Palm Beach May 2007 Ratings

American Idol finally rubbed off on WFLX after all these years. WPTV remains highest rated station in all of Florida but WPEC and WPBF have posted some healthy gains.

* 10 p.m.
Each rating point translates to approximately 7,721 home

Sun Sentinel – WPTV’s still No. 1 in TV ratings race
Sun Sentinel – By the numbers

TcPalm.com – Rivals making inroads into WPTV’s top ratings

Rivals making inroads into WPTV’s top ratings
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By staff report
May 26, 2007
WPTV-Ch. 5 was the highest- rated station in Florida during the May sweeps. However, its hold on some of the key time periods in its own market, most notably late news, is getting more tenuous. WPEC-Ch. 12 and WPBF-Ch. 25 have each made inroads into the dominance WPTV has enjoyed since the advent of TV in the Palm Beach market.

WFLX-Ch. 29 also has something to crow about from the May sweeps ratings. Its late news, which airs at 10 p.m., an hour earlier than its competitors, has the second-highest ratings in the market. Credit the “American Idol” influence. Conversely, WPTV is hindered by the collapse of NBC in prime time. That it can hold No. 1 in late news with such weak lead-ins is an achievement.

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Channel 5 also maintained its dominance in the most contested news time slots, leading at 5, 5:30, 6 and 11 p.m. At 6 p.m., Channel 5 still beats WPEC and WPBF combined. However, WPEC continues to make inroads, as the only station in the market showing gains in all three early evening newscasts. WPEC also maintained its long-held supremacy in midday news.

WPTV’s still No. 1 in TV ratings race

But challengers make inroads during May sweeps

By Tom Jicha
South Florida Sun-Sentinel TV/Radio Writer
Posted May 25 2007

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WPTV-Ch. 5 was the highest-rated station in Florida during the May sweeps. However, its hold on some of the key time periods in its own market, most notably late news, is getting more tenuous.

WPEC-Ch. 12 and WPBF-Ch. 25 have each made inroads into the dominance WPTV has enjoyed since the advent of TV in the Palm Beach market.

WFLX-Ch. 29 also has something to crow about from the May sweeps ratings. Its late news, which airs at 10 p.m., an hour earlier than its competitors, has the second-highest ratings in the market. Credit the American Idol influence.

Conversely, WPTV is hindered by the collapse of NBC in prime time. That it can hold No. 1 in late news with such weak lead-ins is an achievement.

WPTV still has a healthy lead in sign-on to sign-off. Channel 5 also maintained its dominance in the most contested news time slots, leading at 5, 5:30, 6 and 11 p.m. At 6 p.m., Channel 5 still beats WPEC and WPBF combined. However, WPEC continues to make inroads, as the only station in the market showing gains in all three early evening newscasts. WPEC also maintained its long held supremacy in mid-day news.

It’s a much tighter race in late news where fewer than two ratings points separates top to bottom.

Despite the Idol influence on Fox’s WFLX and ABC’s ever-improving prime-time schedule on WPBF, WPEC managed to hold No. 1 in prime time with its lineup of CBS series. This helped WPEC grab second place overall, just ahead of WPBF.

Tom Jicha can be reached at tjicha@sun-sentinel.com.