7 almost bumps WLTV for #1

Tom jicha from Sun Sentinel has a nice summary of the May sweeps ratings. WSVN almost bumped WLTV – Univision from the spot for #1 station but it didnt happen so 7 is number one among English language stations sign-on to sign-off. WSVN, WPLG and WFOR were .2 ratings point of each other. Now that’s close!

Sun Sentinel
WLTV edges WSVN for No. 1 in Miami-Fort Lauderdale

American Idol is a powerhouse, but the telenovelas on WLTV-Ch. 23 appear invincible.

Fueled by other-worldly ratings for American Idol, WSVN-Ch. 7 came close to vaulting over longtime market leader WLTV. However, the Spanish-language station’s strength across the week as opposed to some weak nights for Fox on WSVN enabled Univision affiliate WLTV to hold on to its place atop the Nielsen ratings during the May sweeps. WSVN had to settle for No. 1 among English stations.

WLTV did hit a bump, as its main Spanish rival, Telemundo’s WSCV-Ch. 51, pushed to the top in late news, one of many time periods in which WLTV has enjoyed a stranglehold. However, WLTV continued to dominate the dinnertime news block, prime time and the overall sign-on to sign-off categories.

WSVN’s newscasts apparently enjoyed a halo effect from American Idol, possibly because American Idol news and speculation dominated so much of them. WSVN was No. 1 at 5 and 5:30 p.m., tied WPLG-Ch. 10 at 6 and crushed its second-tier competition at 10 p.m. with a rating that exceeded its English competitors’ late newscasts at 11 p.m. However, WSVN’s 11 p.m. newscast faded to last among English stations.

WPLG also had a strong May. In addition to tying WSVN at 6 p.m., it was No. 1 among English stations at 11, just ahead of WFOR-Ch. 4, which maintained its supremacy in midday news.

Buoyed by the resurgence of network partner ABC, WPLG also pressed WSVN for the top spot overall among English stations, a tight race in which WSVN, WPLG and third place WFOR finished within .2 of a rating point of each other.

The May sweeps is the end of an era in Miami-Fort Lauderdale in some ways. Next fall, Dr. Phil will move from WFOR to WPLG in place of the 5 and 5:30 newscasts, and WBZL-Ch. 39 will assume the new CW prime-time lineup, a marriage of the WB and UPN, with current UPN station WBFS-Ch. 33 becoming an independent.