39 p.m. on a picture perfect day.
Here are Thursday’s local news derby results.
NBC5 won in total viewers at 10 p.m. while TEGNA8 had the most 25-to-54-year-olds (main advertiser target audience for news programming).
Fox4 remained invincible at 6 a.m. with another pair of wins and also pounded the network morning shows with the 7 to 9 a.m. portion of Good Day.
Fox4 also swept the 6 p.m. competitions and added a 5 p.m. first with 25-to-54-year-olds. NBC5 drew the most total viewers at 5 p.m.
Email comments or questions to: unclebarky@verizon.net
Nashville veteran Paul Jones joining NBC5's sports team
03/30/18 10:49 AM
By ED BARK
@unclebarkycom on Twitter
Paul Jones, a mainstay at Nashville’s WZTV-TV since 2002, is joining NBC5 as a “multimedia journalist” who will anchor, report, produce and shoot footage for the Fort Worth-based station.
Scheduled to start on April 9th, Jones is leaving the sports director position at Nashville’s Fox affiliate.
“I’ve gotten to the point in my career where I just feel like I need to spread my wings a little bit and find a new challenge and something that excites me and that I enjoy,” Jones told The Tennessean last month before his future destination was known.
The Maryland native also has worked for TV stations in Indianapolis, Washington, D.C. and Lubbock, TX. He won five Emmy awards while at WZTV.
Veteran Newy Scruggs remains as NBC5’s lead sports anchor.
Jones has an admirable sense of humor about himself. Below is video of WZTV’s coverage of his badly misfired opening pitch at a 2015 Nashville Sounds game.
Email comments or questions to: unclebarky@verizon.net
Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., March 28) -- Empire's return helps to fortify Fox
03/29/18 02:08 PM
By ED BARK
@unclebarkycom on Twitter
Having Empire as your Wednesday night leadoff hitter is far better for Fox than being stuck with The X-Files for the past three months.
The steamy serial drama made a solid return in the 7 p.m. hour, leading all prime-time programming in total D-FW viewers with 235,029 while also ranking No. 1 with advertiser-coveted 18-to-49-year-olds (81,136).
The companion return of Fox’s Star then drooped to 142,442 total viewers, considerably fewer than 9-1-1 drew in that slot until its season finale last Wednesday. CBS’ Seal Team won the hour with 163,808 total viewers. Among 18-to-49ers, ABC’s Modern Family won from 8 to 8:30 p.m. before the second half of Star had the edge from 8:30 to 9 p.m.
The 9 p.m. hour was split between Fox4’s local newscast in total viewers (220,785) and CBS’ Criminal Minds in the 18-to-49 age range (59,291).
ABC’s 7:30 p.m. premiere of the Zach Braff sitcom Alex, Inc. improved on its lead-in from The Goldbergs in both ratings measurements, but still couldn’t avoid a last place finish in total viewers among the Big Four broadcast networks. But it moved into second place in its time slot with 18-to-49-year-olds.
Here are Wednesday’s local news derby results.
Fox4 beat the drums twice at 10 p.m. with wins in both total viewers and 25-to-54-year-olds (main advertiser target audience for news programming).
The station as a matter of course also swept the 6 a.m. competitions while running first at 5 and 6 p.m. with 25-to-54-year-olds. NBC5 took the total viewer golds in both early evening hours.
Email comments or questions to: unclebarky@verizon.net
@unclebarkycom on Twitter
Having Empire as your Wednesday night leadoff hitter is far better for Fox than being stuck with The X-Files for the past three months.
The steamy serial drama made a solid return in the 7 p.m. hour, leading all prime-time programming in total D-FW viewers with 235,029 while also ranking No. 1 with advertiser-coveted 18-to-49-year-olds (81,136).
The companion return of Fox’s Star then drooped to 142,442 total viewers, considerably fewer than 9-1-1 drew in that slot until its season finale last Wednesday. CBS’ Seal Team won the hour with 163,808 total viewers. Among 18-to-49ers, ABC’s Modern Family won from 8 to 8:30 p.m. before the second half of Star had the edge from 8:30 to 9 p.m.
The 9 p.m. hour was split between Fox4’s local newscast in total viewers (220,785) and CBS’ Criminal Minds in the 18-to-49 age range (59,291).
ABC’s 7:30 p.m. premiere of the Zach Braff sitcom Alex, Inc. improved on its lead-in from The Goldbergs in both ratings measurements, but still couldn’t avoid a last place finish in total viewers among the Big Four broadcast networks. But it moved into second place in its time slot with 18-to-49-year-olds.
Here are Wednesday’s local news derby results.
Fox4 beat the drums twice at 10 p.m. with wins in both total viewers and 25-to-54-year-olds (main advertiser target audience for news programming).
The station as a matter of course also swept the 6 a.m. competitions while running first at 5 and 6 p.m. with 25-to-54-year-olds. NBC5 took the total viewer golds in both early evening hours.
Email comments or questions to: unclebarky@verizon.net
CBS11 reporter Jeff Paul leaving to join Fox News Channel
03/28/18 02:44 PM
By ED BARK
@unclebarkycom on Twitter
Jeff Paul, who’s been a reporter with D-FW’s CBS11 since December 2014, is leaving the D-FW station and joining Fox News Channel as a Los Angeles-based correspondent.
FNC president Jay Wallace, in announcing the hire, said that Paul’s “experience covering a wide array of stories make him an excellent addition to our West Coast breaking news team.”
Paul said he “can’t wait to get out in the field covering the latest headlines and breaking news for our dedicated viewers.” His first day at FNC will be April 23rd.
He joined CBS11 after three years at NBC affiliate WPTV-TV in West Palm Beach, FL. At that time he used the tongue-twisting surname Skrzypek, but shortened it to Paul while with CBS11.
Paul has a bachelor’s degree in Broadcast Journalism from Arizona State University, where he studied at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication.
As previously posted, CBS11 also is losing another full-time reporter, Brittany Jeffers, whose last day at the station will be Friday, March 30th.
Email comments or questions to: unclebarky@verizon.net
Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., March 27) -- Roseanne roars
03/28/18 10:16 AM
By ED BARK
@unclebarkycom on Twitter
ABC’s double-shot Roseanne reboot Tuesday left two rival heavy hitters wondering what hit them.
Roseanne roared out of the gate with 441,570 D-FW viewers in the 7 to 8 p.m. slot while CBS’ competing NCIS limped away with 263,518 viewers and NBC’s one-hour edition of The Voice slipped to third with 249,274 viewers.
Even better for ABC, Roseanne mega-crushed all comers in the advertiser-prized 18-to-49-year-old demographic. It had 196,598 viewers in this realm, reducing The Voice (49,930) and NCIS (21,844) to Lilliputians in the land of her trademark giant cackle.
There’s this, too. The second half-hour episode of Roseanne had more viewers than the first in both ratings measurements. So viewers weren’t turned off. They wanted more. All ABC management has to do now is back up the money truck. They’re probably already on the phone with Barr and her representatives regarding a return next season.
CBS then restored order, from its perspective, by winning the 8 and 9 p.m. hours in total viewers with Bull (299,128) and NCIS: New Orleans (256,396). But among 18-to-49-year-olds, ABC won from 8 to 9 p.m. with black-ish (99,859 viewers) and the premiere of Splitting Up Together (81,136). Fox4’s local newscast prevailed at 9 p.m. with 59,291 viewers in the 18-to-49 age range, with ABC’s new For the People running second (49,930 viewers).
Here are Tuesday’s local news derby results.
TEGNA8 won at 10 p.m. in total viewers while Fox4 was tops with 25-to-54-year-olds.
Fox4 cruised to another sweep at 6 a.m. and added firsts at 5 and 6 p.m. in the 25-to-54 demographic. NBC5 drew the most total viewers at 5 p.m. and TEGNA8 took the 6 p.m. gold in this measurement.
Email comments or questions to: unclebarky@verizon.net
@unclebarkycom on Twitter
ABC’s double-shot Roseanne reboot Tuesday left two rival heavy hitters wondering what hit them.
Roseanne roared out of the gate with 441,570 D-FW viewers in the 7 to 8 p.m. slot while CBS’ competing NCIS limped away with 263,518 viewers and NBC’s one-hour edition of The Voice slipped to third with 249,274 viewers.
Even better for ABC, Roseanne mega-crushed all comers in the advertiser-prized 18-to-49-year-old demographic. It had 196,598 viewers in this realm, reducing The Voice (49,930) and NCIS (21,844) to Lilliputians in the land of her trademark giant cackle.
There’s this, too. The second half-hour episode of Roseanne had more viewers than the first in both ratings measurements. So viewers weren’t turned off. They wanted more. All ABC management has to do now is back up the money truck. They’re probably already on the phone with Barr and her representatives regarding a return next season.
CBS then restored order, from its perspective, by winning the 8 and 9 p.m. hours in total viewers with Bull (299,128) and NCIS: New Orleans (256,396). But among 18-to-49-year-olds, ABC won from 8 to 9 p.m. with black-ish (99,859 viewers) and the premiere of Splitting Up Together (81,136). Fox4’s local newscast prevailed at 9 p.m. with 59,291 viewers in the 18-to-49 age range, with ABC’s new For the People running second (49,930 viewers).
Here are Tuesday’s local news derby results.
TEGNA8 won at 10 p.m. in total viewers while Fox4 was tops with 25-to-54-year-olds.
Fox4 cruised to another sweep at 6 a.m. and added firsts at 5 and 6 p.m. in the 25-to-54 demographic. NBC5 drew the most total viewers at 5 p.m. and TEGNA8 took the 6 p.m. gold in this measurement.
Email comments or questions to: unclebarky@verizon.net
Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., March 26) -- Idol make some headway
03/27/18 05:42 PM
By ED BARK
@unclebarkycom on Twitter
After getting smacked down in its previous two outings against NBC’s The Voice, ABC’s American Idol hit some higher ratings notes Monday night.
The Voice still won in total D-FW viewers from 7 to 9 p.m. by a score of 249,274 to 170,930. But that’s quite an improvement from the previous Monday, when Idol had 142,442 to viewers to The Voice’s 334,739.
Among advertiser-prized 18-to-49-year-olds, Idol and The Voice tied with 43,688 viewers apiece. A week ago, The Voice more than doubled up on Idol -- 71,774 viewers to 34,327.
Fox’s 8 p.m. hour of The Resident matched the closing hour of The Voice with 18-to-49-year-olds (46,809 viewers each) while the second half of Idol fell off a bit to trail with 40,568.
At 9 p.m., Fox4’s local newscast won in total viewers (220,785) and the season finale of ABC’s The Good Doctor had the edge among 18-to-49ers (74,894). That made Good Doctor the night’s highest scorer in this key demographic.
Here are Monday’s local news derby results.
