March Madness Shocks Syndication

Review based on a national syndicated rating report for the week ending March 20, 2022.

Not a single major syndicated show was able to improve week to week in the session ending March 20 as round one of the annual NCAA Basketball Tournament and – to a lesser extent — coverage of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s address to the US Congress combined to create a torrent of preemptions.

Live with Kelly and Ryan (1.6 live plus same day national Nielsen rating, down 6% from the week before) topped the talk shows for a second week.

A heavily preempted Dr. Phil (1.4, down 13%) was next in line followed by Kelly Clarkson (0.8, steady), which tied Ellen DeGeneres (0.8, down 11%).

Year to year, only two shows in the top 10 were able to avoid the widespread declines and hold 100% of their same week 2021 ratings: third year hit Kelly Clarkson and recently renewed popular sophomore Drew Barrymore.

Among magazines Inside Edition (2.1, down 9%) led narrowly with Entertainment Tonight (2.0, down 9%) and Access Hollywood (0.8, steady) in closest pursuit.

Family Feud (5.2, down 5%) finished first in the game show category and led all of syndication. Jeopardy (5.0, down 14%) was the runner-up with Wheel of Fortune (4.5, down 15%) next.