AT THE RATINGS
Nielsen figures are out for the November sweeps, showing just how Gene & Roger (“Siskel & Ebert & the Movies”) line up ratings-wise against Rex & Bill (“At the Movies”) and Jeffrey & Michael (“Sneak Previews”).
No surprise: Disney’s syndicated Siskbert show--syndicated in 140 markets, covering 86% of the country--was top-billed with an average rating for the month of 2.6 (a rating point equals 874,000 TV households, 1% of the total).
For the record:
12:00 a.m. Feb. 1, 1987 IMPERFECTION
Los Angeles Times Sunday February 1, 1987 Home Edition Calendar Page 91 Calendar Desk 2 inches; 56 words Type of Material: Correction
Michael T. Mellon, vice president, research, Buena Vista Television, points out that while our figures were correct in comparing ratings for movie review shows (Outtakes, Jan. 25), they were somewhat misleading. It’s more than a little confusing, but basically Buena Vista’s “Siskel & Ebert & the Movies” is a bigger ratings winner over its closest competitor, “At the Movies,” than we implied.
Tribune Entertainment’s “At the Movies,” where Rex Reed and Bill Harris replaced Siskbert this season, is second-billed with a 2.0 rating in 87 markets, according to Nielsen.
PBS’ “Sneak Previews” (where Siskbert got their start), now hosted by Jeffrey Lyons and Michael Medved, was the trailer with a 1.0 rating in 161 markets.
A Nielsen researcher told us, “The difference in the ratings doesn’t seem like an awful lot to me, but it might mean something to advertisers.”
She pointed out that the really boffo syndicated show, “Wheel of Fortune,” won the November sweeps with a 19.2 rating in over 200 markets. “Jeopardy” was next with a 12.3 rating.
The Nielsen Television Index also has Siskbert beating “At the Movies” by an average of 56% for nine consecutive weeks.
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