TV news ratings in Atlanta show WSB-TV’s continued dominance
Nearly four years ago, Atlanta became a “metered” TV market, which means ratings are measured daily using a continuous sample of Atlantans.
ABC affiliate WSB-TV has been the market leader in local news for many years, possibly decades. That did not change under the “meter” system. WSB-TV’s ratings since 2006 have remained remarkably steady.
Since 2006, the Fox and NBC affiliates (WAGA-TV and WXIA-TV) have lost steam while CBS affiliate WGCL-TV has made some gains from very low levels.
WSB-TV in many time slots doubles the second-place TV station, sometimes more. Its strongest news time period is the 6 p.m. news anchored by Monica Pearson and John Pruitt, based on ratings from July 1, 2009 through March 4, 2010. The station at that hour generates a 9.1 rating vs. 4.4 for WAGA-TV (Fox 5), 2.9 for WXIA-TV (NBC) and 1.3 for WGCL-TV (CBS).
For the same period from July 1, 2006 to June 30, 2007: WSB-TV (8.5); WAGA-TV (5.1); WXIA-TV (4.9); WGCL-TV (1.3)
Fox 5’s 10 p.m. news program pulls in its best numbers among all its newscasts with a 5.0 share (vs. 7.7 in 2006-07).
Both WGCL-TV and WXIA-TV pull in their strongest numbers at 11 p.m. And despite the “Jay Leno Show” debacle that dragged ratings down in other markets, WXIA has held its own compared to 2008-09. Overall, the ratings at that hour show a tight fight for second place:
WSB-TV (7.5), WXIA-TV (3.5), WGCL-TV (3.4), WAGA-TV (3.0). In 2006-07, the ratings were as follows (with WAGA airing “That 70s Show”): WSB-TV (7.3), WXIA-TV (4.7), WAGA-TV (3.6) and WGCL-TV (3.2).
Here are ratings from other time slots covering 2009-10:
The ratings at 5 a.m.: WSB-TV (3.5), WAGA-TV (1.6), WXIA-TV (1.0), WGCL’s “Better Mornings” (0.4)
The ratings at 6 a.m.: WSB-TV (5.8), WAGA-TV (2.7), WXIA_TV (2.1), WGCL’s “Better Mornings” (0.7). (Although the numbers for “Better Mornings” are relatively miniscule, that’s up from 0.3 in 2007-08.)
The ratings at 7 a.m.: Good Morning America at ABC (6.2), Good Day Atlanta on Fox 5 (3.0); Today Show at NBC (2.5); Early Show (0.6).
The ratings at 9 a.m.: Regis & Kelly (4.0), Good Day Xtra on Fox 5 (2.3), Today Show (2.3); Judge Mathis on CW (0.6) 700 Club on WGCL-TV (0.4), Deal or No Deal/Millionaire on WATL (0.3)
The ratings at 10 a.m. Doctors on WSB (3.9); Wendy Williams on Fox (2.1), Today Show (1.5); Let’s Make a Deal on CBS (1.3); Maury (1.0)
The ratings at 11 a.m. The View on WSB (5.3); The Price is Right on CBS (1.9); Judge Joe Brown/Divorce Court on Fox (1.8); Jerry Springer (0.9); Atlanta and Company at NBC (0.5)
The ratings at noon: Channel 2 Action News (6.2); Fox 5 News (2.2); 11Alive News (1.0)/Millionaire (1.2); CBS News at Noon (1.4)/ Better Atlanta (0.8); Maury (1.1) at WATL
The ratings at 1 p.m.: All My Children on WSB (3.5); Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader (2.2) on Fox; Days of Our Lives on NBC (2.2); Bold & Beautiful on CBS (2.0); Springer on WATL (1.3); Street Court on CW (0.7)
The ratings at 2 p.m.: One Life to Live on WSB (2.7-lowest ratings of the day on WSB); Judge Alex on Fox (2.3); As the World Turns on CBS (1.9: Rachael Ray on WXIA (1.2); Steve Wilkos on WATL and Judge Mathis on the CW (1.1)
The ratings at 3 p.m.: General Hospital on WSB (3.6); Judge Judy;Judge Joe Brown on Fox (3.2); The Young and the Restless on CBS (3.2); Dr. Oz on NBC (2.3); Cheaters (1.2) on WATL; Tyra on CW (0.8)
The ratings at 4 p.m.: Oprah on WSB (5.9); Judge Judy/Divorce Court (3.7); Ellen on WXIA (2.3); CBS News on WGCL (2.1); Springer (1.2); Tyra on CW (1.0)
The ratings at 5 p.m.: WSB-TV news at 5 (7.5); Fox 5 News (4.1); Dr. Phil at WXIA-TV (3.0); Maury at WATL (1.6); People’s Court at WGCL-TV (1.4);
Ratings at 6 p.m. are above