TEGNA8 swept the 10 p.m. competitions in total viewers and 25-to-54-year-olds (main advertiser target audience for news programming) while Fox4 once again ran the table at 6 a.m.
TEGNA8 also took both of the 6 p.m. golds. The 5 p.m. firsts went to NBC5 in total viewers and Fox4 in the 25-to-54 age range.
Email comments or questions to: unclebarky@verizon.net
@unclebarkycom on Twitter
After getting smacked down in its previous two outings against NBC’s The Voice, ABC’s American Idol hit some higher ratings notes Monday night.
The Voice still won in total D-FW viewers from 7 to 9 p.m. by a score of 249,274 to 170,930. But that’s quite an improvement from the previous Monday, when Idol had 142,442 to viewers to The Voice’s 334,739.
Among advertiser-prized 18-to-49-year-olds, Idol and The Voice tied with 43,688 viewers apiece. A week ago, The Voice more than doubled up on Idol -- 71,774 viewers to 34,327.
Fox’s 8 p.m. hour of The Resident matched the closing hour of The Voice with 18-to-49-year-olds (46,809 viewers each) while the second half of Idol fell off a bit to trail with 40,568.
At 9 p.m., Fox4’s local newscast won in total viewers (220,785) and the season finale of ABC’s The Good Doctor had the edge among 18-to-49ers (74,894). That made Good Doctor the night’s highest scorer in this key demographic.
Here are Monday’s local news derby results.
TEGNA8 swept the 10 p.m. competitions in total viewers and 25-to-54-year-olds (main advertiser target audience for news programming) while Fox4 once again ran the table at 6 a.m.
TEGNA8 also took both of the 6 p.m. golds. The 5 p.m. firsts went to NBC5 in total viewers and Fox4 in the 25-to-54 age range.
Email comments or questions to: unclebarky@verizon.net
Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., March 23-25) -- Hurricane Stormy
03/26/18 10:39 AM
By ED BARK
@unclebarkycom on Twitter
Porn star Stormy Daniels’ details of her alleged sexual rendezvous with Donald Trump not surprisingly piled up big ratings for 60 Minutes Sunday night after being delayed by CBS’ Elite 8 overtime game between basketball blue bloods Kansas and Duke.
Completely precise ratings are elusive because 60 Minutes didn’t start until 6:35 p.m., with the two-part Daniels’ segment ending at 7:07 p.m. Nielsen Media Research measures in 15-minute increments.
In the 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. hour, 60 Minutes and a bloc of commercials leading up to it drew 448,692 D-FW viewers. From 6:30 to 7:15 p.m., which included the entire Daniels portion, the program had 470,059 viewers.
Both totals were good enough to lead all Sunday programming, although the closing half-hour (6 to 6:30 p.m.) of Kansas’ win over Duke pulled in a considerably higher 612,501 viewers. The entire Kansas-Duke game averaged 405,960 viewers.
The preceding Elite 8 game on CBS, in which Villanova beat Texas Tech, averaged 242,151 viewers.
Saturday’s pair of Elite 8 games, both on TBS, were led by Michigan’s win over Florida State, which had 170,930 viewers.
On Friday night, Tech’s Sweet 16 victory against Purdue, also on TBS, drew 113,954 viewers.
Here are Friday’s local news derby results, with CBS11’s 6 and 10 p.m. editions either erased or delayed by NCAA tourney coverage.
TEGNA8 ran first at 10 p.m. in total viewers and Fox4 won among 25-to-54-year-olds (main advertiser target audience for news programming).
Fox4 once again easily swept the 6 a.m. races and added 5 and 6 p.m. wins with 25-to-54-year-olds. NBC5 had the most total viewers at 5 p.m. and TEGNA8 won in that measurement at 6 p.m.
Email comments or questions to: unclebarky@verizon.net
@unclebarkycom on Twitter
Porn star Stormy Daniels’ details of her alleged sexual rendezvous with Donald Trump not surprisingly piled up big ratings for 60 Minutes Sunday night after being delayed by CBS’ Elite 8 overtime game between basketball blue bloods Kansas and Duke.
Completely precise ratings are elusive because 60 Minutes didn’t start until 6:35 p.m., with the two-part Daniels’ segment ending at 7:07 p.m. Nielsen Media Research measures in 15-minute increments.
In the 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. hour, 60 Minutes and a bloc of commercials leading up to it drew 448,692 D-FW viewers. From 6:30 to 7:15 p.m., which included the entire Daniels portion, the program had 470,059 viewers.
Both totals were good enough to lead all Sunday programming, although the closing half-hour (6 to 6:30 p.m.) of Kansas’ win over Duke pulled in a considerably higher 612,501 viewers. The entire Kansas-Duke game averaged 405,960 viewers.
The preceding Elite 8 game on CBS, in which Villanova beat Texas Tech, averaged 242,151 viewers.
Saturday’s pair of Elite 8 games, both on TBS, were led by Michigan’s win over Florida State, which had 170,930 viewers.
On Friday night, Tech’s Sweet 16 victory against Purdue, also on TBS, drew 113,954 viewers.
Here are Friday’s local news derby results, with CBS11’s 6 and 10 p.m. editions either erased or delayed by NCAA tourney coverage.
TEGNA8 ran first at 10 p.m. in total viewers and Fox4 won among 25-to-54-year-olds (main advertiser target audience for news programming).
Fox4 once again easily swept the 6 a.m. races and added 5 and 6 p.m. wins with 25-to-54-year-olds. NBC5 had the most total viewers at 5 p.m. and TEGNA8 won in that measurement at 6 p.m.
Email comments or questions to: unclebarky@verizon.net
Reporter Brittany Jeffers leaving CBS11
03/23/18 05:40 PM
By ED BARK
@unclebarkycom on Twitter
After a relatively short stay, reporter Brittany Jeffers is leaving D-FW’s CBS11.
Lori Conrad, the station’s director of communications, confirmed Jeffers’ departure Friday and said her last day will be March 30th. She declined to comment further other than, “We wish her all the best.”
Jeffers joined CBS11 in August 2016 from Tulsa’s KOKI-TV. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln graduate was Miss Nebraska in the 2009 Miss America pageant, where she finished in the top 10. She could not immediately be reached for comment Friday.
Email comments or questions to: unclebarky@verizon.net
Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed.-Thurs., March 21-22) -- A&M's number is up while numbers are down
03/23/18 09:52 AM
By ED BARK
@unclebarkycom on Twitter
Texas A&M’s rare appearance in the NCAA basketball tournament’s Sweet 16 ended with a thud Thursday night when Michigan pounded the Aggies from start to finish in a 99-72 win.
What could have been something of a ratings bonanza for TBS ended up being a dud. Michigan-A&M averaged just 99,709 D-FW viewers while CBS’ down-to-the-final-seconds Loyola-Nevada game slurped up defecting viewers and ended up with 135,320.
But Thursday’s biggest basketball draw was CBS’ following Kansas State-Kentucky face-off, which ended in late night and averaged 178,053 viewers.
NBC’s two-hour episode of Chicago Fire hosed all competing programs with a Thursday night best of 220,785 viewers. Kansas State-Kentucky was tops with advertiser-prized 18-to-49-year-olds, though, drawing 81,136 to beat everything else in sight.
On Wednesday, Fox’s midseason hit 9-1-1 closed out its first season with prime-time’s top showing in total viewers (220,785). ABC’s Modern Family drew the most 18-to-49-year-olds with 71,774.
Preceding 9-1-1, Fox’s The X-Files limped out of view for good with last place finishes at 7 p.m. among the Big Four broadcast networks in both total viewers (64,099) and 18-to-49ers (12,482). Co-star Gillian Anderson has said she won’t be doing any more episodes, and Fox is unlikely to ask anyway.
Here are the Wednesday-Thursday local news derby results.
Wednesday -- Fox4 won at 10 p.m. in total viewers and 25-to-54-year-olds (main advertiser target audience for news programming) while as usual/always sweeping the 6 a.m. competitions as well.
NBC5 had twin wins at 5 p.m. The 6 p.m. leaders were TEGNA8 in total viewers and Fox4 with 25-to-54-year-olds.
Thursday -- TEGNA8 drew the most total viewers at 10 p.m. while Fox4 and NBC5 tied for the lead among 25-to-54-year-olds.
Fox4 ran the table at 6 a.m. and also was tops with 25-to-54-year-olds at both 5 and 6 p.m. CBS11 had the most total viewers at 5 p.m. and TEGNA8 finished first in that measurement at 6 p.m. CBS11’s 6 and 10 p.m. editions were preempted by the network’s basketball coverage.
Email comments or questions to: unclebarky@verizon.net
@unclebarkycom on Twitter
Texas A&M’s rare appearance in the NCAA basketball tournament’s Sweet 16 ended with a thud Thursday night when Michigan pounded the Aggies from start to finish in a 99-72 win.
What could have been something of a ratings bonanza for TBS ended up being a dud. Michigan-A&M averaged just 99,709 D-FW viewers while CBS’ down-to-the-final-seconds Loyola-Nevada game slurped up defecting viewers and ended up with 135,320.
But Thursday’s biggest basketball draw was CBS’ following Kansas State-Kentucky face-off, which ended in late night and averaged 178,053 viewers.
NBC’s two-hour episode of Chicago Fire hosed all competing programs with a Thursday night best of 220,785 viewers. Kansas State-Kentucky was tops with advertiser-prized 18-to-49-year-olds, though, drawing 81,136 to beat everything else in sight.
On Wednesday, Fox’s midseason hit 9-1-1 closed out its first season with prime-time’s top showing in total viewers (220,785). ABC’s Modern Family drew the most 18-to-49-year-olds with 71,774.
Preceding 9-1-1, Fox’s The X-Files limped out of view for good with last place finishes at 7 p.m. among the Big Four broadcast networks in both total viewers (64,099) and 18-to-49ers (12,482). Co-star Gillian Anderson has said she won’t be doing any more episodes, and Fox is unlikely to ask anyway.
Here are the Wednesday-Thursday local news derby results.
Wednesday -- Fox4 won at 10 p.m. in total viewers and 25-to-54-year-olds (main advertiser target audience for news programming) while as usual/always sweeping the 6 a.m. competitions as well.
NBC5 had twin wins at 5 p.m. The 6 p.m. leaders were TEGNA8 in total viewers and Fox4 with 25-to-54-year-olds.
Thursday -- TEGNA8 drew the most total viewers at 10 p.m. while Fox4 and NBC5 tied for the lead among 25-to-54-year-olds.
Fox4 ran the table at 6 a.m. and also was tops with 25-to-54-year-olds at both 5 and 6 p.m. CBS11 had the most total viewers at 5 p.m. and TEGNA8 finished first in that measurement at 6 p.m. CBS11’s 6 and 10 p.m. editions were preempted by the network’s basketball coverage.
