May ratings: WFTV wins, WKMG gains, NBA scores

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In the May TV ratings for Orlando, WFTV-Channel 9 was the big winner, WKMG-Channel 6 was the main gainer, and the NBA made a major splash in prime time.

Retiring WFTV anchor Bob Opsahl, whose last newscast was 6 p.m. Wednesday, went out a ratings winner. He and Martha Sugalski were the leaders from 5 to 6:30 p.m. in total viewers as well as the 25-to-54 age group for the month.

In news ratings, 25-to-54 is the most important for advertisers. At 6 p.m., WFTV averaged 19,496 viewers in the age group. WKMG drew 13,978, WESH-Channel 2 pulled in 13,015 and WOFL-Channel 35 attracted 5,333. (The Sentinel has a content-sharing agreement with WOFL.)

But WKMG had an encouraging story to tell for the ratings period that ended Wednesday. The CBS affiliate"s 6 p.m. rating for 25-to-54 viewers was up 43 percent from last year while WFTV was off 44 percent, WESH was down 31 percent and WOFL drooped 20 percent. WKMG also grew from 4 to 6 p.m. while other stations were down.

WFTV won the age group in early morning, at noon, from 4 to 6:30 p.m. and at 11 p.m. WOFL was the winner at 10 p.m. and offered the most-watched local news from 7 to 9 a.m., when ABC"s "Good Morning America" and NBC"s "Today" were the leaders.

But prime time offered unusual wrinkles in May. WKMG, with CBS favorites like "NCIS" and "The Big Bang Theory," aired the most-watched schedule with all viewers. It was comfortably ahead of WESH with NBC ("The Voice") and WFTV with ABC ("Dancing With the Stars").

Yet the TV industry emphasizes reaching young adults, especially the 18-to-49 age group. For May, TNT ranked first in Central Florida"s young adults, thanks to NBA games. WFTV, bolstered by the Billboard Music Awards and "Modern Family," was second in young adults. It was followed by ESPN (more NBA), WKMG and WESH.

In 11 p.m. news, WFTV was the leader in the 25-to-54 age group but WKMG and WESH reached more viewers in all. With the 25-to-54 age group, WFTV averaged 19,308 viewers to WKMG"s 13,151 WESH"s 12,728 and WOFL"s 5,832. Yet all the stations were down, perhaps because of increased competition from cable.

WKMG is continuing to air a spot that it has the most-seen 11 p.m. news, and that is the case. In total viewers, WKMG averaged 66,487 viewers to WESH"s 62,672 and WFTV"s 58,017.

The most-seen local newscast overall was at 6 p.m., when WFTV averaged 126,034 total viewers. It was well ahead of WKMG"s 66,197, WESH"s 63,417 and WOFL"s 20,705. Greg Warmoth replaces Opsahl from 5 to 6:30 p.m. starting Thursday (today).

Source: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment/tv/tv-guy/os-may-ratings-wftv-wins-wkmg-gains-20160526-story.html