WXYZ-TV/Channel 7 Sweeps to Another Victory in May Ratings; Action News Wins at 12n, 5pm, 6pm and 7pm in Key Demographics

WXYZ-TV/Channel 7 Sweeps to Another Victory in May Ratings; Action News Wins at 12n, 5pm, 6pm and 7pm in Key Demographics

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., May 22 /PRNewswire/ -- WXYZ-TV is the Detroit television market's number one station, sign-on/sign-off, according to the May 2008 Nielsen Media Research rating survey which ended Wednesday. WXYZ-TV garnered a 4.6 rating/11.9 share, versus WDIV's 3.8 rating /9.8 share, WJBK's 3.6 rating/9.3 share and WWJ's 1.7 rating/4.4 share. WXYZ-TV was also the number one station sign-on/sign-off in delivery of the key demographics including Women 18-49, Women 25-54 and Adults 25-54.

WXYZ-TV's May 2008 sign-on/sign-off victory was attributable in large part to the strong performance of Channel 7's Action News. Action News was the number one newscast in the Detroit market for Noon News, 5pm news, 6pm news, 7pm news and for the entire 5-7:30pm early news block among the key demographics of Women 18-49, Women 25-54 and Adults 25-54. In addition to winning all daytime and early evening newscasts in key demos, WXYZ-TV's 11pm Action News placed a very competitive second in early morning news (5-7am) and 11pm News.

WXYZ-TV Vice President and General Manager, Bob Sliva said, "May 2008 was a very competitive and hard fought ratings period. To rank first in four out of the six weekday newscast time periods in our key demographics is an accomplishment that we're all extremely proud of. The station's performance during May 2008, particularly among our core audience of Adults 25-54, clearly demonstrates that Action News remains metro Detroit's acknowledged news leader."

   Action News' first place finishes in the May 2008 rating period include:    -- Action News at Noon, co-anchored by Robbie Timmons and Carolyn Clifford      was Detroit's dominant number one mid-day news.  Airing 12n-1pm, Action      News delivers a 4.9 rating/17.6 share, versus WDIV's 3.6 rating/12.8      share and WJBK's 3 rating/11.5 share.  In addition to winning in TV      household rating, WXYZ's noon news also outdelivers all mid-day news      competition in every key demographic category, including Women 18-49,      Adults 18-49, Women 25-54 and Adults 25-54.    -- WXYZ-TV's 5pm Action News, anchored by Robbie Timmons and Carolyn      Clifford, was metro Detroit's number one choice for early news.  WXYZ's      5pm Action News garnered a 6.8 rating/16.4 share, versus WDIV's      5.9.rating/14.3 share and WJBK's 3.1 rating/7.5 share.  This is the      thirty-third consecutive rating book that 5pm Action News has placed      first.  5pm Action News dominated the competition in all key      demographics, including Adults 18-49 and Adults 25-54.  Among Women      25-54, 5pm Action News outdelivers both WDIV and WJBK by 68% and 85%,      respectively.    -- 6pm Action News with Diana Lewis and Stephen Clark, was the Detroit      television market's number one rated newscast in delivery of all key      demographics.  WXYZ-TV outdelivered WDIV and WJBK among Women 18-49 by      29% and 35%, respectively.  WXYZ-TV's ratings' advantage among Women      25-54 was even greater, with WXYZ-TV beating WDIV by 38% and      outdelivering WJBK by 71%.  WXYZ-TV also placed first in delivery of      Adults 25-54.    -- 7pm Action News, anchored by the team of Stephen Clark and Carolyn      Clifford was the number one program in the 7-7:30pm time period in      delivery of key demographics including Adults 18-49 and 25-54.  In the      all important category of Women 25-54, 7pm Action News outdelivered      WDIV's Wheel of Fortune by 22%.  7pm Action News beat WJBK's TMZ across      the board, outdelivering WJBK by more than a 2-1 margin in TV household      ratings.  In addition to winning its time period, 7pm Action News      outdelivered WDIV among Women 18-49 and 25-54 in every single morning,      daytime and early evening newscast.  7pm Action News beat WJBK's      mid-day and early evening newscasts in Women 18-49, Women 25-54, Adults      18-49 and Adults 25-54.    -- 11pm Action News with Diana Lewis and Stephen Clark.  11pm Action News      placed second in late news in a highly competitive race.  WXYZ-TV      improved on its 10:45-11pm prime time lead-in by nearly 8% (8.5 vs.      7.9).  WXYZ trails WDIV by less than one rating in delivery of key      demographics including Women 18-49, Women 25-54 and Adults 25-54.    

In non-news programming, WXYZ-TV also turned in top rated performances. WXYZ-TV's morning block programming (9-10am Regis & Kelly, 10-11am Martha Stewart and 11am-12n The View) was number one in TV household ratings, and Women 25-54. In afternoons, ABC Soap Operas were also number one across the board, beating WDIV, WJBK and WWJ substantially in all key demographics.

At 4pm, WXYZ's Oprah delivered a 5.4 rating/14.9 share. WDIV's 4-4:30pm newscast, Local 4 News delivered a 3.7 rating/10.6 share, while WJBK's Judge Judy garnered a 2.5 rating/7 share. In addition to dominating in TV household ratings delivery, Oprah outdelivers WDIV by 75% in Women 25-54 (Oprah 3.5 rating vs. 2.0). Oprah and beats WJBK's offering, Judge Judy, by an even larger margin, 94%, in Women 25-54 (3.5 vs. 1.8 rating).

With the Writers Guild strike resolved and first run programming back in place for May 2008, ABC/WXYZ reclaimed its number one position in the Detroit television market for prime time programming. ABC/WXYZ prime time outdelivered NBC/WDIV by 72% and topped FOX/WJBK by 31% and beat CBS/WWJ by 84%. ABC/WXYZ was equally dominant in delivery of Women 18-49 and Women 25-54, Adults 25-54, where first place finishes were also recorded.

Each local rating point equals approximately 19,380 households; share represents the percentage of TV sets tuned into a program.

WXYZ is owned by the Scripps Howard Broadcasting Company and its parent, The E. W. Scripps Company (NYSE:SSP) . Scripps is a diverse and growing media enterprise with interests in national cable networks, newspaper publishing, broadcast television stations, electronic commerce, interactive media, and licensing and syndication.

The company's portfolio of media properties includes: Scripps Networks, with such brands as HGTV, Food Network, DIY Network, Fine Living, Great American Country and HGTVPro; daily and community newspapers in 17 markets and the Washington-based Scripps Media Center, home to the Scripps Howard News Service; 10 broadcast TV stations, including six ABC-affiliated stations, three NBC affiliates and one independent; Scripps Interactive Media, including a leading online search and comparison shopping services, Shopzilla and uSwitch; and United Media, a leading worldwide licensing and syndication company that is the home of PEANUTS, DILBERT and approximately 150 other features and comics.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: WXYZ-TV

CONTACT: Marla Drutz of WXYZ-TV, +1-248-827-9300

Web site: http://detnow.com/

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Profile: International Entertainment