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Local TV ratings in, 2 execs out
Two local TV executives were quietly ousted last week, during the final days of the May sweeps rating period.
Mike Reed, named general manager of CBS-owned KEYE in August 2004, was fired. Amy Villarreal has stepped in as interim manager while CBS searches for a permanent replacement.
And Carlos Fernandez, president and general manager of NBC affiliate KXAN and WB affiliate KNVA, was ushered out by parent company LIN Television of Rhode Island. Fernandez had been running both Austin the stations since February 2003.
As expected, neither CBS nor LIN would comment, citing “a policy against discussing personnel matters.”
In the just-released Nielsen overnight ratings for the May sweeps, Belo-owned KVUE (ABC) held its news dominance in early morning, 5 p.m., 6 p.m. and 10 p.m.
KEYE continues to tout itself as “the fastest-growing late newscast in Austin,” which is true. But considering how popular CBS’s prime-time programming is, finishing third and sometimes fourth in other local news time periods isn’t good.
It’s worth noting, however, that Fox was No. 1 in prime time here thanks to mammoth hits “American Idol” and “24.”
KEYE was third at 5 p.m., behind KVUE’s news and KXAN’s game show “Jeopardy,” and it was fourth at 6 p.m., beaten by two newscasts and Fox-owned KTBC’s reruns of “The Simpsons.”
In previous rating periods, KXAN has been a strong contender for top local news ratings, and it maintained its second place finish in local news in May. But at least partly because of NBC’s poor performance in prime time, the station’s numbers have sagged a bit.
Replacing Fernandez quickly will be important for KXAN and KNVA — especially since KNVA is taking on two new network affiliations in September. When the WB goes out of business, KNVA will have both the CW and My Network TV programming.
MAY NIELSEN RATINGS
Early morning news (6-7 a.m.)
KVUE 4.2 rating
KTBC 2.3
KXAN 1.7
KEYE 1.2
5 p.m. local news
KVUE 6.1
KXAN 3.6 (“Jeopardy”)
KEYE 3.0
KTBC 2.6
6 p.m. local news
KVUE 6.3
KXAN 5.4
KTBC 3.7 (“The Simpsons”)
KEYE 3.3
10 p.m. local news
KVUE 8.0
KXAN 7.7
KEYE 7.2
KTBC 5.0 (“The Simpsons”)
Source: Nielsen Media Research. In the Austin market, a rating point is 5,895 TV households, or 1 percent of the total TV households.
Permalink | Comments (3) | Categories: Local news
Comments
By Ben Combee
June 9, 2006 01:21 PM | Link to this
One of the advantages of watching HD programming from the locals is that they don't insert weather bugs on top of the programming -- I guess they don't yet have the technology to insert into the digital feeds.
By austinights
June 2, 2006 01:14 PM | Link to this
I know what I cannot stand and that's the weather blot during a progam. Those things cover 1/3 of the bottom screen and they continue to run it for the entire hour. I was watching a season finale of some program and the darn weatherman kept jumping in to tell people its raining and hailing outside. Like no one would know any less information if they didn't look out the window or hear it raining/hailing.
NBC is in trouble up to the network level...just look at their numbers. They've hugged the MUST SEE movement for way too long and there comes a time for change or adaption.
People better pay attention, because in about five years....DVD or downloads are going to be the new wave. I'd rather watch a season on a DVD at my leisure than having to way six months and having to look for it week to week.
By Don Baker
June 2, 2006 11:12 AM | Link to this
Great news to me. Verifies my choice as KVUE for almost everything I watch on Television. I'm an avid fan / user of KVUE.