February sweeps aren’t much of a deal but when unexpected things happen there’s buzz. And the buzz is that WPLG not only took back it’s #1 spot at 6pm, but also muscled their way to #1 at 11pm, something they haven’t done in a long time, and pushed out WFOR.
Some insiders have emailed to say that the biggest loser in the February sweeps was WTVJ. Formerly number one, then number two, the station, formerly, a news powerhouse has been pushed way down to the bottom of the ratings hole. So low, even the olympics didn’t help them nor did Michael Williams’ recent apointment to the 6pm and 11pm anchor chair.
I will try to find some numbers, if I can’t maybe the newspapers will indulge us on Sunday. Or if anyone has them use the tip link to get in touch
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– WTVJ 5th at 11pm. 3rd in primetime ratings during Olympics
– WPLG #1 at 11pm overall, WSVN wins if measured 8-10pm
– WFOR was #1 at noon and 5pm, WSVN takes them over for #1 by the time 5:30pm rolls around
– At 6pm WPLG bumps 7 and becomes #1
– WTVJ, WPLG, WSVN in dead heat for #1 from sign-on to sign-off
– WFOR dropped to 5th overall ratings, even being beaten by WSCV
The whole story over at the Sun Sentinel – WLTV takes ratings gold
Umm, duh,but isn’t this why 10 bought the Lotto drawings? 4 had them, they were first in the Nielsens. 6 had them originally, and back then they were first. Perhaps if stations would focus on decent journalism instead of copying the insanely stupid 7 formula of childlike analysis and pathetic alliteration, there would be a choice in the market for intelligent people to gravitate to. An intelligent choice just might be a ratings winner. I can hope.
Does SVN still own the mornings? What is their reaction to losing 6pm? It would appear that Laurie Jennings is STILL a major draw in the market.
question, you said WFOR dropped to fifth in overall, was that true bc the way it sounded it sounded like wtvj was suppose to be fifth bc after reading the blog i cant see how they are in dead heat for #1. also how did ‘tvj do in the ams?
WTVJ was in dead heat with 10 and 7 for #1 sign-on to sign-off
WFOR was fifth sign-on to sign-off tieing with WSCV
I agree with CCC to a certain extent. 6 and 10 have generally had the “smarter” newscasts (or at least the more experienced reporters). Their problem in my opinion in recent years has been lame production values (especially TVJ). Now just about everyone is doing the same crap with green, crappy reporters (but 6’s production values still suck).
and remember… 10 had the super bowl.
Well I still like TVJ in the mornings and either 7 or 10 in the afternoons.
… I usually only watch the news in the mornings though so I don’t get much of 7 or 10.
i love how, even though no station can legitimately say that they “won” the ratings book, both 10 and 4 have new promo’s claiming to be the most watched station…10 can get away with it…but 4 is no where NEAR the most watched station…
it really is foolish.
Haha, I agree insider.
Has anyone else noticed, the new reporter ch 10 Terrell Forney no longer has a gap between his front teeth. He now enuciates all of his words.
Have to realize that this truly was a skewed book, with major TV events such as the superbowl, and then nearly 3 weeks of olympics (hype-event-analysis) tossing a monkey wrench with the normal flow of viewers. Only Fox (with Idol) and ABC (Dancing with Stars) tried to go up against the olympics (and had some winners, that’s for sure), while CBS just basically threw in the towel; refusing to carry any new episodes of anything. The stations loosing positions and points are not going to worry too much until the next book, which should reflect a more “normal” (or is that really possible?) viewing pattern.
And I have NEVER been able to figure out who can rightfully claim the “most watched” station. I just chalk it up to hype based on hyperbole, based on voodoo…..
later.
Brent – I think they must have told him to get them fixed…….his mispronunciations were awful………he started at a rough time with the hurricane in October. Glad he is sounding better though not that impressed with him.
is it just me or does he look like Eddy Murphy? 😀
They should call him “Buddy Love”…
On a more serious note…do you think that WPLGs success is a carry over from the coverage of Hurricane Wilma this past fall? The only station to stay on and all my neighboors were watching and listening on battery powered tvs and radios. I personally think this plus better programing on ABC has lead to a win…if Miami would have had a November book I think WPLG would now have won two straight at 6pm and 11pm…not mornings or noon…LONG WAY TO GO THERE!!!
Anyone else noticing that Gwen Belkins (WPLG) voice is very gravelly………doesn’t sound good from a health standpoint……..hope she is ok..I know they haven’t renewed her..seems to be getting more on air time latlely.
And what about Todd Tongen………seem to be using him everywhere and they told him non renew also.
Tongen is probably building his resume tape so he can have something other than the dopey 10Taxi footage, hense why he’s doing reports along with other stuff