Baltimore TV Ratings: Is Oprah in decline?
While all the general managers at all the stations in Baltimore warn about making too much of the July sweeps ratings period with the new Local People Meters, there is one local race that is sure to cause some eyebrows to be raised: weekdays at 4 p.m. -- the Oprah Winfrey time period.
Forget years, for decades, it seemed Oprah dominated. But not in July where WJZ's Eyewitness News beat Winfrey's show on WBAL both in households and in adults 25-to-54 years of age, the key sales demographic in news.
And worse news yet for Oprah, it looks like Baltimore could be part of national pattern of possible decline for Oprah.
During the first week of the month, Winfrey scored her lowest ratings nationally in 23 years, according to Media Life magazine.
There are two pieces of background that make this news even more interesting. First, the irony of Winfrey getting beat by WJZ, the Baltimore station at which she worked as an anchorwoman and co-host of a talk show from 1976 to 1983.
And second, because of her early career here, Baltimore has remained one of her strongest bases of loyalty and support. To lose Baltimore is not a good sign for Winfrey.
"Our people have worked very hard, and it's gratifying to see the progress we have made in generating viewership in that time period," Jay Newman, general manager of WJZ said Friday.
But again, let's not make too much of one sweeps period in July with brand new People Meters from Nielsen measuring the audience.
What are you watching, news or Oprah?
Comments
If I have the TV on at 4:00 p.m., I'm more likely to watch the WJZ news rather than Oprah not only because I prefer it, but also because the reception here in Hampden on my HDTV and indoor antenna is capricious. Sometimes I get channal 11/WBAL, sometimes not. Same with channel 2/WMAR. Usually I get channel 13/WJZ. I'm on my second indoor antenna, and it doesn't work any better than the first one. Yes, the HD picture is nice, but only if you can receive it. I wonder if the FCC is doing anything to track how many viewers are receiving fewer channels than they did before the transition.
Hi Mary, Thanks for the comment. The reception problems sound awful. Maybe one of the station mangers will read this and try to do something about it -- if they can. Thanks. Z
Posted by: Mary | July 31, 2009 4:13 PM
Why is Oprah still the highest rated talk show in syndication if her ratings have declined so much? Even the week where she got the lowest ratings in 23 years, she still beat blockbusters like Ellen and Dr. Phil.
Posted by: Travis | July 31, 2009 4:45 PM
I don't think this means much in July as the "Oprah" show is only showing repeats. If local news beats "Oprah" when her shows are new, then it would be a bigger deal.
Hi, Thanks. That is why the post is filled with warnings about July and summer. Still...Z
Posted by: Jean | July 31, 2009 5:09 PM
I find that Oprah has few meaningful topics that hold any interest for me nowadays. I am addicted to the news anyway so I watch WJZ if I have to choose between the two.
Posted by: Anonymous | July 31, 2009 5:21 PM
Check AntennaWeb.org to determine the minimum antenna needed to pick up digital signals at your house address.
Posted by: mapuser | July 31, 2009 6:26 PM
With all that goes on everyday, locally and nationally it's hard not to watch news. Real life trumps self-absorption any day.
Posted by: ruth | August 2, 2009 10:18 AM
it was because of the shift in tv in 1991. Phil Stolz, formal boss at channel 11, made the news, bal, with his newsteam, number one from 1992 to a few months ago. Now, it seems, for the time being, wmar is gaining ground, because of the new format change a few years ago, at wmar, that no secret, they would come out ahead.
Posted by: eric | August 3, 2009 1:55 PM
Just how bad are things at WMAR Channel 2? They abandoned dual anchors at 6 & 11 some time ago, and they often have no sports or weather reporter on the newscast. Weekend personnel is a hodge-podge of fill-ins.
Posted by: Joe White | August 7, 2009 1:55 AM
I hardly ever watch Oprah anymore wheras used to watch almost every day. When she endorsed Obama for president that was it for me. Don't care for your politics Oprah and certainly don't think you have any business endorsing anybody. I'm not alone in this sentiment either.
Posted by: Deb | August 7, 2009 11:55 PM
Oprah's ratings slip is about her politics!!! I watched Oprah daily for about ten years, maybe more. I had her on my TiVo! But when she shamelessly promoted Obama leading up to the election it turned me off. It turned me off even more when she refused to bring Palin on, who (love her or hate her) was a very interesting woman and political figure; and Oprah's reason was because she didn't want to give anyone a platform. Give me a break! She used her influence and viewership to help get him nominated and elected. She'd already given Obama a platform. What made me stop watching her completely was her "Fridays with Oprah, Gayle, etc." series where Oprah and the guests were simply giddy about all things Obama, and Michelle Obama. I found it sickening that Oprah continued to shove her politics down the throats of her viewers. And, of course, she had nobody on that panel with another opinion to balance things out. That was it--no more Oprah for me.
Posted by: Tina | August 13, 2009 11:30 PM
I always watched Oprah because I thought she (wrongly) was for all people. Once she endorsed Obama and started shamelessly to use her platform to endorse him - I never watched her again. I might add that it has absolutely nothing to do with race. It has to do with ideology. Obama was a nobody - she had tremendous influence in getting him elected. In using her celebrity shows who she really is. She slanted the elections. Shameful.
Posted by: Linda ODonel | August 22, 2009 8:05 PM
Oprah, Oprah, Oprah. I haven't watched her in years, primarily because I have a job and when I'm off she's not my first choice - I have grown somewhat addictive to Judy Judy, Mathias and Brown. I'd rather see trash in litigation than rather than Oprah glorifying herself. Oprah has become Oprahfied and Mel Gibson has become Gibsonized and Tom Cruise has become Cruisified'
Posted by: jb hanson | August 23, 2009 10:04 AM
I'm watching news and not Oprah. I haven't watched since Tom Cruise jumped up and down on her couch. Just don't have time. And right now news dominates when I have free time because of the economy, healthcare etc.
Sorry Oprah!
Posted by: Sherry T. | August 23, 2009 3:14 PM
I like Oprah as a person, but her politics have elected us a president that does not represent
America, but represents Oprah and a few of a far out idealoge.
I now recommend watching Fox News instead and get the whole picture.
Posted by: Dee Allred | August 26, 2009 7:13 PM
Haven't watched Oprah since she felt the need to campaign for Obama. I can understand her fasination with him, BUT, she should have backed away, far away from supporting him via her on screen popularity. She knew about Rev.Wright, she attended that church at one time and was smart enough to opt out, but there ARE many connections that Obama has that SHOULD make any FREE LOVING American leary. I would like to kknow what Oprah thinks of her President Now! Is she still GA-GA over him and the szars that he has surrounding him? Maybe she is as radical as the person (s) that she feins over.
Posted by: Informed MOM | September 4, 2009 10:02 AM
Hi everyone. Is love supposed to last throughout all time, or is it like trains changing at random stops. If I loved her, how could I leave her? If I felt that way then, how come I don't feel anything now?
I am from Northern and , too, and now am writing in English, give true I wrote the following sentence: "Reynolds suggested to riviera beach with his women, while his money reversed in michigan to remove the world journalist, gant chart explained."
Waiting for a reply ;), Madonna.
Posted by: Madonna | September 8, 2009 11:20 AM