Magazines Grow as Summer Dog Days Approach, “Tamron Hall” Hot

Review based on a national syndicated rating report for the week ending July 19, 2020.

Magazines were the standout performers in the week leading up to the dog days of summer, the session ending July 19.

While most syndicated shows wilted amid 2020 record low viewing levels and sporadic pandemic preemptions, newsmags were the only genre in which every show was steady to higher.

Access Hollywood (six week high 1.2 live plus same day national Nielsen, up 9% from the week before) marshaled the most ratings momentum in the group, leaping 20% over the past two weeks.

Also on the move was Entertainment Tonight (three-week high 2.4, up 4%), which came within a tenth of sister show and category leader Inside Edition (2.5, unchanged).

TMZ (1.0), Extra (0.8), and Daily Mail TV (0.8) all did well to resist any declines and hold 100% of their prior week’s ratings.

Also having a big week was highly regarded talk newcomer Tamron Hall (0.8, up 14%), which scored with only one all new show and four repeats even though some episodes were preempted in a number of key markets due to coronavirus coverage.

Topping the established talkers for a fifth straight week was Dr Phil (1.8, down 10%) with Live with Kelly and Ryan (1.6, steady) close behind.

Ellen Degeneres (1.1) and Maury (1.1) were both unchanged with Steve Wilkos (0.9, down 10%), Rachael Ray (0.8, down 11%), and Wendy Williams (0.8, unchanged) next in line.  “Ray” and “Williams” were both tied by freshman Tamron Hall, which was the only talk show able to break into positive territory.

Court show sensations Judge Judy (5.6, down 3%) and Hot Bench (2.0, steady) continued to lead all daytime programs for the sixth week in a row.