From Deseret News archives:
KSL barely beats KUTV
As it has for longer than just about anyone can remember, KSL-Ch. 5 was No. 1 in the late-night news ratings. Which is a big deal, because that single telecast generates up to half of a local station's revenues.
The headline isn't so much that KSL won, it's by how much. Or by how little.
In the seven-day (Monday-Sunday) ratings, KSL averaged an 11.1 rating and a 21 share. Second-place KUTV-Ch. 2 averaged a 10.8 rating and a 20 share the closest any station has come to KSL during a sweeps in years.
A rating point represent 1 percent of the homes in a television market; a share point is 1 percent of the homes where the TV is being watched at any one time. When those ratings are translated into households (as a percentage of the 919,390 homes in the Salt Lake TV market), KSL's lead over KUTV at 10 p.m. is down to about 3,000 homes.
Ch. 5 averaged approximately 102,000 homes; Ch. 2 averaged about 99,000 a difference of about 3 percent.
Compared to November 2007, Ch. 5 dropped .9 of a rating point and about 3,000 homes. KUTV went up .5 of a rating point and about 8,000 homes.
KSL blamed its network, NBC, for its ratings woes. And there is absolutely an argument to be made along those lines because NBC gave its local affiliate a lousy lead-in. In the Salt Lake TV market, NBC's prime-time schedule averaged a 5.9 rating to CBS's 8.5.
But lead-in doesn't account for everything. KSL's 10 p.m. newscast led third-place KSTU-Ch. 13's 9 p.m. news hour (7.1/13) by 4 full ratings points, but NBC's prime-time (7-10 p.m.) led Fox's prime-time (7-9 p.m.) by only 1.4.
And KSL led fourth-place KTVX-Ch. 4 by a whopping 6.4 rating points, while NBC led ABC by only .7.
(Some wags suggest that maybe the narrowing gap between Ch. 5 and Ch. 2 has something to do with mortality rates. Back when KSL had a huge lead in the late-news ratings, a big part of that lead was built on older viewers ... many of whom are no longer with us.)
Ch. 13's late newscast improved by .5 of a rating point and about 7,000 homes.
And as for Ch. 4, well, the bad news just isn't getting any better. The station actually lost ground at 10 p.m., dropping half a rating point and losing about 4,000 homes.
The only thing keeping Ch. 4 from the bottom of the barrel is the 9 p.m. newscast that KUTV-Ch. 2 airs on KJZZ-Ch. 14, which pulls in a measly 1.4 rating and about 13,000 homes.
But if you add those 13,000 homes to Ch. 2's 10 p.m., total, that means that about 10,000 more homes were watching a KUTV-produced late-night newscast during the November sweeps than were watching a KSL-produced newscast.
Viewers in some homes no doubt watch both Ch. 14 at 9 p.m. and Ch. 2 at 10 p.m., but it's sort of interesting nonetheless.
E-mail: pierce@desnews.com
Comments
- Cougs brace for coaching changes 9:54 p.m.
- Jazz stunned by Timberwolves 9:51 p.m.
- Cougar seniors see a new Bronco 9:46 p.m.
- Sports briefs 9:33 p.m.
- Grizzlies acquire Prokop 9:32 p.m.
- Finau makes finals of big break 9:30 p.m.
- Man assaults teens in his car 9:25 p.m.
- Cougars O-line a strength 9:24 p.m.
- U.S. House recognizes Real 9:21 p.m.
- Top prep gridders honored 9:20 p.m.
- Wet spot found in Powell's home
- Sources: Josh Powell hires attorney
- Y. opponent nearly smelled roses
- D-Will treats military families to party
- MWC looks better in basketball
- Maynor amazed by L.A. fans
- Pace happy not to be noticed
- High school football: All-region teams
- Jazz Extra: Starting 5
- BYU singers compete in 'Sing Off'
- Palin signs books, chats with fans
178 - Nude bathers cited for lewdness
152 - Gay-friendly curriculum phased out
145 - LDS to emphasize helping needy
125 - Jazz fall apart late at L.A.
110 - Unga might enter NFL draft
106 - BYU to wear royal blue uniforms
101 - Disappearance called 'suspicious'
96 - TV mom gives birth to 19th child
95 - Choir, guests unwrap musical magic
84
If all three of the Utahns still competing on "So You Think You Can...
and then go and steal a few players from us (Riley Nelson and not to mention...
Incredible, Beat the Lakers, then lose for the second time to the worst team...
the word is disgusting the word is despicable more momentarily..
Are All The Apps free? Im sure you have to pay for them and also, i bet you...
re: face it | 1:06 p.m. Who told you we want to destroy society? That...
Jazz always lay an egg against terrible teams especially after big wins.
Geez, would like to know what the answers would be. Anything for a...
I pray to the heavens for your wings to spread and guide you over all your...
CAN YOU IMAGINE Your intelligence is in a world within itself!... Your drive...
I believe Pres.Obama is evil. He has an agenda and I do not agree with any of...



You can be the first to comment on this story.