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March ’09 Book
By Michael Page | April 2, 2009
The traditional February sweeps period became the March sweeps period this year. The move was made in an attempt to avoid confusion during the expected switch to DTV in February, although the deadline was later changed.
Here are the numbers (total viewers 2+):
5-6 AM
WHDH: 50,100
WCVB: 35,000
WBZ: 31,100
WFXT: 30,100
6-7 AM
WHDH: 90,000
WFXT: 73,600
WCVB: 65,500
WBZ: 61,300
- Note: It seems like WCVB has hit a speed bump in the mornings. Last November during this time slot they had 84,900 viewers, and they had 99,000 in last February’s book. Also during February 2008, WCVB had 50,000 viewers at 5 AM. Meanwhile WHDH appears to be picking up strength, going from 77,000 viewers from 6-7 AM last February to 90,000 during this sweeps period.
7-9 AM
WHDH: 86,200
WFXT: 70,100
WCVB: 62,800
WBZ: 42,700
- Note: Only WFXT has local news during this time. The other stations run network news.
Noon
WCVB: 107,800
WHDH: 63,600
WBZ: 59,900
5-6 PM
WCVB: 162,000
WBZ: 88,200
WHDH: 86,700
WFXT: 18,800
- Note:In the November sweeps period WBZ was ranked third during this time slot. Now it has swapped with WHDH.
6 PM
WCVB: 212,600
WHDH: 109,200
WBZ: 105,200
- Note:WBZ gave up their 5 PM gains here, moving from second to third place, again switching with WHDH. It seems early evenings are competitive behind WCVB, the clear leader.
10 PM (Via the Herald)
WFXT: 206,700
WLVI: 43,800
11 PM
WBZ: 198,200
WCVB: 169,100
WHDH: 140,800
WFXT: 81,000
Topics: WBZ (Channel 4), WCVB (Channel 5), WFXT (Channel 25), WHDH (Channel 7) | 35 Comments »
April 2nd, 2009 at 4:07 pm
Thanks for posting the March figures. It is interesting to see that Channel 5 is still rolling along at 5:00 and 6:00 and WBZ-TV remains on top at 11:00.
Channel 7′s bright spot is in the early morning. I wonder whether “The Today Show” helps them there?
Why does WFXT continue with a 5:00 P.M. newscast? The station could get better ratings with off-network sitcoms in the late afternoon.
April 2nd, 2009 at 4:18 pm
This has nothing to do with this… well kinda… but I’m watching 7 right now and they just said 7 news at 10 is moving to NBC? WHAT??? Is that what I heard?
April 2nd, 2009 at 6:45 pm
Wow…I am surprise that WHDH has the #1 slot for the mornings. Then again, Adam, Anne and Dylan do work together really well.
April 2nd, 2009 at 7:03 pm
This proves that WHDH can survive without Randy and Brandon.
But I actually am not surprised that WHDH got # 1 for the morning because Dylan, Adam and Anne.
Also the morning’s are doing better than the 5 o’clock hours?????
April 2nd, 2009 at 7:06 pm
It’s great to see Fox25 at #2 from 6-7am. I think their morning show is fantastic. Mike, any numbers from 7-9am? I wonder why the jump from #4 to #2 between 5am and 6am. Nevertheless, good for them!
April 2nd, 2009 at 7:43 pm
I’ll see what I can do.
April 2nd, 2009 at 7:52 pm
WFXT: 18,800 That Is So Mad OMG NO One Is Watching But FOX 25 SUCKS
April 2nd, 2009 at 7:58 pm
WCVB Come One You Can Do Better In The Mornings
April 3rd, 2009 at 7:54 am
Michael any numbers for WMUR 5-6 and 6-7am?
April 3rd, 2009 at 1:50 pm
Hi I am david from New Bedford MA I have been
watching WCVB ch.5 every morning, at noon, 5-6:30PM and at 11 PM and weekend mornings since December 2008 I enjoy watching WCVB I think they have the best news coverage
just my opinion
April 3rd, 2009 at 6:34 pm
Jamie: Those numbers have been posted.
Brian: Nothing on WMUR, sorry.
April 3rd, 2009 at 7:52 pm
Great site. Definitely some Great info here.
Is there any way you can get numbers for NECN?
April 3rd, 2009 at 8:55 pm
Glad you like the site…because NECN is cable it is not included in these sweeps periods.
April 3rd, 2009 at 10:48 pm
Hey Michael…If you don’t mind me asking, how do you feel about the new sweep? Do you have a specific favorite for news??
April 4th, 2009 at 7:46 am
I think it is interesting that each station can lay claim to one part of the day…WHDH in the AM, WCVB daytime and WFXT/WBZ late night. It’s more interesting that way!
