Columbus, Chattanooga Among Stations To Use Rentrak Ratings System

Two stations in the South TV News area will soon be receiving an alternative to Nielsen for its ratings information.

Morris Network, Inc., has signed a deal with Rentrak Corp. to provide daily ratings that it says is more dependable than the diary method Nielsen’s used for years.

May Sweeps: WJXT Comes Out Ahead Once Again in Jacksonville

WJXT

WJXT-TV in Jacksonville, Fla., has again won the ratings war, claiming first in every  weekday timeslot for news in the May period.

The independent station led by 7/10 of a ratings point at 5 a.m.; that lead more than doubled to 1.7 points over WTLV at 6 a.m.

Orlando Evening Anchor Leaves After May Sweeps

Cale Ramaker (Courtesy: Orlando Sentinel)

Cale Ramaker, who spent the last seven years at FOX affiliate WOFL as an anchor, is no longer employed by the station.

The decision comes at the end of the May ratings period, where the FOX affiliate came in fourth.

May Sweeps: WREG Edges Out WMC In Almost Every Time Slot

WREG snagged first in nearly every time slot for the May ratings period. Photo Courtesy: The Telegraph

Okay, so it wasn’t as much of a photo finish as this representation would have you believe.

But Memphis, Tenn., CBS affiliate WREG can easily claim ratings supremacy for the May ratings period.

South Florida Station Outsources Morning Show in Effort to Increase Ratings

Current WSFL-TV Logo

Corporate-owned stations certainly have their perks, especially when they’re part of the Tribune Company family.

SFLTV.com reports CW affiliate WSFL-TV, based in Miami, Fla., is already one week into airing a new morning show which is produced and put together hundreds of miles from sunny South Florida.

KATV Attributes November Ratings Win to Viewers’ Facebook Interactions

KATV

In November, Little Rock’s KATV-TV edged out its competitors in every newscast but noon.

The ABC affiliate came in third at 11:30 a.m.

In addition, the website reports KATV’s household ratings actually improved in every category but the station’s 10 p.m., sliding from a 9.6 to 9.4.

So what caused the boost?

Memphis Station “Sweeps” Other Competitors Under the Rug in February

WMC-TV wins the coveted ratings war in Memphis.

Memphis NBC affiliate WMC-TV consistently lauds itself as the most-watched television station in the market, and now recent ratings numbers prove it.

Station execs tell the Commercial Appeal newspaper they dominated every time slot for news. It’s the first time that’s happened for WMC in fifteen years, they say.

Shock Jock Brings Radio Commentary to Tampa TV

Bubba the Love Sponge

“Bubba the Love Sponge”–it’s a name hard to forget, even harder to stop listening to, as fans no doubt would testify.

Now those fans who enjoy listening to the shock jock in their cars can find him doing a slightly watered-down opinion on various issues, this time on television.

Tampa-St. Petersburg, Fla., CBS affiliate WTSP will give Bubba —  once fined hundreds of thousands of dollars by the FCC — a chance to say his piece twice a week on the station’s 11 p.m. newscast.

Video after the jump:

High Definition: Game Changer in Newscasts?

Since the availability of high-definition cable channels and a higher flat-screen adoption rate among consumers, many stations have made the decision to upgrade their facilities and go HD with their newscasts.

What’s surprising, though, is that dozens of stations in top 50 markets still aren’t. Well, first of all, the upgrade isn’t cheap; you’re talking at least a million dollar investment in terms of camera equipment, control room facilities, etc. And then there’s adjustments to the workflow in a newsroom, with many still depending on Digital-S or DVC-PRO for their needs.

The whole thing has me wondering: is it worth it? Do viewers really care enough to watch in bigger numbers, which increases ratings and therefore brings more advertising revenue to the station? Or is it one of those “mine’s bigger” contests among competitors?

Obviously, going tapeless in a newsroom and moving entirely to hard disk or portable media recorders saves money over costly analog tapes.

But then there’s the realization you’re going to see that anchor you’ve trusted for 15 years up close and personal, pores and all.

I’m compiling a list of stations that haven’t yet made the switch, and will have that posted once I’m through. I also welcome your comments.