Email comments or questions to: unclebarky@verizon.net
Further makeovers coming for TEGNA8's rising/early rising Daybreak program
03/22/18 09:01 AM
By ED BARK
@unclebarkycom on Twitter
Touting a recent rise in the program’s ratings, TEGNA8 news director Carolyn Mungo has further big plans for Daybreak, which she says is “the most important show we do.”
In an internal memo obtained by unclebarky.com, Mungo (pictured above) notes that Daybreak has pulled even with NBC5 among 25-to-54-year-olds in the battle for second place in the most-watched 6 to 7 a.m. hour. Advertisers consider 25-to-54-year-olds to be the main target audience for news programming.
The station is intent on seizing that momentum, Mungo says. “We will be finally getting a set refresh at Victory (Park) in mid-late April,” she tells staffers. “SO -- by May we will have a new ‘brand’ logo launch, a more robust marketing campaign, and a new set! I wanted to thank the entire team for the hard work. I may not see you often, but the morning show is the most important show we do. I huddle with Sheena (Daybreak executive producer Sheena Autin) every day. It is exciting to see our upward trend. There is no stopping us.”
As previously posted, Daybreak began undergoing a major makeover last fall with what Autin has described as a “social-first, multi-screen show.” Three new young women, co-anchor Kara Sewell, traffic anchor Demetria Obilor and “social media editor” Janelle Brandom joined the Daybreak on-camera team while holdover co-anchor Ron Corning and meteorologist Greg Fields remained in place. Brandom left TEGNA8 earlier this month to pursue other opportunities. All three women have sizable social media followings on Instagram, Facebook and/or Twitter. Obilor is equal part traffic anchor and social media tracker with her daily “Speed Feed” segments.
Producers of TEGNA8’s 6 and 10 p.m. weekday newscasts might be a bit surprised to hear that Daybreak is the station’s most important program. But Mungo has a point. The early morning editions, which begin at 4:30 a.m. on all four major competing stations, in large part make their own beds. They aren’t dependent on any network lead-in programming, which still makes a big difference at 10 p.m. in particular. And there’s potentially an overall younger pool of viewers looking to get a handle on traffic or weather before heading off to work, sending their children off to school, or both.
Unclebarky.com has noted Daybreak’s momentum among 25-to-54-year-olds in several of the daily “ratings snapshot” posts. Both TEGNA8 and NBC5 still have miles to go before reaching any ratings parity with Fox4’s Good Day, which didn’t lose a single weekday all winter in either total D-FW viewers or 25-to-54-year-olds.
In Tuesday’s 6 to 7 a.m. ratings, for instance, Fox4 drew double the total viewers of either TEGNA8 or NBC5. Among 25-to-54-year-olds, it more than doubled TEGNA8’s total and tripled that of NBC5’s. CBS11 basically remains a non-factor across the board.
Mungo does not talk to your friendly content provider. TEGNA8 has a content-sharing agreement with Fort Worth’s Star-Telegram.
Email comments or questions to: unclebarky@verizon.net
Jenny Anchondo exits Fox4 (updated Thursday p.m.)
03/22/18 08:22 AM
By ED BARK
@unclebarkycom on Twitter
Surprising many of her colleagues, Fox4 anchor-reporter Jenny Anchondo has left the Dallas-based station, effective immediately.
“Today is my last day at Fox4,” she said in a newsroom memo sent Wednesday, March 21st. “I wanted to send a quick note of encouragement before my departure.”
Anchondo, best known for anchoring the early morning weekend editions of Good Day, told Fox4 staffers that “this can be a tough business but don’t let it steal your passion. You got noticed and hired for a reason. Continue to shine and perfect your craft and do what you do best for the people who trust us with their news. I’ll be staying in town. Wishing you the absolute best.”
Anchondo has not returned a message asking for further comment. Fox4 vice president/news director Robin Whitmeyer referred an inquiry to a Fox corporate spokesperson in New York, who confirmed Anchondo’s March 21st departure.
Anchondo joined Fox4 in October 2013 from WXIN-TV in Indianapolis. She immediately began anchoring the Saturday and Sunday Good Day programs while also reporting three days a week. That may have been a sticking point. Sources at Fox4 say that Anchondo much preferred anchoring and didn’t relish going out in the field.
Other sources say Anchondo’s exit was amicable and that Fox4 fully intended to sign her to a new contract before her current one expired. But Anchondo reportedly initiated talks with management and eventually asked to be freed to pursue other opportunities.
She’ll have a standard non-compete clause of at least six months that would prevent Anchondo from appearing on-camera at a rival North Texas station during that time. Anchondo and her husband, Heath, had their first child, a daughter, last summer.
Email comments or questions to: unclebarky@verizon.net
Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., March 20) -- The Voice & Fox4's local news are top prime-time scorers
03/21/18 11:25 AM
By ED BARK
@unclebarkycom on Twitter
NBC’s The Voice led off with dominant ratings Tuesday night before Fox4’s 9 p.m. local newscast finished off the prime-time hours with another strong showing.
A total of 334,739 total D-FW viewers tuned to The Voice at 7 p.m. while CBS’ competing NCIS ran second in that hour with 185,175 viewers. The Voice also won among advertiser-craved 18-to-49-year-olds with 68,653.
At 8 p.m., another NCIS repeat won with 213,663 total viewers. But ABC’s black-ish drew the most 18-to-49-year-olds from 8 to 8:30 p.m. (40,568) and Fox’s The Mick took the 8:30 to 9 p.m. slot (34,327).
Fox4’s local news then swept the 9 p.m. hour with 227,907 total viewers and 71,774 in the 18-to-49 age range. That made the newscast Tuesday’s top draw in this key demographic.
ABC’s second episode of For the People drew little interest from the people. It bombed with just 56,977 total viewers and 6,241 in the 18-to-49 realm.
And now for Tuesday’s local news derby results.
TEGNA8 impressively overcame ABC’s lousy For the People lead-in to win at 10 p.m. in total viewers while NBC5 pulled in the most 25-to-54-year-olds (main advertiser target audience for news programming).
Fox4 again ran the table at 6 a.m., also swept the 6 p.m. competitions and had the most 25-to-54-year-olds at 5 p.m. NBC5 drew the most total viewers at 5 p.m.
Email comments or questions to: unclebarky@verizon.net
@unclebarkycom on Twitter
NBC’s The Voice led off with dominant ratings Tuesday night before Fox4’s 9 p.m. local newscast finished off the prime-time hours with another strong showing.
A total of 334,739 total D-FW viewers tuned to The Voice at 7 p.m. while CBS’ competing NCIS ran second in that hour with 185,175 viewers. The Voice also won among advertiser-craved 18-to-49-year-olds with 68,653.
At 8 p.m., another NCIS repeat won with 213,663 total viewers. But ABC’s black-ish drew the most 18-to-49-year-olds from 8 to 8:30 p.m. (40,568) and Fox’s The Mick took the 8:30 to 9 p.m. slot (34,327).
Fox4’s local news then swept the 9 p.m. hour with 227,907 total viewers and 71,774 in the 18-to-49 age range. That made the newscast Tuesday’s top draw in this key demographic.
ABC’s second episode of For the People drew little interest from the people. It bombed with just 56,977 total viewers and 6,241 in the 18-to-49 realm.
And now for Tuesday’s local news derby results.
TEGNA8 impressively overcame ABC’s lousy For the People lead-in to win at 10 p.m. in total viewers while NBC5 pulled in the most 25-to-54-year-olds (main advertiser target audience for news programming).
Fox4 again ran the table at 6 a.m., also swept the 6 p.m. competitions and had the most 25-to-54-year-olds at 5 p.m. NBC5 drew the most total viewers at 5 p.m.
Email comments or questions to: unclebarky@verizon.net
Janelle Brandom breaks up with Daybreak
03/20/18 11:17 AM
By ED BARK
@unclebarkycom on Twitter
After a short stay, Janelle Brandom has left Dallas-based TEGNA8’s Daybreak to pursue other opportunities, sources confirm.
She joined the early morning program in June with the title of on-camera “social media anchor.” It’s been part of a major makeover that also eventually brought in traffic anchor Demetria Obilor and co-anchor Kara Sewell. The three young women joined two Daybreak veterans, co-anchor Ron Corning and meteorologist Greg Fields.
Brandom so far has not returned messages sent via email and Facebook. On Tuesday, March 20th, she started a gluten- alcohol- and dairy-free diet while challenging others to join her. Brandom’s Twitter account now describes her as “Emcee/Host, Christian, Runner, Women’s Empowerment -- Instagram & FB.”
Daybreak’s recent social media-centric approach, with Brandom and Obilor each fronting their own segments, has coincided with the station’s rise to second place from 6 to 7 a.m. in the major news demographic of 25-to-54-year-olds. But NBC5 rebounded, on Monday at least, to decisively outdraw Daybreak in this measurement. Both stations continue to run far behind Fox4’s Good Day in both total viewers and with 25-to-54-year-olds. The station hasn’t been beaten in either measurement for the entire winter.
TEGNA8 news director Carolyn Mungo does not discuss personnel matters, or anything for that matter, with your friendly content provider. The station has a content-sharing arrangement with Fort Worth’s Star-Telegram.
Email comments or questions to: unclebarky@verizon.net
Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., March 19) -- The Voice drowns out Idol
03/20/18 10:37 AM
By ED BARK
@unclebarkycom on Twitter
Not that long ago, American Idol reigned as the unquestioned ruler of singing competitions -- as well as all of prime-time.
Now it’s barely a roadie for NBC’s competing The Voice.
ABC’s Idol reboot and the Peacock’s now entrenched vocal rodeo squared off for the second time Monday from 7 to 9 p.m. It again was no contest.
The Voice racked up 334,739 D-FW viewers compared to Idol’s 142,442. The first half-hour of Idol also was outdrawn by CBS’ Kevin Can Wait (156,686 viewers) while the entire 8 p.m. hour was beaten by Fox’s The Resident (192,297 viewers).
Among advertiser-coveted 18-to-49-year-olds, The Voice thumped Idol by a score of 71,774 viewers to 34,327. Kevin Can Wait (35,575 viewers) and The Resident (59,291 viewers) also again prevailed over Idol.
Fox4’s 9 p.m. local newscast took that hour with 206,541 total viewers while ABC’s The Good Doctor ran first among 18-to-49ers (46,809 viewers). The Good Doctor, already renewed for Season 2, also drew more total viewers (170,930) than its Idol lead-in.
Here are Monday’s local news derby results.
TEGNA8 notched two narrow wins at 10 p.m., edging CBS11 in total viewers and both Fox4 and NBC5 in the 25-to-54-year-old demographic (main advertiser target audience for news programming).
