KCNC-Channel 4 will triumph in the November ratings sweep for the first time since February 1998, emerging as No. 1 in total households, in primetime and at 5 p.m. Channel 4 also narrowed the gap at 10 p.m. against long-time ratings kingpin KUSA-Channel 9, with only 1 rating point (15,000 households) separating Channel 4 from the No. 1 spot.
Nielsen’s November sweeps officially conclude Wednesday but the numbers tonight and Wednesday will not change the local standings.
Much of the momentum that powered Channel 4 to victory can be attributed to the strong showing by its network, CBS, along with stellar ratings from the syndicated “Oprah Winfrey Show” and the dismal performance by Channel 9’s network, NBC. Still, Channel 4 is clearly on a roll.
“Overall health of the station certainly helps,” Channel 4 General Manager Walt DeHaven said. “Growth in primetime and ‘Oprah’ is great. But the growth in local news has a lot to do with the work we’ve been doing and the brand we’ve been building. It’s hard to say which is the dog and which is the tail. Right now it’s all going the right way.”
KUSA General Manager Mark Cornetta conceded the results favored Channel 4, but noted they pertain to just a four-week period. “It’s one rating book. These things are marathons not sprints. The fact that November is one of those measured periods, I’m sure it’s got them excited, but our advertisers are concerned about the long-haul.”
The closeness of the race at 10 p.m., the most lucrative newscast for each station, is especially sweet for Channel 4.
Channel 4 News Director Tim Wieland said, “we have the most veteran reporting staff of any station in town, that does allow us to take the news of the day and use our sources and experience to do a smarter job covering the news.”
KCNC’s DeHaven declined to predict when his station would tie or surpass former steamroller KUSA at 10 p.m. “We’re at just about 1 rating point difference. Last year at this time it was 3 rating points. We’re on the right track. It is just a matter of time.”
In addition to asserting that Channel 4 benefited from Broncos games in November, Cornetta expressed dissatisfaction with his network’s performance. With NBC shows like “Journeyman” and “Life” up against CBS hits like “CSI: Miami” and “CSI: NY,” it’s been a grim season for NBC affiliates.
“Our 9 o’clock lead-in shows have been weaker than they have in years past. We have a lot less to work with (going into the news at 10). I hope the network is looking at this closely and making good decisions in the future.”
The CBS station pushed into the lead despite the fact that NBC’s Brian Williams is Denver’s most-watched network anchorman. Williams led the network news race locally with a 7.5 rating; CBS’s Katie Couric followed with a 6.1 rating and ABC’s Charlie Gibson trailed with a 4.7 rating. In most of the country, Gibson is ascendant.
Joanne Ostrow: 303-954-1830 or jostrow@denverpost.com
