November Sweeps Have Familiar Look
Nielsen’s November sweeps ratings are out, and the Spokane TV world has resumed its customary shape.
KREM-2 wins at 5 p.m., KHQ-6 wins everywhere else, and KXLY-4 wins nothing.
This is a change from the last sweeps period in May, when KHQ scored an unprecedented sweep, winning every news slot.
But KREM has once again carried the day at 5 p.m., which is the most-watched news time slot. It barely squeaked past KHQ, which is only fair since in May, KHQ barely squeaked past KREM. KREM has been the winner at 5 p.m. for years, buoyed by the popularity of its lead-in powerhouse, “Oprah.”
Media watchers were awaiting this book with more than the usual anticipation, waiting for the answers to these questions:
* Did the addition of new co-anchor Richard Brown at KXLY make a difference?
* Is “Jerry Springer” still drawing viewers away from the news at 5 p.m., thus contributing to the decline of Western Civilization?
* Who’s watching KHQ’s “Debra Wilde’s Circle of Friends” at noon?
The answer to the last question is: a small circle of friends. “Circle of Friends” earned a 1 rating and 3 share, up against KREM’s noon news which scored a 7 rating and 30 share. Both KXLY’s “All My Children” (4 rating, 17 share) and KAYU-28’s “Montel Williams” (2 rating, 11 share) clobber it in that time slot. On the positive side, a 1 rating is no worse than the rating KHQ was getting for reruns in that slot last season.
As for the Jerry Springer question, it appears that Springer-mania has peaked. Springer’s numbers have been cut in half since the May sweeps, down to a 2 rating, 4 share, while the 5 p.m. news numbers have gone back up to customary levels. Civilization is saved.
The first rating book for new KXLY anchor Brown appears at least encouraging. KXLY’s evening new ratings are up from last February and May, returning to the levels of this time last year. The 11 p.m. numbers are holding steady.
Other results: KHQ continues to dominate mornings, and KXLY’s expanded 11 a.m. news is showing nice gains.
Here are the ratings for the main news time slots, Mondays through Fridays, with numbers supplied by the Nielsen company. One ratings point equals one percent of the total households in the market; one share point equals one percent of the TVs in use at the time:
6 a.m.
KHQ: 5 rating, 29 share.
KXLY: 3, 15.
KREM: 2, 13.
5 p.m.
KREM: 12 rating, 24 share.
KHQ: 11, 22.
KXLY: 7, 15.
6 p.m.
KHQ: 11 rating, 19 share.
KREM: 10, 18.
KXLY: 9, 16.
11 p.m.
KHQ: 6 rating, 28 share.
KREM: 5, 22.
KXLY: 4, 19.
Other fun ratings facts
Nationwide, CBS won the prime-time sweeps sweepstakes nationwide in November, but not in the Spokane market. Here, NBC squeaked past CBS and ABC, but not by much. NBC earned a 17 share in prime time, compared to a 16 for CBS, a 16 for ABC and a 7 for Fox.
The national numbers were CBS, 16; NBC, 15; ABC, 14; and Fox, 12.
As for national news, local viewers narrowly preferred NBC’s Tom Brokaw (12 rating, 23 share) to CBS’s Dan Rather (11 rating, 21 share) and ABC’s Peter Jennings (9 rating, 17 share).
Alanis on the way?
The word is out that Alanis Morissette may be coming to the Spokane Arena on March 27. She’ll be on tour with Garbage.
The concert has already been announced on the air, and is already listed on Pollstar, which is considered the definitive concert tour website.
However, it is not official yet, and tickets are not on sale. Keep an eye peeled for further announcements.
A.J. Croce at the Met
A.J. Croce, the son of Jim Croce and a major piano-playing talent in his own right, has been booked into The Met for a show on Feb. 19 at 8 p.m. Tickets will go on sale Jan. 9 at 10 a.m.
Croce has played Tubs in Coeur d’Alene several times and has proven to be a big draw.
A Candlebox appearance
One other concert announcement: Candlebox will play The Met on Feb. 17. Tickets will go on sale Jan. 23.