Fox4 capped a winter-long 6 a.m. unbeaten streak with twin wins while NBC5 swept the 5 p.m. competitions and also drew the most 25-to-54-year-olds at 6 p.m. TEGNA8 won in total viewers at 6 p.m.
Email comments or questions to: unclebarky@verizon.net
@unclebarkycom on Twitter
Not that long ago, American Idol reigned as the unquestioned ruler of singing competitions -- as well as all of prime-time.
Now it’s barely a roadie for NBC’s competing The Voice.
ABC’s Idol reboot and the Peacock’s now entrenched vocal rodeo squared off for the second time Monday from 7 to 9 p.m. It again was no contest.
The Voice racked up 334,739 D-FW viewers compared to Idol’s 142,442. The first half-hour of Idol also was outdrawn by CBS’ Kevin Can Wait (156,686 viewers) while the entire 8 p.m. hour was beaten by Fox’s The Resident (192,297 viewers).
Among advertiser-coveted 18-to-49-year-olds, The Voice thumped Idol by a score of 71,774 viewers to 34,327. Kevin Can Wait (35,575 viewers) and The Resident (59,291 viewers) also again prevailed over Idol.
Fox4’s 9 p.m. local newscast took that hour with 206,541 total viewers while ABC’s The Good Doctor ran first among 18-to-49ers (46,809 viewers). The Good Doctor, already renewed for Season 2, also drew more total viewers (170,930) than its Idol lead-in.
Here are Monday’s local news derby results.
TEGNA8 notched two narrow wins at 10 p.m., edging CBS11 in total viewers and both Fox4 and NBC5 in the 25-to-54-year-old demographic (main advertiser target audience for news programming).
Fox4 capped a winter-long 6 a.m. unbeaten streak with twin wins while NBC5 swept the 5 p.m. competitions and also drew the most 25-to-54-year-olds at 6 p.m. TEGNA8 won in total viewers at 6 p.m.
Email comments or questions to: unclebarky@verizon.net
Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., March 16-18) -- iffy numbers for Idol
03/19/18 01:24 PM
By ED BARK
@unclebarkycom on Twitter
Considering the prices ABC is paying, American Idol is far more a placeholder than a pacesetter.
Sunday’s two-hour edition averaged a hardly imposing 142,442 D-FW viewers in the 7 to 9 p.m. slot, barely better than the 128,198 viewers for ABC’s preceding America’s Funniest Videos.
Idol’s first hour was beaten by NBC’s Little Big Shots (149,564 viewers) and CBS’ mashup of 60 Minutes and Instinct (235,029 viewers). 60 Minutes didn’t start until 6:37 p.m. due to the run over of the Texas A&M-North Carolina NCAA basketball tournament game. It was followed at 7:37 p.m. by the premiere of Instinct.
Idol then was beaten from 8 to 9 p.m. by CBS’ combo of Instinct and NCIS: Los Angeles.
In the advertiser-prized 18-to-49 age range, the first hour of Idol got whipped by Little Big Shots and Fox’s The Simpsons/Brooklyn Nine-Nine. From 8 to 9 p.m., Idol narrowly prevailed with 40,568 viewers opposite 37,447 for the launch of NBC’s Genius Junior.
Sunday’s real big shot was A&M’s trouncing of North Carolina to reach the tournament’s Sweet 16 along with Texas Tech. The game averaged 213,663 total viewers and 74,894 in the 18-to-49 realm to rank as Sunday’s top scorer in both measurements.
Saturday night’s Tech-Florida State game from Dallas on TNT averaged 149,564 total viewers. CBS’ afternoon Kentucky-Buffalo did better with 170,930 viewers.
On Friday night, Syracuse’s win over TCU on CBS drew 135,320 total viewers to beat all competing programming except Fox4’s local 9 p.m. newscast (170,930 viewers).
Here are Friday’s four-way local news derby results. (CBS11’s 6 and 10 p.m. editions again were knocked out of the mix by CBS’ basketball coverage.)
Fox4 won at 10 p.m. in both total viewers and with 25-to-54-year-olds (main advertiser target audience for news programming). The station also as usual swept the 6 a.m. competitions by wide margins.
NBC5 in turn ran the table at 5 p.m. The 6 p.m. golds went to TEGNA8 in total viewers and Fox4 in the 25-to-54 age range.
Email comments or questions to: unclebarky@verizon.net
@unclebarkycom on Twitter
Considering the prices ABC is paying, American Idol is far more a placeholder than a pacesetter.
Sunday’s two-hour edition averaged a hardly imposing 142,442 D-FW viewers in the 7 to 9 p.m. slot, barely better than the 128,198 viewers for ABC’s preceding America’s Funniest Videos.
Idol’s first hour was beaten by NBC’s Little Big Shots (149,564 viewers) and CBS’ mashup of 60 Minutes and Instinct (235,029 viewers). 60 Minutes didn’t start until 6:37 p.m. due to the run over of the Texas A&M-North Carolina NCAA basketball tournament game. It was followed at 7:37 p.m. by the premiere of Instinct.
Idol then was beaten from 8 to 9 p.m. by CBS’ combo of Instinct and NCIS: Los Angeles.
In the advertiser-prized 18-to-49 age range, the first hour of Idol got whipped by Little Big Shots and Fox’s The Simpsons/Brooklyn Nine-Nine. From 8 to 9 p.m., Idol narrowly prevailed with 40,568 viewers opposite 37,447 for the launch of NBC’s Genius Junior.
Sunday’s real big shot was A&M’s trouncing of North Carolina to reach the tournament’s Sweet 16 along with Texas Tech. The game averaged 213,663 total viewers and 74,894 in the 18-to-49 realm to rank as Sunday’s top scorer in both measurements.
Saturday night’s Tech-Florida State game from Dallas on TNT averaged 149,564 total viewers. CBS’ afternoon Kentucky-Buffalo did better with 170,930 viewers.
On Friday night, Syracuse’s win over TCU on CBS drew 135,320 total viewers to beat all competing programming except Fox4’s local 9 p.m. newscast (170,930 viewers).
Here are Friday’s four-way local news derby results. (CBS11’s 6 and 10 p.m. editions again were knocked out of the mix by CBS’ basketball coverage.)
Fox4 won at 10 p.m. in both total viewers and with 25-to-54-year-olds (main advertiser target audience for news programming). The station also as usual swept the 6 a.m. competitions by wide margins.
NBC5 in turn ran the table at 5 p.m. The 6 p.m. golds went to TEGNA8 in total viewers and Fox4 in the 25-to-54 age range.
Email comments or questions to: unclebarky@verizon.net
Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., March 15) -- ABC profits from NCAA competition
03/16/18 12:56 PM
By ED BARK
@unclebarkycom on Twitter
ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy and Scandal enjoyed a respite from CBS’ formidable Thursday night comedy competition to win the first two hours of prime-time.
The NCAA basketball tournament and Fox4’s 9 p.m. local newscast then kicked in down the homestretch.
Grey’s led all Thursday programing in both total D-FW viewers (206,541) and advertiser-prized 18-to-49-year-olds (84,256). Scandal dropped off but still controlled the 8 p.m. hour with 163,808 total viewers and 68,653 in the 18-to-49 age range.
At 9 p.m., Fox4’s news won in total viewers (163,808) while the 9 to 10 p.m. hour of CBS’ hoops (Buffalo vs. Arizona) took that hour among 18-to-49ers with 40,568.
Ratings for little truTV, which carried Thursday’s games from Dallas’ American Airlines Center, were not available. The network’s marquee matchup, in these parts at least, was the early evening game between a victorious Texas Tech and a very game Stephen F. Austin.
Here are Thursday’s local news derby results, with the 6 and 10 p.m. editions on CBS11 rubbed out by the network’s NCAA coverage.
TEGNA8 had the most total viewers at 10 p.m. while Fox4 was tops with 25-to-54-year-olds.
Fox4 also again swept the 6 a.m. competitions and added 5 and 6 p.m. wins among 25-to-54-year-olds.
TEGNA8 drew the most total viewers at 6 p.m. and tied NBC5 for first place in this measurement at 5 p.m.
Email comments or questions to: unclebarky@verizon.net
@unclebarkycom on Twitter
ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy and Scandal enjoyed a respite from CBS’ formidable Thursday night comedy competition to win the first two hours of prime-time.
The NCAA basketball tournament and Fox4’s 9 p.m. local newscast then kicked in down the homestretch.
Grey’s led all Thursday programing in both total D-FW viewers (206,541) and advertiser-prized 18-to-49-year-olds (84,256). Scandal dropped off but still controlled the 8 p.m. hour with 163,808 total viewers and 68,653 in the 18-to-49 age range.
At 9 p.m., Fox4’s news won in total viewers (163,808) while the 9 to 10 p.m. hour of CBS’ hoops (Buffalo vs. Arizona) took that hour among 18-to-49ers with 40,568.
Ratings for little truTV, which carried Thursday’s games from Dallas’ American Airlines Center, were not available. The network’s marquee matchup, in these parts at least, was the early evening game between a victorious Texas Tech and a very game Stephen F. Austin.
Here are Thursday’s local news derby results, with the 6 and 10 p.m. editions on CBS11 rubbed out by the network’s NCAA coverage.
TEGNA8 had the most total viewers at 10 p.m. while Fox4 was tops with 25-to-54-year-olds.
Fox4 also again swept the 6 a.m. competitions and added 5 and 6 p.m. wins among 25-to-54-year-olds.
TEGNA8 drew the most total viewers at 6 p.m. and tied NBC5 for first place in this measurement at 5 p.m.
Email comments or questions to: unclebarky@verizon.net
Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., March 14) -- X-Files reboot winding down as season's biggest bomb
03/15/18 02:02 PM
By ED BARK
@unclebarkycom on Twitter
X marks the spot -- where virtually no one watches.
Fox’s penultimate episode of The X-Files dug another prime-time mega-hole Wednesday before the network’s 9-1-1 again came to the rescue.
Co-star Gillian Anderson emphatically has said she’s done playing Dana Scully after this latest X-Files reboot finally grinds to a halt next week. Not that she’d be asked again. At the prices Fox must be paying, this has become the biggest ripoff since Justin Timberlake aided and abetted Janet Jackson’s Super Bowl wardrobe malfunction.
X-Files again ran a distant last in the Big Four broadcast network universe, drawing just 46,294 D-FW viewers and a sub-piddling 2,809 in the advertiser-coveted 18-to-49-year-old demographic. In contrast, CBS’ Survivor won the 7 p.m. hour with 192,270 total viewers and 59,291 in the 18-to-49 age range.
