WJZ ranks first in May sweeps

BALTIMORE (Map, News) - WJZ was Maryland’s top TV station during May sweeps, and saw year-over-year ratings growth in virtually every news time slot, according to data released by the station last week.

WJZ Channel 13 topped all local stations with a 4.5 household rating, ahead of WBAL Channel 11 with a 4.3 rating, WMAR Channel 2 at 2.1 and WBFF Channel 15 at 2.0.

“I think the story on our end is overall growth,” said K.C. Robertson, creative services director with the station. “There’s a decline in viewership nationally, but we’ve seen growth, especially with double-digit gains in our news programs.”

WJZ saw ratings growth of 7 to 49 percent in May from the year before for news programs in the 5 a.m., 6 a.m., 4 p.m., 5 p.m., 6 p.m. and national 7 p.m. news slots, as well as the station’s 11 p.m. broadcast. The 4 p.m. broadcast led the way with a 49 percent jump, followed by the national 7 p.m. news broadcast with 40 percent and 6 p.m. news with a 36 percent increase, according to ratings data.

“It just goes to show we’re able to provide for the viewer the news and information they need,” Robertson said.

Ratings for WJZ’s 5 p.m. broadcast increased 35 percent from last May, while WMAR ratings fell 12 percent, and WBFF and WBAL ratings fell 5 percent each. In the 6 p.m. time slot, WJZ’s 36 percent ratings increase outpaced decreases of 5 percent at WBAL and 15 percent at WMAR.

In prime time, WJZ’s CBS lineup drew household ratings of 9.6, ahead of 6.5 for WMAR, 6.4 for WBFF and 5.9 for WBAL.

acahall@baltimoreexaminer.com

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