Hearst-Argyle Stations, Websites, Draw Record Audiences With On-Air and Online Election Coverage

Hearst-Argyle Stations, Websites, Draw Record Audiences With On-Air and Online Election Coverage

More Than 3 Million People Viewed Hearst-Argyle Election-Day Coverage On-Air and Online

NEW YORK, Nov. 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- It was a landslide victory for numerous Hearst-Argyle Television stations and websites -- which led their markets in audience ratings and in web traffic during coverage of the historic presidential election.

In 15 Nielsen-metered TV markets where Hearst-Argyle has a TV news station, 10 Hearst-Argyle stations ranked #1 in household ratings for late news and in most other major newscasts throughout the day -- reaching more than 1.5 million viewers with late newscasts alone. On average, the #1-rated Hearst-Argyle stations enjoyed a 42% ratings advantage over the #2-rated news stations in those markets. The stations also ranked #1 during network time periods. Hearst-Argyle's five largest ABC affiliates delivered #1 ratings for "World News with Charles Gibson" and for ABC's primetime election coverage; four of Hearst-Argyle's five largest NBC affiliates delivered #1 ratings for "NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams" and for NBC's primetime coverage.

More than 1.3 million unique visitors (UVs) went to a Hearst-Argyle website to follow yesterday's coverage -- a 21% increase over the prior day and a 41% increase over the UV traffic for the November 7, 2006 coverage of the mid-term elections. The sites also received nearly 1.8 million visits, a 27% increase over the prior day and a 38% increase over the 2006 mid-term election visits. Average time per visit increased 44% on election day vs. the prior day, and 73% vs. the average of the prior two weeks.

Hearst-Argyle stations ranked #1 in household audience in the following Nielsen-metered TV markets (by market size):

   --  Boston:  WVCB-TV, an ABC affiliate, ranked #1 at 5-6pm, 6-6:30pm,       6:30-7pm (ABC Network news), 7-8pm (Network coverage), 8-11pm       (Network) and Late News.   --  Sacramento:  KCRA-TV, an NBC affiliate, ranked #1 at 6-7am, 3:30-4pm       (Network), 4-5pm (Network), 5-9pm (Network), 9-11pm (Local) and Late       News   --  Pittsburgh:  WTAE-TV, an ABC affiliate, ranked #1 at 6-7am, 6-6:30pm,       6:30-7pm (Network), 7-8pm (Network), 8-11pm (Network) and Late News   --  Baltimore: WBAL-TV, an NBC affiliate, ranked #1 at 6-7am, 5-6pm,       6-6:30pm, 6:30-7pm (Network), 7-8pm (Network), 8-11pm (Network) and       Late News   --  Kansas City:  KMBC-TV, an ABC affiliate, ranked #1 at 6-7am, 5-5:30pm,       5:30-6pm (Network), 6-6:30pm, 6:30-7pm (Network), 7-10pm (Network) and       Late News   --  Milwaukee:  WISN-TV, an ABC affiliate, ranked #1 at 6-7am, 5-5:30pm,       5:30-6pm (Network), 6:30-7pm (Network), 7-10pm (Network) and Late News   --  Greenville, S.C.: WYFF-TV, an NBC affiliate, ranked #1 at 6-7am,       5-6pm, Network and Late News   --  Albuquerque:  KOAT-TV, an ABC affiliate, ranked #1 at 6-7am, 7-9pm       (Network), 9-9:30pm, 9:30-10pm (Network) and Late News   --  Oklahoma City:  KOCO-TV, an ABC affiliate, ranked #1 at 6:30-7pm       (Network), 7-10pm (Network) and Late News   --  Greensboro/Winston-Salem, N.C.:  WXII-TV, an NBC affiliate, ranked #1       at 6-7am, 5-6pm, 6-6:30pm, 6:30-7pm (Network), 7-8pm, 8-11pm (Network)       and Late News   

In the following Nielsen-metered TV markets, Hearst-Argyle stations ranked #2 in household ratings:

   --  Orlando:  WESH-TV, an NBC affiliate, ranked #2 at 5-5:30pm, 5:30-6pm,       6-6:30pm, 6:30-7pm (Network), 7-8pm (Network), 8-11pm (Network) and       Late News   --  West Palm Beach:  WPBF-TV, an ABC affiliate, ranked #2 at 7-8pm       (Network), 8-11pm (Network) and Late News   --  New Orleans:  WDSU-TV, an NBC affiliate, ranked #2 at 6-7am, 5:30-6pm       (Network), 6-6:30pm, 6:30-7pm (Network) and Late News    

Hearst-Argyle Television, Inc. a leading local media company, owns 26 television stations, and manages an additional three television and two radio stations. The Company's television stations reach approximately 18% of U.S. TV households, making it one of America's largest television station groups. It also owns 30 websites and 19 digital multicast channels providing news, weather and entertainment programming. Hearst-Argyle is majority-owned by Hearst Corporation. The company's Web address is www.hearstargyle.com.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact: tcampo@hearst.com

Source: Hearst-Argyle Television, Inc.

CONTACT: Tom Campo of Campo Communications, LLC for Hearst-Argyle
Television, Inc., +1-212-590-2464, Tom@CampoComm.com

Web Site: http://www.hearstargyle.com/

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Profile: International Entertainment