Inheriting next to nothing, a new episode of Fox’s midseason hit 9-1-1 then rocketed to 256,396 total viewers to easily win the 8 p.m. hour in that measurement. Among 18-to-49-year-olds, 9-1-1 vaulted to 46,809 viewers, more than 16 times the audience for The X-Files. But NBC’s competing Law & Order: SVU won from 8 to 9 p.m. with 59,291 viewers in this prized demographic.
At 9 p.m., Fox4’s local newscast and NBC’s Chicago P.D. tied for the most total viewers with 192,297 apiece. The 18-to-49 firsts at that hour were shared by Chicago P.D. and CBS’ Criminal Minds (40,568 viewers each).
Here are Wednesday’s local news derby results.
CBS11’s 10 p.m. newscast won for the third time in the last four weekdays in total viewers. It’s the best sustained showing by the station in recent memory. Fox4 otherwise won by a wide margin among 25-to-54-year-olds (main advertiser target audience for news programming).
Fox4 ran the table at 6 a.m. while also taking the 25-to-54 golds at 5 and 6 p.m. NBC5 drew the most total viewers at 5 p.m. and CBS11 ran first in that measurement at 6 p.m.
LOCAL TV NEWS NOTE: -- David Duitch is ping-ponging back to TV news after six years with The Dallas Morning News as editor of dallasnews.com and lately as director of video.
Fort Worth-based NBC5 announced Thursday that Duitch will be the station’s executive producer of special projects. He joined The Dallas Morning News, which has a content sharing partnership with NBC5, after four years as news director at KDAF-TV (Ch. 33). Duitch also has been in news management at WFAA-TV and KDFW-TV, now branded as Fox4.
NBC5 vice president of news Mark Ginther said Duitch will oversee the station’s special projects unit, newly dubbed Responds, as well as the Sunday Lone Star Politics program, awards and the ongoing partnership with The Dallas Morning News.
Duitch had an oft-wild ride at KDAF-TV, where he presided over a total remake of the news product while hiring and firing dozens of on-camera staffers. He then joined The Dallas Morning News in July 2012.
Email comments or questions to: unclebarky@verizon.net
@unclebarkycom on Twitter
X marks the spot -- where virtually no one watches.
Fox’s penultimate episode of The X-Files dug another prime-time mega-hole Wednesday before the network’s 9-1-1 again came to the rescue.
Co-star Gillian Anderson emphatically has said she’s done playing Dana Scully after this latest X-Files reboot finally grinds to a halt next week. Not that she’d be asked again. At the prices Fox must be paying, this has become the biggest ripoff since Justin Timberlake aided and abetted Janet Jackson’s Super Bowl wardrobe malfunction.
X-Files again ran a distant last in the Big Four broadcast network universe, drawing just 46,294 D-FW viewers and a sub-piddling 2,809 in the advertiser-coveted 18-to-49-year-old demographic. In contrast, CBS’ Survivor won the 7 p.m. hour with 192,270 total viewers and 59,291 in the 18-to-49 age range.
Inheriting next to nothing, a new episode of Fox’s midseason hit 9-1-1 then rocketed to 256,396 total viewers to easily win the 8 p.m. hour in that measurement. Among 18-to-49-year-olds, 9-1-1 vaulted to 46,809 viewers, more than 16 times the audience for The X-Files. But NBC’s competing Law & Order: SVU won from 8 to 9 p.m. with 59,291 viewers in this prized demographic.
At 9 p.m., Fox4’s local newscast and NBC’s Chicago P.D. tied for the most total viewers with 192,297 apiece. The 18-to-49 firsts at that hour were shared by Chicago P.D. and CBS’ Criminal Minds (40,568 viewers each).
Here are Wednesday’s local news derby results.
CBS11’s 10 p.m. newscast won for the third time in the last four weekdays in total viewers. It’s the best sustained showing by the station in recent memory. Fox4 otherwise won by a wide margin among 25-to-54-year-olds (main advertiser target audience for news programming).
Fox4 ran the table at 6 a.m. while also taking the 25-to-54 golds at 5 and 6 p.m. NBC5 drew the most total viewers at 5 p.m. and CBS11 ran first in that measurement at 6 p.m.
LOCAL TV NEWS NOTE: -- David Duitch is ping-ponging back to TV news after six years with The Dallas Morning News as editor of dallasnews.com and lately as director of video.
Fort Worth-based NBC5 announced Thursday that Duitch will be the station’s executive producer of special projects. He joined The Dallas Morning News, which has a content sharing partnership with NBC5, after four years as news director at KDAF-TV (Ch. 33). Duitch also has been in news management at WFAA-TV and KDFW-TV, now branded as Fox4.
NBC5 vice president of news Mark Ginther said Duitch will oversee the station’s special projects unit, newly dubbed Responds, as well as the Sunday Lone Star Politics program, awards and the ongoing partnership with The Dallas Morning News.
Duitch had an oft-wild ride at KDAF-TV, where he presided over a total remake of the news product while hiring and firing dozens of on-camera staffers. He then joined The Dallas Morning News in July 2012.
Email comments or questions to: unclebarky@verizon.net
Woodard bounces back
03/15/18 10:13 AM
By ED BARK
@unclebarkycom on Twitter
Former TEGNA8 reporter Teresa Woodard is current again.
She rejoined the Dallas-based ABC affiliate on Monday, March 12th after leaving in August 2014 to become PR/Communications Manager for Istation, an educational software company.
“Very excited to return to storytelling. It’s truly my passion,” Woodard replied to unclebarky.com Tuesday while your friendly content provider was still away.
Earlier in the week, Woodard tweeted that she’d “discovered a lot about myself in the last few years as I gave PR & media relations a try. The number one thing I learned is -- journalism is in my blood.”
Woodard’s first tour at TEGNA8 began in March 2012, lasting two and a half years. At the time, news director Carolyn Mungo praised her as “one of the best storytellers in the business” after hiring Woodard from Fox affiliate KTVI-TV in St. Louis.
Her 2014 departure coincided with a wave of seasoned repairers who left TEGNA8 to take public relations positions. They included Brad Watson, Craig Civale, Chris Hawes, Steve Stoler, Cynthia Vega and Casey Norton. Those six remain in the PR world.
Email comments or questions to: unclebarky@verizon.net
Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Tues., March 9-13) -- Rise falls while viewers not worshipping false Idol
03/14/18 04:30 PM
By ED BARK
@unclebarkycom on Twitter
Your friendly content provider is back from a little sojourn and ready for a D-FW ratings catchup round you won’t find anywhere else because -- well, you just won’t.
Let’s start with the most recent numbers from Tuesday, when NBC and ABC both launched new drama series in the 9 p.m. hour.
NBC’s Rise took the harder fall, in large part because it had a much bigger lead-in from the Peacock’s preceding second season finale of This Is Us.
Rise beat ABC newcomer For the People in total viewers by a score of 128,198 to 106,832. But Rise improved on the smallish 92,587 viewers furnished by ABC’s black-ish while Rise fell sharply from the 270,640 provided by NBC’s This Is Us. Both newbies were soundly whipped by CBS’ competing NCIS: New Orleans, which had 292,006 viewers. Fox4’s 9 p.m. local newscast finished second at that hour with 149,564 viewers.
Among advertiser-prized 18-to-49-year-olds, For the People won the 9 p.m. slot with 53,050 viewers while Rise ran second (46,809). Again, though, For the People improved on its lead-in from black-ish (43,688 viewers) and Rise plummeted from the 118,583 sent its way by This Is Us.
NBC’s The Voice won the 7 p.m. hour in both ratings measurements.
On to Monday, where the week’s second two-hour edition of ABC’s American Idol reboot got kicked to the curb by the competing The Voice.
NBC’s now entrenched singing competition averaged 292,006 total viewers from 7 to 9 p.m. while Idol had 170,930. Worse for Idol, it also was outdrawn in the first hour by CBS’ rerun of The Big Bang Theory and a fresh episode of the network’s Man With A Plan. And from 8 to 9 p.m., Fox’s new medical drama The Resident also had more viewers than Idol, with 192,297.
ABC’s first-year M.D. hour, The Good Doctor, celebrated its recently announced renewal for a second season by winning at 9 p.m. in total viewers (213,663). Yes, that’s quite a bit more than Idol had.
In the 18-to-49 age range, The Voice won from 7 to 9 p.m. with 65,533 while Idol took the silver (43,688). Good Doctor again improved on its Idol lead-in to win the 9 p.m. hour with 56,171 viewers in the 18-to-49 realm.
Moving to Sunday, where ABC’s two-hour launch of its expensive Idol play toy won the 7 to 9 p.m. slot in both total viewers (206,541) and among 18-to-49ers (56,171). CBS’ competing combo of 60 Minutes and NCIS: Los Angeles ran a competitive second in total viewers (170,930 and 192,297 respectively); NBC’s two-hour American Ninja Warrior was the runner-up among 18-to-49-year-olds with 37,447.
Hoping to blunt the opening night ratings for its former mega-cash cow, Fox threw a cheesy, two-hour allegedly “lost” and suddenly found O.J. Simpson interview directly opposite Idol. It came away with 121,076 total viewers and 34,327 within the 18-to-49 demographic.
ABC’s 9 p.m. post-Idol premiere of its magician/detective drama Deception drew 149,564 total viewers in that hour, with 34,327 in the 18-to-49 age range. Those were good for a third-place finish in total viewers (but just a smidge behind CBS’ Madam Secretary) and the runner-up spot with 18-to-49-year-olds. Fox4’s local newscast took the 9 p.m. hour in both measurements.
On Friday night, CBS’ 9 p.m. episode of Blue Bloods again led all prime-time TV attractions in total viewers with 235,029. Fox’s 7 p.m. hour of Masterchef Junior pulled in the most 18-to-49-year-olds (34,327).
Finally, here are the Friday, Monday and Tuesday local news derby results.
Friday -- CBS11 drew the most total viewers at 10 p.m. while Fox4 ran first among 25-to-54-year-olds (main advertiser target audience for news programming). Coming off a very little-watched 9 p.m. NBC News special, Confronting Putin, NBC5 had “hashmarks” (no measurable audience) in the 25-to-54 demographic for its 10 p.m. newscast. That’s very likely a first.
Fox4 again routed the competition with a 6 a..m sweep and also won among 25-to-54-year-olds at 5 and 6 p.m. The total viewer golds at 5 and 6 p.m. respectively went to NBC5 and TEGNA8.
Monday -- TEGNA8 topped the 10 p.m. race in total viewers and Fox4 again won among 25-to-54-year-olds.
Fox4 remained unbeaten all winter at 6 a.m. with another sweep while NBC5 ran the table at 6 p.m. The Peacock also won in total viewers at 5 p.m., with the 25-to-54 spoils going to Fox4.
Tuesday -- CBS11 ran first at 10 p.m. in total viewers, but TEGNA8 won with 25-to-54-year-olds.
