WRAL-TV and FOX 50 both delivered solid ratings in the February sweeps book for 2005. Each started out the year strong, with the WRAL newscasts and prime time programming.
WRAL-TV
WRAL-TV celebrated its 49th consecutive rating period win for the WRAL 5:00pm news in household ratings, and the 46th consecutive ratings period win for both 5:30pm and 6:00pm News in household ratings. In addition to household wins, the WRAL 6:00pm news was first in Persons aged 25-54 for the 53rd consecutive ratings period.
WRAL-TV also showed increases among the much-desired young male demo for all of WRAL’s evening time periods. For WRAL 5:00pm First News:
- Men 18-34 were up 126% book-to-book and 79% year-to-year;
- Men 18-49 were up 70% book-to-book and 10% year-to-year;
- WRAL’s 5:30 pm News was up 177% for Men 18-34 and 71% book-to-book, and;
- Men 18-49 were up 95% book-to-book and 11% year-to-year.
Finally, WRAL’s flagship evening news, WRAL News 6:00pm was up
- 231% for Men 18-34 book-to-book and 43% year-to-year;
- Men 18-49 were up 80% book-to-book and up 17% year-to-year.
This trend continues into the 11:00pm news.
- WRAL’s 11pm News was up 100% for Men 18-34 book-to-book and 9% year-to-year.
- Men 18-49 were up 15% book-to-book and 38% year-to-year.
During prime time, the leader in household ratings is WRAL, up +9% year to year with 11.1 HH/15 share for the same time period.
FOX 50
FOX 50 finished the sweep with a 3.2 household rating and 7 share, up 2 share points, year-to-year and book-to-book, the largest growth of any station in the market.
WRAL News on FOX 50 at 7:00am grew to a 2.3 household rating 6 share, a +15% increase year-to-year. In the 5:00pm slot, “Judge Mathis” is the highest rated non-news program with a 3.2 household rating and 6 share. WRAL News on FOX 50 at 10:00pm is up +15% year-to-year, delivering a 6.1/9.
The FOX network nationwide won a sweeps month among all viewers for the first time in February. With the numbers from the Super Bowl and the kick-off of the 4th season of the blockbuster “American Idol,” FOX came out on top of the major four networks, delivering a 9.7 household rating 13 share for FOX 50 for the Monday–Sunday 8-10pm block. This is a +64% increase over last year’s ratings, and places FOX 50 second household ratings.
Even without the Super Bowl, FOX 50’s Monday– Friday household rating average is 9.0 household rating 12 share, still the second-highest household rating in the market. FOX 50 easily won the Adult 18-49 demo even without the Super Bowl boost.
Thanks to WRAL-TV’s Gary Galloway & FOX 50’s Gerald Belton
for the info for this capcom story.
