WXYZ-TV/Channel 7 Sweeps to Victory in February Ratings

WXYZ-TV/Channel 7 Sweeps to Victory in February Ratings

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., March 1 /PRNewswire/ -- WXYZ-TV is the Detroit television market's number one station, sign-on/sign-off, according to the February 2007 Nielsen Media Research rating survey which ended Wednesday. WXYZ-TV garnered a 5.4 rating/12.5 share, versus WDIV's 4.4 rating /10.2 share, WJBK's 3.7 rating/8.7 share and WWJ's 2.7 rating/ 6 share. In addition to winning sign-on/sign-off in television household ratings, WXYZ was also metro Detroit's number one station in delivery of all key demographics including Women 18-49, Persons 18-49, Women 25-54 and Persons 25-54.

Leading the way to WXYZ-TV's victory in the February '07 ratings period was the strong performance of Channel 7's Action News. Action News was the number one newscast in the Detroit market for noon news, 5pm news, 6pm news and for the entire 5-7:30pm early evening news block. In addition, WXYZ's early morning (5-6am) news, now anchored by Erik Smith and Alicia Smith, experienced significant year-to-year growth, registering an 11.5% ratings increase.

Action News at Noon, anchored by Robbie Timmons and Carolyn Clifford was Detroit's dominant number one noon news. Airing 12n-1pm, Action News delivers a 6 rating/17.4 share, versus WDIV's 4.4 rating/13 share and WJBK's 2.5 rating/8 share. In addition to winning top honors in television household ratings, WXYZ's noon news also outdelivered all mid-day news competition in every key demographic category and beat the combined delivery of WDIV and WJBK among Women 18-49 and 25-54. Additionally, year-to-year, Action News at Noon experienced the largest household ratings growth among all mid-day newscast, growing by 7% since February 2006.

WXYZ-TV's 5pm Action News, anchored by Robbie Timmons and her new co- anchor, Carolyn Clifford, was the dominant number one, posting a commanding victory over WDIV and WJBK. 5pm Action News garnered an 8.9 rating/19 share, versus WDIV's 6.5 rating/14 share and WJBK's 3.5 rating/8 share. This is the twenty-seventh consecutive rating book that 5pm Action News has placed first. Action News also dominated demographic delivery among 5pm news audiences. WXYZ outdelivered WDIV by 88% (4.9 vs. 2.6) in Women 25-54 viewers and more than doubled WJBK (4.9 vs. 1.9).

6pm Action News with Diana Lewis and Stephen Clark, was the Detroit television market's number one rated newscast. Unseating WDIV for this top honor, WXYZ-TV was number one in television household ratings (8.9 rating vs. WDIV's 8.4 and WJBK's 3.7) and outdelivered WDIV among Women 25-54 by 39% (4.3 vs. 3.1) and WJBK by 87% (4.3 vs. 2.3). 6pm Action News also beat WDIV and WJBK in delivery of Women 18-49, Persons 25-54 and Persons 18-49.

7pm Action News, anchored by the new team of Stephen Clark and Carolyn Clifford was the number one program in the 7-7:30pm time period in delivery of Women 18-49 and Women 25-54, outdelivering WDIV's Wheel of Fortune, WJBK's Bernie Mac and WWJ's Dr. Phil. Additionally, for the entire early evening news block (5-7:30pm), WXYZ outdelivers WDIV and WJBK in virtually every key demographic, especially Women 25-54 where WXYZ's margin over WDIV was 48% and 112% over WJBK.

11pm Action News with Diana Lewis and Stephen Clark generated a 9 rating/16 share. WDIV garnered a 12.3 rating/21.6 share. WJBK's 10pm News placed third in late news, garnering an 8.3 rating/12.4 share.

In non-news programming, WXYZ-TV also turned in top rated performances. WXYZ-TV's morning block programming (9-10am Regis & Kelly, 10-11am Martha Stewart and 11am-12n The View) was number one, outdelivering WDIV by nearly 45% in household ratings (4.2 vs. 2.9) and WJBK by 75% (4.2 vs. 2.4). ABC Soap Operas were also number one across the board, beating WDIV, WJBK and WWJ in all key demos.

At 4pm, WXYZ's Oprah delivered an 8.1 rating/20 share. WDIV's new 4- 4:30pm newscast, Local 4 News delivered a 3 rating / 7.3 share, placing it 3rd in the time period behind Oprah and WJBK's Judge Judy (3.3 rating/8.3 share). In addition to dominating in television household delivery, Oprah outdelivers WDIV, WJBK and WWJ combined in Women 25-54 (Oprah 5.7 rating vs. combined 5.2 rating).

ABC Prime Time programming was number one in February 2007, averaging a 9.1 rating/14 share. WJBK/FOX placed second with an 8 rating/12 share. WWJ/CBS was third with a 7.6 rating/11.5 share. WDIV/NBC was fourth with a 6.6 rating/10 share.

Each local rating point equals approximately 19,360 households; share represents the percentage of TV sets tuned into a program.

The E.W. Scripps Company (NYSE:SSP) is a diverse and growing media enterprise with interests in national cable networks, newspaper publishing, broadcast television stations, electronic commerce, interactive media, and licensing and syndication.

The company's portfolio of media properties includes: Scripps Networks, with such brands as HGTV, Food Network, DIY Network, Fine Living, Great American Country and HGTVPro; daily and community newspapers in 18 markets and the Washington-based Scripps Media Center, home to the Scripps Howard News Service; 10 broadcast TV stations, including six ABC-affiliated stations, three NBC affiliates and one independent; United Media, a leading worldwide licensing and syndication company that is the home of PEANUTS, DILBERT and approximately 150 other features and comics; Shopzilla and uSwitch, the online comparison shopping services that carries an index of more than 30 million products from approximately 65,000 merchants.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: WXYZ-TV/Channel 7

CONTACT: Marla Drutz of WXYZ-TV, +1-248-827-9300

Web site: http://www.detnow.com/

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