Fox4 had twin wins at 6 a.m. while NBC5 notched a 5 p.m. sweep. At 6 p.m., TEGNA8 drew the most total viewers and Fox4 was tops with 25-to-54-year-olds.
Email comments or questions to: unclebarky@verizon.net
@unclebarkycom on Twitter
Your friendly content provider is back from a little sojourn and ready for a D-FW ratings catchup round you won’t find anywhere else because -- well, you just won’t.
Let’s start with the most recent numbers from Tuesday, when NBC and ABC both launched new drama series in the 9 p.m. hour.
NBC’s Rise took the harder fall, in large part because it had a much bigger lead-in from the Peacock’s preceding second season finale of This Is Us.
Rise beat ABC newcomer For the People in total viewers by a score of 128,198 to 106,832. But Rise improved on the smallish 92,587 viewers furnished by ABC’s black-ish while Rise fell sharply from the 270,640 provided by NBC’s This Is Us. Both newbies were soundly whipped by CBS’ competing NCIS: New Orleans, which had 292,006 viewers. Fox4’s 9 p.m. local newscast finished second at that hour with 149,564 viewers.
Among advertiser-prized 18-to-49-year-olds, For the People won the 9 p.m. slot with 53,050 viewers while Rise ran second (46,809). Again, though, For the People improved on its lead-in from black-ish (43,688 viewers) and Rise plummeted from the 118,583 sent its way by This Is Us.
NBC’s The Voice won the 7 p.m. hour in both ratings measurements.
On to Monday, where the week’s second two-hour edition of ABC’s American Idol reboot got kicked to the curb by the competing The Voice.
NBC’s now entrenched singing competition averaged 292,006 total viewers from 7 to 9 p.m. while Idol had 170,930. Worse for Idol, it also was outdrawn in the first hour by CBS’ rerun of The Big Bang Theory and a fresh episode of the network’s Man With A Plan. And from 8 to 9 p.m., Fox’s new medical drama The Resident also had more viewers than Idol, with 192,297.
ABC’s first-year M.D. hour, The Good Doctor, celebrated its recently announced renewal for a second season by winning at 9 p.m. in total viewers (213,663). Yes, that’s quite a bit more than Idol had.
In the 18-to-49 age range, The Voice won from 7 to 9 p.m. with 65,533 while Idol took the silver (43,688). Good Doctor again improved on its Idol lead-in to win the 9 p.m. hour with 56,171 viewers in the 18-to-49 realm.
Moving to Sunday, where ABC’s two-hour launch of its expensive Idol play toy won the 7 to 9 p.m. slot in both total viewers (206,541) and among 18-to-49ers (56,171). CBS’ competing combo of 60 Minutes and NCIS: Los Angeles ran a competitive second in total viewers (170,930 and 192,297 respectively); NBC’s two-hour American Ninja Warrior was the runner-up among 18-to-49-year-olds with 37,447.
Hoping to blunt the opening night ratings for its former mega-cash cow, Fox threw a cheesy, two-hour allegedly “lost” and suddenly found O.J. Simpson interview directly opposite Idol. It came away with 121,076 total viewers and 34,327 within the 18-to-49 demographic.
ABC’s 9 p.m. post-Idol premiere of its magician/detective drama Deception drew 149,564 total viewers in that hour, with 34,327 in the 18-to-49 age range. Those were good for a third-place finish in total viewers (but just a smidge behind CBS’ Madam Secretary) and the runner-up spot with 18-to-49-year-olds. Fox4’s local newscast took the 9 p.m. hour in both measurements.
On Friday night, CBS’ 9 p.m. episode of Blue Bloods again led all prime-time TV attractions in total viewers with 235,029. Fox’s 7 p.m. hour of Masterchef Junior pulled in the most 18-to-49-year-olds (34,327).
Finally, here are the Friday, Monday and Tuesday local news derby results.
Friday -- CBS11 drew the most total viewers at 10 p.m. while Fox4 ran first among 25-to-54-year-olds (main advertiser target audience for news programming). Coming off a very little-watched 9 p.m. NBC News special, Confronting Putin, NBC5 had “hashmarks” (no measurable audience) in the 25-to-54 demographic for its 10 p.m. newscast. That’s very likely a first.
Fox4 again routed the competition with a 6 a..m sweep and also won among 25-to-54-year-olds at 5 and 6 p.m. The total viewer golds at 5 and 6 p.m. respectively went to NBC5 and TEGNA8.
Monday -- TEGNA8 topped the 10 p.m. race in total viewers and Fox4 again won among 25-to-54-year-olds.
Fox4 remained unbeaten all winter at 6 a.m. with another sweep while NBC5 ran the table at 6 p.m. The Peacock also won in total viewers at 5 p.m., with the 25-to-54 spoils going to Fox4.
Tuesday -- CBS11 ran first at 10 p.m. in total viewers, but TEGNA8 won with 25-to-54-year-olds.
Fox4 had twin wins at 6 a.m. while NBC5 notched a 5 p.m. sweep. At 6 p.m., TEGNA8 drew the most total viewers and Fox4 was tops with 25-to-54-year-olds.
Email comments or questions to: unclebarky@verizon.net
Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed.-Thurs., March 7-8) -- They aren't the champions
03/09/18 02:51 PM
By ED BARK
@unclebarkycom on Twitter
NBC’s Thursday night premiere of the sitcom Champions ended up with just a participant trophy.
In a post-Will & Grace 8:30 p.m. slot, Champions ran last among the Big Four broadcast networks in total D-FW viewers (85,465) and tied for third place with the second half of Fox’s Showtime at the Apollo among advertiser-coveted 18-to-49-year-olds (28,085 each).
Earlier at 7:30 p.m., the Peacock hit rock bottom with a new episode of A.P. Bio, which ranked last among all prime-time programs with 42,733 total viewers and 12,482 in the 18-to-49 realm.
CBS’ The Big Bang Theory as usual was Thursday’s top scorer in both ratings measurements, leading off the night with 391,716 total viewers and 99,859 in the 18-to-49 age range.
In the 9 p.m. hour, Fox4’s local newscast beat all competing network programming across the board while more than doubling its total viewers lead-in audience from Showtime at the Apollo.
Wednesday’s 7 to 10 p.m. winners in total viewers were CBS’ Survivor and Seal Team, and Fox4’s news, the night’s biggest overall draw with 220,785.
ABC scored with 18-to-49-year-olds, winning from 7 to 9 p.m. with its comedy lineup of The Goldbergs, Speechless, Modern Family and American Housewife. Fox4 then ended that run with a 9 p.m. first in this key demographic.
Here are the Wednesday and Thursday local news derby results.
Wednesday -- TEGNA8 drew the most total viewers at 10 p.m. while Fox4 won among 25-to-54-year-olds (main advertiser target audience for news programming).
Fox4 swept the 6 a.m. competitions and also was tops with 25-to-54-year-olds at 5 and 6 p.m. TEGNA8 won both early evening races in total viewers.
Thursday -- The 10 p.m. winners again were TEGNA8 in total viewers and Fox4 among 25-to-54-year-olds.
Fox4 continued its winter-long unbeaten streak at 6 a.m. with another pair of runaway wins. The station also ran the table at 5 p.m. and added a 6 p.m. win among 25-to-54-year-olds. TEGNA8 ran first at 6 p.m. in total viewers.
Email comments or questions to: unclebarky@verizon.net
@unclebarkycom on Twitter
NBC’s Thursday night premiere of the sitcom Champions ended up with just a participant trophy.
In a post-Will & Grace 8:30 p.m. slot, Champions ran last among the Big Four broadcast networks in total D-FW viewers (85,465) and tied for third place with the second half of Fox’s Showtime at the Apollo among advertiser-coveted 18-to-49-year-olds (28,085 each).
Earlier at 7:30 p.m., the Peacock hit rock bottom with a new episode of A.P. Bio, which ranked last among all prime-time programs with 42,733 total viewers and 12,482 in the 18-to-49 realm.
CBS’ The Big Bang Theory as usual was Thursday’s top scorer in both ratings measurements, leading off the night with 391,716 total viewers and 99,859 in the 18-to-49 age range.
In the 9 p.m. hour, Fox4’s local newscast beat all competing network programming across the board while more than doubling its total viewers lead-in audience from Showtime at the Apollo.
Wednesday’s 7 to 10 p.m. winners in total viewers were CBS’ Survivor and Seal Team, and Fox4’s news, the night’s biggest overall draw with 220,785.
ABC scored with 18-to-49-year-olds, winning from 7 to 9 p.m. with its comedy lineup of The Goldbergs, Speechless, Modern Family and American Housewife. Fox4 then ended that run with a 9 p.m. first in this key demographic.
Here are the Wednesday and Thursday local news derby results.
Wednesday -- TEGNA8 drew the most total viewers at 10 p.m. while Fox4 won among 25-to-54-year-olds (main advertiser target audience for news programming).
Fox4 swept the 6 a.m. competitions and also was tops with 25-to-54-year-olds at 5 and 6 p.m. TEGNA8 won both early evening races in total viewers.
Thursday -- The 10 p.m. winners again were TEGNA8 in total viewers and Fox4 among 25-to-54-year-olds.
Fox4 continued its winter-long unbeaten streak at 6 a.m. with another pair of runaway wins. The station also ran the table at 5 p.m. and added a 6 p.m. win among 25-to-54-year-olds. TEGNA8 ran first at 6 p.m. in total viewers.
Email comments or questions to: unclebarky@verizon.net
Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., March 6) -- Bachelor fakery bamboozles some younger viewers
03/07/18 12:24 PM
By ED BARK
@unclebarkycom on Twitter
CBS and NBC won the overall ratings wars against ABC’s bloated Bachelor tack-on Tuesday night, but advertiser-prized, “impressionable” 18-to-49-year-olds were easier targets.
CBS’ 7 p.m. episode of NCIS again had prime-time’s biggest haul of total D-FW viewers with 348,983 before the network’s Bull drew 277,762 to win the 8 p.m. hour. NBC’s combo of The Voice (263,518 viewers) and This Is Us (263,518) took the second place spots.
The live, two-hour The Bachelor: After the Rose ran third from 7 to 9 p.m. with 206,541 viewers.
Among 18-to-49-year-olds, This Is Us prevailed as the top scorer in the 8 p.m. hour with 121,704 viewers while the second half of The Bachelor was the runner-up with 90,497. Hour one of The Bachelor had 96,739 viewers in the 18-to-49 realm to win from 7 to 8 p.m.
OK, a few words about this farce. Host and Dallas native Chris Harrison, who’s made millions underestimating the intelligence of some American people, blew his lines early in the live Bachelor special.
“Well, we will be seeing another wedding proposal tonight,” he told viewers and a studio audience full of fellow traffic wreck watchers. “Could that happen tonight? Stranger things have happened.”