Ratings at 7 p.m.: ABC World News Tonight (8.5); Wheel of Fortune at WATL (4.4); Access Hollywood at WAGA (3.4); Two and a Half Men at the CW (2.4); Evening News With Brenda Wood (2.0): The Insider at WGCL (1.4)
Ratings at 7:30 p.m.: Entertainment Tonight on WSB (7.1); Jeopardy on WATL (5.1); TMZ on WAGA (3.8); Two and a Half Men at the CW (2.9); Extra on WXIA (1.8); Family Guy at WPCH (1.8); Inside Edition on WGCL (1.7);
Ratings at 11:30 p.m.: Nightline at WSB (4.8); TMZ on WAGA (2.2); Letterman (2.1); Tonight Show (1.7)
Ratings for Kimmel (2.6); Jimmy Fallon (1.0); Craig Ferguson (1.1)
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71 comments Add your comment
Jeff
March 17th, 2010
12:09 am
Two things – Atlanta became a “people metered” market in 2006 meaning it gets daily ratings with demographics. It’s been a “metered” market for decades meaning it got a total number but didn’t know who (men, women, ages) was watching and the folks in the sales department care about the who, that’s where you make the money.
Second – way to do a nice fluff piece about the sister without mentioning you’re all owned by the same company. typical.
The First Jeff 10:52 p.m.
March 17th, 2010
1:29 am
Hey qwerty — first of all, I know Chuck Dowdle and he is one of the nicest, most genuine people I’ve ever met. Secondly, he’s from the south for God’s sake… why would you want a sportscaster in the SOUTH to forget all traces of his roots? Thirdly, what the crap is wrong with a slight southern dialect? You bashed Chuck, Southerners and NASCAR fans all in one paragraph… way to go, you judgemental moron. Fourthly, you’re married? She must be blind. And FINALLY, if you had half a brain, you’d know that Chuck RETIRED from WSB a month or two ago, so you won’t have to listen to him any more, bless your arrogant, judgemental, pretentious heart….
Go back to Minneapolis or wherever you are from so you can listen to those LOVELY northern accents as they talk about college hockey or curling or boxing or JV basketball or whatever else the crap northern sports anchors blather on about… I’ll take guys like Chuck, Buck Lanford, Ken Rodriguez etc. talking about the ‘Dawgs, the Jackets, the Braves, the Falcons, the Hawks, golf, and yes, even NASCAR.
Maniac
March 17th, 2010
3:42 am
I only watch Fox 5 Atlanta at 5p-7p then a 10 for my local news. I quit watching WSB years ago, sick of looking at Monica.
Elkabong
March 17th, 2010
4:23 am
All local news is news for children. If it bleeds it leads. Most of the local coverage needed can be gotten in 5 minutes reading the AJC online. If you want news that matters watch PBS news hour at 6pm if you must let a news outlet dictate when you get your news fix.
Ron Burgandy
March 17th, 2010
6:16 am
This article completely misleads readers! The fact that not a single network in Atlanta gets a 5 rating for news should embarrass each one of them! WSB may be “king” in Atlanta, but that is like saying a rat is the king of all rodents, they are all terrible! But I guess I should expect no less from a media that too is dying on the vine.
RadioDJ
March 17th, 2010
8:01 am
Here’s my 2 cents-
Channel 2:
The Good- Glenn Burns- Great meteorolist- knows his stuff.
The Bad- The Sports Desk- It’s like a revolving door over there. Pick someone and stick with them!
The Ugly- Monica Kauffman- The hair is just too distracting. Very unprofessional to be changing it every 4 days when you are on the air. Time to retire and dye it blue.
Fox 5:
The Good- Russ Spencer- Excellent anchor, very professsional. Keep up the good work.
The Bad- Not enough time devoted to sports outside of Atlanta.
The Ugly- Tom Hayes on “The Edge”- Drama Queen. Hard to take seriously. Plus he’s smaller than the ladies in the chair next to him.
11 Alive:
The Good- Weather- Paul and Chris as mentioned in previous posts do an outstanding job!
The Bad- Something about that studio setup is really distracting.
