Election returns outvote most of syndication

Review based on a national syndicated rating report for the week ending November 1, 2020.

Most syndicated shows were blown out by massive preemptions for election coverage in the session ending November 8.

Live with Kelly and Ryan (1.8 live plus same day national Nielsen rating, down 5% from the week before) was blacked out more than 20 times in just the top ten markets, but still snared sole possession of first place in talk. Dr. Phil (1.7, down 11%) took second despite losing its primary runs 12 times in the ten biggest cities.

Judge Judy (5.4, down 8%) was the highest rated of all shows even though it was not seen 25 times in the top ten.

In prime access time periods, Extra (0.7, steady) and TMZ (0.8, unchanged) were the only magazines in the big six able to hold their ground amid a groundswell of preemptions that weakened most programs in the category.

Elsewhere, game shows lost ground.  Family Feud (5.3, down 9%), Wheel of Fortune (5.0, down 6%) and Jeopardy (4.9, down 9%) all tumbled into negative territory.