Playoffs, Hearings Hobble Syndies

Review based on a national syndicated rating report for the week during the playoffs ending October 16, 2022.

Daytime syndicated shows got slammed in the session ending October 16 following the playoffs — competing against or being bumped by ten Major League Baseball during the playoffs — and also getting hit with particularly extensive preemptions on October 13 for hearings of the House committee investigating the January 6^th attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Syndication’s only first-run show managing to move up from the prior frame was Live with Kelly and Ryan (1.6 live plus same day national Nielsen rating, up 7% from the week before), which led the talkers for the 21^st straight week (including ties) and matched its highest household number of the season.

The newcomers to talk all had strong showings despite the preemptions with Sherri (0.7, unchanged) and Jennifer Hudson (0.6, steady) refusing to decline. Karamo (0.3, steady) more than kept pace, doubling its key demo (0.2 among W25-54, up 100%).

Finishing ahead of the rookies during playoff week were veterans Dr. Phil (1.3), Kelly Clarkson (0.9) and Drew Barrymore (0.8), which all held their ground. Barrymore continued to score the strongest increase in all of first-run syndication over last year, skyrocketing 60% in its new ½ hour format. That added an average 461,000 new daily viewers compared to the same week in playoffs in 2021.