Syndication ratings skyrocket as February sweep begins

Review based on a national syndicated rating report for the week ending February 3.

Ratings ignited for most of the top syndicated strips as the February sweeps (January 31 – February 27, 2019) began to roll out in the session ending February 3 with many shows soaring to their highest levels of the season.

Perennial syndication champion Judge Judy (new season high 7.9 live plus same day national Nielsen, up 4% from the week before) was in the ratings stratosphere as usual, leading all programs for a milestone 30 weeks in a row.

Hot Bench (new season high 2.6, up 4%), which was created by Judge Judy Sheindlin, ranked as the third biggest strip in daytime behind only “Judy” and “Dr Phil.”

In talk the top five shows all equaled or exceeded their season best performances.

Dr. Phil (new season high 3.3, up 6%) continued to set the pace in the genre for a 126^th straight week.

Live with Kelly and Ryan (new season high 2.5, up 4%) grew 9% from last year and tied Ellen DeGeneres (new season high 2.5, up 4%).

Maury (1.5, unchanged) and Steve Harvey’s Steve (1.4, steady) both hung tough at their previous season highs.

In access ratings for the entertainment magazines flirted with season records due in part to extensive coverage of the SAG Awards.

Entertainment Tonight (3.2, up 3%) notched its second highest rating of the syndication year. Access (1.4, steady) matched its season high, tying TMZ (new season high 1.4, up 8%). Extra (1.2, steady) fired a second straight season high. Daily Mail TV (1.1, steady) maintained its all-time high rating for the third week in a row while Page Six TV (0.7, up 17%) scored the group’s largest percentage increase to tag its season high.

In addition the off-net Dateline (1.4) held its ground for the fourth straight session at its 10-week high and finished first among the true crime strips for the 21^st consecutive frame.