“Access” scores double digit ratings jump and is sole magazine to improve

“Access” scores double digit ratings jump and is sole magazine to improve

Review based on a national syndicated rating report for the week ending August 11.

In the sleepy summer session ending August 11 that saw very few programs able to increase due to low viewing levels and preemptions for pre-season football, Access (1.1 live plus same day national Nielsen rating, up 10% from the week before) stood out as the only magazine in the plus column.

The double digit upward move also gave “Access” the biggest year-to-year increase of any magazine, jumping 10% and vaulting the show into a tie with TMZ (1.1, unchanged).

Syndication’s highest rated show Judge Judy (5.8, steady) topped the chart for the fourth time in five weeks even though it was completely in reruns and was unable to be seen for most of the week (along with several other programs) on the 28 CBS-Owned stations carried by DirecTV and AT&T U-verse in 14 markets, including New York, Los Angeles and Chicago.

In addition, “Judy” and other daytime strips were preempted in some markets on August 5th for coverage of President Trump’s remarks on the El Paso and Dayton mass shootings.

Dr. Phil (2.0, down 5%), in repeats on all five days, continued to take the household ratings talk show crown for the 153rd straight week, but it was close.

Live with Kelly and Ryan (1.9, steady) came within a tenth of first place while capturing second highest honors in talk for the 24th week in a row.

Ellen DeGeneres (1.3, down 7%) held on for third among the chat-fests.

In try-out news, week five of the six-week test that began July 15 for comedic game show Punchline (0.3/1 weighted metered market average) fell 40% from both its lead-ins and August 2018 time periods.

In another trial, the first week of a three week test that began August 12 for Jerry O’Connell’s talker Jerry O (1.0/4 primary run weighted metered market average) dropped 17% from its lead-in, but was unchanged from its year-ago time period average.

By Magid | 08/20/19