In an attempt to be as impartial as possible, I generally flip between all of the newscasts, so I don’t have a clear favorite.
April 4th, 2009 at 1:40 pm
haha Michael…I agree with you. I pretty much flip between them all as well. However, I generally favor FOX 25 more.
Morning’s are WFXT. 4-5pm is WHDH, 5-6 is WFXT, 6-6:30 is WCVB, 9 is WBZ, and 10-11 is again WFXT.
April 10th, 2009 at 9:23 pm
Inside word is bz is going to make female change in morning.Ratings have suffered since Paula Ebben was hired from Worcester cable station. She actually has her house on the market,
April 10th, 2009 at 10:33 pm
This is what I think Wbz has to do to help get their gain back in the morning is to get Kate Merill and David Spade with maybe Barry Burbank????????
To help Whdh with the Evening is to maybe have Frances and Jonathon Hall and Have Kim moved to the weekend ( Not saying I do not like her) and maybe have Lauren Pryzbl and Matt Lorch for the 4 and 5:30.
Just my opinion ???????????????????
April 10th, 2009 at 10:40 pm
Have an all female shows for the weekends (Kim and Amanda, For the Evenings) (Sorboni and Christa, for the mornings)
Again just my opinion
April 11th, 2009 at 8:43 am
It has been rumored for quite a while that the networks were courting Paula Ebben. That may be the case.
April 11th, 2009 at 6:05 pm
Why would the networks want someone who has been a total failure in a local market?
April 11th, 2009 at 8:26 pm
Hi stevoPaula has been the life blood of the station. Barry has been the best meterologist in Boston. Kate pales in comparison to Paula.
April 11th, 2009 at 8:31 pm
@steve o: No argument here. I still don’t understand the appeal.
April 11th, 2009 at 10:02 pm
The life blood of the station?Her ratings have been in the gutter since she started.The public has not accepted her.I think Kate is awful. They need new talent P.S. Barry is the best!
April 13th, 2009 at 9:34 pm
Anyone know if all of this noise about WHDH and its threat to move its 10 p.m. newscast to Channel 7 has impacted its ratings over on channel 56? Are they up at 10 p.m.?
April 13th, 2009 at 10:19 pm
No major changes in ratings as far as I know.
April 25th, 2009 at 8:48 pm
Yeah, the move is coming September for 7 News at 10. I don’t think it’s the best choice for 7, since Leno is pretty damn good in Boston. Also, this may be a possible signal from Sunbeam to sell off ‘LVI. Maybe Tribune is listening to this? Maybe.
I agree with Michael on how each station owns their piece of day. Although WCVB is definitely a bigger piece in the puzzle since the afternoon daypart reaps in the most viewers.
WBZ seems to be fairly weak everywhere. I would really like to see ‘BZ garner in a couple thousand more people.
WFXT owns late primetime. Wow.
Michael, is there anything on TV38′s 9PM?
April 25th, 2009 at 10:18 pm
@Julian: Why would Tribune buy WLVI back from Sunbeam??
I also do not see how WBZ is “fairly weak everywhere.” They’re up in every newscast over the previous sweep and their growth in the mornings is quite significant.
Also worth noting, WHDH announced a few weeks ago, that they have rescinded their 10pm news offering for the fall and will air Leno.
April 26th, 2009 at 8:47 am
I didn’t get any TV 38 numbers, sorry.
May 3rd, 2009 at 9:10 pm
I was tying the fight between NBC and HDH, and how if NBC would pull off it’s affiliation with 7, maybe Tribune might find something back in Boston. But I digress, that is over.
WBZ has been growing in the mornings, but I don’t think they’re in a fight for 2nd place yet (4,000 viewers in the morning is a lot, on a day-to-day basis).
They have a lot of PM potential, and here is where the tight race is. What will attract audiences from the main demo? (I believe younger viewers like the “curiosity” campaign, and the more elder viewers, too.)
May 6th, 2009 at 12:51 pm
HI Michael Page Do you have ratings for WBZ News at 9PM on TV 38? if so could you post them with the other March Book numbers. Have a Nice Day
May 6th, 2009 at 12:59 pm
I am david from New Bedford MA I have since Feburary 2009 been watching FOX 25 in the Morning, 5 PM-6PM 10-11:30PM 12PM I watch WCVB 5 I think FOX 25 has great coverage. Just my opinion. Have a Nice Day.
May 6th, 2009 at 1:31 pm
I don’t sorry.
May 15th, 2009 at 2:00 pm
Update I watch WBZ in the Morning & Afternoon, Early Evening & 11 PM I in the last few weeks have been like there coverage the best. I think now thy have the best news coverage. just my opinion. Have A Nice Day
January 5th, 2010 at 2:36 pm
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