Harrison clearly was supposed to say, “Will we be seeing” another wedding proposal tonight? He knew there’d be one, because nothing that “big” on The Bachelor happens without pre-planning. When designated cad Arie Luyendyk, Jr. indeed did propose to the woman he’d earlier jilted -- Lauren Burnham -- Harrison said, “Congratulations, I did not see that coming.” Of course he did. But untruths are an art form on this show. It’s just that Harrison earlier bungled his script -- inadvertently telling viewers the already pre-ordained truth -- before duly parroting “Bachelor Nation” ad nauseum throughout the night.
Becca Kufrin, the woman with whom Arie broke up with on-camera in Monday night’s “shocking” season finale, of course will now be the star of ABC’s latest edition of The Bachelorette, coming this May. Numerous idiots on various websites have cried foul about how Arie “took a camera crew” with him to record poor Becca being devastated. Their argument is that she didn’t know anything about this, and being put on camera amounted to “stalking” in the post-Harvey Weinstein climate.
Number one, anyone who deep-sixes their dignity to be on The Bachelor or The Bachelorette knows full well that ABC completely calls the shots when it comes to putting people on camera. And don’t think for a second that participants don’t know when this is coming. The producers then edit as they please to fit whatever outcome they’ve already pretty much concocted.
Secondly, Becca said on Tuesday night’s live show that in the end she had no problem being on camera because it documented her devastation for the world to see. Harrison fed her the question, knowing full well that Becca wasn’t about to say anything like, “I felt completely violated by the producers of this show. They invaded my privacy and stole my dignity.”
After The Rose then closed with five new bachelors from the upcoming Bachelorette promenading onstage to profess their unadorned admiration for a now constantly giggling Becca.
How genuine is any of this? Ha! Just watch Lifetime’s Unreal, which lays bare The Bachelor/Bachelorette and has just started Season 3.
OK, let’s get to Tuesday’s local news derby results.
TEGNA8 nipped CBS11 for the top spot at 10 p.m. in total viewers and bested Fox4 by an equally close margin for the win among 25-to-54-year-olds (main advertiser target audience for news programming).
Fox4 again notched twin wins at 6 a.m., where it still hasn’t lost all winter. The station also drew the most 25-to-54-year-olds at 5 and 6 p.m.
NBC5 ranked first at 5 p.m. in total viewers and TEGNA8 won in this measurement at 6 p.m.
Email comments or questions to: unclebarky@verizon.net
@unclebarkycom on Twitter
CBS and NBC won the overall ratings wars against ABC’s bloated Bachelor tack-on Tuesday night, but advertiser-prized, “impressionable” 18-to-49-year-olds were easier targets.
CBS’ 7 p.m. episode of NCIS again had prime-time’s biggest haul of total D-FW viewers with 348,983 before the network’s Bull drew 277,762 to win the 8 p.m. hour. NBC’s combo of The Voice (263,518 viewers) and This Is Us (263,518) took the second place spots.
The live, two-hour The Bachelor: After the Rose ran third from 7 to 9 p.m. with 206,541 viewers.
Among 18-to-49-year-olds, This Is Us prevailed as the top scorer in the 8 p.m. hour with 121,704 viewers while the second half of The Bachelor was the runner-up with 90,497. Hour one of The Bachelor had 96,739 viewers in the 18-to-49 realm to win from 7 to 8 p.m.
OK, a few words about this farce. Host and Dallas native Chris Harrison, who’s made millions underestimating the intelligence of some American people, blew his lines early in the live Bachelor special.
“Well, we will be seeing another wedding proposal tonight,” he told viewers and a studio audience full of fellow traffic wreck watchers. “Could that happen tonight? Stranger things have happened.”
Harrison clearly was supposed to say, “Will we be seeing” another wedding proposal tonight? He knew there’d be one, because nothing that “big” on The Bachelor happens without pre-planning. When designated cad Arie Luyendyk, Jr. indeed did propose to the woman he’d earlier jilted -- Lauren Burnham -- Harrison said, “Congratulations, I did not see that coming.” Of course he did. But untruths are an art form on this show. It’s just that Harrison earlier bungled his script -- inadvertently telling viewers the already pre-ordained truth -- before duly parroting “Bachelor Nation” ad nauseum throughout the night.
Becca Kufrin, the woman with whom Arie broke up with on-camera in Monday night’s “shocking” season finale, of course will now be the star of ABC’s latest edition of The Bachelorette, coming this May. Numerous idiots on various websites have cried foul about how Arie “took a camera crew” with him to record poor Becca being devastated. Their argument is that she didn’t know anything about this, and being put on camera amounted to “stalking” in the post-Harvey Weinstein climate.
Number one, anyone who deep-sixes their dignity to be on The Bachelor or The Bachelorette knows full well that ABC completely calls the shots when it comes to putting people on camera. And don’t think for a second that participants don’t know when this is coming. The producers then edit as they please to fit whatever outcome they’ve already pretty much concocted.
Secondly, Becca said on Tuesday night’s live show that in the end she had no problem being on camera because it documented her devastation for the world to see. Harrison fed her the question, knowing full well that Becca wasn’t about to say anything like, “I felt completely violated by the producers of this show. They invaded my privacy and stole my dignity.”
After The Rose then closed with five new bachelors from the upcoming Bachelorette promenading onstage to profess their unadorned admiration for a now constantly giggling Becca.
How genuine is any of this? Ha! Just watch Lifetime’s Unreal, which lays bare The Bachelor/Bachelorette and has just started Season 3.
OK, let’s get to Tuesday’s local news derby results.
TEGNA8 nipped CBS11 for the top spot at 10 p.m. in total viewers and bested Fox4 by an equally close margin for the win among 25-to-54-year-olds (main advertiser target audience for news programming).
Fox4 again notched twin wins at 6 a.m., where it still hasn’t lost all winter. The station also drew the most 25-to-54-year-olds at 5 and 6 p.m.
NBC5 ranked first at 5 p.m. in total viewers and TEGNA8 won in this measurement at 6 p.m.
Email comments or questions to: unclebarky@verizon.net
Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., March 5) -- rosy results for ABC
03/06/18 12:28 PM
By ED BARK
@unclebarkycom on Twitter
Don’t believe for a second that it wasn’t all contrived and mostly play-acted, even if some viewers still found a way to be “shocked.”
ABC got what it wanted, though. The network’s three-hour season finale of The Bachelor swept Monday’s prime-time ratings in the key advertiser-prized 18-to-49-year-old demographic. (And of course there’ll be an “After the Rose” post-mortem Tuesday night during which Arie, Lauren and the jilted Becca get together to further “confront” one another while host Chris Harrison expertly referees.)
The Bachelor averaged 81,136 D-FW viewers in the 18-to-49 bracket while also winning its closing 9 p.m. hour in total viewers with 206,541.
NBC’s The Voice otherwise dominated the 7 to 9 p.m. slot in total viewers (320,495).
The Peacock’s second episode of Good Girls ran last among the Big Four broadcast networks in the 9 p.m. total viewer Nielsens, although the margins were slim. GG moved up to second place among 18-to-49-year-olds.
Here are Monday’s local news derby results.
TEGNA8 rode ABC’s Bachelor lead-in to a 10 p.m. sweep in total viewers and 25-to-54-year-olds (main advertiser target audience for news programming).
Fox4 again won by wide margins at 6 a.m. in both ratings measurements while TEGNA8 solidified itself as the new second place station with 25-to-54-year-olds, knocking NBC5 to third.
The Peacock had twin wins at 5 p.m. and also drew the most 25-to-54-year-olds at 6 p.m. TEGNA8 had the most total viewers at 6 p.m.
Email comments or questions to: unclebarky@verizon.net
@unclebarkycom on Twitter
Don’t believe for a second that it wasn’t all contrived and mostly play-acted, even if some viewers still found a way to be “shocked.”
ABC got what it wanted, though. The network’s three-hour season finale of The Bachelor swept Monday’s prime-time ratings in the key advertiser-prized 18-to-49-year-old demographic. (And of course there’ll be an “After the Rose” post-mortem Tuesday night during which Arie, Lauren and the jilted Becca get together to further “confront” one another while host Chris Harrison expertly referees.)
The Bachelor averaged 81,136 D-FW viewers in the 18-to-49 bracket while also winning its closing 9 p.m. hour in total viewers with 206,541.
NBC’s The Voice otherwise dominated the 7 to 9 p.m. slot in total viewers (320,495).
The Peacock’s second episode of Good Girls ran last among the Big Four broadcast networks in the 9 p.m. total viewer Nielsens, although the margins were slim. GG moved up to second place among 18-to-49-year-olds.
Here are Monday’s local news derby results.
TEGNA8 rode ABC’s Bachelor lead-in to a 10 p.m. sweep in total viewers and 25-to-54-year-olds (main advertiser target audience for news programming).
Fox4 again won by wide margins at 6 a.m. in both ratings measurements while TEGNA8 solidified itself as the new second place station with 25-to-54-year-olds, knocking NBC5 to third.
The Peacock had twin wins at 5 p.m. and also drew the most 25-to-54-year-olds at 6 p.m. TEGNA8 had the most total viewers at 6 p.m.
Email comments or questions to: unclebarky@verizon.net
NBC5's "Medical Debt Epidemic" initiative a laudatory investment in both dollars and newscast time
03/05/18 01:52 PM
By ED BARK
@unclebarkycom on Twitter
Technical problems with publishing, an avalanche of post-Olympics TV series premieres, doctor/dentist visits and only so many hours in a day have served to delay an intended earlier report on a very worthy initiative by NBC5. Call me a whiner.
But at last there’s some breathing room, so let’s get to the station’s ongoing investment, financial and otherwise, in a series titled “Medical Debt Epidemic.”
Wayne Carter and Samantha Chatman of the “NBC5 Responds” unit have been the point people for these illuminating looks at what ails many an American family. Namely, debilitating medical debt that can strike at any moment.
As Carter noted at the outset of the series, NBC5 has partnered with a company called RIP Medical Debt to help forgive what can be a life-altering and sometimes life-crushing financial burden. Companies such as RIP negotiate in the secondary market to “purchase” medical debt for pennies on the dollar. The usual ratio is $100 worth of debt forgiven for every $1 invested.
As part of an overall NBC Universal initiative, Fort Worth-based NBC5 donated $20,000 to RIP to purchase roughly $2 million in medical debt. The company then notifies individual families via letters, in this case 2,000 of them, that their medical debts have been “retired.”
At this point, as NBC5 repeatedly has specified, RIP “cannot forgive medical debt for specific individuals.” Which means the station likewise can’t unduly milk its investment by rolling the cameras and arriving on doorsteps to announce, “Surprise, your medical debt is over! How does that make you feel!?” Frankly, that’s just as well.
