Games test syndie mettle
Mags hit all-time low ratings
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Syndicated programs that air primarily in access time periods were hit hard by preemptions, time-period shifts and/or Olympic competish.
Mags "Extra" and "Access Hollywood," both of which are part-owned by NBC and air on Peacock O&Os, hit all-time low ratings, as did fellow mag "National Enquirer's Uncovered."
'Extra' struggles
"Extra," which was widely preempted and/or moved to alternative dayparts, slipped 5% from the previous week's all-time low national household rating to a 1.9 for the week that ended Oct. 1, according to Nielsen.
"Access," in similar straits, was down 7% from its series low the week before to 1.3; "National Enquirer" was down 8% to 1.1.
Vet talker "Sally Jessy Raphael" also earned a series low, moving down 4% from the prior week to 2.3.
True indications for many syndie shows this fall may not come until the political debates and postseason baseball games (which also cause major preemptions) wrap.
Amid the obstacles, two off-net properties debuted in syndication, "Nash Bridges" and "Cosby."
"Nash," which airs as a weekly, earned a 1.9. "Cosby," airing as a weekday strip in some markets and as a weekend block in others, turned in a 1.2.
'Power' among rookies
Among the rookie strips, "Power of Attorney" led with a 2.2, followed by "Judge Hatchett's" 1.9. "Dr. Laura" was next, at 1.6, followed by "Curtis Court," 1.5; "To Tell the Truth," 1.3; "HouseCalls," 1.1; and "Lover or Loser," 0.7. Rating for "Lover" rating comprises its run on USA Network and in broadcast syndication.
Weekly latenight firstrun project "The Cindy Margolis Show" earned a 1.2.
Other rookies include the off-net runs of sitcoms "Sabrina, the Teenage Witch" (1.8) and "Moesha" (1.4).
The frosh off-net run of drama "7th Heaven," which unlike most dramas airs as a strip, earned a 1.3. New weekly offering of "Early Edition" in an off-net run earned a 1.3 as well.
