Syndication Ratings: Syndies Lose Ground

Syndicated shows got hit with a double whammy in the week ending March 16 and most shows lost ground.

It was the second week of daylight savings time and average PUT levels sank by more than 4 million viewers from the week before. On top of that the mystery of Malaysia Airlines flight 370, which vanished on March 8 with 239 passengers and crew, drove viewers to news networks and away from syndication.

In daytime, the only one of 17 talk shows able to muster a gain from the week before was NBCUniversals Trisha, which rose 20% both week-to-week and year-to-year to a 0.6.

As for the rest, 10 talkers were down and six were flat.

At the top of the talk chart, CBS Television Distributions Dr. Phil dipped 6% to a 3.3 but still grew 18% from last year at this time and led the chat pack for the 10th consecutive week. Phil also finished first by a wide margin among women 25-54 with a 1.8 in the key demo.

Disney/ABCs Live With Kelly and Michael was the No. 2 talker, slipping 12% to a 2.9 but improving 16% from last year.

Warner Bros. Ellen remained third, tumbling 13% to a 2.6. Not far behind, Sony Pictures Televisions Dr. Oz was preempted in several markets and was off 9% to a 2.0 but still tied NBCUs Maury for fourth place. Maury held steady at a 2.0 in households and finished first in talk among women 18-34 with a 1.1 in the young demo.

Sophomore NBCUs Steve Harvey was unchanged at a 1.8 but was up the most from last year at this time, climbing 38%. The already canceled Disney/ABCs Katie sagged 12% to a new season low 1.5.

CTDs Rachael Ray, which had the largest weekly gain in the prior session, receded 18% to a 1.4, tying Debmar-Mercurys Wendy Williams, which was flat at a 1.4.

NBCUs Steve Wilkos eased 13% to a 1.3. CTDs The Doctors declined 8% to a 1.2. NBCUs Jerry Springer softened 21% to a 1.1, while Merediths The Better Show was unchanged at a 0.2.

SPTs Queen Latifah was the highest rated new talker by a significant margin, winning the rookie race for the 23rd time this season, while holding steady at a 1.0.

The already canceled Warner Bros. Bethenny lost 13% to a new series low 0.7 and further back CTDs The Test was flat at a 0.6.

In late night, CTDs Arsenio Hall yielded 13% to a 0.7.

Court shows were also lower across the board.

Top gaveler CTDs Judge Judy gave back 9% to a 7.1 but was still up 8% from last year at this time. Judy was also the No. 1 show in syndication for the 27th time in the last 29 weeks.

Warner Bros. Peoples Court dropped 10% to a 1.8. Twentieths Divorce Court slid 6% to a 1.5. Warner Bros. Judge Mathis and the already canceled Twentieths Judge Alex both eroded 18% to a 1.4, while MGMs Paternity Court trailed with a 9% decline to a 1.0.

In access, all of the top six magazines were down week-to-week except for Warner Bros. Extra , which held steady at a 1.6 and jumped 14% from last year. The largest year-to-year gain of any show in the genre.

Of course, the magazines were boosted by coverage of the Academy Awards in the previous frame.

Leader CTDs Entertainment Tonight slipped 13% from the week before to a 3.5. CTDs Inside Edition slumped 6% to 3.1. Warner Bros. TMZ was down 5% to a 1.8. NBCUs Access Hollywood backtracked 16% to a 1.6 and landed in a tie with Extra, while CTDs The Insider declined 19% to a 1.3. Further down the magazine rack, MGMs RightThisMinute slowed down 8% to a 1.1. Twentieths Dish Nation was unchanged at a 1.0. The recently canceled Trifectas America Now, weakened 25% to a 0.3 while Trifectas rookie OK! TV rose 50% from a 0.2 to a 0.3.

Game shows were also tepid.

CTDs Wheel of Fortune faded 5% to a 6.9. CTDs Jeopardy! shrank 7% to a 6.6. Debmar-Mercurys Family Feud fell 10% to a 5.2, while Disney/ABCs Who Wants to Be a Millionaire devalued 8% to a 2.2.

Among off net sitcoms, leader Warner Bros. The Big Bang Theory retreated 8% from the previous week to a 5.9. Twentieths newcomer Modern Family sank 7% to a 4.3. Warner Bros. Two and a Half Men deteriorated 11% to a 3.4. Twentieths Family Guy was down 3% to a 2.9. Twentieths How I Met Your Mother sagged 9% to a 2.0. SPTs Seinfeld stayed at a 1.9, while Twentieths rookie The Cleveland Show and Warner Bros. Friends were flat at a 1.8.

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