The Ugly- Fred Kalil- Time to go. Amateur hour is over. Also, not a fan of the way Ted Hall tries to talk all “folksy” to you on the camera.
CBS 46:
The Good- Dagmar. Oh yeah. Sure she is not a meteorologist, but it is working. Their ratings are up!
The Bad- Not enough Dagmar
The Ugly- This station is moving in the right direction, so let’s hope they continue to do so.
Rainman
March 17th, 2010
8:27 am
Fox 5 needs to put Buck on the anchor desk. Ken Rodriguez is like Ron Burgundy. Stay classy Ken!
Chess
March 17th, 2010
11:01 am
Monica – When a whole city can just say your first name. Queen Bee All Hail!!
Brenda Woods – Sexy
Amanda Davis – Cool. Pretty eyes but batting in 3rd place.
Honorable Mention – Carmen Burns. (I hated when they used send you out in the snow and rain)
TVJunkieATL
March 17th, 2010
11:14 am
I like Fox 5’s regular newscast. And Joanne Feldman. MEOW!!!!
Fox 5 has the # 2 newscast @ 5 and at 6 but drops to last place with their 11PM newscast with Tom Haynes. Yes he is not very good. Put That 70’s show back on!
war eagle
March 17th, 2010
1:25 pm
ken cook is really Lee van cleef? Beest suggestoin-have dagmar do the weather and Ms. Vladez in a bikini!
As for channel 2-severe weather all the time-you blew it. especailly since you hype a small flurry into a big snow storm scaring people to buy everything Kroger has to offer. Must be stockholders. monica-biggest NAACP cheer leader ever. And she gets so HAPPY when it is Afro history month. Gimme a break. What a racist she is.
Longtime viewer
March 17th, 2010
1:28 pm
I am a native. I can’t think of anyone worst newsreading than Tom Haynes in my lifetime here.
A-Train
March 17th, 2010
2:25 pm
Valdez in a bikini? Look like a busted open can of biscuits. If she’d drop 40lbs she’d be tight.
Ken Cook- Lee Van Cleef- Right on!
Tom Haynes- Gots to go.
Colonel Klink
March 17th, 2010
2:25 pm
Channel 2 will be the real juggernaut when Oprah’s show ends and they put on The Three Stooges! Now, that’s TV worth watching!!
JSB
March 17th, 2010
3:05 pm
WXIA’s demographics are even worse than their ratings. Their numbers continue to freefall. The 5-7am actually had pretty good ratings and was challenging for a #2 position prior to the massive changes it underwent in February 2009. There has been so much change there and all of it has been met with almost universal negativity by the viewers. There is no way to surgarcoat it, WSB pounds all of the local stations. Fox is the clear, but distant number 2. WXIA is the number 3 and falling further back with smaller and smaller numbers, which means continued declining ad revenue, and WGCL, well keep trying guys.
Dagmar over Valdez
March 17th, 2010
3:56 pm
Sorry, I would rather see Dagmar in a bikini. Ms. Valdez is hot but Dagmar is super hot !
Girl power on CBS 46
March 17th, 2010
4:00 pm
Why is it, CBS 46 seems to have all female anchors? Did the women run all the guys out of town?
I guess girl power rules!
qwerty
March 17th, 2010
5:54 pm
Hey, The First Jeff 10:52pm, I grew up in Tennessee and North Carolina, so I’d say I’m Southern too. But you’re right, I cannot stand heavy Southern accents, and I do think NASCAR fans are rednecks. And probably everyone who lives in Paulding County. Never been to Minneapolis, but thanks for the suggestion — I may visit someday.
Oh, and I know Chuck’s retiring, but he’s still on WSB all the time. Just this past Sunday, he was doing a car show. He’s there, watch and you’ll hear/see. My wife saw with her 20/15 vision (Lasik) and told me to change it fast!
Tech man
March 17th, 2010
10:45 pm
Jill Becker and Karen Greer. I like Chumy… but bring back Flip!
1911A1
March 18th, 2010
8:47 am
I don’t know about dominating the news, but WSB-TV certainly dominates in murder, mayhem and BBB (Brothas Behaving Badly.)
myra
March 19th, 2010
11:45 am
Where is Amanda Rossiter on WSB?
What happened to Carol Sbarge being co-anchor of 7am and 12noon newscast?
myra
March 19th, 2010
11:48 am
and please tell WSB to hire a REAL PROFESSIONAL SPORTS BROADCASTER to replace Chuck.