The station also has encouraged viewers to donate. And on Friday’s 10 p.m. newscast, Carter said an additional $3.4 million in medical debt will be retired via viewers’ charitable contributions to date.
Carter and Chatman have reported companion stories that help to dramatize the urgent needs of families who are buckling under seemingly never-ending medical bills. Carter’s Friday report also presented hospitals’ side of the story via an interview with Stephen Love, who heads the Dallas Hospital Council.
“You don’t want the hospital to go out of business, and at the same time you want to be fair to the consumer,” Love said.
According to what Love told Carter, hospitals are ”required to have a max price for everything” that’s similar to the notoriously high “rack rates” posted on hotel room doors. This offsets shortfalls when patients aren’t paying up.
Carter countered that a $70 price tag for a single Pepcid tablet is not reasonable. Love fully agreed. How could he not?
NBC5 deserves major credit for this initiative -- both from a reporting and donation standpoint. Here’s more nuts and bolts information on what the station is trying to accomplish. It’s already accomplished quite a lot.
Email comments or questions to: unclebarky@verizon.net
Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs.-Sun., March 1-4) -- Oscars again more watched than the movies that won, but . . .
03/05/18 10:53 AM
By ED BARK
@unclebarkycom on Twitter
The Oscars remain masters of the awards show domain, even while that sinking feeling again sets in.
Sunday’s 90th annual awards ceremony, which ran from 7 to 10:51 p.m. on ABC, again failed to match the previous year’s numbers in D-FW. As recently as the 2015 telecast, Hollywood’s biggest dress-up event was still drawing one million viewers locally. The latest Oscars, hosted for the second straight year by Jimmy Kimmel, dipped to 726,454 viewers and 308,939 in the key advertiser-coveted 18-to-49-year-old demographic.
The 2017 ceremony averaged 763,466 total viewers and 339,953 in the 18-to-49 realm after 2016’s Oscars (with Chris Rock as host) pulled in 878,218 total viewers and 346,151 in the 18-to-49 age range.
All three were substantial drops from 2015, when the Neil Patrick Harris-hosted Oscars averaged 1,004,256 total viewers and 428,197 within the 18-to-49 motherlode.
Nationally, the early Nielsen returns put the 2018 Oscars on pace to be the least-watched ever.)
Sunday’s ceremony honored The Shape of Water as Best Picture and was replete, as expected, with speeches and commentaries championing equal opportunities for women in the aftermath of the Harvey Weinstein scandal and its subsequent ramifications for a raft of major film and television actors, hosts and anchors. Frances McDormand, the heavy favorite to win a Best Actress Oscar for her performance in the little-seen Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, capped her acceptance speech by asking all of the night’s women nominees to stand and be counted. Which they did.
Kimmel, former co-host of Comedy Central’s aggressively anti-feminist The Man Show, then praised her speech and said “I wish I was a woman.”
As did NBC’s Winter Olympics telecasts, the Oscars dominated all competing prime-time programming despite another year of audience slippage. Fox4’s 9 p.m. local newscast and CBS’ 7 p.m. rerun of NCIS rerun were the runner-ups in total viewers with 121,076 apiece.
ABC’s preceding 6 to 7 p.m. red carpet show also clubbed the competition, averaging 398,838 total viewers. Fox’s competing special on the late Billy Graham ran last among the Big Four broadcast networks in that hour with 85,465 viewers.
In Friday’s prime-time festivities, CBS’ Hawaii Five-0 and Blue Bloods tied for the most total viewers with 235,029 while Fox’s two-hour Masterchef Jr led with 18-to-49ers (40,568).
On Thursday night, CBS’ The Big Bang Theory easily led all programming in both ratings measurements, with 405,960 total viewers and 127,945 in the 18-to-49 age range.
Here are the four-way Thursday and Friday local news derby results.
Thursday -- Coming off Wednesday’s very rare double grand slam, Fox4 had another big day. The station drew the most 25-to-54-year-olds (main advertiser target audience for news programming) in all four major food groups -- 6 a.m. and 5, 6 and 10 p.m.
Fox4 also had the most total viewers at 6 a.m. and 6 p.m., and tied TEGNA8 for the top spot in that measurement at 10 p.m. NBC5 broke through with a 5 p.m. win in total viewers, narrowly outdrawing Fox4.
Friday -- Fox4 again ran the table with 25-to-54-year-olds while also winning at 6 a.m. and 5 p.m. with 25-to-54-year-olds. CBS11 won in total viewers at 10 p.m. and TEGNA8 took the top spot at 6 p.m.
Email comments or questions to: unclebarky@verizon.net
Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues.-Wed., Feb. 27-28) -- Fox gets re-rescued by 9-1-1 while Fox4 also celebrates with a double grand slam in Wednesday's local news derby
03/01/18 02:22 PM
By ED BARK
@unclebarkycom on Twitter
A new post-Olympics episode of midseason’s biggest hit resuscitated Fox Wednesday night while also lifting Fox4’s 9 p.m. local newscast to the top spot at that hour.
9-1-1 drew 249,274 D-FW viewers and 78,015 in the advertiser-prized 18-to-49-year-old demographic to whip all competing programming at 8 p.m. Fox4’s news then jumped to 263,518 total viewers while also taking the 9 p.m. top spot with 18-to-49ers (68,653).
Wednesday’s 7 p.m. hour went to the return of CBS’ Survivor, with its opening hour pulling in 199,419 total viewers and 71,774 within the 18-to-49 realm before falling off sharply from 8 to 9 p.m. opposite 9-1-1.
NBC and CBS shared Tuesday’s prime-time spoils. The Peacock’s The Voice edged CBS’ NCIS in total viewers from 7 to 8 p.m. by a score of 348,983 to 341,861.
CBS’ Bull then won in total viewers at 8 p.m., nipping NBC’s This Is Us (327,617 to 320,495). CBS had an easier time at 9 p.m., with NCIS: New Orleans a comfortable winner with 284,884 viewers.
Paced by This Is Us, NBC otherwise ran the prime-time table among 18-to-49-year-olds. This Is Us easily ranked as the team leader with 146,668 viewers in this key demographic.
Here are the four-way local news derby results for Tuesday and Wednesday.
Tuesday -- CBS11 sniffed the rarefied air of twin wins at 10 p.m. in total viewers and with 25-to-54-year-olds (main advertiser target audience for news programming). That hasn’t happened in a while, and points to the continued value of strong lead-in programming, even though NBC’s Chicago Med knocked CBS’ NCIS: New Orleans to the runner-up spot at 9 p.m. among 25-to-54-year-olds.
Fox4 as usual swept the 6 a.m. competitions while also running first at both 5 and 6 p.m. with 25-to-54-year-olds. In total viewers, TEGNA8 ranked No. 1 at 5 p.m. and tied Fox4 for the top spot at 6 p.m.
Wednesday -- On the final day of the Winter Olympics-skewed February “sweeps” ratings period, Fox4 kicked it from start to finish. The station enjoyed an exceedingly rare double grand slam by winning at 6 a.m. and at 5, 6 and 10 p.m. in both ratings measurements.
What’s more, the 7 to 9 a.m. portion of Fox4’s Good Day again pummeled the three network morning shows across the board. Add those aforementioned 9 p.m. newscast wins versus network entertainment programming and you’re looking at total news dominance.
It’s now up to Fox4 management to step up and toss a little in-station party. Ice cream social? Taco bar? Open bar? Unclebarky.com has spoken.
NOTE TO READERS: Due to the heavy influence of NBC’s 18 nights of Olympics coverage, we’re going to bypass a report on the February results. The May “sweeps” will be a far more accurate test of where Fox4, NBC5, TEGNA8 and CBS11 stand in the never-ending effort to one-up each other.
Email comments or questions to: unclebarky@verizon.net
@unclebarkycom on Twitter
A new post-Olympics episode of midseason’s biggest hit resuscitated Fox Wednesday night while also lifting Fox4’s 9 p.m. local newscast to the top spot at that hour.
9-1-1 drew 249,274 D-FW viewers and 78,015 in the advertiser-prized 18-to-49-year-old demographic to whip all competing programming at 8 p.m. Fox4’s news then jumped to 263,518 total viewers while also taking the 9 p.m. top spot with 18-to-49ers (68,653).
Wednesday’s 7 p.m. hour went to the return of CBS’ Survivor, with its opening hour pulling in 199,419 total viewers and 71,774 within the 18-to-49 realm before falling off sharply from 8 to 9 p.m. opposite 9-1-1.
NBC and CBS shared Tuesday’s prime-time spoils. The Peacock’s The Voice edged CBS’ NCIS in total viewers from 7 to 8 p.m. by a score of 348,983 to 341,861.
CBS’ Bull then won in total viewers at 8 p.m., nipping NBC’s This Is Us (327,617 to 320,495). CBS had an easier time at 9 p.m., with NCIS: New Orleans a comfortable winner with 284,884 viewers.
Paced by This Is Us, NBC otherwise ran the prime-time table among 18-to-49-year-olds. This Is Us easily ranked as the team leader with 146,668 viewers in this key demographic.
Here are the four-way local news derby results for Tuesday and Wednesday.
Tuesday -- CBS11 sniffed the rarefied air of twin wins at 10 p.m. in total viewers and with 25-to-54-year-olds (main advertiser target audience for news programming). That hasn’t happened in a while, and points to the continued value of strong lead-in programming, even though NBC’s Chicago Med knocked CBS’ NCIS: New Orleans to the runner-up spot at 9 p.m. among 25-to-54-year-olds.
Fox4 as usual swept the 6 a.m. competitions while also running first at both 5 and 6 p.m. with 25-to-54-year-olds. In total viewers, TEGNA8 ranked No. 1 at 5 p.m. and tied Fox4 for the top spot at 6 p.m.
Wednesday -- On the final day of the Winter Olympics-skewed February “sweeps” ratings period, Fox4 kicked it from start to finish. The station enjoyed an exceedingly rare double grand slam by winning at 6 a.m. and at 5, 6 and 10 p.m. in both ratings measurements.
What’s more, the 7 to 9 a.m. portion of Fox4’s Good Day again pummeled the three network morning shows across the board. Add those aforementioned 9 p.m. newscast wins versus network entertainment programming and you’re looking at total news dominance.
It’s now up to Fox4 management to step up and toss a little in-station party. Ice cream social? Taco bar? Open bar? Unclebarky.com has spoken.
NOTE TO READERS: Due to the heavy influence of NBC’s 18 nights of Olympics coverage, we’re going to bypass a report on the February results. The May “sweeps” will be a far more accurate test of where Fox4, NBC5, TEGNA8 and CBS11 stand in the never-ending effort to one-up each other.
Email comments or questions to: unclebarky@verizon.net